Half the world watches the Super Bowl, but the sport is relatively unknown in this country. The game is exciting and varied. Football veteran Maximilian von Garnier explains what is important.
“Hi I am Max von Garniercoach of Hamburg Blue Devilsand we’ll get you ready for the Super Bowl.”
key data
“Im American Football is basically about gain of space. The ball must be moved across the field. Every team has one attack and a defense á eleven players. They are never on the field at the same time. Team A’s attack plays against Team B’s defense and vice versa. is played in four quartersn á 15 minutes. However, this is not continuous time either, because the clock stops again and again. So a game can sometimes loose 2.5 hoursmaybe even three hours take a while – there are still some commercial breaks.”
matchfield
“The Football-Feld in American football is a little narrower, but also a bit longer than a soccer field. It is divided into so-called yard markingsthere are the centerline with the 50 yard marksand then 40, 30, 20, 10 in both directions. The last zones back here, which are also ten meters long, are those end zones. That’s where the ball has to go.”
gain of space
“As I said, it’s about gaining space. The attack from your team has to bring the ball into the opposing end zone. The Quarterback is the most important Playmaker/Captain in attack. He gets the ball first and then distributes it to his teammates. Either through the air or by handover (Hand-off) to its bishops. In order for this to be a bit regulated, you have four attemptsa ten meters, in American Yards. If they succeed, they have four more tries. Until they have either arrived in the opponent’s end zone or have not made it. Then it’s the other team’s turn to attack.”
Kick-off
“In addition to the attack of Offense and the defense of Denfense there are of course those Special Teams. Among other things, they are used at the very beginning of the game when it comes to the Kick-off goes, the so-called “kick-off”. Team A kicks the ball towards Team B. Team B can then carry it back as far as possible. There, where the so-called Returner been stopped, then it starts with the offense and the first try and 10.”
point win
“Points are scored in American football when the attack manages to carry the ball into the opponent’s end zone. That’s called Touchdown. Therefore there is 6 pointsdirectly afterwards can still 1 extra point be scored by taking the ball from the 3-Yard Line by the big “U”through the Torstangen, is shot. Also from the course of the game can a Field goal be shot. This is usually set a little further away from the opponent’s end zone and that’s what brings 3 points.”
Fouls
“Of course there is in American Football also Punish. Seven referees are distributed all over the field and look carefully to see if any penalties are being inflicted. If they see a penalty, throw one yellow flage (Yellow Flag) exactly where the penalty was committed – but let the play go through to the end. The fouled team then has the option of either taking the result of the play or the punishmentin the 5-, 10-, or 15 meter space loss is scored. A very common foul is the so-called Holding – that Hold onto an opponent. If I as an attacker than Blockerthink Quarterback protect and a defender wants to pass me, then I can’t grab him and pull him down. This is immediately seen as a penalty and the referee puts the flag right on the spot and usually it goes 10 yards back.”
Tackling
“The Tacklethe so-called Stop from Ballträgers, is normally applied with the shoulders of the defender. Often on the hips of the ball carrier, but the legs can also be attacked. A attack with the Helm and is against the attacker’s helmet not permitted and will be severely punished.”
loss of possession
“The Quarterbackthe playmaker in attack (Offense), of course, exposes himself to great danger the moment he wants to throw a pass. If he gets the ball and goes back, looking for one of his pass stations, and one of the defenders manages to get him down before he’s thrown the ball, that’s called a one Quarterback–Sack. Of course, once the quarterback has thrown the ball, it’s always possible for someone on defense to intercept the ball. That’s what you call it Interception. Whoever intercepted the ball has the opportunity to bring the ball into the opponent’s end zone and score a touchdown. If he is stopped or goes out of bounds, then the play ends and the attacker comes out and tries to move the ball forward.”
At the time of shooting, Maximilian von Garnier was the coach of the traditional Hamburg Blue Devils. In 2014 he resigned from the post. The article first appeared in February 2014.
