American football, also referred to as gridiron, is a ball game not to be confused with soccer, which is commonly referred to as simply football countries other than the U.S. and Canada.http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/212839/gridiron-football The game of American football is played between two teams on a rectangular field with two goal posts at opposing ends. American and Canadian football are closely aligned however, some differences exist between the leagues and rules.http://anyfreepapers.com/free-essays/differance-american-canadian-football-essay.html During the game, athletes take various positions such as quarterback, runningback, fullback, tight end, center, guard, offensive tackle, and wide receiver. They then respectively catch, throw, carry and kick the ball, as well as sprint and tackle opponents.http://www.talkamericanfootball.co.uk/guides/positions_in_american_football.html

The football game is a contest between two teams which consist of 11 players each. The teams' offensive players try to score by crossing the ball over the goal line by throwing, kicking, or running with it. They have 4 downs to reach 10 yards, and thus get to start over with a new set of downs. The defense tries to prevent the offense from getting a first down, thus forcing them to give up the ball. The defense also tries to make the offense fumble (drop) the ball or throw an intercepted pass. American football season begins in September and lasts through February of the following year.http://www.nfl.com/schedules Most games take place on Sundays and Mondays. Occasionally, games will be played on Thursday as well.http://www.nfl.com/schedules

The game of American Football was first played in the late 1800s, stemming from the sports of soccer and rugby.http://www.profootballhof.com/history/general/birth.aspx The first professional player was paid for his participation in the sport in 1892.http://www.profootballhof.com/history/general/birth_certificate.aspx The National Football League, or NFL, was founded in 1920.