Roles of American football players

Added: 02/16/2006

American football players are heroes in their communities. But above all, they are players and sportsmen. The most widely recognized and popular players are those who play in the American football offence, because of their role in scoring points. Players of the American football defence are a very important part of the team, too, and so are treated respectfully.

Outside of the United States, Canada, and a few other countries, the sport we are going to talk about is usually referred to as American football (or sometimes as gridiron) to differentiate it from other football games, especially association football and rugby football. The American football players have strongly specialized roles and tasks. At the NFL and college levels, most of American football players play the defence or offence roles only.

Let's make a brief review of the American football players. We shall start with the American football offence. The offensive line consists of five players (one center player, two guards and two offensives) whose job is to protect the passer and clear the way for runners by blocking members of the defence. Except for the center, offensive linemen generally do not handle the ball. All games start with the center player transferring the ball backwards between his legs, or advancing the ball, to a quarterback team-mate, as a rule.

On most plays the quarterback receives the ball. He then tosses or hands the ball to his team-mate running back in two possible ways: runs with it himself or throws it to a receiver. Running backs are located beside or behind the quarterback. Those American football players specialize in speed running with the ball. Also, they should block, rebound passes and sometimes pass the ball to team-mates. In American football there are two most types of running backs: tailbacks or halfbacks. Wide receivers line up near the sidelines. They specialize in rebounding and catching passes. Tight ends line up outside the offensive line. They can either play like wide receivers, trying to catch passes, or like offensive linemen, protecting the quarterbacks or creating spaces for runners.

Of course, the aforementioned players' types are not required for each offensive play. Clubs can modify the number of running backs, tight ends and wide receivers on the pitch at one time.

Now let's take a brief look at the American football defence. Three to five players (one or two defensive tackles, two or three defensive ends and a nose guard) are all those players who make up the defensive line. They line up opposite the offensive line. Players of the defence line try to tackle and stop the running backs before they can get yardage or other players (as a rule, quarterbacks) before they can make a pass.

No less than four players act as defensive backs. They cover the receivers and try to stop pass completions. They occasionally rush the quarterback.

The other players on the defence are known as linebackers. They line up between the defensive line and backs and may either rush the quarterback or cover potential receivers. They are more skilful at stopping and tackling rushing plays. There are two different types of linebackers: outside linebackers and middle linebackers. Middle linebackers are entrusted to runs up the middle (powers, dives). The outside linebackers are entrusted to misdirection runs or runs to the outside.

The units of players who handle kicking plays are known as special teams. Special-teams feature players that include the punter, who handles punts, and the place kicker or kicker, who kicks off and attempts field goals and extra points.

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