Can You Ace This General Football Knowledge Quiz?

By: Becky
Estimated Completion Time
3 min
Can You Ace This General Football Knowledge Quiz?
Image: Shutterstock

About This Quiz

America's favorite pastime (hey, there's no law that says it has to be baseball) is full of terminology and rules. We bet you don't know them all. Test your knowledge and find out!
What is a team called when they have the ball?
Defense
Offense
Right side
Left side
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When a team has the ball, it is the offense. This is easy to remember - just remember "O" is shaped like a ball.

How many yards are in a standard football field?
10
50
100
120
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Did we get you on this one? A standard football field is actually 120 yards, including both end zones.

Teams line up at what point to begin play?
Center field
Yard markers
Goal line
Line of scrimmage
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Play begins at the line of scrimmage. Both teams line up on opposite sides of the ball.

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How does one score using the goal post?
The ball must go over the crossbar and between the uprights
The ball must hit somewhere on the goal post
The ball needs to go higher than the crossbar
The ball needs to go through the uprights into the stands
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

To use the goal post to score, the ball must go over the crossbar and between the uprights. It's ok for the ball to hit the goal post, as long as it goes over the crossbar and between the uprights.

What is it called when a player steps outside the edge lines of the field?
Off field
Over the line
Out of bounds
Crossover
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When a player steps outside the edge lines of the field, that player is out of bounds. What happens when a player goes out of bound depends on the play.

How far apart are the goal lines on a standard football field?
10
20
50
100
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

From goal to goal, there are 100 yards. Can you run 100 yards at once?

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What is a team called when the other team has the ball?
Offense
Defense
Top
Left
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When the other team has the ball, your team is the defense. They are defending against a score by the other team.

How many periods are in a regulation football game?
2
4
6
9
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There are four periods in a regulation football game. A period, called a quarter, is 15 minutes long.

True or False? The clock runs continuously during a game.
True
False
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This is false. Whether the clock continues to run, or stops, between plays depends on the result of the play.

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A football field is divided into sections of what length?
5 yards
10 yards
15 yards
20 yards
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A football field is divided into five-yard sections. A yard line divides each section.

The timing system that tells teams what limited time they have between plays is called what?
Team clock
Main clock
Grandfather clock
Play clock
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The timing system that tells teams what limited time they have between plays is called a play clock. Letting the play clock run out may result in a penalty.

How many players for each team may be on the field at one time?
9
10
11
12
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Each team is allowed 11 players on the field at one time. Substitutions may be made between plays.

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What is the period after the first two quarters and before the second two quarters called?
Middle
Halftime
Break
Naptime
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The period after the first two quarters and before the second two quarters is called halftime. At halftime, teams meet in the locker room to review strategy (and fans go get a hot dog).

The line in the middle of a football field is called what?
The middle
The center
The divider
The 50-yard line
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The 50-yard line is at the very center of the field. Each team's "territory" is half of the field.

How many offensive players must be on the line of scrimmage?
3
5
7
9
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There must be seven offensive players on the line of scrimmage. The rest of the defense must be at least one yard behind the line of scrimmage.

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What marks appear along the sidelines of a football field?
White lines
Center markers
Hashmarks
Side markers
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Hashmarks divide the field into yards. They are along the sideline of the field.

True or False? Everyone on the line of scrimmage must be completely still before the snap.
True
False
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This is false. Although the four offensive players cannot move, other players can.

A team's time on offense is divided into _____.
At the balls
Tries
Downs
Moves
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A team's time on offense is divided into downs. The team gets four downs to move the ball at least ten yards.

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Each offensive play starts with what move?
Punt
Kick
Snap
Throw
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Each offensive play starts with a snap. The Center snaps the ball.

How wide is a football field?
50 feet
25 yards
25.2 feet
53.5 yards
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A football field is 53.5 yards wide. Who knew?

What are the four periods in a football game called?
Halves
Quarters
Segments
Ovals
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The four periods in a football game are called quarters. Each quarter is 15 minutes in length.

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When the offense moves the ball at least ten yards, they get what's called what?
A first down
A second down
A third down
A fourth down
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Each time the offense moves the ball at least ten yards, they get a first down. Then they get four more tries to get another ten yards.

How can the offense advance the ball?
Run
Pass
Both A and B
Neither A or B
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The offense can either run or pass the ball down the field. Running is also called rushing.

What is it called when an offensive player drops a football in play?
Fumble
Oops
Bounce
Dribble
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A fumble occurs when an offensive player drops the football. This may allow a defensive player to recover the ball.

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What is it called when a football player on the offense moves before the snap?
Pre-snap
False start
Bad move
Oops
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A false start occurs when an offensive player moves before the snap. There is a five-yard penalty for this move.

What is it called when a player from the offense or defense is on the wrong side of the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped?
Over
Under
Offside
Center
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A player is called offside if he is on the wrong side of the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped. This is forgiven if they don't touch another player and they move back into position before the ball is snapped.

Why is it illegal to grab another player's face mask?
This is not illegal
This may keep the player from seeing the play
This may make the player mad
This may result in injury
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Grabbing another player's face mask can cause injury. This will result in a penalty for the offending team.

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What is a team's strategy called?
Drawing
Board
Game plan
Offside
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A team's strategy is called a game plan. Game plans are discussed before the game, at halftime, and after the game.

What is it called when a defensive player grabs the offensive player carrying the ball?
Holding
Grabbing
Snagging
Hooking
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Holding occurs when a defensive player grabs the offensive player with the ball. This may result in a penalty.

What offensive strategy gives a team more control of the ball?
Run
Pass
Both A and B
Neither A or B
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Running the ball gives the offense more control. Running the ball uses more time on the clock.

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Using five defensive backs in passing situations is called what?
Penny defense
Nickel defense
Dime defense
Quarter defense
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Using five defensive backs in passing situations is called a nickel defense. The number of defensive backs can vary on a play.

What is it called when a player rushes the passer who would not normally do so?
Crowd
Override
Overrule
Blitz
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A blitz occurs when a player, who would not normally do so, rushed the passer. This can be a great strategy against the pass.

What offensive strategy relies heavily on a great quarterback?
Run
Pass
Both A and B
Neither A or B
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A passing game means that the team must have a great quarterback. Passing uses up less time on the clock.

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How many quarterbacks can be on the field at one time?
One
Two
Three
Four
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Only one quarterback is on the field at one time. The quarterback is an offensive position.

What is it called when an offensive player gets in the way of a defensive player?
Illegal
Holding
Blocking
Offside
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Blocking is when an offensive player gets in the way of a defensive player. Blockers are not allowed to hold onto defensive players.

You Got:
/35
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