Comparison Essay: Dimensions Of American Football And Rugby
Comparison/Contrast Essay
American Football/Rugby
The field
] Dimensions
Although both codes are played on similar sized rectangular fields, the dimensions of rugby union fields can vary up to maximum size that is larger than the fixed size of American football fields. Rugby union fields are limited to a maximum length of 144 m long (and 100 m between goal lines) and width of 70 m, while American football fields have a fixed length of 120 yd (110 m) long and width of 160 ft (48.8 m). Both sets of measurements include scoring zones at each end. These are fixed to 10 yd and called the end zone in American football, but of unspecified length in rugby union.
[edit] Lines
The border between the regular field of play and a scoring zone is called …show more content…
• A forward pass goes out of bounds or touches the ground before it is caught. This is known as an incomplete pass. The ball is returned to the original line of scrimmage for the next down.
• The ball or the player with the ball goes out of bounds.
• A team scores.
Rugby union is based on the 'right to contest possession'. A team is not required to surrender possession when the ball carrier is tackled, in contrast to American football, where a team must surrender their possession when a player is tackled and no downs remain. Rugby union players must win possession in open play, unless the team in possession makes an infringement, scores, or the ball leaves the field of play.
A team in rugby union can advance the ball in two ways:
• By running forward with the ball. The ball carrier typically passes to a teammate just before he is tackled, to permit another player to continue the run towards the try line, thus quickly gaining ground. The ball carrier cannot pass to any teammate that is closer to the try line. This would be a forward pass, which is illegal.
• By kicking the ball forwards and attempting to recover it (illegal in American Football, unless the ball is first touched by another
American Football/Rugby
The field
] Dimensions
Although both codes are played on similar sized rectangular fields, the dimensions of rugby union fields can vary up to maximum size that is larger than the fixed size of American football fields. Rugby union fields are limited to a maximum length of 144 m long (and 100 m between goal lines) and width of 70 m, while American football fields have a fixed length of 120 yd (110 m) long and width of 160 ft (48.8 m). Both sets of measurements include scoring zones at each end. These are fixed to 10 yd and called the end zone in American football, but of unspecified length in rugby union.
[edit] Lines
The border between the regular field of play and a scoring zone is called …show more content…
• A forward pass goes out of bounds or touches the ground before it is caught. This is known as an incomplete pass. The ball is returned to the original line of scrimmage for the next down.
• The ball or the player with the ball goes out of bounds.
• A team scores.
Rugby union is based on the 'right to contest possession'. A team is not required to surrender possession when the ball carrier is tackled, in contrast to American football, where a team must surrender their possession when a player is tackled and no downs remain. Rugby union players must win possession in open play, unless the team in possession makes an infringement, scores, or the ball leaves the field of play.
A team in rugby union can advance the ball in two ways:
• By running forward with the ball. The ball carrier typically passes to a teammate just before he is tackled, to permit another player to continue the run towards the try line, thus quickly gaining ground. The ball carrier cannot pass to any teammate that is closer to the try line. This would be a forward pass, which is illegal.
• By kicking the ball forwards and attempting to recover it (illegal in American Football, unless the ball is first touched by another