Joe, while I am in America I would like to see some sporting events.

You  are  lucky, since this month of September, you  can see either or both of our national sports. Baseball is just nearing the end of it's season, and football has just started. Which one interest you most?

Actually both. But let's start with football. I understand that is not the same as European football.

No the European football we call soccer, and it is not a nearly as popular in this country as in the rest of the world. The only similarities are, that both are  played on a grassy field by two teams, 11 members each, and they want to score points to win. That's about  it.

They also play with a leather ball don't they?

Yes, but the ball is not round or globelike, it is pointed at  both ends more like an olive seed, just larger. When it is dropped it bounces completely unpredictably.

So I guess you  better not drop it.

Correct. Now let us set up basic plan of the game. The field is roughly the same size as the international soccer field. Each team plays 11 players at a time, but they each have an offensive and defensive group. The active team consists actually of 45 members. Substitution allowed at  any time.

Any time?

Well no, just in between the plays. Unlike soccer, the game is not continuous, but consists of multiple attempts of advancing the ball toward the opposition's goal line. Again as opposed to soccer, you can carry the ball or pass it  forward rather than kicking it. Possession of the ball is critical in this game.

Who gets the ball to start with?

The referee flips a coin. The visiting team captain calls it head or tail, while the coin is in the air. If he wins, he can choose to possess the ball initially, and the other team than chooses which side of the field they will start on. By the way the game consist of four 15 minute quarters, with an intermission at halftime. The clock is stopped from running in between the plays, so a game usually lasts for over 2 hours.

So how do they actually play?

Before that, a few more essentials. The field is outlined with white lines, and marked with parallel lines at every 5 yards. Every 10 yard line is marked by number, 50 being the centerline of the field. There are  also short hash marks inside the filed at every yard. All plays start within these hash marks. There are officials on the sidelines who keep exact mark of the balls progress. There are also five officials on the field watching the players, the plays, the time and observe infractions. Is it getting complicated enough for you?

Yes! Let's start playing!

The team that elected to possess the ball initially, gets it by having the other team kicking it  off toward them, and if someone catches it they run it back as far as he can, the other team trying him to prevent it.

Than the team that got the ball start the plays. They put their offensive players on the field. The captain or more like a general in charge is the quarterback. He decides how they are  going to attempt to advance the ball toward the enemy's goal line. Before every play the team puts their heads together (huddle) and the quarterback tells them how he plans to advance the ball. When they are  ready, they line up, the defensive team likewise in a line facing each other, in three point stance, touching the grass with one hand.

You  mean they are just staring at  each other?

Yes. The two lines of players looking at each other as mean as they can. The quarterback stand behind the center player, who has his hands on the ball on the ground. The quarterback is backed by several players (backs) who may get the ball to carry. The other offensive players on the line will try to clear the way for the ball carrier to advance.

Have they started yet?

No. Not yet. The quarterback (standing) looks over the defensive formation and makes the final decision to start with the play that he called, or possibly change it in the final instance if he sees the defense giving him a better chance with a different play. All the plays are stored in his mind (or written on his shirtsleeve). Of course to work together as a team, all the other players have to know if the plan of  attack has changed and which play is the one they going to go with. All this is secret!

This is all so complicated, and so far nothing has happened.

Oh yes! But it is all mental until now. But now as the quarterback looked over his offensive line, evaluated the defensive formation and made the final decision on the play, he barks (yells) his command to the team. He rattles off some numbers the play number, and possibly the number of the player to whom he may may give or throw the ball to, and completes his yelling by saying hud hud...hud . At the last hud the play finally begins. The lines man crash into each other, the center snaps the ball to the quarterback and he either gives it  to one of the forward rushing backs to carry, or stepping back attempts to throw it forward to one of the forward rushing teammates.  Play is over when the ball carrier falls down and exactly where his knees touch the ground. That is the point where the next play starts.

All that preparation for a few seconds of play!

Yes. Much of football is preparation for the execution. The time wasted of course gives plenty of opportunity for the spectator to have their hotdogs, and beer and for the television broadcasters to plug in their advertisements.

When do they score a goal?

In order to score, the offensive team has to penetrate the opposition's goal line.  They can keep the ball, and keep going forward as long as they make at least 10 yards advance in four plays. As they put the ball down to start, each play is called a down. If the team does not advance 10 yard in three downs, they usually kick away the ball to the opposition, in a sense give up, let the other side start form way back where they catch the kicked ball. Now both teams change all players and the other team starts with its first down.

So when do they kick a goal?

We are not there yet. When a team finally scores by carrying the ball beyond the goal line, or catching it in the goal area, they score 6 points! Yes one goal six points.  This is a touch down. As a bonus, they also get to kick the ball over the goal between the goal post for an additional point called the point after.

Finally a goal! Is a goal always six points plus one?

No. If a team can not get to the goal line but they are close enough, then as a last attempt on a fourth down they can kick the ball. If the kick is long enough and it the ball goes trough the uprights of the goal post they get 3 points, and loose the ball to the other team. This is called a field goal.

OK I am getting to understand it.

Just one more important thing. If a player in possession of the ball drops it before his knees touch the ground and an opposing player pick it up, he can run with it until they stop him. This is called a fumble, and the possession of the ball changes, the teams change and momentum goes in the opposite direction.

What do the officials do?

The officials, often affectionately called zebras because of their striped black and white uniform, meet out  penalties if an infraction is spotted. This is usually 5 or 10 yard pushing the offensive team back or forward if it  is the defense that committed the foul. Often the referees also get together in a huddle to discuss the penalty.

OK I think I am ready for a game. Let's go today.

Not so fast. Today there is no game. Football is played on a strict schedule. Friday evenings only high school teams play. It is a big sport even in local high schools. Saturday is reserved for college games. The bigger schools, that is the best teams are on nationwide television. Several colleges have larger stadiums for football than the pro teams. The professional teams play on Sunday afternoons or evenings. Two different teams each week play their Sunday games on Monday or Thursday nights, to harness more television viewers.