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First down is a term which is used in both American and Canadian Football.
It refers to the first chance (out of 4 attempts) that a side on the offensive has to move forward 10 yards down the field.
If the team manages to progress 10 yards with the ball, the amount of 'downs' is reset.
What is a down in football? During a match, you'll often see the word 'down' accompanied by another number as in "2nd down and 4". In this example, it would mean that the offensive team attempted to run the 10 yards required to reset their 'downs count' but their progress was halted after 6 yards. They therefore found themselves on the 2nd attempt (or down) with 4 years left to run.
A team is afforded 4 downs before they are required to forfeit possession of the ball.
What is a first down? Each possession begins with a 'first down' situation. The first down line is marked 10 yards downfield from the start of this possession, and the situation is described as "1st and 10".
If the offensive team moves the ball past the first down line, they make a new first down.
Football strategy The strategies employed during a football game depend heavily on what 'down' an offensive team finds themselves in. For example, during the first two downs, a team may feel able to try riskier offensive strategies, knowing that if they don't pay off- there are still two downs left before they'd loose possession.
If a team found itself in a 'third down' situation, they'd feel compelled to reach the line marker that would reset their downs and would be unlikely to try a risky offensive strategy.
A fourth down situation is always interesting in football because it can be played one of two ways. Often, on a fourth down, the offensive team may consider it safer to 'punt' the ball up-field so that the opposing team takes possession of the ball as far from the goal line as possible. Alternatively, an offensive fourth down play could risk trying to reach the first down line, although if they are intercepted before crossing it the ball most be forfeited at that place in the field.
If all this sounds a little bewildering, why not check out this video:
It refers to the first chance (out of 4 attempts) that a side on the offensive has to move forward 10 yards down the field.
If the team manages to progress 10 yards with the ball, the amount of 'downs' is reset.
What is a down in football? During a match, you'll often see the word 'down' accompanied by another number as in "2nd down and 4". In this example, it would mean that the offensive team attempted to run the 10 yards required to reset their 'downs count' but their progress was halted after 6 yards. They therefore found themselves on the 2nd attempt (or down) with 4 years left to run.
A team is afforded 4 downs before they are required to forfeit possession of the ball.
What is a first down? Each possession begins with a 'first down' situation. The first down line is marked 10 yards downfield from the start of this possession, and the situation is described as "1st and 10".
If the offensive team moves the ball past the first down line, they make a new first down.
Football strategy The strategies employed during a football game depend heavily on what 'down' an offensive team finds themselves in. For example, during the first two downs, a team may feel able to try riskier offensive strategies, knowing that if they don't pay off- there are still two downs left before they'd loose possession.
If a team found itself in a 'third down' situation, they'd feel compelled to reach the line marker that would reset their downs and would be unlikely to try a risky offensive strategy.
A fourth down situation is always interesting in football because it can be played one of two ways. Often, on a fourth down, the offensive team may consider it safer to 'punt' the ball up-field so that the opposing team takes possession of the ball as far from the goal line as possible. Alternatively, an offensive fourth down play could risk trying to reach the first down line, although if they are intercepted before crossing it the ball most be forfeited at that place in the field.
If all this sounds a little bewildering, why not check out this video:
