Football Vocab

Vocab in Alphabetical Order

  • Backfield – the area behind the line of scrimmage
  • Blitz – when the defense rushes the passer with more than the usual number of players (5+). This is a higher risk defensive play due to the smaller number of players to cover the receivers. 
  • Chains – the markers that show the line of scrimmage and the first down marker. These are actually 2 sticks chained together that measure 10 yrds. You’ll hear ‘move the chains’ if the team believes it’s a first down
  • Challenge – (college football) when a head coach calls a TO and calls the refs to review the previous play. The coach must call the TO before the next play starts. If the ruling on the field is overturned (coach won the challenge) the team gets to keep their TO; if ruling is confirmed or stands, the team loses that TO.
  • CFP – College Football Playoff – when these rankings come out I will explain more about the CFP.
    • This system started in 2014 and creates a 1 loss knock out bracket for the best 4 teams in the country to play one another for a spot in the National Championship game. This replaced the BCS ranking system (Bowl Championship Series) which relied on a combo of calculations and poll standings to determine the final 2 teams to play in the championship game.

CFP 2018

  • Down – a play in which the offense attempts to move the ball. The offense gets 4 downs to get 10 yrds
  • Drive – all the plays when the offense has the ball until they punt or score
    • #GFHint: a drive can contain multiple first downs
  • End zone – the area at the end of the field (~10 yrds) that the players must cross with the ball to score a touchdown
  • Fair catch – when the returner waves an arm in the air side to side over his head and simply catches the ball.
    • The returner cannot run and in turn, the Defense cannot tackle him.
    • Play will start from where the return catches the ball
  • Field Goal (‘FG’) – when the offense kicks the ball through the goal posts. Another way of scoring points other than a TD. Only worth 3 points.
  • First down line – the imaginary line (although shown by the marker on the sideline) that the offense must cross in 4 plays or less to keep possession of the ball.
  • Halftime – when the clock runs out at the end of the 2nd quarter. Halftime is 20 minutes and the band usually comes out to play and your bf probably wants to go get another beer.
  • Handoff – giving the ball from one player to another. Usually between the QB and RB
  • Hash marks – the little lines on the field in between each 5 yrd lines that signify 1 yrd
  • Huddle – when the players congregate together to discuss the next play
  • Incomplete Pass – if the QB passes the ball and it is not caught
  • Interception – when the QB throws the ball and it is caught by a player on Defense
  • Kick – after a score (FG or TD), the scoring team will kick the ball back to the other team for their turn for possession. A kick also starts the game and the second half. 
  • Lateral – a pass that goes backwards
  • Line of Scrimmage – the imaginary line where the ball was ruled down on the previous play. This line will change every time the ball moves.
  • Neutral zone – the space in between the offense and defense where no player is allowed before the play starts
    • Only the center who has the ball is allowed
  • Over Time – if the game ends in a tie, the teams will play for an extra amount of time until a winner is decided. Look to the rules for the specifics on how it works.
  • Penalty / foul – indicated by the referee throwing a yellow flag, meaning that a player has committed a violation of the game rules. See Fouls list below.
  • Pick Six – when the defense gets an interception and scores a TD
  • Pigskin – another word for the football
  • Play action pass – when the QB fakes a handoff to the RB and throws a pass
  • Play clock – a 40 second clock that counts down from the end of the previous down to the beginning of the next play. Sometimes 25 seconds after a time out or other stop of the game clock
  • Pocket – the space where the QB is behind the O line. It can look like an actual pocket. 
    • You will hear of the pocket collapsing if the O line fails to hold off the defense
  • Points After Touchdown (‘PAT’) – after the offense scores a TD, they get an attempt for extra points
    • Extra Point – the kick attempt after the TD for one extra point
    • 2 Point Conversion – the attempt to score again by carrying or throwing the ball in the endzone after the original TD for 2 additional points.
  • Punt – after 3 plays or downs, the offense will (most of the time) kick the ball down field as far away from the defense’s endzone as possible. This will be the result in the amount of yrds that the offense will have to travel for a TD. A punt is always dropped from the hands.
  • Red Zone – 20 yrds or closer to the endzone
    • #GFHint: To sound impressive, if a team gets in the redzone but doesn’t score a TD, say something like “Ugh you have to score every time you get in the redzone or we don’t have a hope of winning this game.”
  • Rushing – moving the ball by running
  • Sack – when the QB gets tackled behind the line of scrimmage
    • This will result in a loss of yards
  • Safety – when the defense downs the offense in the offense’s endzone. Results 2 points AND the offense has to punt the ball to the defense.
    • This is rare but does happen, usually after a well placed punt that puts the offense starting within their own 5 yrd line.
  • Scrambling – when the QB runs around to avoid getting tackled
  • Secondary – the players that line up behind the linemen and linebackers on defense
  • Snap – when the center hikes or throws the ball back to the QB to start the play
  • Spike – when the QB throws the ball immediately into the ground to stop the clock and a loss of a down.
    • Usually seen at the end of the game in the conservation of time, especially if the team has no time outs.
  • Three and Out – If the offense runs 3 plays, does not get a first down and is forced to punt. This only happens on the first 3 plays of the drive (if the team has not gotten a previous first down)
  • Time Out – when the coach or player calls for a break in the game. Each team is allowed 3 time outs per half.
  • Touchback – when the kick, either to start a half or after a score, goes into the endzone. If the player catches it, and kneels or if the ball sails out the back of the end zone, the offense will get the ball at the 25 yrd line.
  • Touchdown (‘TD’) – when the ball is carried or passed across the endzone. Scores 6 points
  • Turnover – when the ball changes possession
    • Interception – when the offense throws the ball and it is caught by a member of the defense. It is now the defense’s ball after the player with the ball gets tackled.
    • Fumble – when the offense drops the ball after the player had possession (not as an incomplete catch). This is considered a free ball and anyone can grab it.
      • If the offense recovers their own fumble, the next down starts where the offense recovers it
      • If the defense recovers the fumble, it is now their possession from that spot
  • Turnover on downs – when the offense runs out of downs. This will only happen after the offense is unsuccessful on 4th down or the offense attempts a field goal and misses. The ball will be given to the defense at the spot where the ball was ruled down (where the offense got tackled or where the kick was taken from).

