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Verbal commands shouted by the quarterback to his teammates at the line of scrimmage to change a play on short notice
The area behind the line of scrimmage
The running backs which include the halfback, fullback and wingback
A play when the defensive team sends players rushing toward the line of scrimmage as soon as the ball is snapped to try to sack the quarterback
The act of preventing a defensive player from getting to the ball carrier; blockers use their arms and bodies but may not hold an opponent.
A long pass thrown to a receiver sprinting down the field.
A technique used by pass defenders, where they hit a receiver once within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage to slow him down, and then follow him to prevent him from catching a pass.
Blocking an opponent below the waist from behind; this illegal block is a personal foul, punishable by a 15-yard penalty.
A forward pass to a teammate who catches it in the air.
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.
A ball becomes dead when a play is over and becomes live as soon as it is snapped for the next play.
When 2 defensive players cover one receiver.
One of 4 chances a team on offense has to gain 10 yards; also, the state of a player who has just been tackled; also, a ball that a player touches to the ground in the end zone to get a touchback.
The series of plays a team puts together in an attempt to score.
When a quarterback, after taking the snap, takes a few steps backward into an area called the pocket to get ready to pass the ball.
If a player (besides the center) is in the neutral zone and contact occurs prior to the snap; a foul punishable by a 5-yard penalty.
The boundary line that runs the width of the field along each end.
The area between the end line and goal line bounded by the sidelines, which a team on offense tries to enter to score at touchdown.
Additional point(s) scored by a team after it has scored a touchdown, either by a point-after-touchdown (1 point) or a 2-point conversion (2-points)
When a kick returner decides only to catch a punt or kickoff and not advance it, protecting himself from being hit by an opponent; he signals for a fair catch by raising one hand in the air and waving it.
A place kick that passes above the crossbar and between the uprights of the goalpost, earning the team that kicked it 3 points.
The first chance out of 4 that a team on offense has to advance 10 yards down the field; as soon as it gains those yards, it earns a new first down.
A pass thrown by a team closer to the opponent's goal line; a team is allowed to throw only one forward pass per play, and it must be thrown from behind the line of scrimmage (LOS).
The location to which a ball carrier has advanced the ball, even if he was pushed backwards after getting there.
When a ball carrier loses possession by dropping the ball or having it knocked away before the play ends; the first player to regain possession of the loose ball is said to make the recovery, and his team becomes the offense.
A line drawn across the width of the field, 10 yards inside each end line, which a team must cross with the ball to score a touchdown.
A tall metallic structure that stands at the back of each end zone; consists of a crossbar and two uprights that extend upward from it, supported directly above the end line by a base; teams try to kick the ball above the crossbar and between the uprights to score a field goal or extra point.
A running play where the quarterback hands the ball to a back.
A foul where a player impedes the movement of an opponent by grasping or hooking any part of his body or uniform; punishable by a penalty of 10 yards if against the offense, 5 yards plus a first down if against the defense.
The region of the field inside the sidelines and end lines.
A forward pass that touches the ground before being caught.
A foul called against a quarterback who purposely throws an incomplete forward pass solely to avoid a sack; cannot be called if the pass land at or beyond the line of scrimmage.
A pass caught in the air (picked off) by a defender whose team immediately gains possession of the ball and becomes the offense.
When a player kicks a ball from a tee at his own 30-yard line (35 in college) to the opposing team, whose player tries to advance it the other way; used to start the game, the second half (overtime in college), and to restart play after each score.
A pass thrown to a teammate backwards from the team's line of scrimmage or parallel to it; unlike a forward pass (which can only be thrown once per play), players may lateral the ball as often as they want.
An imaginary line which no player may cross before the snap; each team has its own line of scrimmage, separated by the neutral zone.
A single player on the offense who is permitted to move prior to the snap; he may only run parallel to the line of scrimmage or away from it.
The region that contains the ball as its sits on the ground before each play; the area between the two lines of scrimmage.
When a defense brings in a 5th defensive back to replace a linebacker on the field, increasing its pass coverage.
When any part of a player's body is beyond his line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped; a foul punishable by a 5-yard penalty.
The region of the field touching or outside the sidelines and end lines; as soon as the ball carrier or the ball itself touches out of bounds, the play is over.
A defensive player who covers an opposing receiver.
Pre-determined paths receivers follow to help the passer quickly locate them so he can more easily get them the ball.
Blocking by the offensive players to keep defenders away from the quarterback on passing plays.
A surge by defenders to get past blockers and sack the quarterback.
A foul that might cause injury; punishable by a 15-yard penalty.
A lateral tossed from a quarterback to a running back.
A kick towards the goalpost for a field goal or extra point; held between the ground and another player's finger.
A spurt of action that begins with a snap and ends with a dead ball.
A clock displayed in each end zone (or at one end) that limits the time teams take between plays. The ball must be snapped before the clock runs down to zero.
A passing play after the quarterback has faked a hand-off.
The area behind the offensive line, where the quarterback is protected by his blockers.
A place kick taken from the opponent's 2-yard line; awarded to a team that has scored a touchdown, it is worth 1 point if it goes through the goalposts.
When a player 10 yards behind the center catches a snap, drops it and kicks it before it hits the ground; an opponent tries to catch and advance it the other way.
The leader of the team's offense, he takes the snap from the center and either hands the ball to a running back to run with, passes it to a receiver or runs with it himself; he also communicates each play to his teammates.
Recognition by the quarterback of the defensive formation; he may then call an audible to adjust the offense.
An offensive player who catches or attempts to catch a forward pass.
To gain or regain possession of a fumble.
An attempt by a player who has just caught an interception, punt, or kick-off to advance the ball the other way.
When a quarterback runs parallel to the line, looking for a receiver.
A running play; also a pass rush.
A tackle of the quarterback behind his line of scrimmage.
When a ball carrier is tackled in his own end zone after bringing the ball there under his own power; the defense earns 2 points and receives a free kick from the offense's own 20-yard line.
Evasive movements by a quarterback to avoid being sacked.
The group of 4 downs a team has to advance the ball 10-yards.
The boundary line that runs the length of the field along each side; a ball carrier or ball that touches or crosses the sideline is out of bounds.
When the center while facing forward quickly hands the ball between his legs to a player standing behind him (usually the quarterback) to start each play.
The group of players who participate in kicking plays.
A location on the field, determined by an official, to mark forward progress or the place of a foul.
A player position on both offense and defensive lines; there is usually a left and right offensive tackle, and a left and right defensive tackle.
Contacting a ball carrier to cause him to touch the ground with any part of his body except his hands, thereby ending the play.
When a player who gains possession of a ball in his own end zone kneels to the ground and automatically starts the next play at his own 20-yard line; also awarded if his opponent kicks the ball across the end line.
When a team crosses the opponent's goal line with the ball, catches a pass in the opponent's end zone, or recovers a loose ball in the opponent's end zone; earns a team 6 points.
When a team that just scored a touchdown starts a play at the opponent's 2-yard line and crosses the goal line to earn 2 points.
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