Football History and Jargon

Every game, every job, develops its own particular language, such that people who are familiar with that language can understand what's being said easily, and newcomers will be left shaking their heads.

It's a cliche that women don't understand the terms such as "dime" defense, or "nickel" package, and so on, but frankly, if women are interested in the game - and many are, they will know these terms. However, there are plenty of women, and men, and youngsters, who don't play the game and thus will need to educate themselves a bit so they can properly appreciate the game.
Some history and terms

History

1949 - the modern game begins
Like most other sports, rules for football changed from the minute the game was created. The most drastic changes occurred in the decades between the 1890s and 1950.

In 1912, the football field was changed from 110 to 100 yards in length, a touchdown became worth six points, with one point for a "point after" kick, and three points for a field goal. A fourth "down" was also added.

In 1943, with a lot of young men lost to the Armed Services for WWII, older football players entered the league. They could not play both offense and defense, as the younger men had, so the rules were changed to allow for substitutions. This rule change had only been intended to last until the end of the war, but after extensive lobbying, it became the rule in 1949, and the modern game of football officially began.

"The greatest game ever played"
Students of football believe this game to be the one that took place on December 28, 1958. This was the first time the NFL Championship Game was broadcast on national television, between the New York Giants, quarterbacked by Charlie Conerly, and the Baltimore Colts, quarterbacked by Johnny Unitas. The Colts managed to win in overtime. It was only after this game that the NFL achieved the status of "national pastime."

The Super Bowl
The Super Bowl was first played on January 15, 1967, between the National Football League (formed in 1922) and the American Football League, formed in 1960. The men in charge had agreed to play each other in an "AFL-NFL World Championship Game." The two leagues merged in 1970 as the NFL, and the Super Bowl became the championship game for the league.

A few terms

The names of the position players are also understandable if you know their history. Football evolved from Scottish rugby, which of course had its own terms.

The line of "scrimmage," where the two teams meet across the ball, comes from the word Scottish word "scrummage."

Offensive linemen
The offensive team must have seven men on the line of scrimmage. It all starts with the center, who snaps the ball to the quarterback. On either side of the center are the guards, called the left guard or right guard. On either side of them are the tackles, and on either side of them are the ends (or tight ends.) And then there is the wideout, out, or wide receiver. Depending on the play being run, they may or may not stand at the line, and there may be more than one.

In the backfield, behind the line, stand the other four men. They may be positioned anywhere up or down the line, but standing at least one yard back from it.

The quarterback stands a "quarter" of the way back from the line, and is thus called the quarterback. The half back would stand behind the quarterback, and the fullback even further back.

The fullback splits his time, usually blocking for the quarterback and the featured running back (who is a halfback), and sometimes running with the ball himself. He usually stands closest to the quarterback at the start of a formation.

The halfback is also called the tailback, or the running back, and stands further back than the fullback. This back must block, but also receives handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, and catches passes from out of the backfield.

Defensive linemen
All the men on the line are called linemen, regardless of their actual positions. There must be at least three men on the line at all times, but five is usual. These consist of two ends and two tackles, and three guys just called linebackers. Behind the line of scrimmage are two cornerbacks (whose job it is to keep track of t he other team's wide receivers) and two safetys (whose job it is to ensure that no one gets past them at all.) Of course there are many kinds of defensive formations.

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