Steeldogs Kickoff 2005: Arena Football 101

April 4, 2005 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Alabama Steeldogs News Release


*This is the first in a series of articles counting down the start of the Steeldogs' sixth season. Arena Football 101 explains everything you wanted to know about the game of arena football.

It's hardly seems as if five years of Steeldogs football has come and gone.

85 games, 340 quarters, four overtime periods, five playoff games, one defeated No. 1 seed and five games where at least one team scored 70 or more points. Perhaps the first lesson every Steeldogs fan learns is that arena football is anything but dull.

But for those new to the Steeldogs, or, for that matter, the game of arena football, here's you chance to learn everything you need to know about the most fan-and-family friendly sport in America. And, with only five days remaining until the dawn of the sixth season of "Hometown Football" at the BJCC Arena, you will be able to witness first hand the "50-yard Indoor War."

The Set-up:

*Perhaps most the most recognizable difference between the outdoor and indoor games is the field of play. College and NFL teams compete on a field that is 100 yards by 53.5 yards, while arena teams compete on a field that is 50 yards by 85 feet. This means faster game play and a lot more scoring. Translation: You're never bored at an arena game!

*Typical outdoor football goalposts are perched 10 feet off the ground with uprights spaced 18 feet, 6 inches apart. But arena football is not nearly as easy on its kickers. Steeldogs kicker Alex Walls must get used to goalposts perched 15 feet above the playing surface, along with a much narrower set of uprights, spaced only nine feet apart.

*On either side of the uprights are a set of massive rebound nets, 30 feet wide by 32 feet tall and hanging eight feet above the playing surface. These nets aid in keeping the football in play.

*The artificial playing surface is specially designed for arena football. It is durable enough for players of every size to achieve solid and secure footing, while convenient enough to be rolled up and removed for off-season storage.

*In the outdoor game, it is possible to tip-toe out of bounds to escape a crushing hit. Players are not so lucky in the arena game. If a Steeldogs opponent sees defender Darius Ellison bearing down on him at breakneck speed, he can only hope that the three-inches of high density foam rubber that covers the four-foot high dasher boards will effectively absorb the impending impact. This is where the arena football's comparisons to the sport of hockey originate. The dasher boards are typically the same used in hockey games, and the process of forcing someone out-of-bounds is quite similar to "checking" a hockey player.

The players:

*Each team consists of 20 active players and four inactive or taxi squad players.

*Instead of 11 players, as per usual in college and NFL football, each team fields eight players on the field during a play.

*The each team plays what is known as "single-platoon" football, meaning that every player plays both offense and defense, with the exception of the quarterback, the kickers, the offensive specialist (a skilled pass catcher that does not play on defense) and two defensive specialists (skilled pass defenders that do not play on offense).

*On offense, there are typically three linemen, including a center who snaps the ball to the quarterback. Behind the quarterback is a fullback and lined up on either side of the linemen are two wide receivers and the offensive specialist. One receiver or specialist is allowed to go into forward motion before the snap of the ball, providing he does not cross the line of scrimmage before the ball is snapped.

-There are two typical kinds of forward motion:

1. Loop Motion: This is where a receiver lined up on one side of the linemen makes a half-loop behind that fullback and ends up on the other side of the line

2. Back and Forth Motion: Simply put, a receiver lined up on one side of the linemen will run a few yards back, and then sprint toward the line of scrimmage. The quarterback will snap the ball just as the receiver crosses the line of scrimmage.

*On defense, expect three linemen, two linebackers and three coverage men, including two defensive specialists. The linemen may not stunt or twist themselves when they try to punch through the line of scrimmage to get to the quarterback. The linebackers must be aligned two or more yards off the line of scrimmage.

The Rules:

*All passing rules are the same as the outdoor game, with the exception of the rebound nets. Any pass thrown off the rebound nets is treated as a live ball.

*Just like the outdoor game, each team gets four downs to advance the ball 10 yards for a first down or a score. A touchdown is worth six points. Teams may attempt an extra-point kick following a touchdown (worth one point) or a dropkick can be attempted (worth two points). Traditional two-point conversions are also an option. Field goals are worth three points, but a dropkick field goal is worth four points. A safety is worth two points.

*The game consists of four 15-minute quarters with a 15-minute halftime break. The clock does not stop for out-of-bounds plays or incomplete passes until the final minute of every half (the "one-minute warning"). Each team is allowed three time-outs per half.

*Overtime rules dictate that teams each have one possession in which to score. If the game remains tied following each team's possession, the game moves into sudden-death, where the next team to score wins.

Finally, the fun rules:

*Every player will be available for autographs after the game. Sharpies will be provided to your favorite Steeldogs player, who will work his way along the sideline barriers signing autographs for fans of all ages. Forget players with ego's larger than their paychecks, these guys are doing it for the love of the game.

*Also, any football that makes its way up into the stands during the course of a game (excluding pre-or-post game activities) is yours to keep. So bring your receiver's gloves and try your hand at snagging an otherwise incomplete pass or tipped ball. Remember: If you were at a college or NFL game, you would have to give that ball back. It's just another example of why arena football is the world's most fan-and-family friendly entertainment experience.

So that's it. Now you're an expert on arena football. Are you ready to see it first-hand? Tickets are moving fast for the Steeldogs' opening night tilt versus San Diego on Saturday, April 9 at 7 p.m. inside the BJCC Arena. Call 205.715.6000 for individual game tickets or call the Steeldogs Front Office at 205.458.8833 for group or season ticket information. And, as always, follow your "Hometown Team" at www.steeldogs.com.



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