It's an American sport so it is very simple in its basic form: One team kicks off and the opposition catch the ball and run it back as far as they can until tackled. They then have 4 attempts to move the ball forwards another 10 yards either by passing or rushing (running with the ball), each attempt will be a "Down"... hence "1st and 10". Unlike rugby, the ball position, not the player position is king - so a player outside the field can keep the ball in play by holding it in field. Usually the 4th Down results in a punt, similar to a 5th tackle scenario in rugby league, or if close enough a field goal attempt - think of a rugby union drop goal. Interceptions, when completed, result in a turnover of possession, as do fumbles when the ball is claimed by the opposition. Incomplete passes result in a further "Down", but if the Quarterback is sacked but retains possession then it is likely to be behind the original position so it could be, say, "2nd (Down) and 18". Touch-down = 6points; Conversion 1point if kicked, 2 points if converted by another "touch-down"; Field Goal 3points. All very simple, though there's a lot of terminology to learn and they do like their stats!
Call that simple? All those 'Downs' - reminds me of Gaelic football. Must be the only place in the world where you can find a supporter wearing a rosette saying 'Up Down'.
Four attempts to get the ball ten yards further forward from the first time they receive the ball or after they have previously got the ball forward by ten or more yards when in possession. That simple! They only make it sound complicated!
The origins of my mother's maiden name can be traced to County Down. I have a Down GAA shirt and because all the kits for the GAA counties are made by the same company, if you order a shirt from them with a name and number on the back, instead of being printed on, it's incorporated into the material, so you don't get the letters and numbers coming off after a few washes.
Australia beat England in Tri-Series T20 match - thanks to a fine 103 not out from Glenn Maxwell, in 58 balls.
Not the best sporting day so far - England lose again in the T20 to the Kiwis this time. And our top medal hope at the Winter Olympics falls over in the speed staking final - not for the first time either. She seems to be world class based on her general career but hasn't had the good fortunate in the Olympic (yet)
Some sports people seem fated like that. It was Dave Bedford I think who was a world champion runner but could not win at the Olympics
Its good practise for the various world cups to come in the major sports! Hype, pressure and then disappointment.
Another medal in freestyle skiing - a bronze from an American born lady who still lives there apparently but with British parents. Probably not want the Mail and certain people like Nigel Farage want to see!
I'm not big into Winter Olympics (or Summer ones for that) but good to see Lizzy Yarnold has just retained her Gold from four years ago and in the same event another GB medal - bronze for Laura Deas. Well done both
Always good to beat the Germans too. Skeleton coaches clearly doing their job well. Lizzy Yarnold was talent identified 8 years ago or so as an athlete who be suited to the event - wise selection!
The difference to Gaelic football, Rugby etc. is that in our games you don't have pussies wearing spacesuits for extra protection. Nore do we have advertizing breaks in play every 10 minutes.
Absolutely - put those boys up against the guys who play football, rugby etc. and they would be shown to be far from pussies. My real bug bear with US sports is the constant use of stats by commentators - you even get sectional times in horse racing! But I do get tired of the continued knocking of them with the usual tired stereotypes. If you don't like it don't watch it - and leave others to enjoy it.
I didn't mean to ruffle feathers with that comment (well, only a little ). Of course everyone is free to get their kicks, in their own way ! Having once taken part in the Friesian national sport of canal leaping I am not in a position to criticize others for their tastes - this experiment avoided disaster by a whisker ! My only real problem with American Football is that it forced many people to use the obscure expression 'Soccer' to describe the sport we love. Also it is American (which says it all) - and they have the dosh to make a sport famous, which the Irish and the Australians don't.
It's a cracking game and was lucky to see a couple of matches at the MCG. I have family in Melbourne so always look to see how North are doing. Also really like the GAA but with parents from Cork and Waterford that isn't really surprising! Yeah I do agree with that. And I suspect my canal jumping days may be over - I can't even run for a bus
