American football terms glossary
The following list is a glossary of American football terms .
0-9
3-4 Defense
Defense formation with three defensive line players and four linebackers .
4-3 Defense
Defense formation with four defensive line players and three linebackers .
A.
Audible
An announcement of a play by the quarterback outside the huddle .
Automatic first down
Penalty, which can be issued if the defense violates the rules , even if the space penalty is not large enough to cross the line of gain . This penalty gives the offense a new first down and thus up to four new attempts.
B.
Backs
All positions that are not on the line of scrimmage .
Backfield
The entire field of play behind the line of scrimmage .
Backup
Substitute player.
Backward Pass
See lateral pass
Ball carrier
The person who controls the ball.
Benching
The banishment of a regular player to the reserve bench.
lightning
Attacking the quarterback by a linebacker or defensive back .
block
Blocking the opponent's path with your own body.
C.
Call
see Audible
center
Player position on the offensive line , whose main role is to snap the ball, block gaps for the running game and protect the quarterback .
Challenge
Requesting a video review by the head coach.
Chop block
Illegal block where one offense player tackles a defender on his knees while another tackles the same defender over the hip.
Clipping
Illegal block where one player tackles another player from behind, below the hip .
Coffin Corner
The corners of the field of play between the goal line and the 10 yard line. Punters try to shoot the ball out of bounds there in order to have the opponent start as close as possible to their own end zone.
Complete Pass / Completion
Caught ball (catch) of a legal receiver. The pass recipient must have control of the ball (firmly in the hands / maintaining possession) and, according to NFL rules, at least both feet within the playing field (both feet down), see also differences in the rules of the NFL and the NCAA . If the player falls during the catch, the ball must not touch the ground.
Cornerback
Player position whose main role is to defend passes.
Cover 1
Defense scheme (man marking), with a low defender.
Cover 2
Defense scheme (man coverage or area coverage), with two low-lying defenders.
Cover 3
Defense scheme (space cover), with three low defenders.
Cover 4
Defense scheme (space cover), with four low-lying defenders.
Cover 6
Defense scheme (man and space coverage).
D.
Dead ball
A ball that is no longer in play.
Defense
The team that is not in possession of the ball at the start of a play.
Defensive back
The last line of defense, consisting of cornerbacks and safeties . The main task is passport defense.
Defensive end
Outer player position on the defensive line .
Defensive line
The first line of defense, consisting of defensive ends and defensive tackles . The main task is to attack the quarterback .
Defensive tackle
Inner player position of the defensive line .
Delay of game
A rule violation if the snap did not take place before the play clock expired .
Down
Game segment over the duration of a game turn.
Down by Contact
The ball carrier is brought to the ground by an opponent or is touched by the opponent after / when touching the ground with his elbow, torso or knee. End the turn.
Draw
A faked passing play that ends in a running game.
Drive
A series of moves up to a change in possession of the ball.
Dual threat quarterback
A quarterback who, in addition to passing, also increasingly runs himself.
E.
Eligible Receiver
Players who are allowed to catch a forward pass. These are the wide receivers , the running backs , the tight ends , the quarterback and all defenders. Players in the Offensive Line can also be declared eligible , i.e. entitled to receive a pass; this must be communicated to the referees beforehand, who will then announce this via microphone.
Encroachment
A rule violation in which a defender crosses the line of scrimmage prior to the snap, causing an attacking player to move.
End around
A move in which a wide receiver runs into the backfield and the quarterback passes the ball to him.
End zone
The area between the end of the field and the goal line . It is laterally bounded by the sidelines.
Extra Point (see also PAT)
A one-point gain from scoring a field goal after a touchdown .
F.
Facemask
- The face grille on a football helmet .
- Violation of the rules by reaching into the face grille.
False start
Violation of the rules whereby an offense player moves forward before the snap .
Fair catch
Unhindered catching of a ball. Signaled by waving your hands over your head.
Field of Play
Area between the two sidelines and the two goal lines .
Field goal
The shooting of the ball after the goal posts touch the ground.
First down
The first down .
Flag
See penalty flag
Flanker
See wide receiver
Flea Flicker
A trick play in which the running back throws a backward pass to the quarterback , who then throws a forward pass .
formation
The line-up at the beginning of a move.
Forward pass
See forward pass
Forward Progress
Foremost point where the ball carrier was, even if it was then pushed back by opponents.
Fourth Down
The last down. If the offense does not score a new first down , possession changes.
Fourth down conversion
Playing the fourth down to get a new first down instead of punting .
Four-point stance
A stand where both feet and both hands touch the ground.
Free Ball
A ball in play that is not controlled by anyone and can be captured by both teams.
Free kick
Punt after a safety achieved by the opponent .
Free safety
See safety
Fullback
Strong running back . Often only there to block the way for the running back.
Fumble
Dropping the ball after it has been brought under control and before the ball or play is dead. After a fumble the ball is free.
Fumblerooski
A trick play in which the quarterback drops the ball immediately after the snap , deliberately fumbling it so that another player (usually a player from the offense line) can pick up the ball and run forward with it. Banned in most leagues.
G
Goalline
Line that separates the end zone from the field of play .
Guard
Player position in the offensive line , should block gaps for the running game and protect the quarterback.
Gunner
Player position in which the player has the task of stopping the returner . The gunner is usually the fastest player in the line-up.
H
H-back
Abbreviation for Hybrid Back ; Hybrid player type with the physique of a tight end , who mostly stands behind the line of scrimmage like a fullback .
Hail Mary Pass
A very long pass into the opposing end zone usually shortly before the end of the game in the event of a tie or a deficit.
Halfback
Agile, fast running back .
Hand-off
Passing the ball without throwing the ball.
Hands team
Group of players who are used for onside kicks . The players are particularly sure of catching.
Hashmarks
Lines in the playing field that are perpendicular to the goal line . They mark the area in which the snap must take place.
Holder
Player whose job it is to hold the ball while attempting a field goal .
Holding
Unauthorized holding of an opponent who does not have the ball and is not trying to catch a ball.
Horse-collar tackle
A horse-collar tackle is a type of tackling in which the tackling player pulls the opponent back by the shoulders or jersey so that the tackled player falls on his own legs.
Huddle
Gathering of the players on the field where the next move is discussed.
Hurry-up offense
Open strategy in which there is no huddle in order to save time.
I.
I formation
An offense formation in which the quarterback and two running backs stand in a row behind the center.
Illegal formation
The offense must have seven players on the line of scrimmage for at least one second before the snap . If this is not the case, this is an illegal formation .
Incomplete Pass
A forward pass that was not caught by any player or was only caught out of bounds . An Incomplete Pass stops the clock (Game Clock).
Ineligible Receiver
Player who is not allowed to catch a forward pass . Usually only players on the offensive line .
Intentional grounding
The unauthorized throwing of the ball by a quarterback in distress inside the tackle box without a pass recipient being nearby or outside the tackle box if the ball does not reach or cross the line of scrimmage.
Interception
Catching a pass by a defender.
K
kick
Deliberately kicking the ball.
Kicker
Player whose job it is to kick field goals and kickoffs .
Kick off
Opening of the game at the beginning of a half, after a touchdown or after a field goal by kicking the ball.
Kick returner
Player whose job it is to carry kickoffs back .
Kneel
Move with a low risk, in which the quarterback kneels down after the snap and thus ends the move, but lets the clock continue to run. Usually used when a team is in the lead shortly before the end.
L.
Lateral pass
Pass that is thrown parallel to the line of scrimmage or backwards. Laterals can be thrown as often as you like, by anyone and also behind the line of scrimmage. A dropped lateral is not an incomplete pass, but a free ball that can be picked up by anyone.
Line of scrimmage
Imagined line from which the moves begin in American football. It runs parallel to the goal line .
Line to Gain
Imagined line that the offense has to cross with a controlled ball in order to achieve a new first down . It runs parallel to the goal line .
Linebacker
- Player whose main job is to stop runs.
- The second line of defense.
Linemen
Players who specialize in playing the line of scrimmage .
Long snapper
Center that specializes in taking long snaps , mostly to punters or holders .
Losing season
A season in which a team lost more than won.
M.
Man coverage
Man in motion
Offense player who is not on the face-up line and who is allowed to move directly behind the face-up line and change his position immediately before the face-up.
Mike
Name for the middle linebacker .
muff
A punted ball that has not been caught by the receiving team, but is only touched, so that the ball is then free .
N
Nickelback
means a third cornerback on the field in defense . The nickelback is not a basic position in American football.
Nose tackle
Defense player facing the center of the offense (nose to nose).
