What are the basic rules of American football?

The basic rules of American football revolve around moving the ball down the field and scoring points. Here are the key rules:

1. Teams: American football is played between two teams, each consisting of 11 players on the field at a time.

2. Scrimmage: The game starts with a kickoff, and each team tries to advance the ball down the field. The team with the ball on offense is called the "offensive team," and the team trying to stop them is the "defensive team."

3. Downs: The offensive team has four attempts, known as "downs," to advance the ball at least ten yards. If they succeed, they receive another set of four downs. If they don't advance ten yards in four downs, the opposing team gains possession of the ball.

4. Yards and First Down: The playing field is 100 yards long, divided into ten-yard segments. Crossing ten yards in a play results in a "first down," giving the offensive team another set of four downs to move the ball further.

5. Touchdowns: The primary objective is to score touchdowns. A touchdown occurs when the offensive team carries or passes the ball into the opposing team's end zone, earning six points.

6. Extra Points: After a touchdown, the scoring team can attempt an extra point by kicking the ball through the goalposts or try for a two-point conversion by running or passing the ball into the end zone again.

7. Field Goals: Teams can kick a field goal from any point on the field during their possession. It's worth three points if the kick successfully goes through the goalposts.

8. Turnovers: If the defensive team intercepts a pass or recovers a fumble, they gain possession of the ball and become the offensive team.

9. Fumbles and Out-of-Bounds: If the ball carrier drops the ball (fumble) and it goes out of bounds, the team that last had possession retains the ball at that spot. If the ball goes out of bounds without being possessed, it is placed at the point where it went out.

10. Passing: The quarterback can throw the ball to his teammates down the field. However, there are rules about when and how far they can throw it.

11. Incompletions: If a pass falls incomplete (not caught), it results in a dead ball, and the down is replayed.

12. Penalties: The game has rules and penalties for various infractions, such as holding, pass interference, and unnecessary roughness.

13. Clock Management: American football is played in four quarters, each lasting 15 minutes. The clock stops for various reasons, such as incomplete passes and timeouts.

14. Overtime: If the game is tied at the end of regulation, there is an overtime period to determine the winner.

These are the fundamental rules of American football, providing a basic understanding of how the game is played. The sport is rich in strategy, teamwork, and excitement, making it one of the most popular sports in the United States and around the world.