Last Updated on November 26, 2021 by
Every team in the football league has between the range of 45 to 50 players available for them but they have very strategized positions that allow them to put in only 11 players on the pitch at one particular time. They have more than 45 players because they are allowed to substitute as many times as they want. No player can play on both the defensive and offensive sides of a team.
A football game is played between two teams just like most sports, there has to be an opposition. Each team carries 11 players each to the pitch. Playing more than 11 players at once would warrant a penalty for the team. Each team during the game is allowed to substitute any number of players during downs. The rules weren’t always like this as they use to have a limited number of substitutions for one game. This has made most teams have offensive, defensive, and s0ecial team units.
Here Is A Table Telling You About The Different Units In A Team And What They Do.
| Unit | The Role |
| Offensive Unit | The offensive unit has the role of scoring the touchdowns. They take the ball straight down the field with this one aim in their mind. Three positions on the pitch make up the offensive unit; the Quarterback who is always team captain, the tailback and the fullback. |
| Defensive Unit | The major role of the defense should be obvious, they have to stop the offensive unit of their opponents from scoring a touchdown. The defensive unit has more positions than any other unit on the field, the positions are mainly under the defensive ends and defensive tackles. |
| Special Team Unit | The special team unit here plays a high role in making sure they get kicking plays for their teams. |
Offensive Unit
The offensive team is made to line up in a legal form before they can make a move to take the ball. An offensive formation in this aspect would be taken to be an illegal formation. An illegal formation is when more than four players are in the backfield or even fewer than five players with numbers 50-79 on the offensive line. Players are allowed to line up for a short period in a position where the player’s number is given the chance to if the change is told to the referee who will now tell the opposition about the switch. None of the team players are allowed to line up or cross the neutral zone until the ball is taken. Offensive linemen are not allowed to leave their position until the ball is snapped.
The major positions of this unit are the quarterback, halfback knew as tailback, and fullback. The quarterback is the one in charge of the offensive unit. The coach calls the plays, but sometimes the quarterback is given the authority to do so. The quarterback tells the offensive unit about the play while they huddle before going out to line up. The quarterback lines up at the back of the center to take the snap, afterward, then he gives the ball out, although this depends on the play, he can either run with it or pass it.
The main role of a halfback is to run with the ball, when a team sets for a running play, the right-back is always the one that takes up the responsibility of running to make the goal. They can also play as receivers on the other end. The fullbacks are the large players in the offensive unit because they help block the opponent’s defensive unit from obstructing the team’s gameplay.
Defensive Unit
This unit is made up of mainly the defensive ends and defensive line., also the defensive tackles. The defensive ends make their lines at their end of the line, the defensive tackles make their lines in between that of the defensive ends. The major aim and role of the defensive end and tackles are to stop the opposition from making running plays. They are also equipped to tackle the quarterback so he doesn’t make a pass, and lastly, they occupy the lines so that the linebackers can get through.
The linebackers are to stay just behind the defensive line and in front of the defensive backfield. The position is made up of two parts, the Middle linebackers, and the Outside Linebackers. The linebackers are the leaders of the defensive unit, they call the shots in the defensive units. They have different roles on the field, they have to block the run, tackle the quarterback, and guarding backs, broad receivers, and stop and passing plays.
The defensive backfield is mostly known as the secondary, this is what they are called in the field. They are the cornerbacks and the safeties. The safeties are also made up of two categories, the free safeties, and the strong safeties. Cornerbacks are made to set their line just outside the defensive formation, they stay opposite the receivers so they can block them from every play. Safeties set their line in between the cornerbacks but are far into the secondary. Safeties in football are the back man in basketball, when a quarterback has beat every line of defense, the safeties are the only ones left to put their hopes on as they are the last stage of the defense.
Special Teams Unit
The special teams unit is in charge of the kicking plays. This special teams unit in a team is the ones that try to make field goals when in possession of the ball. The field goals are done through attempts, punts, and kickoffs. All of these plays can be blocked by the opposing team and sent back by their special team unit. In this unit, we have the placekicker, the holder, and the long snapper. The long snapper would snap the ball and send it to the holder, the holder would immediately set it in a perfect position for the placekicker.
Conclusion
These are all the major and small positions in every team of football players.
