|
TERM |
DEFINITION |
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Audible |
A situation whereby the quarterback
changes the initially called play at the line of scrimmage by relaying the
new play in coded signals. This happens when the quarterback does not like
the defense he sees. Quarterbacks can either call an audible or take a
timeout when this happens.
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Backfield |
The area behind the quarterback where the
running backs line up.
|
|
Back Judge |
An official who checks for too many
players on the defensive team and watches the movement of the receivers on
his side of the field. This is the official who monitors pass interference
penalties and also rules on whether or not catches are legal.
|
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Blitz |
A defensive maneuver which is used to put
pressure on the quarterback. Blitzes are utilized by linebackers or
secondary players in an effort to sack the quarterback.
|
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Block |
A term which refers to the act of
impeding or stopping the forward progress of another player by the use of
one's body.
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Blown Coverage |
When a defensive player misses an
assignment and allows a large gain by the offense.
|
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Bomb |
An extremely long pass usually thrown by
the quarterback to a receiver running quickly downfield.
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Bootleg |
An offensive play predicated upon misdirection in which the
quarterback pretends to hand the ball to another player, and then
carries the ball in the opposite direction of the supposed ball
carrier with the intent of either passing or running (sometimes the
quarterback has the option of doing either). A naked bootleg
is a risky variation of this play when the quarterback has no
blockers pulling out with him.
|
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Bump and Run |
A defensive strategy where a defensive
player bumps the receiver at the line of scrimmage to slow him down. The
defender can legally make contact with his hands for 5 yards.
|
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Cadence |
The rhythm or tempo in which the
quarterback calls out signals. The quarterback may slow down his cadence,
for example, to try and draw the defense offside.
|
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Carry |
The term used to describe the function of
the running back, i.e. what he does with the ball.
|
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Center |
The offensive lineman in the middle of
the offensive line, who snaps (hikes) the ball to the quarterback to begin
each play. Centers need to be strong and powerful, with the ability to
block defenders well.
|
|
Chain Crew |
A group of individuals who are
responsible for extending the yard marking chains to determine whether a
first down is made. The referee summons the crew, and then decides whether
the offense got the first down after the chains have been extended.
|
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Chains |
Two orange and black covered sticks which
are separated by 10 yards and connected by a metal chain. When the ball is
marked on the field, one end of the stick is placed at this point, and the
other end is stretched out to the full 10 yards to indicate where the
offense needs to go to reach the first down.
|
|
Chop Block |
An illegal block by a player, in which he
undercuts another player below the knees to tackle him.
Any player who is
found guilty of a chop block is automatically ejected from the game.
|
|
Clipping |
A penalty assessed against an offensive
player, in which said player blocks a defensive player from behind.
|
|
Clothesline |
An illegal tackle in which a player
extends his arm and tackles a player by the neck. These tackles are
extremely dangerous and are illegal.
Players are automatically ejected if
they clothesline another player, and will often be
suspended.
|
|
Coffin Corner |
A special type of punt which is designed
to pin the receiving team deep in their own territory. The punter angles
the kick toward the corner of the end zone in the hopes that the special
teams can down the ball as close to the goal line as possible.
|
|
Completion |
Term which refers to a forward pass which
is caught legally (in-bounds) by a receiver.
|
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Cornerback |
A defensive player who is aligned at the
edge or corner of the field, and who is assigned to cover the wide
receiver of the offensive team. Cornerbacks must be quick and athletic.
|
|
Cornerback or Safety Blitz
|
A blitz package in which the
corners or safetys, instead of covering the receivers, rush the quarterback. |
|
Count |
A series of numbers shouted by the
quarterback prior to the ball being snapped. The quarterback alerts the
team as to which count the ball will be snapped on in the huddle.
|
|
Counter |
An offensive running play which is
designed to confuse a defense. The defense could be expecting a pass and
the counter is run to deceive the defenders.
|
| Cover or Coverage |
Preventing a player from gaining
yards; in pass coverage, a defender follows a receiver to prevent him from
catching a pass; in kick coverage, members of the kicking team try to
prevent a long kick return.
|
| Crackback Block |
An
illegal block delivered below the opponent's waist by an
offensive player who had left the area of close line play and then returned
to it, or was not within it at the snap.
