FOOTBALL TERMS TO KNOW

backfield - The area behind the line of scrimmage .

block - an offensive player's use of arms and body to prevent the defense from reaching the ball carrier; without the act of holding.

blitz - When a defense commits extra players, in addition to lineman, to rush the passer.

chains - Ten-yard length of chain used to measure the distance required for a first down.

clipping - the act of blocking an opponent below the waist from behind; punishable by a 15 yard penalty.

downs - A series of 3 consecutive charged scrimmages allotted to a team; inorder to retain possession the offense must advance the ball to a necessary line of scrimmage.

eligible reciever - Any offensive player who is legally in the backfield, or any player on either end of the line of scrimmage.

encroachment - a foul that occurs when a player other than the center makes contact in the neutral zone prior to the snap of the ball.

field goal - A placekick from scrimmage that goes through the uprights of the goal resulting in 3 points awarded the kicking team.

first down - The first of 3 allotted downs the offensive team recieves after gaining the required yardage.

forward pass - A pass that is thrown from behind the line of scrimmage and in the direction of the opponents' goal.

foul - a violation of the rules and punishable by a penalty.

fumble - A player's losing possession of the ball other than kicking or passing it.

handoff - The ball being handed from one player to another.

ineligble reciever - A player on the line of scrimmage (with at least one teammate on on either side of him) who cannot legally catch a pass or - on a pass play - be downfield before a pass is thrown.

interception - When a defender gains possession of the ball by catching a pass thrown by the offense.

kickoff - A free kick starting each half, or following a score. The ball is placed on the 45-yard line where all players on the kicking team must remain until the ball is kicked. Once the ball travels 10 yards downfield, either team can recover it.

late hit - A penalty occuring when a player hits an opponent after the whistle has blown the play dead.

lateral pass - When the ball is thrown or tossed backward.(If it is dropped, it is ruled a fumble).

line of scrimmage - An imaginary line running perpendicular to the sidelines. The defensive and offensive lines of scrimmage are located on either end of the neutral zone and mark the ball's position at the start of each down.

neutral zone - An area one yard long between the offensive and defensive lines of scrimmage.

offside - a foul committed by a player whose body is beyond his line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped; punishable by a 5-yard penalty.

onside kick - A designed play in which a kick is made short (at least 10 yards), so that the kicking team has a better opportunity to recover it.

punt - Kicking the ball towards the opponents goal, usually occuring on 3rd down.

quarterback sneak - A quarterback diving or running over the line of scrimmage.

sack - The tackling of the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage.

series - the set of 3 downs a team has to advance the ball 10 yards.

shotgun - An offensive formation where the quarterback is lined up about 5 yards behind the center.

snap - The exchange of the ball from the center to the quarterback to put the ball in play.

time-out - The stoppage of the game clock at the request of a player on either team. Each team is allowed two (1 min.) time-outs per half .