The Ashes

American football is very similar to rugby. The main difference is that you only get four tackles before losing possession rather than six (?), but you only have to advance a total of 10 yards, but the defensive (and offensive) line get to reposition themselves at the end of every play AND you get to throw the ball forwards.Also, you don't have to ground the ball in a touchdown (making it a ridiculous name). A touchdown is worth six points, it can be converted with a field goal to seven points (or a second touchdown for two points (but you only get one play to get the touchdown)). If you don't manage to get a field goal and you are close enough you can shoot for a field goal anyway for three points. Therefore, two field goals isn't really as good as one touchdown since the vast majority of touchdowns get converted to seven points.Obviously, given these changes there are some technical differences between rugby and American football such as 'live balls' and 'timeouts' - I think I got the essence down there. I may be British I'd rather watch a game of American Football than cricket (or Association football or rugby for that matter) -A half-hearted Saints supporter since 1997

In basic terms, the clock ticks continuously unlessa) a pass was incomplete (thrown but not caught).
b) the ball carrier runs or is pushed out of the side lines.
c) a time out is called.
d) a ruling is challenged and the refs check the tapes.
e) a score.
f) When there is only two minutes left in either half.
g) Injured playerMaybe it would be simpler to say that the clock does not get stopped if a legal tackle is performed, otherwise it gets stopped. Very little, actually. Even grabbing hold of a helmet is penalty worthy. It's basically a case of wrapping your arms around their legs and tripping them or around their body and dragging them down. Shoulder barges and pushing are fine - but using your head is more likely to cause yourself serious neck injury than stop a professional player. So yeah - I think it is largely the same as rugby. Kicks and punches are out. I'm not entirely sure. It is my view that because American Football has a lot of stops, and sections of the team can be sat on the bench for long periods of time - the players have more energy. Also - the money is greater so the players might get a little...more enthusiastic (like in Assoc. Football perfectly nice players might still fall over if they think it'll increase their value to do so), the greater money probably also accounts for the bosses wanting their assets players to be protected.Having seen someone break their fingers when they didn't catch a ball properly - I see why they might want it.And besides - have you seen rugby players? They specialise in missing teeth and horrific scars! I suspect it might also be something of a cultural thing. Derived from rugby. I had to look the name up - Walter Camp - altered some of the rules to rugby (line of scrimmage, scoring system, the number of 'downs' etc) and it thereafter took on its own life.Rugby is also known as football, aka rugby football. So the American game is technically American rugby football. I don't know why rugby football is also sometimes called rugby football but I believe it developed from a form of football that allowed handling of the ball but no travelling with the ball, as the story goes, played at Rugby School. If it is a conversion then it is from the centre of the field at (I think) the three yard line or thereabouts.Otherwise, yes, it depends where play ended. I think there are set positions: left, centre and right, marked with lines running down the field from where field goals are taken from (so if the play ended in the left you'd take it at the same distance but from a set distance from the sidelines (I think this is to avoid the tactic of setting up a play near the sidelines which would essentially block defence on one side - this is true of all plays I believe.) You got me - I don't know. Agreed. The upshot is that there are always specialists on the field (there is also a 'specials team' that deal with field kicks, punts etc) which adds a dimension to the game not often seen in other games...this isn't a bad thing ). There can be overlap - though not usually between defence and offence. There is both a national league and an elimination competition!I am no expert but basically the large size of the US means it would require a lot of travelling to complete a season. Though modern transport nullifies this somewhat - the structure is in place now so there it is.It is confusing as hell, but basically the teams are split between two conferences and each conference has different areas (eg North, South, East, West) who compete against each other. Basically the best six teams in each conference leagues get to the 'playoffs' which is an elimination based tournament. At the end of that there is one team from each of the two conferences and they play one another in the Superbowl.It's a bit like the World Cup - only the teams that play each other at the start are basically always the same. I hate tea, clotted cream and scones.My father and two of my brothers are American citizens so that's my excuse.Edited by Modulous, : No reason given.