The Sports Life

Football Faq: So You Won't Look Too Stupid Watching Football With Your Date

* What are the positions in football?

There are two types of position, an offensive position and a defensive position. One of the most essential offensive positions is the quarterback. The protectors of the quarterback are the offensive line.

As an additional protection there are the running-the-ball positions of running back and fullback. These positions are located in the backfield, behind the quarterback. The last offensive position is the wide receiver. This position has the main objective of receiving (catching) the ball when the quarterback throws (passes) it.

The defensive positions are: defensive end, linebacker, cornerback, and safety, who has the last thing to say about defense. Safeties are located at the back, while the defensive ends are out front.

* What does each position in football do?

Offensive positions are: quarterback, offensive line, running back, fullback, and wide receiver. The quarterback is the leader of the team. He gets the ball at the beginning of each play and he makes the decision whether to throw the ball or run it.

The offensive line's job is to defend the quarterback or the running back, especially while they have the ball. Another thing the offensive line does is block or catch passes.

Running backs and fullbacks are the major hurrying unit. The wide receiver is the one who will usually catch the ball when the quarterback throws it. He must be tall and quick.

Defensive positions are: defensive end, linebacker, cornerback, and safety. The defensive ends are the outer part of the defensive team. Linebackers are the most important line-up of the defense. They are the quick, hard hitters. Cornerbacks are in charge of defending the wide receiver so he can catch the ball and run with it, while the safeties guard and defend the cornerbacks.

* Where did the name football originate?

A form of football called harpaston was first played by the ancient Greeks. In the United States it was played as early as 1609 in Virginia, though in a simpler form. For the ball, they used the inflated bladder of a slaughtered pig.

Most "football" today is played in Europe and South America, and is the sport that North Americans call soccer. Football got its name because in soccer the hands cannot be used to move the ball. Later, rugby came into popularity, wherein the hands are allowed to be used.

American football has been widely influenced by rugby, and is known throughout the world today as (guess what) "American football."

* Where did they get the shape of the football?

The shape of the football comes from the shape of the ball in the game of rugby. Football has an elongated ball with pointed ends. The ball is perfectly designed for the player to hold it easily and have a nice aerodynamic motion when it is perfectly thrown. It also has an unpredictable bounce when it hits the ground.

The ball is eleven inches long and about nine inches wide. All of the manufacturers put some laces on one side so the players can grip and hold it easily. This is the reason why rugby and football have almost the same shape of ball, in contrast to soccer, which has a round ball that is manipulated mainly by the feet.

Hadyn Falk is editor of http://www.hq-football.com/, the online guide to Football. He also writes Football FAQ's for http://www.prettygreatanswers.com/articles/FootballQuestions/ .

MORE ARTICLES:

Ludus Tours Contracts New Budget Hotel during Beijing 2008 Olympics
In an effort to provide clients with budget accommodations during the Beijing Olympics, Ludus Tours adds another hotel property to its 2008 Summer Games portfolio.

Experience History In The Making At The Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics With Virgin Vacations
The countdown is on for one of the biggest events of 2008 -- the Summer Olympics in Beijing. Anyone wanted to be in on the action better book fast and Virgin Vacations has the perfect packages for any Olympics fan.

International Music Star Alexa Releases Single "Beijing" to Protest Olympics
Coinciding with the opening of the 2008 Summer Olympics, New York City based Musician Alexa announced the release today of her new single "Beijing"in protest of the current regime in China and its human rights violations. The single is from her forthcoming CD "Lovely."

Remote Lands Offers VIP Security at 2008 Beijing Olympics
As tourists crowd the already congested streets of Beijing this summer, travel for those requiring personal security becomes increasingly more difficult. Remote Lands, the world's foremost luxury travel designer focused exclusively on Asia, is offering its VIP clients the utmost in comfort and security during their journeys to the Summer Olympics this year.

There’s a Euro 2008 Soccer Jersey Online For You
The Euro 2008 or UEFA European Football Championship was organized by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), one of the six continental federations of the FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) It’s the 13th in the series of championships that occur every 4 years in Europe

AsiaHotels.com Releases a Free eGuide for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics
AsiaHotels.com has published a visitor guide for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the '2008 Beijing Olympics Guide Book.' This free, fully downloadable guide provides a wealth of information about not only Olympic events but also local transportation options, restaurants, accommodation options and sightseeing in Beijing.

Last Minute Euro 2008 Football Match Tickets and Hotel Accommodation
This really is the very last chance some of you will have to buy football match tickets for the European Championship Euros 2008 football event to be hosted in Austria & Switzerland starting on 7th June 2008. Most hotels in Innsbruck, Klagenfurt, Salzburg, Vienna, Basel, Bern, Geneva and Zurich have already sold out. Also, virtually all the football match tickets for the stadiums STADION TIVOLI NEU, W?RTHERSEE STADION, Stadium - WALS-SEIZENHEIM, Stadium - ERNST-HAPPEL STADION, Stadium - St. JAKOB-PARK, Stadium - STADE DE SUISSE WANKDORF, Stadium STADE-DE-GEN?VE and Stadium - LETZIGRUND STADION have also been sold out.

Euro 2008 Football Tournament Review
This summer's European Football Championships held in Switzerland and Austria has been hailed as a massive success The vast majority of games were full of excitement and goals and there were very few unsavory incidents

Mothers Capture Precious Medals at the Beijing Olympics
The full range of female athletes on the 2008 Olympic teams makes it clear that age and family responsibilities are not the barriers to participation in the Games they used to be Stories from Beijing highlight the courage and resolve of the mothers of the world - as they demonstrate their athletic prowess and win gold or silver medals