V isualization of American Football Rules

Transcription

1 appendix E 179 V isualization of American Football Rules On the following pages can be seen the prototype for a visualization of American Football Rules.

2 Idea and design by Kai Wolff, UDLA Puebla, MDI Spring 2004 American football basics The object of the game is to move the ball across the opponent's goal line. In advancing the ball a team may run with it or pass it (forward or sideways), but the team must gain 10 yards in four plays (downs) or they lose possession of the ball. At the end of the game, the team with most scores wins. In american football a game never ends with a draw. An american football game is made up of four 15-minute quarters, plus a 15-minute sudden-death overtime if the score is tied after regulation time. A 12-minute halftime falls between the second and third quarters. After the first three quarters the teams change sides. In every american football game 7 officials are participating, they are responsible for the obeying of the rules. A foul is any violation of a playing rule. When a team is charged with a foul, a penalty is called by the official by throwing a piece of yellow cloth on the ground. The team who American Football Basics Explanations for an ignorant spectator fouled loses 5, 10, or 15 yards, depending on the nature of the foul. The referee (the head-official wearing a white cap) is using coded gestures to signal to teams and spectators which penalty has been called. On the following the gestures the referee is using in the explained situations, are depicted in the upper left corner. At the beginning of a game and after every goal, the ball is kicked by the offense from the 35-yard-line towards the opponent team, this is called Kick-off. Colours: The home-playing team is always wearing full-coloured jerseys, the visiting-team white ones. The officials are wearing black-and-white striped shirts to be immidiately recognizable on the field.

3 The field The football field measures 100 yards by 160 feet, which corresponds 91,4 m by 48,8 m. 1 It is marked off by latitudinal stripes every five yards, every ten yards are numbered. 2 The so called hashmarks, which mark every yard, inbetween this line the ball is placed to start each play. 3 The endzones, where scores are achieved. 4 The goal-posts: to score by kicking, the ball has to be kicked through its uprights (arms) and above the crossbar. 5 The team boxes, where players, coaches and staff members are located. Player positions on the field Each team has 11 players on the field one team s offense and the other team s defense who are lined up on both sides of the line of scrimmage, an imaginary line that seperates offense and defense at the beginning of each play. It is not allowed to cross the line before the snap (the handing over of the ball from OC to QB). Offense, formed by eleven players, who attempt to score by passing or running the ball. QB: Quarterback, the leader of the team. OC: Offensive Center, snaps the ball towards the QB. OT: Offensive Tackle and OG: Offensive Guards, blocker. TE: Tight End, a blocker or receiver. WR: Wide Receiver, pass receiver. RB: Running back, runner, blocker and pass receiver. Defense, formed by eleven players, who attempts to prevent scoring opportunities by tackling offensive players or causing the offense to lose control of the ball. DT: Defensive Tackle, stop offense players, DE: Defensive Ends, stop offense players, attack QB. LB: Linebackers, stop runs, cover receivers. CB: Cornerbacks, cover receivers and stop runs. S: Safeties, cover receivers. Special teams Kick a ball or return a kicked ball from the other team.

4 Ball movements After the start of a play, the quarterback is in possesion of the ball. 1 Pass-play: The QB is throwing the ball to a receiver, who catches it. 2 Rush: The QB hands off the ball to a back-player. 3 Interception: A pass is catched by a defense player (a player of the opponent team) 4 Fumble: A pass has been catched by a receiver and afterwards lost. The ball is now available for all players (therefore all jump on the ball and try to get it.) The team who got the ball gets possession of the ball. Legal touching of forward pass: The ball is not catched but touched by a player before it touches the ground, it is available for all players. 5 Incompletion: A not catched pass, which hits the ground. Possibilities to score points 1 Touchdown: The ball is advanced by a player into the opponent s endzone or a pass is catched inside the opponent endzone. It scores 6 points. 2 Extrapoint: Opportunity for the offense-team after a touchdown, to score an extrapoint by kicking the ball through the uprights of the goal-post. It scores 1 point. 3 2 Point Conversion: After a touchdown, the offense-team is not kicking the ball, but making another touchdown. It scores 2 points. 4 Fieldgoal: The ball is snapped to a holder, who places the ball on a tee, from where it is kicked over the bar, between th euprights of the goal-post. It scores 3 point. 5 Safety: An offense-player who is in possession of the ball is brought down in his own endzone by a defense player. It scores 2 points for the defense.

5 The score-board The score-board is giving the following informations: 1. Scores of home and guest-team 2. Time left to play 3. The played down 4. Yards to go to achieve a first down 5. Location of the ball 6. The played quarter First down 1 The offense team has 4 attempts (downs) to advance the ball for 10 yards from the line of scrimmage (this distance is marked by a chain, which is located at the sideline. The number of the current attempt is shown by the down advertiser). 2 First down: If they succeed to advance the ball for 10 yards in four or less downs, they are getting a first down, what means a new set of downs (the first down and three more attempts) to try to advance the ball again for 10 yards 3 If the offense don t succeed in the last attempt to advance the ball for the needed yards, the ball will be handed over to the opponent team, where it has ended after the fourth attempt. If it is almost impossible for the offense to make a first down in the fourth attempt, and the ball is still near their own endzone (which would mean the opponent team could start their play dangerously near to the endzone), the offense has the possibility to kick the ball in the fourth attempt towards the opponent team. In this case, the ball is snapped directly to a kicker. Support your UDLA-team: The Aztecas need your support in the home-games. Therefore bring rattles, whistles, trumpets or anything else what makes noise to the game and in the following are listed up some possible themes you can shout to encourage your team: The UDLA-slogan, the players are shouting at the beginning and end of the game is: U-D-L-A U-D-L-A Aztecas! During the game you can support the Aztecas by shouting: verde, verde, verde or vamos verde or just Aztecas or if the UDLA-defense is playing: Defensa, defensa, defensa At the end of the game, the teams are thanking their fans with the following speech : Chiquitibum a la bimbomba, chiquitibum a la bimbomba, a la bio, a la bao, a la bimbomba, la porra, la porra ra ra ra.