O
Offense
The team in possession of the ball.
Offensive line
Row of five players in front of the quarterback.
Offside
Crossing the line of scrimmage before the snap occurred.
Onside kick
A very short kickoff that crosses at least ten yards, in which the kicking team tries to control the football in front of the opposing team and thus stay in possession of the ball.
Run option
A type of play in which the quarterback has the option of either holding the ball, giving it to a running back , or playing a pass.
Out of bounds
The entire space outside the actual playing field.
P
PAT
See Point after Touchdown / Extra Point
passport
Deliberately throwing the ball at a teammate.
Pass Interference
Preventing a pass recipient from catching the ball without trying to catch the ball himself.
Passer rating
Passing yards
The gain in space achieved by passing moves.
Penalty flag
Yellow cloth that is thrown by the referees to indicate a rule violation and to mark its location.
Pick six
Term for an interception that leads to a touchdown.
Play
One move.
Play clock
A timer that determines the length of time between two turns. It is 40 seconds or 25 seconds after timeouts and other administrative game interruptions.
Pooch kick
A punt or kickoff that is not kicked with full force. Often used to limit the ability of the return team .
punt
Kicking the ball before it hits the ground.
Punt returner
A player whose main task is to return the ball after a punt .
Punter
Player whose main job is to punt the ball .
Q
Quarter
A quarter of the playing time of a football game.
Quarterback
Player whose main role is to receive the snap and coordinate the play.
Quarterback rating
Statistical value that should describe the performance of a quarterback with regard to his passing skills and make it comparable.
Quarterback scramble
See scramble
Quarterback sneak
Game move in which the quarterback drops forwards after the snap in order to cover short distances.
R.
Reception
Catch the ball.
Red flag
Red cloth that is thrown by the head coach to call for a challenge .
Red Zone
Area between the goal line and the 20 yard line.
return
Carrying the ball after a change of possession, such as a kick or a turnover .
Return Team / Receiving Team
Team of the returning player.
Return yards
Gained space after a punt or kickoff return as well as after interceptions and fumbles .
rover
Player position in which the player takes on the tasks of both a defensive back and a linebacker .
Roughing the Holder
Unauthorized tackling of the holder.
Roughing the kicker
Unauthorized tackling of the kicker.
Roughing the passer
Unauthorized tackling of the passport thrower.
Backward pass
See lateral pass
Running back
Player whose main task is to gain space by running.
Rush
Enema.
Rushing Average
Average gain in space per run.
S.
bag
The tackling of the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage .
Safety
- Player position whose main task is to ward off passes.
- Two points gain .
Sam
Name for the Strong Side Linebacker .
Scoop and Score
A conquered fumble by the defense , which leads to a touchdown .
Scramble
Running the quarterback with the ball.
Screen Pass
Describes a short pass to the wide receiver or running back .
Scrimmage
- A friendly game.
- Short for Line of Scrimmage .
referee
Impartial toys that control the rules of the game. The main referee is called the referee and is assisted by additional referees who each oversee a specific area.
Secondary
See defensive back
Shotgun formation
A formation in which the quarterback is not directly behind the center , but five to seven yards behind it.
Skill position
Players in positions of the running back , wide receiver , tight ends or quarterbacks who move the ball and are responsible for scoring points.
Snap
The pass or handover of the ball from the center, which starts a play.
Soccer Match
A game in which the points were scored solely by shooting field goals .
Special teams
Parts of the team that only come onto the field of play when a ball is kicked.
Spike
The quarterback's immediate throwing of the ball to the ground to stop time. The team in charge of the ball loses a down .
Squib kick
A kickoff in which the ball is kicked flat.
starter
A player who is on the field the first time his team member appears in a game.
Statue of Liberty
Trick play in which the quarterback fakes a pass with his throwing arm after the snap, while almost simultaneously handing the football over to a running back or wide receiver behind his back with his other hand .
Stiff arm
Pushing away an opponent by stretching out your arm.
Strong Safety
See safety
Strong Side
The side of the field on which more offense players are standing before the snap .
Sub Package
Taking an additional defensive back ( nickel back ) in a defensive formation, usually instead of a nose tackle or an outside linebacker . Often used when a pass play is expected.
T
Tackle
- Bringing the opponent to the ground (see Tackle (American Football) ).
