The Super Bowl is the biggest game of the year in the National Football League (NFL). Every player in the NFL dreams of winning this game for their team; it is the game that every team works hard for year after year, as this game is played for the ultimate prize in the NFL.
But, if Super Bowl 50 is going to be your first NFL Championship experience, then stick around to learn the ins-and-outs of one of America’s favorite sports.
Football basics
Football is a sport where you advance a ball to the other team’s end zone for six points. The team can then choose to kick the ball to earn an extra point for a total of seven points. Each team can only have eleven guys on the field at once. There are four 15-minute quarters in a game. To determine who receives the football first, the officials flip a coin, and whoever wins the toss can decide to receive the ball or defer and receive the ball in the second half.
Gameplay: offense and defense
The team that has the ball is on offense, and their objective is to advance the ball into the end zone in order to score points. The opposing team, who would be on defense, has to stop the offense from advancing and scoring. The offense starts wherever the ball was kicked. If the ball was kicked into the end zone, it is a touch back, and the ball will start at the 20-yard line. If the kick returner returns the ball, the offense will start wherever the returner stopped.
The offense will start on first down, and they have until fourth down to advance the ball 10 yards. If they do not advance the ball to the first down marker, they will have to punt to the other team. However, if the offense is in field goal range, they can send their kicker out to kick the ball between the uprights for three points. If the game is still tied once regulation time has ended, the game will go into an extra quarter known as overtime. After the four or more quarters, whichever team has more points is the winner.
Crowning the champs
As soon as the game is over, the winning team gives their coaches a traditional Gatorade bath as they hug and cheer together. While the players are shaking hands with the other team and celebrating, confetti shoots out of the stadium and rains all over the field.
The winner will hoist the Lombardi trophy, a large, heavy trophy named after Coach Vince Lombardi after he won the first two Super Bowls with the Green Bay Packers. Players will receive a shirt that says “Super Bowl Champions” and make their way to the stage as the team is presented with the trophy.
Because this year is Super Bowl 50, the winning team will also receive an 18-karat gold trophy with the number 50 on it, which ends up weighing around 70 pounds. In addition to the trophy, the players will also get commemorative Super Bowl championship rings, which are approximately the size of a golf ball.
The Super Bowl is not only a big deal for the teams but also for the fans. With the Super Bowl being the biggest football game of the year, fans love seeing their team win and become the NFL’s champions. Fans get to join in with their team’s victory, as merchandise, including hats, shirts, jerseys and posters, are sold following the game that say “Super Bowl Champions.” The Super Bowl gives fans something to be happy about, as well as bragging rights until next season. Plus, watching their team win the Super Bowl gives fans great memories for the rest of their lives.
