FIRST DOWN Meaning and
Definition
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First down is a term primarily used in American football to describe a situation in which the offensive team advances the ball a minimum of 10 yards from the original line of scrimmage. It is the first play of each series of four downs, or attempts, allocated to the offensive team. The line of scrimmage determines the initial point from where the offensive unit has to progress forward.
When the offense successfully gains at least 10 yards within their allotted attempts, it results in a first down. This achievement rewards the team with another set of four downs, resetting the number of attempts they have to reach another first down. First downs are critical as they propel the offense closer to scoring a touchdown or a field goal.
The yardage gained in a specific play is usually measured by the referee and indicated with markers on the sidelines. First down is announced by the officials, signifying a change in possession and the opportunity for the offensive side to continue their drive towards the end zone. Additionally, the distance required to achieve a first down may be adjusted based on penalties or negative plays, such as sacks or losses in yardage.
Common Misspellings for FIRST DOWN
- dirst down
- cirst down
- virst down
- girst down
- tirst down
- rirst down
- furst down
- fjrst down
- fkrst down
- forst down
- f9rst down
- f8rst down
- fiest down
- fidst down
- fifst down
- fitst down
- fi5st down
- fi4st down
- firat down
- firzt down
Etymology of FIRST DOWN
The term "first down" is primarily used in American and Canadian football to indicate the first opportunity given to the offensive team to advance ten yards. The etymology of the phrase can be traced back to rugby, which is believed to have influenced the development of American and Canadian football.
In rugby, a team would receive a "down" when they gained possession of the ball but failed to advance it the required distance of ten yards within a series of plays. This term dates back to the early 19th century. The term "first down" emerged as a way to indicate that a team had successfully completed their first attempt to advance the necessary ten yards.
American and Canadian football borrowed many concepts and terminologies from rugby, so when these sports were developed, the idea of "downs" was retained. Over time, "first down" became established as a specific reference to the initial attempt to gain ten yards in American and Canadian football.
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