In American football, the team that takes possession of the ball (the offense) has four attempts

Called downs, to advance the ball ten yards towards the your opponent’s end zone (defensive). When the offense gains ten yards, it receives a first down, which means the team has another set of four downs to gain ten more yards or score. If the attack doesn’t get a first down (ten yards) after four downs, the other team is in possession of the ball. Before each down, each team chooses a play, or set coordinated action, which players must follow on a descent. At basses themselves are sometimes called “plays”.

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The plays usually are communicated in a “huddle” in which players group together so that the play is not known to the opposing team; however, the plays are often called by the captain on the line of scrimmage. these plays are called “audible” and often involve code to prevent understanding of the opposing team. Except at the start of time and after scoring, the ball is always placed in game for a snap. Offensive players line up facing the defensive players on the line of scrimmage – the position on the field where play begins. An offensive player, the center, passes (or “snaps”) the ball between the legs for a teammate, usually the quarterback.