[OT] Can anyone help me understand Football?

[ledded]

I believe that only one offensive player is allowed to be in motion before the snap. If that player sets himself, and remains set for one second, then another play can begin motion.

I am a D&D nerd who played little league as a kid. I was the place kicker. That, my friends, is sad.

-Ryan

Funny... I was the undersized D&D nerd who played little league (grades 5-8) and 9th grade high school ball also. Except I guess I had a lot of pent-up aggression towards those who picked on the nerds ;^), because for the last 4 years I was defensive captain on the 2 teams I played on, playing a variety of defensive backfield positions (safety, cornerback, and then 2 years at middle linebacker). I led the city little league 2 of the 4 years in tackles, and actually was able to get rid of a lot of the 'nerd' stigma through the judicious application of QB sacks and WR spearing (though the spearing did cost me a lot of penalties). I loved to hit so much that I actually also played offensive gaurd about 1/2 the time my last 2 years, which was pretty comical because I was on average about 4-6 inches shorter and about 50-60 lbs lighter than the other linemen ;^)

Of course, in that time (4.5 years) I had 30+ tipped/blocked passes, but only 2 interceptions, because all I could do was tackle. Couldnt catch, refused to learn plays when the coach wanted me to run the ball (hey, when you run, you cant tackle people!), and couldnt throw worth a darn either. Ah, how I pine for the morose disregard for personal safety that only a highly atheletic 13 year-old can enjoy.

 

[ledded]

*insert here: ravings about how soft, wimpy Yanks should climb out of their armour and try real (ie, Australian) football instead*

*insert ravings here about how silly Aussie blowhards should try American football and give us all a good laugh as their remains are carried away in sloppy buckets by men twice their size and ferocity who actually -hit- each other* ;^)

(note: all in good fun, just couldn't resist the return fire... and for the record, I actually believe that ARF is tougher and manlier, if for no better reason than the guys who play it arent 1/10th as whiney and spoiled or 1/10th as overpaid as the average NFL player. Even though they don't hit as hard ;^) )

 

[MerakSpielman]

By the way, if anyone does want to have 'soccer' explained to them, I'll gladly take a shot at it.

A quick sports guide:

Soccer: Insert ball into goal with feet.

Football: Carry ball into endzone. Alternately, kick the ball into the big pitchfork thing.

Field Hockey: Insert ball into goal with stick.

Hockey: Insert ball into goal with stick. On ice.

Baseball: Hit ball with stick and run around in circles.

Pool: Use stick to hit white ball to hit other balls into holes.

Basketball: Insert ball into hoop with hands.

Golf: Insert tiny ball into slightly larger hole using tools completely inappropriate for the task.

Overall goal of these games: Perform above tasks better than the people you're playing against and you win.

Hope this helps!

 

[johnsemlak]

Golf: Insert tiny ball into slightly larger hole using tools completely inappropriate for the task.

Is golf a sport?

Pool: Use stick to hit white ball to hit other balls into holes.

see above

 

[MerakSpielman]

What really is the difference between a sport and a game?

I don't think there's any answer we can all agree on. Is ping pong a sport? Tennis? Why one and not the other?

 

[Ranger REG]

Is golf a sport?

It is now, thanks to Tiger Wood and local [Hawaii] girl Michell Wie.

Pool: Use stick to hit white ball to hit other balls into holes.

see above

Well, it did rise in popularity in the 80's. But it falls back into obscurity ... as the sport of Cricket in American soil.

 

[Ranger REG]

What really is the difference between a sport and a game?

I don't think there's any answer we can all agree on. Is ping pong a sport? Tennis? Why one and not the other?

Well, all sports are games, but involves strenuous physical activities as its main component.

Other games that involves light or no physical activies includes -- for example -- checker, chess, and poker.

 

[buzzard]

I was watching some of the Rugby world cup going on now. The players don't look like gentlemen to me

You'd really be sure if you'd been to one of the college rubgy parties that I used to attend.

However I do believe the quote has to do with the way Rubgy players are really quit civil to each other off the field. Tradition tends to have the teams get together after the game and swap stories at a pub. Animosity is kept only on the field.

buzzard

 

[ledded]

Well, all sports are games, but involves strenuous physical activities as its main component.

Other games that involves light or no physical activies includes -- for example -- checker, chess, and poker.

And anyone who doesnt think golf can be strenuous has never walked 36 holes on a hot day, all the while trying to not let their concentration or play falter.

But, then again, I guess it's all the beer that takes me out of it after 14 or so holes ;^)

So golf, like bowling, is a game for me, but I'm sure it's a *sport* for others, and a *job* for some.

It would be sad to have golf as your job, as in "boy, I dont want to get outta bed and go to *work* on my golf game..."

 

[Shadowdancer]

[/b]

A tailback and fullback are usually the same thing, the running back who starts furthest away from the line of scrimmage, although some teams call their half-back a tailback due to the particular offensive formations they use.

A halfback is usually a smaller runner, and in the I formation usually lines up between the fullback and the quarterback, although not necessarily so.

The names for the full-, half-, and quarter- backs date back to an old formation commonly used when football was a new game (but rarely used now) called the "single wing". The descriptions for the positions detailed how far back from the line of scrimmage they were in the formation (a quarter, a half, or the full distance back in the formation).



There are dozens of offensive football formations, and only slightly fewer defensive formations. A common offensive formation is the "I" formation, in which the quarterback, halfback, and fullback all line up in a row behind the center. There are usually five offensive linemen, plus a tight end, and two wide receivers in this formation. The "I" is an all purpose formation, used for running or passing. If the quarterback is backed away from the center, and there are fewer running backs, then this is the "shotgun" formation, usually used for passing. There are huge numbers of other formations though, from a power "I" formation (usually used for short yardage running plays, use two tight ends and two running backs) to a five wide receiver set in which the tight end and one of the running backs are replaced by receivers.

On defense, the two basic alignments are the "4-3" and the "3-4", this describes the number of defensive linemen and linebackers in the defense. A "4-3" has four linemen and three linebackers, and "3-4" has this reversed. But there are dozens of other formations, from a "nickel" formation (take out a linebacker and replace him with another cornerback, to better defend against the pass), or even a "dime" formation (two cornerbacks added), and so on.



Always, as long as he lined up in the backfield.



Once an offensive lineman is on the line of scrimmage and set in his down stance, he cannot move at all until the start of the play. A team can only have one man in motion at the time of the snap, and he is limited in the directions he can more (parallel to and towards the line of scrimmage only), and everyone else must stop completely before the snap (and be seen to be stopped). Any player who is not a down lineman can be put in motion.



Players in motion? Running backs or wide receivers usually.

Wow. This post has quite a bit of incorrect information in it. I just spent 45 minutes typing up a correction, but lost it when the server hiccuped. I'll redo it when I have some time later tonight.