The term is also used to describe
a legal block (delivered from the front,
or from the side with the offensive player's helmet in front of the blocked
player) by a wide receiver on a player who lined up inside of him
|
| Crossing Route |
When a receiver delays a moment
at the line and then runs over the middle across the field.
|
| Cut Blocking |
A blocking technique in which
offensive linemen, and sometimes other blockers, block legally below the
waist (i.e., from the front of the defensive player) in an attempt to bring
the defenders to ground, making them unable to pursue a running back for the
short time needed for the back to find a gap in the defense. The technique
is somewhat controversial, as it carries a risk of
serious leg injuries to the blocked defenders.
This
type of block is not taught, encouraged or condoned by the YAPM.
|
|
Dead Ball |
A term which refers to a play being over
and also that the ball cannot be advanced.
|
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Defense |
The team without the ball, who is
defending against a score.
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Defensive back |
A secondary player whose function is to
prevent an offensive receiver from making a catch. Defensive backs need to
be extremely quick.
|
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Defensive end |
A defensive player whose function is to
stop the run and pressure the quarterback. As his name implies, he lines
up on the end of the line.
|
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Defensive line |
The sequence of defensive players who
play on the front of the line opposite the offensive line.
|
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Defensive tackle |
A defensive player assigned to stop the
run and make tackles in the backfield.
|
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Deflection |
A thrown football which changes direction
as a result of being touched or tipped by another player.
|
|
Delay of Game |
A violation assessed against the offense,
which occurs when the offense fails to execute it's play within the
allotted 40 seconds.
|
|
Dime Package |
When the defense replaces two
linebackers with defensive backs to increase pass protection or to get a
special blitz package.
|
| Double Coverage |
When 2 defensive players cover
one receiver.
|
|
Double foul |
One foul called on each team on the same
play.
|
|
Double team |
A defensive strategy whereby two
defenders cover one offensive player.
|
|
Down |
A sequence between between the time a
play starts and when it ends. Teams get 4 downs (or chances) to advance
the ball 10 yards. If they do, they get a fresh set of downs.
|
|
Down Lineman |
A player stationed in front of
his line of scrimmage and who has either one (three-point stance) or two
(four-point stance) hands on the ground.
|
|
Draw Play |
A running play disguised as a pass play.
The offensive linemen drop back as if they are pass protecting for the
quarterback. The quarterback drops back to throw the ball and then at the
last second hands the ball to the running back, who runs through the hole
created by the linemen.
|
| Drop Back |
When a quarterback, after taking
the snap, takes a few steps backward into the pocket (area of maximum pass
protection) to get ready to pass.
|
| Drop Kick |
A kick in which the ball is
dropped and kicked once it hits the ground and before it hits it again; a
half-volley kick.
|
| Eligible Receiver |
A player allowed by the rules to
catch a forward pass; all offensive players are eligible except linemen and
the quarterback, who must notify the referee if they wish to become eligible
and stand at least one yard behind the line of scrimmage before the snap.
|
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Encroachment |
A penalty assessed against the offense,
worth 5 yards, in which an offensive player crosses the line of scrimmage
before the ball is snapped, making contact with a defensive player.
|
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End Zone |
The 10 yard areas at each end of the
field which contain the goalposts. This is where all scoring plays occur.
|
|
Extra Point |
A scoring play which occurs after a
touchdown is scored, in which the placekicker kicks the ball through the
uprights. It is worth one point and is tacked on to the 6 points for the
touchdown. Also known as "point after conversion."
|
|
Face Mask |
A penalty assessed against a player who
grabs another player by the face mask in an attempt to tackle him. Face
mask penalties can be intentional (15 yards) or incidental (accidental) in
which case the penalty is 5 yards.
|
|
Fair catch |
A signal in which a kick or punt
returner waives his arms over his head from side to side, indicating that
he is going to catch the ball. When he does so, the opposing team cannot
touch him and he cannot advance the ball. The ball is marked at the point
where he catches the ball.
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|
Fake |
A deceptive maneuver, usually by the
offense, in which a player will pretend to do one thing and actually do
another to confuse the other team.
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|
False Start |
A penalty assessed against the offense,
occurring when an offensive player leaves his stance and moves before the
ball is snapped.
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Field Goal |
A scoring play in which the ball is
kicked through the goalpost by the kicker. The kick, if it is good, is
worth 3 points and is generally, but not always, attempted from 40 yards
or closer.
|
|
Field Judge |
The official who supervises the play
clock. He also checks for players being onside. He looks for pass
interference on the strong side of the field, and watches for illegal use
of hands.
|
|
Field of Play |
The area between both the goal
lines and the sidelines, and in some contexts the space vertically above it.
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|
First Down |
The point at which each team begins with
possession of the ball. Teams get 4 chances, or downs, to move the ball 10
yards. When a team gains the necessary yardage, it receives a new, fresh
set of downs.
|
|
Flag |
An object thrown by the referee to
indicate a penalty is coming. Flags are bright yellow.
|
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Flanker |
A player position on offense. A
wide receiver who lines up 1 or more yards off the line of scrimmage. The
flanker can line up either outside the tight end, outside the split end, or
in the slot between the split end and the offensive linemen.
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Flat |
Areas in the backfield parallel
to the quarterback. On a passing play, the quarterback will pass there only
when no one down field is open.
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Flea Flicker |
A trick play run by the offense to
deceive the defense. It is a pass play disguised as a running play. The
quarterback hands the ball to the running back who runs forward towards
the line. When the running back gets to the line, he stops, turns, and
pitches the ball back to the quarterback. The quarterback then passes the
ball downfield to a receiver who has already sprinted downfield.
|
|
Formation |
An offensive or defensive arrangement of
players, aligned in a specific way.
|
| Forward Pass |
A pass that touches a
person, object, or the ground closer to the opponent's end line than
where it was released from, or is accidentally lost during a forward
throwing motion.
|
| Forward Progress |
The location to which a ball
carrier has advanced the ball, even if he was pushed backwards after getting
there.
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Foul |
Any infraction of the rules of play, as
determined by the referee.
|
|
Four-Point Stance |
A down lineman's stance with four
points on the ground, in other words, his two feet and his two hands
|
|
Four-three (4-3) defense |
A defensive alignment with four defensive
linemen on the line of scrimmage, and then three linebackers lined up
behind the line of scrimmage.
|
| Free Kick |
A type of kick taken to start or
restart play after a team has scored a safety, with no defenders nearer than
10 yards away. In kicking style it is essentially a punt.
|
|
Free Safety |
The deepest aligned player in the
secondary. He defends against the long pass. His role is similar to the
center fielder in baseball.
|
|
Frozen Rope |
A pass thrown crisply, perfectly
straight, and right on target.
|
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Fullback |
An offensive player in the backfield who
blocks for the running back and the quarterback. They are also used to
carry the ball in short yardage situations.
|
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Fumble |
Term used to describe an offensive player
who drops or loses possession of the ball during the course of a play.
When a ball is fumbled, either team can attempt to recover the loose ball.
|
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Gap |
The amount of space between players
aligned on the line of scrimmage.
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Goal |
A surface in space marked by a
structure of two upright posts 18 feet 6 inches apart extending above a
horizontal crossbar whose top edge is 10 feet off the ground. The goal is
the surface above the bar and between the lines of the inner edges of the
posts, extending infinitely upward, centered above each end line
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Goal To Go |
This expression means that the offensive
team is inside the opponents' 10 yard line and needs only the yardage from
where the ball is marked to the end zone to attain a score. For example,
if the offense gains a first down at the opponents' 8 yard-line, it would
not be 1st and 10 because they only need 8 yards for a score, so it would
be called "first and goal."
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|
Gridiron |
Another term for the playing surface of a
football field, more specifically the pattern created by the white lines
on said surface. These lines were first introduced on football fields in
1882 for a college game. Because of the pattern created by the lines on
the field, the field became known as a "gridiron", the word "grid"
representing the geometric pattern of the lines, and "iron" to represent a
game which required great physical strength.
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Guard |
Offensive players on the offensive line,
lining up on the other side of the center. They protect the quarterback
and block defenders.
|
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Hail Mary |
An extremely long pass by the
quarterback, thrown in desperation, usually at the end of the game. This
pass will occur if the team has time for one last play, and needs to score
a touchdown to tie or win the game.
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Halfback |
An offensive player who runs with
the ball in the backfield.
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Halfback Option |
A play in which the halfback
throws a pass.
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Handoff |
The action of the ball being given to
another player, most often the running back.
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"Hands" Team |
During an on-side kick, the
receiving and kicking teams will put the players on the field with the most
experience in handling the ball, usually wide receivers and cornerbacks, in
order to facilitate recovery.
