A coach may line up his team in a particular formation according to the situation of the game. Players use various passing tactics and techniques to confuse the defenders. Most commonly used formations are the shotgun formation, the wishbone formation, the "I", the single wing, the goal line, the wildcat and the pistol formation. The quarterback invariably gives the signal for start of...

American football is a very tough and challenging game, with a lot of hard and bruising physical tackles involved and it calls for strength, speed and agility. However, physical attributes alone do not ensure a win. It is quick, out-of-the-box thinking on the part of the players that helps them create openings and score. This is where years of training and practice as also playing in top leagues...

The aim of the defending side is to prevent offense from advancing and scoring. This is done by taking the ball away or preventing the players from advancing beyond the scrimmage line. By stealing the ball away they can go ahead and score points. There are linemen, linebackers and defensive backs in the defense lineup. Positions and to some extent, functions vary according to the offense and the...