American Football

Captivating fans all over the USA and overseas, American Football is loved by many. However, if you are not familiar with the sport or you want to start watching or taking part, you may not know the responsibility of each player when it comes to picking your position.

Therefore, we have put this article together to explore the defensive and offensive positions on the field. We are also going to acknowledge the most successful and famous NFL players of all time who you can use as idols or a reference when you are training.

Defensive Positions

For both of the sides of the pitch there are 11 players present during every key match; however this may differ for more recreational matches. Below is a list of the defensive positions you could choose from when starting out in the sport:

• Tackles
• Ends
• Linebackers
• Corner backers
• Safety

Players who are in the tackle position are also often known as defensive guard which is the opposition of the offensive placement. These key players are situated in the middle of the line of defence. The main role of the tackle is to stop the passer from the opposing side and intercept running plays which go through the middle of the scrimmage. There is one player in particular called the nose tackle who takes stance directly opposite the ball, however most commonly there are two tackles on the pitch with ends either side or a gap in the centre for the linebackers behind them.

As mentioned above, the ends are situated both side of the tackles and are part of the front line of defence. The main role of these players is to attack the passer and prevent the opposition from running through their side of the scrimmage. When it comes to picking who goes what side of the tackles, it often is decided depending upon the blind side of the quarterback. If they are right handed the fastest end will be situated on the right side

For the uninitiated, rugby and American football can look remarkably similar to one another. Yes, some differences are immediately apparent — rugby is much more often a "free for all" compared to the rigidly structured plays one finds in the National Football League in the USA. That said, the similarities aren't a coincidence: both sports share a common ancestor, a sport developed by the British in the 1800s. Over time, the two games diverged, the modern rulesets emerged, and both pursuits developed their own passionate and dedicated fan bases. Today, rugby remains far less popular in North America than in other nations around the world, and American football is largely just that: American.

Even so, there are plenty of intriguing similarities to note between the games alongside their differences. Are you curious about how the mechanics of the two games compare? From the size of the playing field to the way scoring works and even how the game allows players to come on and off the field, you'll find there are plenty of links that tip us off to the common origin for these games. Settle in and get ready to learn about how to tell these two cousins apart.

Understanding the rugby pitch and the football field

Looking at the playing field is the easy place to begin making our comparisons. At first glance, especially from a distance, it can seem like the fields are almost identical in size. To a certain extent, that can be true — but the core difference here is that a rugby pitch is somewhat larger than an American football field.

For the Americans, whose sport still favours the Imperial system, the playing fie

4th January 2017.Aside from its unique rules of play and the huge level of physicality involved, there is one thing that separates American football immediately from almost any other sport ? the visual element. It's hard to deny that the look of an American football player is an iconic one. From the smooth, rounded helmet and the imposing facemasks to the distinctive shape of their protective shoulder pads, the amount of protective gear makes every player look visually impressive. Whether you or a child you know is interested in playing this sport, pulling together the right kit is essential. Without the proper protection, you shouldn't even think about setting foot on the gridiron! What should you have on your shopping list when you head to the athletic store, though? At first glance, it's not always easy to tell just how many different components make up the American football kit. Once you start breaking it down, it quickly becomes apparent that there are many elements to every player's uniform. Almost all of them play some important role during the game. If you're thinking about trying out and you want to start gathering up your gear, here's what you'll need to play the game safely.

The helmet and facemask, the most important items of all

There's no getting around the fact that a player's head is the body part the most at risk during every game of American football. That is why the helmet is one of the most essential elements of the kit. Combined with a facemask to keep hands away from the player's face, they form the most integral part of the uniform next to the shoulder pads. Facemasks can have a lot of variety, with different shapes and patterns available, but helmets follow a strict standard.

31st August 2017. For fans of American football, the long drought of the offseason is finally almost over. With the next season beginning in just a few weeks, it's time to ramp up the hype levels again and start building excitement for the games ahead. With this year's draft in the books and the first games of the pre-season starting to peek over the horizon, now is also a good opportunity to catch up on what you need to know about the upcoming season. Some players have changed teams, and other teams have had their fortunes shift. There have even been some rule changes implemented for the upcoming season. With two divisions and 32 teams between them, keeping track of everything that goes on each year can be a challenge. Whether you select one favourite to watch or opt to follow several on their journey through the months-long regular season, there's sure to be no shortage of excitement. The 2017 season also features another first for the NFL: more overseas games. In past years, the league has played two games as exhibitions in London. This year, that number jumps up to four! What else has developed since the end of the last Super Bowl?

