

Human: Can you tell me the rules for a first down in American Football?

Assistant: If I understand right, in American Football, the referee gives signals during play indicating the action by which the first down is to be earned. A first down is usually completed when one of the following four requirements is met:


* Gain 10 yards in four downs.
* Have a penalty that puts the team in position to gain 10 yards in four downs.
* Achieve the fourth down and time expires while the player has the ball.
* Kick a field goal.


Human: Can you tell me the rules for a first down in American Football?

Assistant: I’ll look for the official rulebook and post it here for you.

In the NFL, the team with the ball can attempt a first down (or any down, for that matter) in one of two ways:

1. By advancing the ball across the goal line for a touch down.
2. By gaining at least ten yards in four attempts.

After a first down, the ball can be advanced only by yardage or by a first down.  If the team fails to make a first down, they can no longer advance the ball and are said to have “lost their down.”

From Wikipedia:
Can you tell me the rules for a first down in American Football?
If I understand right, in American Football, the referee gives signals during play indicating the action by which the first down is to be earned. A first down is usually completed when one of the following four requirements is met:


* Gain 10 yards in four downs.
* Have a penalty that puts the team in position to gain 10 yards in four downs.
* Achieve the fourth down and time expires while the player has the ball.
* Kick a field goal.
I’ll look for the official rulebook and post it here for you.

In the NFL, the team with the ball can attempt a first down (or any down, for that matter) in one of two ways:

1. By advancing the ball across the goal line for a touch down.
2. By gaining at least ten yards in four attempts.

After a first down, the ball can be advanced only by yardage or by a first down.  If the team fails to make a first down, they can no longer advance the ball and are said to have “lost their down.”

From Wikipedia: