This category is for topics relating to American rules football, by various measures the most popular spectator team sport in the United States.
The American game is played by two opposing teams of eleven on a 100x53 yard field, delinated by a goal line and an elevated set of goal posts at either end. The offense must move the ball, by passing or running, ten yards in four plays ("downs") towards the opponent's goal line in an attempt to score. If the line is crossed, they score "touchdown," worth six points; otherwise, possession is yielded; scoring and possession may be accomplished through various additional means depending on the rules of the game in question.
Kicking games were practiced in pre-colonial and colonial times under various rules. The first intercollegiate matchup took place on November 6, 1869 between Princeton and Rutgers Universities, but the distinctive rules of American football developed from the merging of the soccer-like rules adopted by Princeton, Rutgers, Yale and Columbia with those of the rugby-like running game observed by Harvard and McGill in the 1870s and 1880s.
Handicapping information, betting lines, and other wagering sites should not be submitted here, but rather to Games: Gambling: Sports.
American Football isn't strictly a U.S. phenomenon. You will find club teams and semi-pro leagues playing American Football in countries around the world. This category lists a few of them.
Please submit only English-language sites to this category. Non-English sites should be submitted under the appropriate category in World. See the parent category for a collection of links to categories for American football in other languages.
This category groups sites about American college football, including team and conference home pages, news media, history, and fan sites.
The history of American football begins with a college match in 1869 between Princeton and Rutgers; the shape of the ball and goalposts and the modern rules were all established by college officials and players.
In days before movies or television, many came to follow their local college or university team with great interest, especially after reforms to improve safety. The richness of football traditions and lore at schools and in communities and the nation at large-- "win one for the Gipper" was Notre Dame coach Knute Rockne's line-- continues to hold the fascination of fans in the United States and elsewhere.
Please submit sites about individual schools, classics, or conferences into the most specific category possible.
Recruiting, athlete referral, or scholarship search services not specific to college football - please send all such sites to Sports/College_and_University/Recruiting.
Flag football is a version of American football that is popular in North America. The basic rules of the game are similar to those of the mainstream game (often called "tackle football" for contrast), but instead of tackling players to the ground, the defensive team must remove a flag or flag belt from the ball carrier ("deflagging") to end a down.
This category is for any site that deals with high school football.
Due to the community focus of pre-college sports, you may also find many sites also listed in the Regional category.
This level is only for general U.S. high football sites. Please submit sites about specific schools to the appropriate state. Submitting the site for a particular team will slow down the review process.
Please submit sites for youth football to that category.
Covers the history of American football, such as its evolution from a club sport in the late 19th into the early 20th century, as well as defunct leagues and teams.
Sites pertaining to the history of a specific league or to College football should be submitted to the appropriate subcategory.
This category deals almost exclusively with the National Football League in the United States.
Information on other former Professional Football leagues, such as the USFL, AAFC and AFL, can be found in Sports: Football: American: History.
When submitting sites for specific teams, please be sure to submit to the appropriate team category.
Please note: The following types of sites will not be listed here.
Gambling - Please suggest all sites for online gambling, including handicapping, betting lines, pools, and online sports books to the appropriate category in Games: Gambling: Sports.
The United Football League is a professional American football league being organized by William Hambrecht, a Wall Street investor and former minority partner in the USFL's Oakland Invaders, and Tim Armstrong, a senior executive at Google. Mark Cuban, owner of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks, has agreed to purchase a franchise for $30 million. Teams are already being set up in Las Vegas, Mexico City and Los Angeles. Birmingham, San Antonio, Raleigh-Durham, and Orlando are being considered for franchise locations. Eight locations will play the initial games, which are scheduled to start in August 2008.
Please submit only sites for the modern UFL. Sites for the short-lived league of the same name in the 1960s should be submitted to Sports: Football: American: History