About American Football
Considered to be the most popular sport in the United States of America, American football has over the decades created waves among football enthusiasts within the country. In recent years, however, the popularity of the sport is not confined just to Uncle Same but has reached far certain ends of the globe.
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Difference Between American Football and Football
Now, don’t confuse American football with the type of football played in Europe and most other parts of the world – the Americans call that ‘soccer’, the world’s most popular sport. American football is very similar to rugby and is played with an oblong-shaped ball rather than a spherical ball which is used in ‘soccer.’
Also, with American football, players wear certain protective gear such as helmets and padding on some parts of the body and the ball is thrown, passed and kicked. This means that players can make use of both their hands and legs during a game.
In the US, ‘soccer’ or football is also gaining popularity with the Major League Soccer (MLS) drawing in large crowds. But American football still remains a fan favourite, even trumping baseball and basketball to a certain extent.
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Difference Between American Football and Rugby
A lot of people have a misconception that American football and rugby are the same with minor differences. However, one will be surprised to know that there are massive variances between the two sports. Here, we try to differentiate some of the rules between American football and rugby:
| Rules | American Football | Rugby |
| Brief description of the sport | American football is a game with intense physical aggression with players that have speed, power, and explosiveness that requires helmets and padding to be worn. | Rugby is a game with intense physical aggression and necessary endurance that only requires a mouth guard for play. Players possess speed, agility, and strength. |
| Number of players | 11 players per team on the field at any given point of time | Team consists of 15 players for Union |
| Objective | To score points by carrying the ball beyond the opponents touch line with a series of run and pass plays. | Carry the ball and place it down on the opponents touch line or kick it between the goal posts. |
| Time limit | Four 15-minute quarters, with a half-time intermission after the second quarter. | Two 40 minute halves with a ten minute half time. |
| Ball Type | A prolate spheroid which is about 11 inches (28 cm) long and about 22 inches (56 cm) in circumference at the centre. Weighs around 0.875lbs. | A prolate spheroid shaped football. The international size is a “size 5” approximately 27 cm long and 60 cm in circumference at its widest point and weighs around 1lb. |
| Countries | USA, Canada | Worldwide |
| Number of Umpires / Referees | 3 to 6 referees plus booth review | 4 referees including TMO (television match official) and 2 assistant referees. |
| Protective gear | Helmet, Shoulder/Chest pad/protector, upper leg padding and mouthguard. | Players allowed modest padding on Head, Shoulders, Collarbone and mouthguard. |
| Major Tournaments | NFL Playoffs | Rugby World Cup |
| Substitutions | Unlimited | Up to 7 substitutions allowed |
| Average contact per game | Average tackles per game per player is 4 with highest recorded at 4600lbs. | Average tackles per game per player is 16 – Average hit impact: 1600lbs. |
| Field size | Length: 120 yards (109.728 meters) in total (100 yards (91.44 meters) of playing field, with two 10-yard (9.144 meters) end zones) Width: 160 feet (48.768 meters) | 100 (120m if end zone “goal area” is included) meters long by 70 meters wide with 20-meter in try area. |
Betting on American Football
This is where we present another interesting bit of trivia. Did you know that American football (National Football League or NFL, in particular) is the most popular sport for wagers in the US and second-most across the globe? As a matter of fact, the NFL makes for almost half of all sports bets that are placed in the United States!
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With the NFL, there are three main bet types including the moneyline, total points, and handicap (spread) markets.
The moneyline market is a straightforward bet wherein you, the punter, decides the winner of the game.
With the total points market, gamblers will need to determine whether the game will go over or under a certain amount of points.
Thirdly, with the handicap market, one side is handed a point advantage which puts both teams close to even money. This is the most popular form of NFL betting owing to it’s lucrative potential winnings.
Of course, the most important aspect of betting on the NFL is carrying out thorough research on the league and American football in general, and understanding various stats and performances, present and past.
Where to Bet Online on American Football?
As American football has widespread popularity not just in the US but across the world, there are many bookmakers that offer punters the opportunity to bet in a wide variety of markets. In India, too, many punters have begun following the NFL, keeping close watch on the top teams and players of each season before competing in several American football markets.
In India, one of the most popular sports betting websites is Indibet, an online bookmaking portal that offers several betting markets for American football and the NFL along with a host of other sports disciplines and events. The registration process is simple, payment options are vast, and the winnings are transferred without much delay.
FAQs
Q. Is online gambling on American football and the NFL legal in India?
Ans. While commercial gambling is strictly prohibited in most parts of India, betting online with sports such as American football with a registered site is not contested by the government.
Q. What payment methods are accepted when betting online?
Ans. Most online bookmakers accept a wide variety of payment methods including credit/debit cards, net banking, UPI, and even cryptocurrency.
Q. How long does it take for winnings to be transferred to my bank account?
Ans. Most gambling sites transfer the winnings to the customers’ accounts within 24 hours although some sites could take 3-4 business days before the money is reflected in the account.
