This football games
glossary is divided into 3 parts that includes an introduction and
a learning games section for new football players and fans.

Football games glossary is dedicated to passionate game players and
fans that compete, watch this favorite of sport games.
Football learning games:
Football, also known as American Football, is a sport played between
two teams with 11 players on the field per team.
The object of the game is to move the football down the field towards
and within the opposing team's designated goal posts to score points.
The team scoring the most points is declared the winner at the end of
four 15-minute quarters.
This glossary refers to the terms offense and defense frequently.
Below are these terms defined briefly to allow for better understanding
of this games glossary.
Offense: The
football team trying to score.
Defense: The
football team trying to stop any scoring.
Football Games Glossary: A
- Artificial
Turf/Astroturf: slightly padded surface covered
in a synthetic type of grass that resembles carpet typically used in
places known for particularly harsh weather or indoor stadiums.
- Assistant
Coach: coach in charge of a specific part of the
team according to the game plan set forth by the head coach.
- Audible:
play called by the quarterback changing the play
from the one called in the huddle.
Football Games Glossary: B
- Back: term
for someone who plays in the backfield.
- Backfield:
the portion of the field behind the line of
scrimmage.
- Ball Carrier:
the player who advances the ball by running.
- Beat:
occurs when a player maneuvers past an opposing
blocker/tackler. Smooth move!
- Birdcage:
football games glossary term for full facemask,
typically worn by linemen. A must-have piece of equipment for this
contact sport.
- Blackout:
occurs when a game is set to be televised in the
teams' market but not enough tickets have been sold, therefore the game
is unavailable locally.
- Blind Side:
the left side of a right-handed quarterback or
vice-versa for right side where the blitz or a tackler cannot be seen.
- Blitz:
football jargon for the defense rushing more players
to reach the quarterback successfully before he can pass, thereby
resulting in a sack.
- Block:
obstructing the way of a defensive player, tactic
used by an offensive player.
- Bomb:
football lingo for a long pass. If completed, 'tis a
beautiful sight to see!
- Bootleg:
the play where the quarterback fakes the handoff
right and rolls left.
- Bump and Run:
the act of a defensive player hitting the
receiver at the line of scrimmage to obstruct the receiver's route. May
result in shaking the quarterback's timing.
- Buttonhook:
route run by a receiver in which they run
straight down the field and abruptly turn back toward the quarterback.
Football Games Glossary: C
- Call a Play:
football term for executing a pre-planned play.
- Center:
the player in the middle of the offensive line who
is responsible for hiking the ball to the quarterback.
- Chain Gang:
the officials responsible for moving the first
down and line of scrimmage markers on the sidelines.
- Check Off:
another term for an audible.
- Chop Block:
blocking another player by hitting him or her
below the knees. This is an especially dangerous block that
is illegal and many times leads to injury.
- Clipping:
blocking an opponent from behind.
- Clothesline:
football jargon for a tackle where a defender
hits an opponent high on the body in order to bring them down. Do I
hear an Ouch!
- Coffin Corner:
football games glossary term for the corners
of the football field between the end zone and 5-yard line at each end
of the field. A punter will attempt to aim the ball out of bounds near
a coffin corner to stop the opposing team from returning the ball that
in turn will pin the punter's team near their goal line.
- Coin Toss:
teams meet in the middle of the field prior to
the start of the game to determine who receives the ball to start the
game.
- Completion:
a successful pass that is caught by a receiver.
- Controlling
the Game: strategy for using available
plays/players based on the time clock.
- Cornerback:
a defensive player who primarily guards wide
receivers.
- Cover:
the act of guarding an offensive player trying to
receive a pass.
- Coverage:
different defensive formations meant to stop a
passing play.
- Curl:
football jargon for a route run by receivers that
eventually turns back to the quarterback in an arc.
- Cutback:
a switching of directions.
Football Games Glossary: D
- Dead Ball:
a ball is considered dead when it is no longer
playable.
- Defensive
Back: another term for cornerback.
- Defensive
End: the player on either end of the
defensive line.
- Defensive
Holding: occurs when a defender physically holds
an offensive player, normally by grabbing the player's jersey.
- Defensive
Line: three or players lined up at the line of
scrimmage on the defensive side.
- Defensive
Tackle: the one or two players inside the
four-man defensive line. Their duties are to stop the run and assist
others to pressure the quarterback.
- Delay of Game:
occurs when the play clock has expired.
- Dime Back:
football jargon for the sixth corner back on the
field in a dime defensive scheme.
- Dime
Coverage/Package: implementation of a scheme used
primarily to stop the pass where six cornerbacks are used.
- Double
Coverage: two players on defense assigned to cover
one offensive player.
- Down:
one play, measured from the time the ball is put into
play and lasting until the ball is ruled down.
- Down and In:
a receiver route where a wide receiver will
run down the field on a straight line and then cuts toward the middle
of the field.
- Down and Out:
a receiver route where a wide receiver will
run down the field on a straight line and then cuts toward the sideline.
- Down the
Field: football games glossary term for direction
of opponent's goal line.
- Draft Choice:
player selected by pro team from college
players for the annual draft.
- Drive:
a series of plays that end in a score or a turnover.
Aren't those long drives exciting?
- Drop Back:
football jargon for the action of a quarterback
taking steps backwards behind the offensive line in order to throw the
ball.
- Drop Kick: motion
where the ball is dropped and kicked
after it hits the ground.
Football Games Glossary: E
- Eligible
Receiver: a member of the offense that is eligible
to catch the football.
- Encroachment:
a penalty called when a defensive player
touches an offensive player prior to the ball being hiked to the
quarterback.
- End Line:
football term for the boundary line located at
each end of the field.
- End Zone:
the area that must be reached to score a
touchdown or two-point conversion.
- Extra Point:
a field goal kick after a touchdown is worth
one point, if successful.
Football
Games Glossary is followed by terms F - O
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