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Object of the Game

The object of the game is to outscore your opponent by advancing the football into their endzone for as many touchdowns as possible while holding them to as few as possible. There are other ways of scoring, but a touchdown is usually the prime objective.

Objetives

This can be by:

• Touchdown (6 points).
• Point after try (1 point) - an attempt to kick the ball over the horizontal goal bar, only allowed after a touchdown.
• Field goal (3 points).
• Safety (2 points).

So, the team with the ball has 4 attempts (or downs) to advance the ball 10 yards or more. If they succeed in moving the ball at least 10 yards either by running with it, or passing it, they get another 4 downs in which to get another 10 yards or more.

For example:On their first attempt (down), The Ravens successfully run the ball 6 yards from the point the ball was set (line of scrimmage). Now it is second down with four yards to go, which is shown as "2nd and 4".

Next, the Ravens succeed in passing the ball 14 yards. So, as they moved it past the 10 yard marker, they get 'first down' and another 4 attempts to get 10 yards, shown as "1st and 10". If the team with the ball fails to gain at least 10 yards in 4 downs, the ball is turned over to the opposing team at that point on the field. Generally, teams rarely use all four downs to get 10 yards, they try with the first three, then punt (kick) the ball away on the fourth down, so the opposition are way back in their own half, close to their own goal line. This means they have to go much further up the field to score.