1、AmericanFOOTBALLNFLCFLContents Definition Introduction Cups History How and why?The field General terms Player positions Idioms Randy Pauschs“Last Lecture”DiscussionDefinition Nouna game played by two teams of 11 players on a rectangular field 100 yards long;teams try to get possession of the ball a
2、nd advance it across the opponents goal line in a series of(running or passing)plays Introduction(1)American football,known in the United States simply as football and often as gridiron or tackle football outside the United States,is a competitive team sport known for combining strategy with physica
3、l play.The objective of the game is to score points by advancing the ball into the opposing teams end zone.The ball can be advanced by carrying it(a running play)or by throwing it to a teammate(a passing play).Points can be scored in a variety of ways,including carrying the ball over the opponents g
4、oal line,catching a pass thrown over that goal line,kicking the ball through the goal posts at the opponents end zone,or tackling an opposing ball carrier within his end zone.Introduction(2)In the United States,the major forms are high school football,college football andprofessional football,which
5、are essentially similar but feature slightly different rules.The major league for professional football is the National Football League.The sport is also played outside the United States.National professional and collegiate leagues exist in United Kingdom,Germany,Italy,Switzerland,Finland,Sweden,Jap
6、an,Mexico,Israel,Spain,Austria,and several Pacific Island nations.Superbowl Grey CupHistory(1)The history of American football can be traced to early versions of rugby football and association football,played in the United Kingdom in the mid-19th century,in which a ball is kicked at a goal and/or ru
7、n over a line.Many games known as football were being played at colleges and universities in the United States in the first half of the 19th century.History(2)American football resulted from several major divergences from rugby football,most notably the rule changes instituted by Walter Camp,conside
8、red the Father of American Football.Among these important changes were the introduction of the line of scrimmageand of down-and-distance rules.In the late 19th and early 20th centuries,game play developments by college coaches such as Eddie Cochems,Amos Alonzo Stagg,Knute Rockne,and Glenn Pop Warner
9、 helped take advantage of the newly introduced forward pass.History(3)The origin of professional football can be traced back to 1892,with William Pudge Heffelfingers$500 contract to play in a game for the Allegheny Athletic Association against thePittsburgh Athletic Club.The first Professional leagu
10、e was the Ohio League,formed in 1903,and the first Professional Football championship game was between the Buffalo Prospects and the Canton Bulldogs in 1919.In 1920,the American Professional Football Association was formed.The first game was played in Dayton,Ohio on October 3,1920 with the host Tria
11、ngles defeating the Columbus Panhandles 140.History(4)The league changed its name to the National Football League(NFL)two years later,and eventually became the major league of American football.Initially a sport of Midwestern industrial towns in the United States,professional football eventually bec
12、ame a national phenomenon.Footballs increasing popularity is usually traced to the 1958 NFL Championship Game,a contest that has been dubbed the Greatest Game Ever Played.A rival league to the NFL,the American Football League(AFL),began play in 1960;the pressure it put on the senior league led to a
13、merger between the two leagues and the creation of the Super Bowl,which has become the most watched television event in the United States.How&Why Did Football Become Americas Obsession1.Why were people not satisfied with rugby and soccer with which they were bequeathed?What were they longing for?2.H
14、ow did American football evolve away from soccer and rugby?3.What does the 1872 painting“American Progress”depict?How does it relate to football?How does football mirror American society?Video1.Why were American competitors and spectators not satisfied with rugby and soccer?What did they need?-mass
15、motions-needed a story with a(mythical)leader to lead the team-needed that fix2.How did American football evolve away from soccer and rugby?-more organized,controlled,scientific-QB created(1880);hero,protagonist-1st down created(1882)3.What does the 1872 painting“American Progress”depict?How does it
16、 relate to football?How does football mirror American society?-American destiny as given by God to march across the continent-acquisition of territory;capture,hold,defend itThe Field“gridiron”2 uprights goal postGeneral terms kickoff huddle snap line of scrimmage downs(i.e.1st and 10)tackle fumble i
17、ncomplete Interception turnover penalty flag“Hail Mary”Player Positions Offensive:-quarterback(QB),centre-running back,tight end,wide receivers-fullback,offensive tackles,guards Defensive:-linebackers,defensive tackles,defensive ends,weak/strong side safety,cornerbacks Player Positions Specialists:-
18、punter,kicker,holder,long/short snappersScoring touchdown=6 points -extra point conversion=1 point -two-point conversion=2 points field goal =3 points safety=2 pointsIdioms kick-off to start quarterback something to direct a project hold the line stay and not move touchdown to achieve or win sth fir
19、st down(and 10 to go)accomplished an objective on the way to a goal“Immaculate Reception”It was a play so improbable it became known as the“immaculate reception”.And like the miracle the name evokes,its an event still shrouded by mystery.In the closing minutes of the 1972 AFC divisional playoff game
20、 between the Oakland Raiders and the Pittsburgh Steelers,Oakland scored a touchdown to take a 7-6 lead,then pinned Pittsburgh deep in their own territory as the final seconds of the game ticked down.Faced with a 4th and 10 from his own 40,Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw faded back from scrimmage
21、 intending to hit Barry Pearson with a short pass over the middle while fullback Franco Harris remained in the back field to block.But Oaklands swarming defense quickly sent those plans awry.Scrambling under heavy pressure Bradshaw fired a desperation pass to(John)“Frenchy”Fuqua across mid field.Jac
22、k Fleming was the voice of the Steelers:.Just as Fuqua reached out for the pass,Oakland safetys Jack Tatum slammed him hard,so hard that the ball ricocheted off both players and back into the arms of charging Franco Harris.But did Tatum really catch the ball?And did Harris really touch the ball befo
23、re it touched the ground?The outcome of the game became in limbo for several minutes while referee Fred Swearingen and chief officials Art McNally conferred.Both men ultimately concluded that Fuqua and Tatum had indeed touched the ball simultaneously.Despite the controversy,fans can be certain of on
24、e thing:Franco Harris reception,immaculate or not,marked the beginning of a storied rivalry as the Steelers and Raiders went on to win a combined 6 league championships in the next 10 years and 6 of the next 10 Superbowls.Randy Pauschs“Last Lecture”1.What were two lessons Randy learned from Coach Gr
25、aham?2.What lesson was learned from his second coach?What did the coach do?3.What do parents want their children to learn from football?4.What was he referring to when he talked about brick walls?VideoDiscussionWhat do you think of the game of American football?Is it too violent?Why isnt it popular in China?I want to hear anything you want to say