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Hang time |
The amount of time that a punted ball
stays in the air. If a punted ball traveling 50 yards stays in the air for
3 or 4 seconds, that is excellent hang time.
|
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Hash Marks |
The rows of lines on the field, near the
middle of the field, that signal 1 yard increments. The ball is marked at
or near the hashmarks prior to each play.
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Head Linesman |
The official on the field that lines up
on the line of scrimmage and watches for violations on the line of
scrimmage like encroachment, offside, and illegal men downfield. The head
linesmen is also responsible for the chain crew.
|
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Holder |
The player, usually the punter or backup
quarterback, who holds the snapped ball so that the field goal kicker can
kick it.
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Holding |
A penalty assessed against a player who
impedes the progress of another player by grabbing hold of an arm or
jersey to prevent the player from making a play.
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Huddle |
Groups of players who confer between
plays to discuss strategy. Quarterbacks call plays in the offensive
huddle, and usually linebackers or defensive captains call the plays in
the defensive huddle.
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Hurry-up offense |
An offensive strategy which is run to
gain as much yardage as possible before stopping the clock. Teams usually
use this offense when they are running out of time at the end of a half.
|
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I-Formation |
An offensive set-up where the two running
backs line up directly behind the quarterback in the shape of an I.
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Illegal Player Downfield |
A penalty assessed against the offense.
It is called when a lineman moves downfield to catch a pass. It is a 5
yard penalty against the offense.
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Illegal Shift |
A penalty assessed against the offense,
in which more than one offensive player moves before the ball is snapped.
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Ineligible receiver |
Any offensive lineman. Offensive linemen
are in the game to block. They cannot catch passes. If they do, a 5 yard
penalty is called on the offense.
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Incompletion or
Incomplete Pass
|
A forward pass that is not caught by a
receiver.
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Intentional Grounding |
A penalty assessed against the
quarterback. When a quarterback is about to be sacked, and deliberately
tries to get rid of the ball without a receiver in the area, the penalty
assessed is intentional grounding. The quarterback does this to attempt to
avoid a sack, which is illegal.
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Interception |
A forward pass by the offense that is
caught by a member of the other team's defense.
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Kickoff |
A kick which starts the game and also the
second half. The team that kicks off to start the game receives the
kickoff to start the second half. If the game goes into overtime a coin
toss is used to determine who kicks off in the overtime.
|
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Lateral |
Pass thrown to a teammate
backwards from the team's line of scrimmage or parallel to it; unlike a
forward pass (which can be thrown only once per play), players may lateral
the ball as often as they want, similar to rugby.
|
|
Line Judge |
The official on the field who watches for
illegal motion and illegal shifts. They assist all of the other officials.
The line judge is responsible for overseeing the timing of the game .He
takes over the timing if the scoreboard clock malfunctions. |
|
Line of Scrimmage |
The imaginary boundary of space between
the offensive and defensive lines prior to the ball being snapped. The
line of scrimmage is where each play starts, and it is where the first
contact between the linemen are made.
|
|
Linebacker |
A defensive player who is stationed
behind the line, and who defends against both the run and the pass.
Linebackers always must be good tacklers.
|
|
Lineman |
On offense, the player snapping the ball is the
center. The players on either side of him are the guards,
and the players to the outside of him are the tackles. The
players on the end of the line are the ends. This may be
varied in an unbalanced line.
On defense, the outside linemen are ends,
and those inside are tackles. If there are 5 or 6 linemen,
the inner most linemen are known as guards. This is rare in
professional football except for goal-line defense, but is sometimes
seen in high school or college.
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Live Ball |
Any ball that is in play, whether it is a player's
possession or not. The ball is live during plays from
scrimmage and free kicks, including kickoffs.
|
|
Loose Ball |
Any ball that is in play and not
in a player's possession. This includes a ball in flight during a lateral or
forward pass.