Important developments in the off-season

The off-season is a time for horse-trading, team-building, and deal-making in the NFL. After the New England Patriots clinched yet another Lombardi Trophy at the conclusion of Super Bowl LI, every team in the league returned home to begin planning for next year. A few developments have made for some potentially interesting changes this year. First, of course, is the relocation of the San Diego Chargers to Los Angeles, following the St Louis Rams to the California city. They are now known, of course, as the Los Angeles Chargers. Next, six teams changed head coaches this off-season. The San Francisco 49ers had a disappointing 2016-17 season and opted to replace their coach with Kyle Shanahan, an experienced offensive and

20th April 2017.If you've ever watched a game of American football, there is one thing you may have noticed right away: the players are unlike others from many different sports. They must excel in a variety of physical categories all at once: size, speed, agility, power, and strength all come into play. That level of physical fitness is what allows them to perform such incredible feats of athleticism on the playing field. Naturally, that kind of development doesn't come easily; instead, it is the result of nearly constant training and conditioning. A football player's body is a fine-tuned machine ? it needs to be, or else the whole team could suffer. Are you curious about the way football players train? While you may not be able to replicate a conditioning programme exactly, that doesn't mean you can't approximate the process. If you want to develop a workout that focuses on improving your all-around fitness and allows you to become stronger, replicating an American football workout is not a bad idea. In today's article, we'll look at the mechanics of making that happen. From strength conditioning to intensive cardio, there could be a lot on your plate. Let's begin with a foundation of endurance and general wellness. From there, we'll move on to other important elements.

Creating the ability to endure tough sports sessions

Robust heart and lung health are essential to developing the muscular and cardio endurance necessary to replicate a football player's workout. If you're just starting out, you need to develop your basic fitness here first. That means lots of running or swimming ? any strenuous activity that makes your heart work harder. Once you've mastered those, you can begin developing a different kind of endurance. American football players spend a large amount of time in the gym, pushing themselves further every day. If you normally do five or ten reps of a strength exercise, prepare

3rd November 2016. For hundreds of millions of people around the world, one thing and one thing only comes to mind when they hear the word "football." That thing is a wide, green pitch and two teams of players skilled with their feet, passing and striking a ball back and forth in attempts to score goals. However, for Americans, it means something quite different! American football, the game played on the gridiron with an oblong ball, is nothing like "soccer," but that hasn't stopped it from gaining popularity and viewership worldwide. For example, more than 13 million people in the United Kingdom are fans of the game, and there's even a league in China for the game.

For those who aren't yet fans, the high-impact, high-velocity nature of the sport can be quite intriguing. Before you tune in to watch your first game, though, you might want to have a better understanding of the game's structure and how it's played. After all, for the uninitiated, the entire sport can seem like an overly complicated mess. Once you get down to it, though, American football is a game beautiful in its ruleset and a true thrill to watch it unfold on the field. From player positions to how the league works, we'll give you a quick and effective run-down on American football below.

How are the games organized?

Before we dive straight into the actual mechanics of the game, it's first crucial to have an understanding of the National Football League's organization and structure. Otherwise, it will be difficult to keep track of the teams and understand the rankings, and eventually, the playoffs. Overall, the NFL is the organizing body for the sport. The League sets and maintains the rules, employs the vital officiating crews, and ensures fair play amongst all the 32 teams that play across the United States. Within

When it comes to all the various sports from around the world, few have the same exciting impact as American football. The gridiron is a place where many go to test their strength, agility, and skill at moving the ball down the field. Not everyone can be the quarterback, though, and there are many positions on an American football team which play a crucial support role. From blockers on the offensive line to defensive tackles scrambling to force a fumble, there's a role for every kind of athlete to play. When you're primarily interested in being down on the line of scrimmage, though, you're going to need more than just speed and agility: you're going to need strength, too. Otherwise, how else are you going to hold back hundreds of pounds of determined defenders when you're trying to protect against the pass rush? Developing and sticking to a strength training regimen specifically designed for American football players is important. It offers you the chance to correct the weaknesses in your game while making yourself stronger and tougher. Hitting the gym without any clear direction of purpose, though, is only going to lead to frustration. To make it simpler, let's break down the various methods and approaches you can use to improve your strength training before the next time you gear up and hit the field.

Which muscle groups should you target?

Jumping straight into the weight room and hitting every weight machine and bench you can find isn't a recipe for

February 2016 brings the 50^thincarnation of the Super Bowl, so it goes without saying that American football is dominating the sporting headlines right now?even outside of the United States. But how did this sport develop, and how is its history tied to association football? Read on for a brief history of the American football tradition.

Humble Beginnings

The first "official" association football game was played in December 1863 in England after the Football Association met for the first time and decided on a formal set of rules. Rugby football?which can also be linked to the development of American football?also traces its origins to early to mid-19^th century England. Unsurprisingly, American football (also known in some circles as "gridiron football," or commonly as just "football" in the United States) developed as a sort of hybrid between these two games.

Before they were professional sports, both soccer and rugby developed as games played at public schools and universities. Notably, the "Cambridge Rules"?which were authored at Cambridge University in 1948?were a template on which the FA built their "Laws of the Games." Similarly, American football began as a college exploit, with schools like Princeton, Rutgers, Harvard, and Yale among the first adopters. These college competitions began around 1869, but at the time, there was no official document illustrating the rules of the game. As a result, different colleges were playing slightly different variations of a football-like game. The first recorded intercollegiate match in the United States was a contest between Princeton and Rutgers and saw the two teams playing a game that was, for all intents and purposes, soccer.