Positions:

Football positions

Keep in mind that this is an example of how players can line up. It is not the only way. The line up can change based on what type of play the offense will run.

  • Center – the man in the middle of the offensive line who has the ball before the play starts and hikes it back to the QB to start the play
  • Cornerback – these players primary job is to break up passes, tackle receivers and try to intercept passes. They spend most of the time covering WRs but can also be called to blitz the QB
    • These players are usually: fastest player on the defense but good tacklers
  • Fullback – the offensive player who typically lines up beside or behind the QB usually to create a run block for the RB or a pass block for the QB
  • Kicker – player responsible for kickoffs and FGs. They kick from a tee or a player that holds the ball (‘holder’)
  • Linebacker – these 3-4 players support the linemen by lining up as a back-up defender and are usually in charge of shadowing the RBs and TEs
      • Contains: Outside Linebackers and Middle Linebackers
  • Lineman – the offensive and defensive players that line up on the line of scrimmage
    • These players are usually: strong and big
    • Offensive Line (‘O line’)– wall of 5 linemen who protect the QB and ball carriers
      • Contains: Tackle, Guard, Center, Guard, Tackle (in that order)
      • #GFHint: if the QB gets sacked, you can say “oh man where was the O line” meaning that the offensive line did not do their job of protecting the QB
    • Defensive Line – 3-4 linemen who try to shed tackles from the O line and tackle the ball carriers, usually the QB or RB.
      • Contains: Defensive End, 1 or 2 Defensive Tackles, Defensive End
  • Punter – player that kicks the ball away if the offense does not get a 1st down. They drop the ball from their hands to kick it downfield
  • Quarterback (‘QB’) – the player that starts each play, calls plays and most of the time takes the snap
    • These players are usually: have a good throwing arm and need to be able to think on their feet
  • Receivers – players who catch the football
    • ‘WR’ are wide receivers and are on the outside of the formation when they run routes
    • These players are usually: quick, high vertical jumpers and have great hand eye coordination
  • Running Back (‘RB’) – the player that lines up on the side or behind the QB who most of the time runs when the football is handed off to him.
    • He will also block if it is a passing play or throw on trick plays
    • Aka: Half Back
    • These players are usually: fast runners but also have more mass than the WR because they will try to run through tackles
  • Safety – the player who lines up as the final defensive player
    • Strong Safety – covering TEs, RBs and WRs down field and come in for run support
    • Free Safety – similar duties but is not expected to come in for support
  • Tight End (‘TE’) – a combo between a RB and a lineman. He usually blocks for the QB and receivers but he can also take passes himself
    • These players are usually: similar to the RB but bigger

Who plays on what side of the field?

