Say What?

Audible: After looking at how the defence lines up the quarter-back can make a last second change of play. The opposition can here this call, even if they don’t know what it means, hence it is called an audible.

Blitz: A play where the defence rushes the quarter-back to try and sack him. It means committing more players at the line of scrimmage and can leave big gaps downfield.

Clipping: An illegal block where a player hits an opponent from behind below waist level. Will result in a 15 yard penalty.

Drive: The series of plays a team put together in an attempt to score.

Drop Back: The quarter-back receives the snap and steps back in to the pocket to get ready to pass.

Encroachment: When a player makes contact with a member of the opposition before the snap. Results in a 5 yard penalty.

Fair Catch: After a punt or kickoff the catching player can wave a fair catch. The ball will be spotted where the catch is made, he can’t advance the ball up the field but the opposition cannot tackle him either.

Forward Progress: The spot where the ball carrier has advanced the ball to, even if he has been pushed backwards. This is where the next play will begin.

Fumble: When the ball carrier drops or has the ball knocked from his hands before the play has ended. Cue a mad scramble for the loose ball and the player to gain possession is said to have made a recovery.

Holding: A foul whereby a player prevents an opponent from moving by grabbing or hooking a part of his uniform or body. Results in a 10 yard penalty if against the offence and a 5 yard penalty plus an automatic first down if against the defence.

Intentional Grounding: A foul by the quarter-back who intentionally throws an incomplete pass to avoid getting sacked, cannot be called if the ball lands on or beyond the line of scrimmage.

Line of Scrimmage: On either side of the ball before a play starts are the two lines of scrimmage, players may not cross these lines until the ball is snapped.

Neutral Zone: Area between the two lines of scrimmage which contains the ball before a play starts.

Nickel Defence:  When the defence increases it's pass coverage by bringing in a 5th defensive back to replace a linebacker.

Pass Patterns/Pass Routes: this is the pre-determined route the receiver runs in an attempt to create space to receive the ball. The quarter-back will know the route his receiver is running, making it easier for him to pick out a pass.

Play Clock: The offensive team has 40 seconds between plays, the ball must be snapped before the play clock reaches 0.

Play-Action Pass: When the quarter-back fakes a hand-off to a running-back and then passes.

Pocket: The space behind the offensive line where the quarter-back is protected by his blockers.

Red Zone: The area between the end zone and the 20 yard line where the offensive team is most likely to score.

Sack: A tackle on the quarter-back behind his line of scrimmage.

Safety:  When the ball carrier is tackled in his own end zone after bringing the ball there under his own power. This results in 2 points for the opposition and the offending team must then kick the ball from their own 20 yard line.

Snap: The centre faces the opposition and hands or throws the ball between his legs to the quarter-back to start the play.

Touchback: When a player gains possession of the ball in his own end zone and puts his knee to the ground. This results in the receiving team starting the next play from their own 20 yard line. Also awarded if the opposition kicks the ball into the end zone.

Legendary commentator John Madden. Yeah, he's a bit fatter than we thought he'd be too.


Brett Favre, holds most quarter-back records and is so old, some say he invented the game.