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The pitch is the most important feature of an American football game, for it is the basis in which rules are made- where the game is played. It is very important for a player to understand the pitch and know exactly where they are on it, for it is their duty to stay in line and gain yards for their team. Without noticing the yards or lines, neither team would be able to gain distance or points for a touchdown. Taking notice of one’s own position can, not only build awareness of the surroundings but also help motivate a runner – depending on how close he is to the goal line.
In other words, understanding and being able to visualize the true picture motivates you as a runner and tells you how further you are from the goal, it can help you decide more effectively what to do next in terms of running, blocking, or tactics of play. A football pitch is 120 yards long, including the distance of end zones. The 100-yard body is divided in 5 sections. Each section or chunk is 20 yards each. So that means, if 100 divided into a half, each team will have to defend a total of distance from the starting point to the line that divides the end zone – 50 yards. Goal lines are marked in white off the entrances to the end zones, which are 10 yard deep. Crossing the end zone of the oppositions’ team is what each teams’ aim is, i.e. to touchdown. At the end of an end zone, lie goal posts held up by a 10-ft vertical pole topped by horizontal crossbar. The high school football, the vertical posts are 23 ft and 3 inch apart; while in college as well as professional football, they are 18 ft 6 inch apart. Kickers are supposed to score for an extra point- the field goal- after a touchdown by kicking the ball above the crossbar and between the vertical posts; obviously, doing that in college or professional football is harder because of the shorter distance between the two goal posts. Apart from that, you would notice sets of lines that lie parallel to the end zones. These lines are of 5 yards intervals and are called sidelines that run along both sides of the field.
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