- A player on the line, either an offensive tackle or a defensive tackle .
Tackle box
The area between the two offensive tackles on the grid.
Tailback
See halfback
Take a knee
See Kneel
Three-and-out
The failure of the offense in the first three downs , to achieve a new first down and therefore to punt .
Three-point stance
A stand in which the player has both feet and one hand on the floor.
Throwaway
The targeted throwing of the ball outside the tackle box without a realistic pass recipient.
Tight end
Player position of the offense . Tight ends act either as blockers or pass recipients.
Time of Possession
The total amount of time a team had possession of the ball.
time-out
Time out. Interruption of the game and stopping of the game clock by a team. Each team is entitled to three time-outs per half. If a challenge is lost , a time-out will be deducted.
Touchback
A touchback is present if
- the ball leaves the field behind the goal line after a fumble , a punt or a kickoff .
- a defender is tackled after an interception in his own end zone.
After a touchback, the offense begins at your own 20-yard line.
Touchdown
Earning six points by catching or capturing the ball in the opponent's end zone, or by running the ball into the opponent's end zone.
Trick play
Generic term for choreographed surprise moves.
Trick play
See trick play
Turnover
Change of possession.
Two-minute warning
Time-out given by the referees for both teams two minutes before the end of each half.
Two-point conversion
After a touchdown, try to score two points by running or passing into the end zone .
U
Undrafted
A player who was not selected in the NFL Draft .
Utility player
A player who plays in multiple positions.
V
Vanilla offense
An offense with a few formations and plays.
Victory formation
See Kneel
Veer
A form of option in which there is a running back behind every guard.
Video evidence
Due to the large number of cameras, contentious game situations can be checked by the referees and, if necessary, withdrawn.
Forward pass
A pass whose first point of contact is closer to the opponent's end zone than where the pass was thrown. Only one forward pass may be thrown per play. After crossing the line of scrimmage, the forward pass is not permitted.
W.
Weak I
Formation in which a running back stands behind the quarterback and another running back stands on the weak side next to the quarterback.
Weak side
The side of the field on which fewer offense players are standing before the snap .
West Coast Offense
An offense strategy in American football. The passing game is emphasized with short throws, exact running paths and variable formations.
Wheel route
Pass route in which the pass recipient runs parallel to the line of scrimmage and, after receiving the pass, runs towards the opposing end zone .
Wide
Walking towards the sidelines.
Wide receiver
Player whose main job is to catch passes.
Wildcat Offense
Offense tactic in which both the running back and the quarterback can get the snap .
Want
Name for the weak side linebacker .
Win-loss (-tie)
The ratio of wins, losses (and ties, if any), expressed as two or three numbers.
Winning season
A season in which a team won more than lost.
Wishbone
Formation with three running backs behind the quarterback in the shape of a Y, similar to a wishbone .
X
X receiver
Name in play announcements for the wide receiver , who is to the left of the quarterback on the line of scrimmage . This is where the team's best wide receiver is usually positioned.
Y
Y receiver
Term in play announcements for the slot receiver , often also tight end .
YAC
- Yards After Catch : Gaining space after receiving your passport.
- Yards After Contact : The space gained after the first tackle attempt .
Yard line
Distance marking on the field in yards to the next goal line .
Yardage
The gain or loss of space in a game, season or career.
Yards gained
See yardage .
Yards from scrimmage
The gain of space after crossing the line of scrimmage .
Yellow flag
See penalty flag
Z
Z receiver
Name in play announcements for the wide receiver , who is to the right of the quarterback slightly behind the line of scrimage .
zebra
Colloquial term for referees based on their black and white striped uniform.
Zone Defense
Defense what space coverage applies.
Zone lightning
A defensive tactic in which both flashes and space cover are played. Invented by Dick LeBeau .
Zone Read
A type of option run where the running back stands next to the quarterback. After the snap , the quarterback and running back cross paths and begin a hand-off . Based on the reading of the defense reaction, the quarterback either pulls the ball back and runs or passes the ball to the running back.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Intentional Grounding. Retrieved November 22, 2015 .
- ^ NFL Game Center: Jacksonville Jaguars at New York Jets - Week 10, 2009. (Video) Retrieved November 22, 2015 .
- ^ Bill Mallory and Don Nehlen: Complete Guide to Special Teams . American Football Coaches Association ,, ISBN 0-7360-5291-7 .