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Man to Man coverage |
A defensive strategy in which every
defensive player is assigned to cover an offensive player.
|
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Motion |
Side to side movements run laterally
behind the line of scrimmage by an offensive player, usually a wide
receiver, before the ball is snapped.
|
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Neutral Zone |
The area between the offensive and
defensive lines at the line of scrimmage. Teams must remain behind the
neutral zone prior to the ball being snapped.
|
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Nickel Defense |
When a defense brings in a 5th
defensive back to replace a linebacker on the field, increasing its pass
coverage or give a different look to the blitz.
|
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Nose Tackle |
A tackle in a 3-man defensive
line who lines up "opposite the center's nose", who primarily defends against running plays.
|
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Offense |
The team which has possession of the ball
and is trying to score.
|
|
Offensive Line |
The 5 offensive players up front who
protect the quarterback and block for ball carriers. The offensive line is
made up of two guards, a center, and two tackles.
|
|
Offensive Pass Interference |
A violation in which an offensive player
interferes with the defensive player's ability to catch a pass.
|
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Offsetting Penalties |
Two penalties assessed by the referee,
one on each team, of equal yardage. The penalties cancel each other out,
or offset each other.
|
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Offside |
Violation in which a player moves into
the neutral zone or beyond it before the ball is snapped to the
quarterback. Also known as encroachment.
|
|
Off-tackle |
A running play whereby the running back
runs toward the end of the line towards the tight end (the strong side)
and attempts to run through a hole which is created by the offensive
tackle.
|
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Onside kick |
A short intentional kick by the kicking
team that is designed to recover the ball quickly for the offense. The
team that is on-side kicking is losing the game at the end, and needs to
recover the ball to score. The kick occurs after a score by the offense.
The kick must travel 10 yards before it can be recovered, and no player
can touch the ball until it travels 10 yards.
|
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Option |
A play which describes a quarterback
having a choice (option) of running or passing the ball.
|
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Pass Interference |
A violation in which a defensive player
impedes an offensive player's ability to catch a forward pass.
|
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Personal Foul |
A penalty, 15 yards in total, assessed on
a player who commits a flagrant violation of the rules. Examples include
grabbing a player by the face mask, unnecessary roughness, and roughing
the kicker.
|
|
Pick |
When two receivers cross and one
bumps the defender of the other and can be called as offensive pass
interference.
Also another term for
interception.
|
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Pitch |
Tossing of the ball from the
quarterback to the running back.
|
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Place Kicker |
The player who is responsible for kicking
field goals and also kicking off to the other team.
|
|
Play-Action Pass |
A type of pass by the quarterback where
he pretends to hand off to the running back as he drops back to pass.
|
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Pocket |
The area where the quarterback stands
before he delivers the ball. Quarterbacks drop back 2 or 3 yards, it is
here that they are in the pocket.
|
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Possession |
A term that describes a team having
control of the ball on offense. It also refers to a receiver being in
control of a pass thrown to him.
|
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Post Pattern |
A passing route where the quarterback
throws the ball down the center of the field, to a receiver who has
stopped at an agreed upon post. The receiver attempts to line up with the
goalpost.
|
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Prevent Defense |
A defensive strategy that
utilizes deep zone coverage in order to prevent a big pass play from
happening downfield, usually at the expense of giving up yards at shorter
distances. Often used against hail Mary plays, or at the end of the game
when the defending team is protecting a lead.
|
|
Pull Block or
Pulling |
When an offensive lineman moves
out and blocks a defender on the outside of the play.
|
|
Pump Fake |
The act of a quarterback pretending to
throw to one receiver, then actually throwing to another.
|
|
Punt |
A kick in which the ball is dropped and kicked before it reaches the
ground. Used to give up the ball to the opposition after offensive
downs have been used, as far down the field as possible.
|
|
Punter |
The player who punts the ball.
|
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Quarterback |
The offensive leader of a team. He calls
plays in the huddle, throws passes, and hands the ball to the running
back. Quarterbacks should be agile and have good arm strength, and they
need to be very intelligent and good decision-makers.
|
|
Quarterback Sneak |
A running play in which the quarterback
keeps the ball and plows ahead for 1 yard behind his blockers, in an
attempt to get a first down or score a touchdown.
|
|
Quick Kick |
An unexpected punt.
|
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Reception |
When a player catches (receives)
the ball.
|
|
Red Zone |
The area from the opposition's 20 yard
line to the goal line. A team's offense is gauged based on the percentage
of times that they score within the red zone.
|
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Referee |
The official, wearing a white hat, that
makes all decisions regarding penalties and interpretations of the rules.
