It’s true, a lot of people watch football and it’s also true that a lot of people don’t.  If you are one of those who don’t, in an effort to not look or feel like a dummy at your next Superbowl party, here are some terms that you may want to brush up on. Here's the official football rules and terms.

Common Football Terms To Know

Football fans have their own language when they talk about the game. To keep up, it’s useful to know what terms like down, extra point, safety, and snap mean.

Down

A period of action that starts when the ball is put into play and ends when the ball is ruled dead (meaning that the play is completed). There are 4 downs in a possession.  If a team fails to gain 10 yards during these 4 downs, possession is turned over to the other team.

End Zone

A 10-yard-long area at both ends of the field — the promised land for a football player. Obviously, the place to be.  If the ball breaks the plane of the end zone, a touchdown is scored.

Extra Point 

A kick, worth one point, that’s typically attempted after every touchdown (it’s also known as the point after touchdown, or PAT). The ball is placed on either the 2-yard line,  and generally is kicked from inside the 10-yard line after being snapped to the holder. It must sail between the uprights and above the crossbar of the goalpost to be considered good.

Field Goal

A kick, worth three points, that can be attempted from anywhere on the field but usually is attempted within 40 yards of the goalpost. Like an extra point, a kick must sail above the crossbar and between the uprights of the goalpost to be ruled good.

Fumble

Oops, butterfingers.  Someone lost possession of the ball before he was down.  It’s up for grabs now.  The team who ends up recovering the ball will take possession of it and begin their 4 downs.

Hash Marks

The lines on the center of the field that signify 1 yard on the field. Before every play, the ball is spotted between the hash marks or on the hash marks, depending on where the ball carrier was tackled on the preceding play.

Interception

A pass that’s caught by a defensive player, ending the offense’s possession of the ball.

Kickoff

A free kick (the receiving team can’t make an attempt to block it) that puts the ball into play. A kickoff is used at the start of the first and third periods and after every touchdown and successful field goal.

Penalty

Oops, what happened?  Someone did something wrong.  They broke a rule.  This is why you see the yellow flags fly and hear whistles blow.

Punt

 A kick made when a player drops the ball and kicks it while it falls toward his foot. A punt is usually made on a fourth down when the offense must surrender possession of the ball to the defense because it couldn’t advance 10 yards.

Return

The act of receiving a kick or punt and running toward the opponent’s goal line with the intent of scoring or gaining significant yardage.

Sack

When a defensive player tackles the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage for a loss of yardage.

Safety

A score, worth two points, that the defense earns by tackling an offensive player in possession of the ball in his own end zone.

Snap

The action in which the ball is hiked (tossed between the legs) by the center to the quarterback, to the holder on a kick attempt, or to the punter. When the snap occurs, the ball is officially in play and action begins.

Touchdown

A score, worth six points, that occurs when a player in possession of the ball crosses the plane of the opponent’s goal line, or when a player catches the ball while in the opponent’s end zone, or when a defensive player recovers a loose ball in the opponent’s end

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