This Sunday, countless number of American football fans will gather to watch the big game (or at least the commercials). Amid the chili and chips, you might have that friend or cousin who asks “So, wait, what’s a down? And why don’t the refs just look at where the little yellow line on the screen is ? It’d be SO much easier than using that weird chain and flag thing.” (Or, if you’re like me, you maybe ARE that friend). Luckily for you, there are tons of internet sites that explain football in relatively easy to understand terms. Feel free to pass this along to your friends and family, or keep it up on your laptop so when someone asks “What’s a gridiron? Is it like a waffle iron?” you can just direct them to your laptop and enjoy your game in (relative) peace.
The Basics of Football
- Football 101 – James Alder
Alder breaks Football down into basic components, and explains it fairly succinctly without sounding patronizing. - American Football Strategy- Wikipedia
When it comes to pop culture, Wikipedia is a great reference tool. This article explains the positions and strategies often employed. - Football – Dummies.com
A few useful articles here, I especially liked the printable cheat sheet
Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg for football resources online – but it should help any of you who might need a bit of a refresher before Sunday. Or, you could just skip it all and watch the Puppy Bowl on Animal Planet.
