Football Math

by FamilyEducation Staff

1. Your team just gained 3 yards on its first attempt on a first down. (A down is equal to 10 yards.) How many more yards does it need for the first down?
Answer: The team needs 7 more yards.

2. The quarterback just completed a 15-yard pass from his team's 10-yard line. Where does the ref "spot" (place) the ball?
Answer: He spots it at the quarterback's 25-yard line.

3. Your team has scored 1 touchdown, 1 extra point, and 2 field goals. The other team has scored 3 touchdowns and 3 extra points. What's the score?
Answer: The score is 13 to 21.

4. If the kick-off return player catches the ball at his own 20-yard line and runs to his own 38-yard line before he gets tackled, how many yards has he run?
Answer: He's run 18 yards.

5. If each team is allowed 11 players on the field, what's the total number of players on the field during the game?
Answer: There are 22 players on the field.

6. If your team starts at its own 20-yard line, how many first downs will it take for them to advance the length of the field and reach the end zone?
Answer: Your team needs 8 first-downs.

7. Your team is at the 50-yard line, and gets slapped with a 15-yard penalty. Where does the referee spot the ball?
Answer: He spots it at your team's 35-yard line.

8. Your team is at its own 20-yard line, and the entire field is 100 yards long. What percentage of the field have they covered?
Answer: Your team has covered 20 percent of the field.

9. If each touchdown and extra point kicked is worth a total of 7 points, how many touchdowns has your team scored if they have 21 points? 28? 35? (To make this easier, don't include field goals, which are worth 3 points.)
Answer: Your team has scored 3 TD's (4 TD's, 5 TD's).

10. Each game is made up of four 15-minute quarters. If you don't count time-outs, halftime, and all those wild commercials, how long will the game last?
Answer: The game is 60 minutes long.