Captain’s log, stardate 11092026
The Girls’ Guide to NFL Football: A Free Guide for Total Beginners
Seven chapters, a glossary and a cheat sheet, made to read on your phone
By Rachel Nevers · · Log 009
The short version
A free 22-page PDF that walks you through NFL football in plain English: seven chapters, a 41-term glossary and a one-page cheat sheet for game day.
I made this guide for me, and for anyone else who wants to understand the game. It’s a friendly walk-through with no jargon left unexplained and no question too basic.
Who is it for?
Total beginners, and anyone who wants to know more. If you’ve ever watched a game and wondered why the whole room just cheered, why the clock keeps stopping, or what “2nd and 8” means, this one is for you.
A happy bonus: the guys in your life get a break from explaining. Next game, you’ll be the one telling them what that flag was for.
What’s inside?
- How a game works: the field, the clock, downs and scoring
- Who’s on the field: every position in a line or two
- Common plays, decoded: runs, passes, blitzes and kicks
- Penalties you’ll hear, with the ref’s signals
- How the league works: all 32 teams, the season and the playoffs
- How to watch, plus the glossary and some “sound smart at the party” lines
- Picking your team, with no team pushed on you
- A game-day cheat sheet to keep on your phone
Share it with a friend who’s ready for game day. 🏈
This guide is an independent fan project. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NFL.