With Super Bowl XLII approaching, invitations to Super Bowl parties will be handed out soon. Perhaps you're even planning one yourself. But how much fun can you have if you don't understand the game itself? After all, football's biggest annual event is the purpose of the party and will be a large focus of attention and conversation throughout the day. So, unless you prefer standing in the background twiddling your thumbs while everyone else is engrossed in the action, let us help you do something about it.

To a beginner, the game of football can seem very complicated, but it's really very simple once you learn the basics. That's why we've put together this three-step course designed to arm you with all the knowledge you need in plenty of time for this year's contest. In three easy-to-follow lessons, you'll learn all the basics, from the object of the game and the various ways to score, to the layout of the football field and the components of the team itself.

We've also created a glossary that defines hundreds of football terms you can bookmark for quick reference when needed as well as an entire section dedicated to improving your knowledge of the game.