1-
History & Object of the
Game
2- The
Essentials (Offense & Defense,
Scoring, etc.)
3- Fouls
4- Field
Diagram & Positions
5- Glossary
of Football Terms
Common Referee Signals
Referees govern the game to
ensure fair and safe play. One
major role of the referee is
to signal action on the field.
Some of the more common signals
include a successful score (signaled
by both hands straight in air),
first down (signaled by arm
movement pointing forward),
and incomplete pass (signaled
by arms waved back and forth).
Referees also enforce the rules
of the game by calling penalties.
Common defensive penalties include
offsides
and pass
interference. Common
offensive penalties include
false
start and holding.
Other penalties include delay
of game, facemask, clipping,
illegal formation, intentional
grounding, and tripping. During
most penalties, the referee
throws a yellow flag and play
continues until the whistle
is blown so as not to take away
an advantage from the team that
was fouled. When play stops,
the team can either “accept”
or “decline” the
penalty—whichever is the
most advantageous. Accepting
the penalty usually results
in the replay of the down and
a movement of the ball a certain
distance from the line of scrimmage
(or the infraction)—usually
5 or 10 yards. Serious violations
of the rules for unnecessary
roughness or unsportsmanlike
conduct are personal fouls that
result in a 15-yard penalty.
Declining the penalty allows
the result of the play to stand
as is.
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