American Football

American football originated in the United States. It developed from rugby around 1869 and was first played mainly in the universities. In 1880 it was adopted in the United States in its own rules, which were changed in 1905 (due to numerous fatalities, which were to be lamented because of the tough nature of the sport). This was the birth of American football.

American football came to Germany after World War II, where it was played by American occupation soldiers. The sport did not make the big breakthrough. Only the American soldiers played their leagues and cups among themselves. The first American football club was founded in Frankfurt in 1977.

American football is a ball sport in which two teams consisting of eleven players compete against each other. They try to carry an egg-shaped hollow leather ball behind the opposing end line or step over a crossbar in order to win points.

The defending team (defense) tries to prevent the attacking team (offense) from gaining possession of the ball. If the defense pushes the offense back to their own end zone and tackles (physically knocks down) the opposing ball carrier there, they can score a safety point.

Each player has a specific position to play in. Because of the many different and varied positions, American football can be played by almost anyone. American football is played by both women's teams and men's teams

The game is a rectangle laid out on a level grass field with a length between the base or end lines of 100 yards (yd) and a width of 50 yards. The American measurements in yards are not converted in Germany, but 1 yd = 1 m applies. Parallel to the goal lines, the playing field is divided into "yard lines" at a distance of 5 yards each.