Sportsball 101: The Basic Rules of Major Sports

🏆 The Most Important Thing to Remember

You don’t need to memorize rules to enjoy Sportsball.news.

If something truly confusing matters, we’ll explain it when it comes up.

🏈 American Football (NFL & College Football)

Big idea:
Two teams try to move an oval-shaped ball down the field and score points.

How it works:

• The field is 100 yards long
• Teams get 4 tries (“downs”) to move the ball 10 yards
• If they succeed, they get another 4 tries
• If they fail, the other team gets the ball

Scoring:

• Touchdown: 6 points (ball crosses the goal line)
• Extra point: 1 or 2 points after a touchdown
• Field goal: 3 points (kicking the ball through uprights)

Time:

• 4 quarters
• Clock stops often → games feel long

What usually matters in the news:

• Quarterbacks
• Injuries
• Playoffs and championships
• Coaching decisions

🏀 Basketball (NBA & College Basketball)

Big idea:
Put the ball through the hoop more times than the other team.

How it works:

• 5 players per team on the court
• Teams take turns trying to score
• You can move by dribbling or passing

Scoring:

• 2 points: normal basket
• 3 points: shot from far away
• 1 point: free throw (uncontested shot after a foul)

Time:

• NBA: 4 quarters
• College: 2 halves

What usually matters in the news:

• Star players
• Playoff races
• Close games
• Trades

⚾ Baseball (MLB)

Big idea:
Hit the ball, run around bases, and score runs — while the other team tries to stop you.

How it works:

• One team bats, the other fields
• Batters try to hit the ball and reach bases
• Fielding team tries to get 3 outs

Scoring:

• A run is scored when a player makes it all the way around the bases

Game structure:

• 9 innings
• Each inning has a top (away team bats) and bottom (home team bats)

What usually matters in the news:

• Playoff races
• Pitchers
• Home runs
• Trades near deadlines

🏒 Hockey (NHL)

Big idea:
Slide the puck into the net more times than the other team.

How it works:

• Played on ice with skates
• Players pass and shoot a puck using sticks
• Goalies protect the net

Scoring:

• Each goal = 1 point

Time:

• 3 periods

Special rules worth knowing:

• Power play: One team has extra players because the other committed a penalty

What usually matters in the news:

• Playoff positioning
• Overtime games
• Goalie performances

⚽ Soccer (MLS & International)

Big idea:
Kick the ball into the goal — without using your hands.

How it works:

• 11 players per team
• Continuous play (few stoppages)
• Only the goalie can use hands

Scoring:

• Each goal = 1 point
• Low scores are normal

Time:

• Two 45-minute halves
• Clock does not stop for most breaks

Important rule:

• Offside: Players can’t just wait near the goal for easy scores

What usually matters in the news:

• Goals
• Tournament results
• Star players and transfers

🏌️ Golf (Major Tournaments)

Big idea:
Get the ball into the hole in as few shots as possible.

How it works:

• Players play through a course of 18 holes
• Each hole has a target number of shots (“par”)

Scoring:

• Lower score = better
• Finishing under par is good

What usually matters in the news:

• Major tournaments
• Leaderboards
• Big-name golfers

🏆 The Most Important Thing to Remember

You don’t need to memorize rules to enjoy Sportsball.news.

If something truly confusing matters, we’ll explain it when it comes up.

Our goal is simple:

You understand what happened — and why people care — without doing homework.