Football

1. Football History and Rules

2. History • American football resulted from several major divergences from rugby and soccer. • Walter Camp (1859-1925) made many changes in the way the game of football was played, he is considered the "Father of American Football." • Walter Camp played and taught at Yale University. • He edited all American football rule books until his death in 1925.

3. History • He helped move football away from soccer (with lots of contact) and rugby. • Camp's most famous changes were establishing the line of scrimmage. • Added the snap from center to quarterback, in 1880. It was originally a roll with the foot. • He also added the down-and-distance rules. • Changed number of players from 15 to 11 (now ). • Created quaterback and center positions. • Standardized scoring • Forward Pass

4. History • Football's increasing popularity is usually traced to the 1958 NFL Championship Game, a contest that has been dubbed the “Greatest Game Ever Played.” • A rival league to the National Football League (NFL) created in 1894, was the American Football League (AFL), began play in 1960; • The Superbowl is the most watched sport Worldwide. Sorry Soccer!

5. Sycamore Canyon Middle School Rules • Each game will be played by two teams of 5 players each. • Each team is responsible for electing a captain. This captain is the only player on a team who may interact about rules • The playing field should be at least 25 x 50 yards • Each player is required to wear a flag belt around their waist. Each belt has three flags attached – one on each side and another in the center of the back. If a player does not have his belt legally attached prior to the snap, a 5-yard penalty will be enforced. • Other illegal equipment includes: jewelry and untucked shirts

6. Penalties • Delay of Game – 5 yards from the previous spot • Illegal Procedure – 5 yards from the previous spot • Dead Ball Foul, Encroachment – 5 yards from the previous spot • Illegal Motion – 5 yards from the previous spot • Offensive Pass Interference – 10 yards from previous spot, loss of down • Defensive Pass Interference – 10 yards from previous spot, automatic first down • Roughing the Passer – 10 yards, automatic first down • Defensive Holding – 10 yards from the spot of the foul • Flag Guarding – 10 yards from the spot of the foul • Face Guarding – 10 yards, automatic first down • Stiff Arm – 10 yards from the spot of the foul • Helping the Runner – 5 yards from the spot of the foul • Illegal Blocking – 10 yards from the spot of the foul

7. Prior to the Snap • A team has 6 downs to reach the endzone. • Once the snapper (C) has placed his hands on the ball, no player may cross the line of scrimmage until the ball is snapped. • When the snapper is in position, he may not adjust the ball or move until he actually snaps the ball. • At the snap, the offense must have at least 3 players on their line of scrimmage. • The player receiving the snap (Q) must be at least two yards behind the line of scrimmage.

8. Rules Cont. • 1. While a player may dive to catch a ball (or grab a flag), there is no diving while running with the ball. • 2. When the flag belt has been removed from the ball carrier, the ball is considered down. Players who remove a flag belt should drop the belt. • 3. When a runner loses their flag belt during a play, but they were not de-flagged, play continues. The ball carrier will be considered downed as soon as thy are in possession of the ball • 4. A defensive player may not hold the runner in an attempt to remove the flag belt. • 5. A player is prohibited from pushing or pulling his ball-carrying teammate down the field.

9. Blocking • Offensive players may block with their hands and arms at their side or behind their back. • Teammates of a ball carrier may attempt to run interference for them, but they may not hold onto one another. • Defensive players must go around an offensive blocker. They may not initiate contact.