In American football, a first down is a key term that indicates a team has successfully advanced the ball at least ten yards from its original position. The offensive team has four attempts, or downs, to cover this distance. If they achieve this within those four tries, they are awarded a new set of downs, allowing them to continue their offensive drive. If the team fails to gain ten yards after three attempts, they may choose to attempt a fourth down play or kick a field goal. Successfully achieving a first down is crucial for maintaining possession of the ball and progressing toward the opponent's end zone.