Find out more about the NFL, the world's biggest American football league.
The NFL, acronym for National Football League, is the main professional American football league in the United States. Founded in 1920, the league currently consists of 32 teams divided into two conferences: the American Conference (AFC) and the National Conference (NFC). Each conference is subdivided into four divisions, with a total of eight clubs in each.
The NFL regular season usually starts in September and runs for 17 weeks, with each team playing 16 games. They compete for wins to try to secure a spot in the playoffs, which are a series of knockout games that culminate in the Super Bowl, the league's grand finale.
The Super Bowl is the most watched sports event in the United States and one of the most important in the world. It takes place on the first Sunday in February and brings together the champion teams of the two conferences. The winner of the Super Bowl is crowned NFL champion and receives the coveted Vince Lombardi Trophy.
Over the years, the NFL has established itself as one of the most popular events in the United States, attracting millions of spectators and generating $1 billion in revenue. American football is known for its intensity, strategy and spectacle, with highly athletic players and exciting matches.
In addition to the Super Bowl, the NFL has other significant events, such as the Draft, where teams select college players to join their ranks, and the Pro Bowl, an exhibition game that brings together the league's best players.
It is worth noting that the NFL is also involved in various social and community initiatives, such as supporting philanthropic causes, awareness campaigns and children's education programmes. The league has strived to promote diversity and inclusion in its ranks, both in administrative positions and among players.
When it comes to numbers, the NFL is one of the most lucrative leagues in the sports world. In 2019, the league's total revenue was approximately $15 billion. In addition, the Super Bowl is a high-impact financial event, with companies paying millions of dollars for television commercials during the broadcast of the game.
NFL rules
Having done this detailed introduction with trivia, facts and league data, below are some of the basic rules of the NFL.- Field dimensions
The field is 100 yards long (91.44 metres) and 53.3 yards wide (48.76 metres). Each end of the field has a goal area that is 10 yards long.- Duration of the game
An NFL American football game is divided into four quarters of 15 minutes each. However, due to breaks and stoppages, the average length of a game is around three hours.- Objective of the game
The objective of each team is to score points by advancing with the ball into the opponent's goal zone and then crossing the goal line or kicking the ball between the posts.- Ball possession
Each team has possession of the ball and attempts to advance down the field towards the opposing goal zone. Each team has four attempts, called "downs", to advance at least 10 yards. If the team manages to advance 10 yards or more, it gains four more attempts to continue advancing. Otherwise, the ball is turned over to the opponents.- Scores
There are several ways to score points in the NFL. The most common is the touchdown, which occurs when a player crosses the goal line with possession or receives it in the goal zone. This is worth 6 points. After a touchdown, the team can attempt the "extra point" by kicking the ball between the posts to score 1 additional point, or they can attempt the "two-point conversion" by running a play to score 2 additional points.In addition, a field goal (kicking the ball between the opponent's goal posts) is worth 3 points and a safety (when a player is brought down with the ball in their own goal zone) is worth 2 points.
- Penalties
The NFL has an extensive list of penalties for rules infractions, which vary in severity. Some of the common penalties include fouls for grabbing an opposing player, illegal blocking, illegal passing, among others. Penalties result in a loss of yards or a new down opportunity for the opposing team.These are just a few of the basic and main rules of the NFL, but they will surely already give the reader a good idea of how this sport works.
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✅ When was the NFL founded?
✅ How many teams are in the NFL?