He enforces the rules and throws flags when a penalty is called. His word
is final. |
|
Return |
The act of catching a kicked ball and
running back with it towards the opponents' end zone.
|
|
Reverse |
A misdirection play designed to
confuse the defense. A play in which the quarterback hands off to a
teammate, who then runs parallel to the line of scrimmage and hands off the
ball to a teammate running back the other way.
|
|
Roll Out |
When a quarterback runs parallel
to the line, looking for a receiver.
|
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Roughing the kicker |
A penalty in which a defensive player
makes contact with the kicker after the ball has been kicked. The penalty
is 15 yards.
|
|
Roughing the passer |
A penalty (15 yards) assessed against the
defense, when a defensive player makes contact with the quarterback after
the ball has been thrown.
|
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Route |
A specific pattern which is run by a
receiver in an effort to get open to catch a pass. Receivers must run a
route on every play.
|
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Running back |
An offensive player who lines up behind
the quarterback and who is responsible for running with the football.
Running backs must possess great speed and quickness.
|
|
Running into the kicker |
A 5 yard penalty called against a
defensive player who accidentally makes contact with the kicker.
|
|
Sack |
This term refers to a defensive player
who tackles the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage. This play
results in a loss of yardage by the offense. Any member of the defense can
sack the quarterback, but it most often occurs by linebackers or defensive
linemen.
|
|
Safety |
A score worth two points. Safeties occur
when a defensive player tackles an offensive player in his own end zone.
Safeties are also awarded when a ball is snapped out of the end zone, or
if a player runs out of his own end zone, whether deliberately or not.
The
term safety also refers to the player who plays this position, a defensive
player in the secondary who guards against long passes thrown downfield.
|
|
Scheme |
A word used to represent formations, and
how to use them.
|
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Scramble |
This is what the quarterback does when he
runs out of the pocket and tries to escape rushing linemen and is looking
for a receiver to throw the ball to.
|
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Screen Pass |
A short, quick pass dumped off to a
running back in which he has offensive linemen blocking for him.
|
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Secondary |
The area where four defensive players are
lined up deepest on their side of the field, behind the linemen. Their job
is to guard against the long pass.
|
| Series |
The group of 4 downs a team has to advance 10 yards. |
|
Shotgun Formation |
An offensive formation which positions
the quarterback at least 5 yards behind the center, and usually not more
than 7. This formation allows the quarterback to gain more time in
analyzing the defense and more time to throw the ball.
|
|
Side Judge |
An official who watches for violations
downfield, on long passes. The side judge also decides whether a field
goal or extra points are good.
|
|
Sidelines |
The areas along the sides of the field
where coaches and non-participating players stand. Any player who runs to
a sideline is deemed to be out of bounds, stopping the clock.
|
|
Slant |
An offensive running play whereby a
running back veers, or slants, toward an angle after receiving the ball,
as opposed to running straight ahead.
|
|
Snap |
The act of the ball being hiked to either
the quarterback, or holder, or punter.
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Spearing |
A penalty assessed against a player who
uses his helmet deliberately in an attempt to injure another player.
Spearing is cause for ejection from the game.
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Special teams |
The players who come on to the field
during kickoffs and punt returns. This is a unit all in and of itself.
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Spiral |
A perfectly thrown football, which is
evidenced by the tight spin on the ball after it is thrown.
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Split End |
Another term for a player who catches
passes. Also known as wide receivers, they line up on the line of
scrimmage.
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Statue of Liberty Play |
This is a trick play run by the offense,
and it is one of the oldest plays in football. The Statue of Liberty play
is a running play disguised as a pass play, and it is used very
infrequently these days. In this play, the quarterback drops back to pass
and brings his arm back to throw, holding the ball outstretched in his
hand. As the ball is outstretched, the running back runs over and takes
the ball out of the quarterback's hand and then runs with the ball. Hence,
the quarterback looks like the Statue of Liberty after the ball leaves his
hand.
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Stiff arm
(or straight arm)
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A push by a ball carrier
to ward off a tackler. |
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Strong Safety |
A player on defense who aligns deep in
the secondary but close to the line of scrimmage. They guard against the
pass and frequently are involved in tackling.
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Strong Side |
The point of the offensive line where the
tight end lines up.
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Stunt |
A maneuver by a defensive linemen in
which they stagger and change their path to the quarterback in an effort
to confuse the offensive linemen.
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Substitute |
Bringing in one player to replace another
player.
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Sweep |
An offensive strategy whereby a running
back runs laterally behind the leading offensive linemen, who have cleared
a path for him by blocking out the defensive linemen. The running back
runs laterally until the path has been cleared, at which point he
accelerates forward.
