You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to understand (American) football. Of course, it has a language of its own, and there are more rules to learn than in some of the other major spectator sports, such as baseball, basketball, and hockey. But the good news is that, with a little patience and a little enthusiasm, you can learn soccer.

Whether you’ve never watched a game in your life and wondered what all the fuss is about (and there’s a lot), or you’ve seen a game or two and just gave up because you just don’t get it, the bottom line is, you can do it!

Since trying to explain the game is way beyond the scope of this article, let me start with a few basics, so that the next (or first) time you turn on the TV to watch a game, you understand some of what is displayed. on the screen or what the commenters say:

The game score is displayed, so if, for example, it is displayed as Chicago 7, Detroit 0, you will know that Chicago is winning 7-0.

The time remaining in the room (there are four rooms in a game) is shown ending, so if it shows as 12:38, you know there are twelve minutes and thirty-eight seconds left to play in the room (every quarter in a game professional is fifteen minutes as dictated by the game clock). The room in which the game is located is also shown, that is, the second

The descent and the number of yards remaining for a first attempt are displayed; this requires a little explanation. Each time a team takes possession of the ball (it is on Offense), it is given a series of four plays, called downs, to advance the ball at least ten yards. The first play of the series is a first down, the second is a second down, etc. If he is able to advance the ball at least ten yards in the series, he is awarded a new series of downs starting with the first down. If you cannot advance the ball at least ten yards, you may have to give up possession of the ball. The down and number of yards remaining for a first down is shown, ie 3rd and 7th, which means it is a third down, and the offense needs to advance the ball at least seven more yards for a first down.

When the commenters say they are “moving the chains”, it means that a team has made a first attempt. The chains they refer to are two posts connected by a ten-yard chain, held along the side lines; One chain is located where a series begins, and the other, where the offense must move the ball to make a first down. Every time a team makes a first attempt, the chains move forward, “moving the chains.”

The yellow line on the screen running across the field is not actually in the field, but rather the result of modern technology. Show viewers where the offense needs to advance the ball for a first down.

The number of seconds the Offense must start the next play (as dictated by the play clock) is sometimes shown decreasing, ie 4 … This means the Offense has four seconds to start the next play; otherwise, you incur a penalty (an infraction of the rules). The offense has 40 seconds at the end of a play to begin the next.

Every time you see the word “FLAG” or hear the commentators say that there is a flag on the play, it means that one of the players (from either team) has committed a penalty.