  • Offense – (on the line) Center, Guard, Tackle; QB, RB, WR, TE,  
  • Defense – (linemen) Defensive Tackle, Defensive End; (linebackers) Middle Linebacker, Outside Linebacker; (defensive backs) Cornerback, Safety,
  • Other – Kicker, Holder, Long Snapper, Punter, Kick Returner, Punt Returner 

Penalties:

  • Block in the Back – when a blocker contacts a non-ball carrier of the opposite team from behind or above the waist
    • Results in 10 yrds
  • Chop block – when an offensive player blocks a defensive player that is already being blocked below the knee.
    • Results in 15 yrds and automatic first down (if committed by the defense)
  • Delay of Game – when the offense fails to snap the ball before the play clock reaches 0. Can be called on the defense if the offense is hurrying down field and the defense is purposefully taking a lot of time off the clock (usually last 2 minutes of the game).
    • Results in 5 yrds
  • Face Mask – when a player grabs the facemask of another player in the action of tackling.
    • Results in 15 yrds and (if on the defense) automatic first down 
  • Fair Catch Interference – when a player on defense interferes with a fair catch
    • Results in 15 yrds
  • False Start – An offensive player moves after lining up but prior to the snap (see Offsides)
    • Results in 5 yrds
  • Holding – pulling or holding another player that is not the ball carrier  while attempting to escape a block or cover a receiver. Most common type of foul called
    • Results in 10 yrds
  • Illegal Hands to the Face – hitting an offensive player in the helmet, usually to the face mask
    • Results in 15 yrds and automatic first down
  • Intentional Grounding – when the QB is behind the line of scrimmage inside the pocket and throws the ball to an area with no receiver
    • Results in 10 yrd penalty and loss of down
  • Pass Interference – When a player interferes with an eligible receiver during the attempted pass. Usually a defensive player runs into, trips or pushes the intended WR.
    • An Offensive Pass Interference can happen when the offensive player pushes off a defensive player to catch the ball, or thwart the defensive player’s ability to catch the ball
    • Results in first down and gain of 15 yrds in college football (NFL – the offense gets the ball AT THE SPOT of the pass interference and a first down
  • Personal Foul – a conduct or safety infraction which can be left up to interpretation of the ref. Can include pushing the ball carrier who is already out of bounds, unnecessary roughness, hitting of a player that is not near the ball or the play and/or piling on the ball carrier
    • Results in 15 yrds and automatic first down
  • Offsides – A Defensive player jumps across the line of scrimmage and the ball is snapped before he can return to his position. If the ball is snapped after he returns to his original position, no foul has occurred. You may hear this also called a ‘free play’ for the offense because if the outcome is negative, the offense will take the 5 yrd penalty. If the outcome is positive (and more than the team would get with just the 5 yrd penalty) then the offense will decline the penalty.
    • Results in 5 yrds
  • Roughing the Kicker – when a defender hits/runs into/tackles the kicker
    • Results in 15 yrds and automatic first down
  • Roughing the Passer – when a player hits or continues the act of tackling the passer once the ball has already been thrown.
    • Results in 15 yrds and automatic first down (penalty can be added to the run if the pass was complete)
  • Running into the Kicker – when a defender unintentionally runs into the kicker or punter and does not make contact with the kicked ball. It is very very hard to tell the difference between roughing the kicker and running into the kicker unless its a flagrant hit. Often its left up to the discretion of the ref.
    • Results in 5 yrds
  • Targeting – (this is about to get complicated as this is one of the most hotly disputed flags in football) when a player tackles usually with the crown of his helmet into another player’s head above the neck or makes helmet-to-helmet contact. This will also include: making forcible contact to the head or neck area of a defenseless opponent with helmet, forearm, hand, fist, elbow or shoulder (taken straight out of the NCAA rulebook).
    • Signs that a player takes aim at an opponent beyond the legal tackle or block are launching towards a player in upward and forward motion, a crouch followed by upward and forward motion, leading with helmet, shoulder, forearm, fist, hand or elbow to attack or if a player lowers his head to initiate contact with the crown of the helmet.
    • Results in 15 yrds, automatic first down and if the targeting foul is ruled as intentional, the player can be ejected from the rest of the game. If this occurs in the second half of the game then the player must also sit out the first half of the next game.
      • The foul will be reviewed by the play booth to determine the ejection. The foul canNOT be taken back but the ejection can be.
  • Unsportsmanlike Conduct – any player (or coach) acts or speaks that is objectionable by the refs. Examples: Verbal insults, taunting and ‘excessive’ celebrations. If contact is made this foul becomes a personal foul.
    • Results in 15 yrds. Normally for excessive celebrations after a TD in the NCAA the foul will be added to the next play.

These fouls and results are NCAA unless stated otherwise. These are not the only fouls but they’re the most common. If you have more questions, I recommend looking here:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penalty_(gridiron_football

Now that you’ve read this list, it should be easier to understand the Rules of the Game page!

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