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T-formation |
This is an offensive alignment where two
running backs are lined up behind the quarterback, and one back is split
to the left and the other one to the right. Also called a split backfield
formation.
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Tackle |
The process of bringing a player down to
the ground with your hands. It also refers to a specific position on each
line, responsible for blocking and tackling ball carriers.
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Takeaway |
Term which describes a defensive recovery
of a fumble, or an interception.
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Tailback |
An offensive player position
farthest ("deepest") back, except in kicking formations. Also often referred
to as the running back, particularly in a one-back offense.
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Three Point Stance |
A down lineman's stance with
three points on the ground, in another words, his two feet and one of his
hands
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Tight End |
A receiver who lines up on the end of the
offensive line. He is responsible for blocking defenders and catching
passes from the quarterbacks. The tight end's side is the strong side.
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Time of Possession |
The total amount of time that the offense
is in possession of the ball.
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Touchback |
A condition where a ball is ruled to be
dead in an end zone. If a kickoff or punt travels into the end zone
untouched, the result is a touchback, and the receiving team gets
possession of the ball at it's own 20 yard line.
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Touchdown |
A scoring play worth 6 points in which
the ball is primarily either run with or passed across the opponents' goal
line, with the player remaining legally in bounds. Scoring touchdowns is
the essence of winning football games. The defense also can score
touchdowns, by returning an interception across their opponents goal line,
or by recovering a fumble in the end zone.
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Trap |
A basic blocking pattern in which
a defensive lineman is allowed past the line of scrimmage, only to be
blocked at an angle by a "pulling" lineman. Designed to gain a preferred
blocking angle and larger hole in the line.
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Trenches |
The point of attack where the linemen
butt heads and attempt to gain physical control.
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Trips |
Formation in which 3 wide
receivers are lined up close to one another on the same side of the field.
Also refers to those receivers. Used to create potential for confusion or
collision between defenders as these receivers split up.
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Turnover |
A term which refers to any loss of the
football to the other team, whether it be by fumble or interception.
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Two Minute Warning |
An official time-out that occurs at the
end of each half to indicate that there are 2 minutes left. This is the
part of the game that gets most exciting in terms of action. |
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Two Point Conversion |
A scoring play, worth 2 points, in which
the offense tries to run or pass the ball across the goal line after a
touchdown is scored. If successful, the 2 points is tacked on to the 6
points for the touchdown. The score and the situation dictate whether or
not a team will go for 2.
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Umpire |
An official who monitors the legality of
players equipment and monitors the play on the line of scrimmage. He also
watches for too many men on the field violations and observes the contact
between the linemen. The umpire also has the important task of wiping the
ball dry when it's raining!
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Unbalanced Line
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Refers to an offensive
formation which does not have an equal number of linemen on each
side of the ball. Done to gain a blocking advantage on one side of
the formation; typically one tackle or guard lines up on the other
side of the ball. For example a common alignment would be
E-G-C-G-T-T-E.
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Unnecessary Roughness
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A 15 yard penalty assessed against a
player who uses excessive roughness or force against another player.
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Unsportsmanlike Conduct |
A personal foul against a player who
engages in conduct or behavior unsportsmanlike to the game. Examples
include taunting, gesturing, or abusive language.
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Veer |
A quick running play whereby the back
cuts, or veers, away from the pursuing defenders.
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Weak Side |
When one tight end is used, the
side of the field opposite the tight end. In other offensive packages, the
side of the field with the fewest offensive players on or just behind the
line of scrimmage.
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Wedge |
A type of blocking strategy where a group
of blockers form a V-shaped wedge to block and protect kick returners.
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Wide Receiver |
An offensive player whose function is to
catch the football. Wideouts, as they are sometimes called, line up on
wide sides of the field and are covered by cornerbacks on the defensive
side of the ball.
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Wing Back |
A player
position in some offensive
formations. Lines up just outside the tight end and one yard off the
line of scrimmage. May be a receiver but is more typically used as a
blocking back
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Wishbone |
An offensive formation which is used to
emphasize gaining yardage by means of running the football. In this
formation, the offense uses three backs in addition to the quarterback. It
is best used if the offense has a speedy, mobile quarterback.
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Zone Coverage |
A defensive strategy where the defenders
drop backwards to defend a specific area, or zone during a pass play, as
opposed to covering an individual, specific player. (which is called
man-to-man.)
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