Table of Contents

Click on a Chapter Title for a more detailed description of each chapter's contents.

Introduction: Chapter 1: Chapter 2: Chapter 3: Chapter 4: Chapter 5: Chapter 6: Chapter 7: Chapter 8: Chapter 9: Chapter 10: Chapter 11: Chapter 12: Chapter 13: Chapter 14: Chapter 15: Chapter 16: Chapter 17: Chapter 18: Chapter 19: Chapter 20: Chapter 21: Chapter 22: Chapter 23: Chapter 24: Chapter 25: Appendix 1: Appendix 2: Appendix 3:

Football Organizations The Origins of Football Object of the Game The Football Field Uniforms and Equipment How the Game is Played Scoring Player Skills Player Positions The Officials Fouls and Penalties Things to Look for During Play / Strategy Formations and Plays Deciphering Football Statistics Reading a Game Summary NFL Teams, Divisions and Conferences NFL Season, Playoffs and the Superbowl College Football Season NFL College Draft Introduction to Fantasy Leagues Pro Football Hall of Fame NFL Pro Bowl Awards -- College and Pro Personalities -- Past and Present Great Teams NFL Individual Records Glossary of Football Terms Index Officials' Hand Signals

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Introduction: Football Organizations

Contains the following sections:

• NFL (National Football League)
• NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association)
• CFL (Canadian Football League)
• NFL Europe

Chapter 1: The Origins of Football

Includes the following sections:

• The Beginning
• The NFL is Born
• The 1920's and 1930's
• The Merger
• The Modern Game: Popularity Soars

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Chapter 2: Object of the Game

The object of the game of Football is briefly explained.

Excerpt:
"Football is a territorial battle played on a field between two teams of 11 players each. Each team tries to move a ball by running with it and throwing it among themselves, trying to . . . "

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Chapter 3: The Football Field

The football field is explained along with some diagrams and descriptions of the following:

• Goal Line
• End Zone
• Goalpost
• Yard Lines
• Hash Marks
• Player Benches
• Whose Side Is Whose
• The Red Zone

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Chapter 4: Uniforms and Equipment

Includes the following sections:

• The Football
• Player Equipment
• Player Uniforms

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Chapter 5: How the Game is Played

Includes the following sections:

• Offense vs. Defense
• Scoring
• Downs: Chances for Team to Advance Ball
• Length of Game
• The Play Clock
• Ties and Overtime in Professional Football
• College Football Overtime
• Start of Game: The Kickoff
• Coin Toss: Which Team Gets the Ball First
• The Huddle: Planning a Play
• At the Line: Setup for a Play (See Excerpt)
• The Snap: Start of a Play
• Types of Offensive Plays
• Touchback
• Stoppages: How a Play Ends
• Change of Possession
• Game Clock Stoppages
• Team Time Outs
• Instant Replay
• Substitutions

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Chapter 6: Scoring

Includes explanations and descriptions on the following:

• Touchdown (See Excerpt)
• Point-After-Touchdown (PAT) (1 Point)
• 2-Point Conversion
• Field Goal
• Safety

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Chapter 7: Player Skills

Includes the following sections:

• Offensive Skills
  • Blocking
  • Running the Ball
  • Passing
  • Receiving
• Defensive Skills
  • Tackling
  • Pass Coverage
• Kicking Skills
  • Punting

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Chapter 8: Player Positions

Includes the following sections:

• The Offensive Unit
  • Quarterback (QB)
  • Running Backs (RB): Halfback (HB), Fullback (FB)
  • Wide Receiver (WR)
  • Tight End (TE)
  • Offensive Linemen (OL): Center (C), Guards (G) and Tackles (OT)
• The Defensive Unit
  • Defensive Linemen (DL): Tackles (DT) and Ends (DE)
  • Linebackers (LB)
  • Defensive Backs (DB): Safeties (S) and Cornerbacks (CB)
• Special Teams
  • Place Kicker (PK)
  • Punter (P)
  • Holder (H)
  • Kick Returned (KR)

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Chapter 9: The Officials

Includes the following sections:

• The Referee
• The Umpire
• The Head Linesman
• The Line Judge
• The Side Judge
• The Back Judge
• The Field Judge
• Other Officials

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Chapter 10: Fouls and Penalties

Includes the following sections:

• Accepting or Declining a Penalty
• Consequences of a Penalty
• Measuring Penalty Yardage
• Fouls with Change of Possession
• Personal Fouls
• Double Fouls and Multiple Fouls
• List of Fouls (with descriptions)

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Chapter 11: Things to Look for During Play / Strategy

Includes the following sections:

• Watching the Ball
• Virtual First Down Line
• Choosing an Offensive Play
  • Running Play vs. Passing Play
  • Fourth Down Situations: Punt, Field Goal, or Go For It

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Chapter 12: Formations and Plays

Includes the following sections:

