In football, series refers to a team’s four downs to reach the first down marker.
Each time a team gains possession of the ball or picks up a first down, they will start a new series to advance the ball down the field.
To get a new set of downs, the offense will move the ball forward ten yards during the four plays of the series.
First downs are awarded if a team reaches the marker on any of the four downs.
When a team attempts to gain the first down, it performs a series of plays.
In Football, What is a Down?
It is helpful to understand downs in football to understand what a series is.
The down is essentially another name for a play. It begins when the ball is snapped and ends when it is blown dead.
The first down is the first down, the second down is the second down, the third down is the third down, and the fourth down is the fourth down.
When an offense fails to reach the first-down marker on third down, they will often punt the ball away. Third downs are especially significant in football because they are often the last chance to move the ball forward.
It is the fourth down that is the most important play in a series when teams risk it and go for it on fourth down.
In other words, if you fail to convert on fourth down, the other team will get the ball.
In order to avoid giving their opponents favorable field position, punting is often the right option.
Each time a team gains possession of the ball or reaches the first down marker, the clock will start over at 1st down.
Football’s worst-case scenario is a three-and-out, in which the offense only plays three plays before giving up possession.
A series is a set of downs in football. The series ends when the four downs are completed or the ball is turned over.
After the team gets the first down, a new series of downs will begin.
In Football, What is a Drive?
The term drive may also help you better understand downs and series in football.
Drive is the term used in football to describe the overall possession of the ball.
It would be considered a drive if a team marches all the way downfield and picks up several first downs along the way.
There are many series and many downs in a drive. Drives do not have to be long. If the team turns the ball over, they can only run one play.
In football, a drive begins when an offense takes the field and ends when the offense leaves it.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you have gained a better understanding of what a series is in football.
In football, a down represents a single play, a series represents a group of four downs, and a drive represents all the plays during a single possession.