What does a first down mean in football?

Answer 1

In football, a first down is when the football is moved forward at least 10 yards since the last first down was called. It is the first set of four attempts to begin the cycle again. As with any large goal (a touchdown), it is important to break it down into immediately acievable goals. It is very difficult for any one player to win a game alone, but they can push to get a first down every time they touch the ball. You wouldn't want tto throw a "Hail Mary" every play because the odds are against you being able to score that way.

Answer 2

A first down is the first of four consecutive tries or attempts at moving the ball 10 yards. If the team succeeds in moving the ball 10 yards or more, then the count starts over, and they get a first down. If they are not successful, they have to turn the ball over to the other team. Most of the time, the team will punt the ball on fourth down, thus giving the other team the ball after only three tries (or downs), but also getting the ball further away from the goal (end zone) that they are defending. In other words, it's better to give up a down in order to make the other team start their first down an extra 40 yards or so back from where they would get it if your team could not get a first down.

Answer 3

A "down" is the time period between the snap of the ball to the end of play. The end of a play occurs when: 1) when the ball carrier has been brought down. 2) The ball carrier runs beyond the boundaries of the field (out of bounds), 3) when the ball carrier crosses the goal line, 4) An incomplete pass, 5) a kick that has landed out of bounds. The first down is team's 1st of their allotted series of downs. A team is allotted 4 downs to score or to refresh their allottment by obtaining 10 yards.

Answer 4

each team has 4 attempts to go 10 yards, if they don't get 10 yards it is the other teams ball that's why teams punt on 4th down most of the time to get the ball down further away from their end zone because if they try to advance on 4th down the team gets the ball right there

Answer 5

In football, the team gets 4 chances to move the football forward 10 yards. The first down is the first chance (the first time the team tries to move the ball). IF the team moves forward 10 or more yards, they've "made" the first down. Now they get 4 chances to move the football forward 10 yards AGAIN. They get another first down. IF they make it again, it starts all over. If they don't get the full 10 yards, maybe only 6 yards forward, they'd have to go 4 yards on their second chance. We'd say they are Second down and four. If they make the 4 yards or more, they start over with 4 downs. If they don't make the 4 yards, for example, they get pushed BACK 10 more yards, they'd need to go 14 yards to get another first down. We'd say they are 3rd down and 14. If they make the 14 yards, they get to start over with a new first down. If they don't move at all, they'd be 4th down and 14 to go. Get it? If all goes well, a team keeps making 10 yards the first down, so they get another first down, and another, and another each time they move 10 yards or more. BUT if they mess up and get pushed back, they lose yards and have to do those over again.

Answer 6

In football, a first down is attained when an offensive team makes its first 10 yard goal. The offensive team has four tries to move the football 10 yards each try. Every time 10 yards is reached, it is a first down.

Answer 7

A first down is the start of an offensive scrimmage. There are 4 scrimmage downs per set. Thus, Team A has 4 scrimmage downs to advance the football to or past the line of gain (10 yards) by play or penalty, which would entitle Team A to a new set of downs.

Answer 8

1st down means when the attackers have succesfully gained 10 yards in the direction they are going and then tackled or the ball is dead