American football: The Super Bowl: a novice's guide

Monday is a day of great national importance. There will be scenes of drama and high emotion, and even though there may be some controversy, it is a chance for us to come together as one. So what do you need to know about Super Bowl day? Hayden Meikle provides a guide.

The history
American football's greatest game - and one of world sport's greatest occasions - was created following a merger of the NFL and AFL competitions. A "world championship" game was created, and later labelled the Super Bowl by Kansas City Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt. A "bowl" comes from college football, and the famous Rose Bowl stadium. Americans don't like it if you write "Superbowl" as one word.

The trophy
The Vince Lombardi Trophy, named for the legendary coach of the Green Bay Packers.

The teams
It's the New England Patriots v the New York Giants.

The Patriots (or the Pats) hail from Foxborough, 35km outside Boston, and won Super Bowls in 2002, 2004 and 2005.

The Giants actually come from East Rutherford, New Jersey. They were a foundation franchise, and were known as the New York Football Giants for years, even after the baseball team of the same nickname left for California. The Giants won four original championships and then won Super Bowls in 1987, 1991 and 2008.

The grudge
Speaking of 2008, that was one of the greatest Super Bowls in recent years, and coincidentally it featured the Patriots and the Giants.

The Patriots were red-hot favourites, having charged through the regular season unbeaten.

But the Giants, inspired by a bizarre play late in the game during which David Tyree caught the ball by clasping it, one-handed, to his helmet, scored 14 points in the final quarter to win 17-14.

The key players
For the Patriots: Worshipped quarterback Tom Brady, tight end Rob Gronkowski, wide receiver Wes Welker and crafty coach Bill Belichick.

For the Giants: Under-rated quarterback Eli Manning, defensive leader Jason Pierre-Paul, nippy wide receiver Victor Cruz and 65-year-old coach Tom Coughlin.

Who to support
Well, that's up to you.

But the Patriots are sort of a mix of the Crusaders and Manchester United, with a side of LA Lakers, a smidgen of New York Yankees and a dash of the Melbourne Storm.

The Giants are relatively harmless. And Eli is a very cool name.

Refreshments
It is absolutely vital you stock up on the right mix of food and beverages to feel as much like an American as possible.

Either order pizza or rustle up hot dogs (American-style) or nachoes with fake cheese. Add some salty peanuts, some pretzels and, if you can find it, any Reese's product made from peanut butter.

Wash it all down with Dr Pepper, Budweiser, Coors Light or Sam Adams.

TV coverage
Starts at noon on ESPN.

Expect commentators who will get LOUD quite often, and brace yourself for plenty of incomprehensible graphics and in-depth analysis of seemingly minor moments.

Pomp and ceremony
You know Americans like to make a show of things but until you've seen a Super Bowl, you ain't seen nothing.

Outpourings of national pride, aircraft fly-bys and mentions of "our brave men and women" are bound to feature.

The rules
If you can, put in a few hours playing the Madden video game, and soon you will pick up the basics of American football.

Otherwise, here are some key points:

• It's sort of like rugby with helmets but without lineouts and scrums.

• There are 11 players on each side, and completely different attacking (offensive) and defensive units are used.

• The quarterback is the most important player, a sort of first five-eighth who makes the major decisions on offence.

• Teams with the ball either get a bloke to run with it (he's called a running back) or get the quarterback to throw it (forward - yes, forward) to a team-mate down the field. Just like rugby, they're trying to get the ball over a goal-line.

• Teams have four possessions, or "downs", to try to make 10 yards. It's not as easy as it sounds. If they fail, the ball is turned over. Often teams will use their fourth attempt to punt the ball downfield.

• A touchdown (though the ball does NOT have to be touched down) is worth six points. A conversion-style kick is worth one. A field goal is worth three.

Halftime
For many people, this is the highlight of the day.

The halftime break in the Super Bowl is when the American television stations screen some of the most amazing, creative and expensive advertisements of the year. Our ESPN feed misses out, but get on You Tube on Monday night and the ads will be easily found.

Another (recent-ish) tradition is the performance of a major halftime act. Michael Jackson, U2, Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen and, infamously, Janet Jackson's breast have previously featured.

Madonna and Cirque du Soleil have the honour this year.

Patience
Technically, an American football game consists of four 15-minute quarters.

But dozens of stoppages, "TV time outs" and the extended halftime mean you need to set aside the better part of four hours if you want to catch the whole shebang.

It's worth it, though. The Super Bowl is sport's most dazzling one-day show.