Jonah Patel
In football, a first down is the first of a series of usually four downs in which a team must net a 10-yard gain to retain possession of the ball. This means that the team has four chances to gain 10 yards, while the opposing team tries to stop them. If the team gains 10 or more yards within these four downs, they are awarded a new series of downs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of downs | 4 |
| Yards to gain | 10 |
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What You'll Learn
- A team must net a 10-yard gain to retain possession of the ball
- A team has four downs to get 10 yards
- A first down is the first of a series of four downs
- A team must gain 10 or more yards to start a new series of downs
- A first down is not recorded for statistical purposes if the offense did nothing to achieve it
A team must net a 10-yard gain to retain possession of the ball
In American football, a team must net a 10-yard gain to retain possession of the ball. This is known as a first down. A first down is the first of a series of usually four downs in which a football team must net a 10-yard gain to retain possession of the ball. The best way to think of downs is to think of chances. First down means the team is on their first chance to get 10 yards. If the team gains yards, the referee will signal the down marker referee to move where the ball is spotted.
When a team begins a new possession, their first play in the ensuing series of downs will be a first down. However, it would not be recorded as a first down for statistical purposes as the offense did nothing to achieve it. Statistically, they are only credited with a first down if they gain the required ten yards to be awarded a new series of downs.
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A team has four downs to get 10 yards
In American football, a team has four downs to get 10 yards. A down is a single play in the game, and a first down is the first of a series of four downs in which a football team must net a 10-yard gain to retain possession of the ball. If the team gains 10 or more yards within four downs, they are given the right to start a new series of downs.
The best way to think of downs is to think of chances. First down means the team is on their first chance to get 10 yards. If the team gains yards, the referee will signal the down marker referee to move where the ball is spotted.
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A first down is the first of a series of four downs
When a team begins a new possession, their first play in the ensuing series of downs will be a "first down". However, it is not recorded as a first down for statistical purposes as the offense did nothing to achieve it. They are only credited with a first down if they gain the required ten yards to be awarded a new series of downs.
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A team must gain 10 or more yards to start a new series of downs
In American football, a team has a set of four downs to gain 10 yards. When a team begins a new possession, their first play in the ensuing series of downs will be a 'first down'. A first down is achieved when a team gains 10 or more yards within four downs, giving them the right to start a new series of downs.
The first down is the first of a series of usually four downs in which a football team must net a 10-yard gain to retain possession of the ball. If the team gains yards, the referee will signal the down marker referee to move where the ball is spotted.
The best way to think of downs is to think of chances. First down means the team is on their first chance to get 10 yards, while the opposing team is trying to stop them.
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A first down is not recorded for statistical purposes if the offense did nothing to achieve it
In American football, a first down is the first of a series of usually four downs in which a football team must net a 10-yard gain to retain possession of the ball. A first down is not recorded for statistical purposes if the offense did nothing to achieve it. For example, when a team begins a new possession following a kickoff by their opponents, their first play in the ensuing series of downs will be a "first down". However, it would not be recorded as a first down for statistical purposes as the offense did not gain the required ten yards to be awarded a new series of downs.
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Frequently asked questions
A first down is the first of a series of usually four downs in which a football team must net a 10-yard gain to retain possession of the ball.
You need to gain a total of 10 or more yards within four downs to get a first down.
Being on first down means the team is on their first chance to get 10 yards.
