American Football is a team sport that is played primarily in the United States. It is characterized by two teams of eleven players each, competing to advance an oval-shaped ball into the opposing team’s end zone to score points. The game is played on a rectangular field, known as a gridiron, which is marked with yard lines to indicate distances.
The objective of American Football is to score touchdowns, worth six points, followed by an opportunity for an extra point or a two-point conversion. Other ways to score include field goals, worth three points, and safeties, worth two points. The sport combines elements of strategy, physical strength, and teamwork, with plays designed for offense (to score) and defense (to prevent scoring).
The game is divided into four quarters, with a halftime break, and features a series of plays where teams can pass the ball, run with it, or kick it. American Football is known for its distinctive equipment, including helmets, shoulder pads, and specialized footwear, which help players manage the physical demands of the sport. It has a significant cultural impact in the U.S., highlighted by events like the Super Bowl, and has evolved various levels of play from youth leagues to professional competitions like the National Football League (NFL).