• Offensive Formations
  • I-Formation
  • Split Formation
  • Spread Formation
  • Shotgun Formation
• Offensive Plays
  • Running Plays
    • Draw Play
    • Reverse/Double Reverse
    • Sweep
  • Passing Plays
    • Bomb
    • Flea Flicker
    • Play-Action Pass
    • Screen Pass
  • Option plays
• Defensive Formations (See Excerpt)
  • 4-3 Defense
  • 3-4 Defense
  • Nickel or Dime Defense
  • Goal Line Defense
• Defensive Plays
  • Zone Defense
  • Man-to-Man Defense
  • Blitz / Dog
  • Prevent Defense
• Special Teams Plays
  • Fake Punt / Fake Field Goal
  • Onside Kick

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Chapter 13: Deciphering Football Statistics

Explains definition and meaning of various football statistics.
Includes the following sections:

• Individual Passing Statistics
• Individual Rushing Statistics
• Individual Receiving Statistics
• Other Individual Offensive Statistics
• Individual Defensive Statistics
• Team Statistics

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Chapter 14: Reading a Game Summary

Shows an example of a game summary or boxscore from a newspaper and explains the various sections and information contained within.

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Chapter 15: NFL Teams, Divisions and Conferences

Lists the various teams, divisions and conferences in the NFL along with other useful information.
Also includes the following sections:

• Growth of the NFL
• Recent Expansion

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Chapter 16: NFL Season, Playoffs and the Superbowl

Includes the following sections:

• Pre-Season
• Regular Season
• Qualifying for the Playoffs
• The NFL Playoffs
• The Super Bowl
• Complete List of Super Bowls Played
• The NFL on Television

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Chapter 17: College Football Season

Includes the following sections:

• College Divisions and Conferences
• Regular Season
• National Rankings
• Bowl Games
• The Bowl Championship Series

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Chapter 18: NFL College Draft

Explains how the NFL college draft works along with how the order of the draft is decided.

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Chapter 19: Introduction to Fantasy Leagues

Includes the following sections:

• Starting Out: The Draft
• Earning Points
• Competition

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Chapter 20: Pro Football Hall of Fame

Brief explanation of the Pro Football Hall of Fame

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Chapter 21: NFL Pro Bowl

Brief explanation of the NFL Pro Bowl

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Chapter 22: Awards -- College and Pro

Includes the following sections:

• College Awards
  • Heisman Trophy
  • All America Team
• NFL Awards
  • Player of the Year / Most Valuable Player (MVP)
  • Rookie of the Year
  • AFC/NFC Coach of the Year
  • All-Pro / All-NFL Team

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Chapter 23: Personalities -- Past and Present

Short biographies of football's current stars and some of the most famous players and coaches of the past including:

• Sammy Baugh
• George Blanda
• Terry Bradshaw
• Jim Brown
• Bear Bryant
• Dick Butkus
• Mike Ditka
• John Elway
• Marshall Faulk
• Brett Favre
• Harold ("Red") Grange
• George ("Pappa Bear") Halas
• Franco Harris
• Tom Landry
• Vince Lombardi
• John Madden
• Dan Marino
• Joe Montana
• Randy Moss
• Joe Namath
• Walter Payton
• Jerry Rice
• Pete Rozelle
• Barry Sanders
• Gale Sayers
• Don Shula
• O.J. Simpson
• Emmitt Smith
• Fran Tarkenton
• Johnny Unitas
• Kurt Warner
• Reggie White
• Steve Young

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Chapter 24: Great Teams & Dynasties

Short description of the following teams:

• Green Bay Packers 1960-1967
• Miami Dolphins 1971-1974
• Pittsburgh Steelers 1974-1979
• San Francisco 49ers 1981-1990
• Dallas Cowboys 1992-1996

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Chapter 25: NFL Individual Records

• Career Leaders
  • All-Time Passing Yards
  • All-Time Touchdown Passes
  • All-Time Rushing Yards
  • All-Time Rushing Touchdowns
  • All-Time Receiving Yards
  • All-Time Receiving Touchdowns
  • All-Time Total Touchdowns
  • All-Time Total Points
  • All-Time Sacks
• Single Season Records
  • Single-Season Passing Yards
  • Single-Season Touchdown Passes
  • Single-Season Rushing Yards
  • Single-Season Rushing Touchdowns
  • Single-Season Receiving Yards
  • Single-Season Receiving Touchdowns
  • Single-Season Sacks
• Single Game Records
  • Best Passing Performances
  • Best Rushing Performances
  • Best Receiving Performances

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Appendix 1: Glossary of Football Terms

Comprehensive listing of Football terms. A very handy reference.
Check out our Glossary Web Page to view this reference On-Line.

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Appendix 2: Index

Index of terms and phrases in book.

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Appendix 3: Officials' Hand Signals

Check out our Officials' Hand Signals Web Page.
This useful reference includes hand signal diagrams along with definition and descriptions.

Includes diagrams of the following football hand signals:

• Touchdown, Field Goal-Good or Extra Point-Good
• Safety
• Penalty Declined, Incomplete Pass or Missed Field Goal
• First Down
• Time-Out
• Time-In
• Touchback
• Personal Foul
• Loss of Down
• Clipping
• Delay of Game
• Encroachment or Offside
• False Start
• Holding
• Illegal Cut
• Illegal Motion
• Illegal Use of Hands
• Ineligible Receiver Downfield
• Intentional Grounding
• Pass Interference
• Roughing the Kicker
• Tripping
• Unsportsmanlike Conduct

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