NFL football is a competitive team sport known for mixing strategy with physical play. The object of the game is to score points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone.
A standard football game consists of four 15-minute quarters, with a half-time intermission after the second quarter.
A down ends, and the ball becomes dead, after any of the following: the player with the ball is forced to the ground or has his forward progress halted by members of the other team, a forward pass goes out of bounds or touches the ground before it is caught, or if a team scores.
You can score by getting a safety, field goal, or touchdown. If you get a touchdown, you have the choice of kicking the extra point or going for a two point conversion.
Fouls are punished with penalties against the offending team. Most penalties result in moving the football towards the offending team's end zone.
The offensive line consists of five players whose job is to protect the passer and clear the way for runners by blocking members of the defense.
The quarterback receives the snap from the center on most plays. He then hands or tosses it to a running back, throws it to a receiver or runs with it himself.
Running backs line up behind or beside the QB and specialize in running with the ball. They also block, catch passes and, on rare occasions, pass the ball to others or even receive the snap.
Wide receivers line up near the sidelines. They specialize in catching passes, though they also block for running plays or downfield after another receiver makes a catch.
Tight ends line up outside the offensive line. They can either play like wide receivers or like offensive linemen.
At least seven players must line up on the line of scrimmage on every offensive play.
The defensive line consists of three to six players who line up immediately across from the offensive line.
Behind the defensive line are the linebackers. They line up between the defensive line and defensive backs and may either rush the quarterback or cover potential receivers. Their main job is to cover the run up the middle.
The last line of defense is known as the secondary, comprising at least three players who line up as defensive backs, which are either cornerbacks or safeties. They cover the receivers and try to stop pass completions. They occasionally rush the quarterback. However, this leaves the field wide open for passing.
The units of players who handle kicking plays are known as special teams. Three important special-teams players are the punter, the kicker, and the long snapper.
Because the game stops after every down, giving teams a chance to call a new play, strategy plays a major role in football.
To stop the offense from advancing the ball, the defense must tackle the player with the ball by knocking or pulling him down. Tacklers cannot kick or punch the runner. They also cannot grab the face mask of the runner's helmet or lead into a tackle with their own helmet.
Showing posts with label playing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label playing. Show all posts
Wednesday, 16 July 2008
A few basic tips to improve your chess game
If you are like me you enjoy playing chess but hate losing more often than you win. For me at least, winning often seemed more of an accident than skill. Well, having many hours of trial and error, studying moves my opponents made, looking at what I was doing, etc. I came up with a few basic ideas on how to improve my playing skills.
In the beginning, there was the middle
The first moves of the game are essential to your strategy. They can also be the hardest to decide. From my experience, I have found that controlling the middle of the board is a good way to start. Whether the game takes place on the left side of the board or the right, taking control of the middle will allow you to be ready and in control of how the game pans out. Put your pieces in the middle, protect them as best you can, and gain a better feeling of control.
Pushing past the defenses
Once the game is a few moves in, it is time to start the push to kill the king. Chasing the king around with a single piece only to put it into a place where it is little use is not a good idea. However, a single piece can be extremely powerful in the right place. Look at the chess board. Divide it in half so your pieces are on one side and your opponent's are on the other. Try to get one of your pieces past that middle line in a place where it is well protected. By getting your piece firmly in your opponent's territory you are hindering how and where they can move, making it easier
The King can be more than a weakness
The King, as you know, is what decides a win or loss in chess. Generally it is a good idea to keep him protected. Placing a few pawns in front of him is a good defense and will buy you more time to take your opponent's King. However, when there are fewer pieces on the board, the king can be used to influence and threaten pieces. Send it past your pawns and and you can influence how your opponent moves his pieces. It is a bit more risky, but can win games.
I can't write an entire book on chess strategies in this article, but hopefully these few basic tips will help you out some. If you do want something longer to teach you how to become a better chess player, go to http://kudu02.bestnet05.hop.clickbank.net/
In the beginning, there was the middle
The first moves of the game are essential to your strategy. They can also be the hardest to decide. From my experience, I have found that controlling the middle of the board is a good way to start. Whether the game takes place on the left side of the board or the right, taking control of the middle will allow you to be ready and in control of how the game pans out. Put your pieces in the middle, protect them as best you can, and gain a better feeling of control.
Pushing past the defenses
Once the game is a few moves in, it is time to start the push to kill the king. Chasing the king around with a single piece only to put it into a place where it is little use is not a good idea. However, a single piece can be extremely powerful in the right place. Look at the chess board. Divide it in half so your pieces are on one side and your opponent's are on the other. Try to get one of your pieces past that middle line in a place where it is well protected. By getting your piece firmly in your opponent's territory you are hindering how and where they can move, making it easier
The King can be more than a weakness
The King, as you know, is what decides a win or loss in chess. Generally it is a good idea to keep him protected. Placing a few pawns in front of him is a good defense and will buy you more time to take your opponent's King. However, when there are fewer pieces on the board, the king can be used to influence and threaten pieces. Send it past your pawns and and you can influence how your opponent moves his pieces. It is a bit more risky, but can win games.
I can't write an entire book on chess strategies in this article, but hopefully these few basic tips will help you out some. If you do want something longer to teach you how to become a better chess player, go to http://kudu02.bestnet05.hop.clickbank.net/
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