One of the main objectives in American football -- and a necessary one to score points -- is to gain a first down. In order to get a first down, the offense must gain 10 yards within a series of four plays. One problem that football players and officials have always had to deal with is how to measure the 10 yards needed. Even with all of our technology, the NCAA and the National Football League still uses a length of metal chain attached between two poles.
There is no limit to the number of tackles that can be made before a team scores, nor is time stopped after each tackle. Hence 'first down' does not exist in Rugby.
ANSWER:
There are two types of rugby. In rugby union, the more popular variety, a team can possess the ball indefinitely, and there are no downs. However, the ball carrier must release the ball when he's tackled and allow players from both teams to fight for possession of the ball in the ruck.
In rugby league, which is mostly played in northern England and Australia, a team gets six tackles to score. There's no way to get a new set of tackles, except if the defending team commits certain infractions. So if a team isn't in scoring position after the fifth tackle, they usually punt the ball away. Unlike rugby union, there's no contest for possession when the ball carrier is tackled. The defender must release the ball carrier so he can play the ball back to a teammate.
It depends. A standard first down is earned when the ball is progressed 10 yards.
If the defense earns a penalty however, the distance can be changed by the amount of the penalty - resulting in shorter distances or entire first downs altogether.
Also if the offense is given a penalty and is backed up down the field, it can take many yards to get a first down (sometimes more than 30).
A "standard" first down is earned when the ball is progressed 10 yards without any major incidents, however.
The record for the most yardage needed for a first down is 65 yards. In 2006 in a game between the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears, Detroit needed the 65 yards to get a first down.
In football, you have 4 down or attemps to get so many yards, a third down conversion is where you failed to get the amount of yards on first down and second down then reach it on the third, making it first down again
10 yards for offensive holding, 5 yards and an automatic first down for defensive holding.
The longest NFL first down and goal distance is 99 yards. The goal line is located at the end of the football field, so it remains the same distance of 10 yards from the line of scrimmage regardless of the field position.
56 yards
In American football, four. In Canadian football, three.
10 yards
Ten yards.
10 Yards is the First Down.
10
10
Seriously...? Its 10
In a normal set of downs, the ball must be advanced (by play or penalty) 10 or more yards to get a first down.
15 yards and an automatic first down.
In football, you have 4 down or attemps to get so many yards, a third down conversion is where you failed to get the amount of yards on first down and second down then reach it on the third, making it first down again
11 yards to Wes Welker
10 yards for offensive holding, 5 yards and an automatic first down for defensive holding.
It would then be third down with 2 yards to go.