American Football Guide

Calling for a measurement- A request made by a Head Coach or an Official to see if a first down
was achieved on an offensive play. Sometimes it is too close to tell with a quick visual glance if
a first down was achieved on a play. So a measurement is taken with an instrument called a first
down​ ​marker.
Center- The center’s job is to work in tandem with the quarterback by snapping the ball at the
quarterback’s request. After snapping the ball he must immediately block oncoming defensive
players. The center waits for the quarterback to give him the verbal signal or tap to snap the
football. The instant the center snaps the ball, the play has started. Is also member of the
Offensive​ ​Line.​ ​The​ ​Center​ ​snaps​ ​the​ ​ball​ ​to​ ​the​ ​QB
Challenge- When a coach disagrees with a call made on the field he may challenge it by
throwing a red flag. A coach is limited by how many challenges he may make in a game, and
will lose a time-out if he loses the challenge, so he must use it wisely. Often a coach will be
prompted to challenge a call by a member of his coaching staff that has access to instant replay.
The coach cannot challenge a call in the last two minutes of each half. In the last two minutes of
the 2nd & 4th Quarter, a challenge must be initiated and reviewed by the Replay Booth. When a
call is challenged, the referee goes to the sideline to view the instant replay for himself before
making​ ​a​ ​determination​ ​(decision).
Challenging the call- Refers to a challenge made by either the coach or the replay booth. A coach
may verbally challenge several calls made by an official during a game, but he only gets to throw
the​ ​red​ ​flag​ ​one​ ​time​ ​per​ ​half.
Cleats- Specialized shoes a player will wear in order to get more traction (grip) on the playing
field.​ ​There​ ​are​ ​small​ ​spikes​ ​on​ ​the​ ​bottoms​ ​(soles)​ ​of​ ​the​ ​shoe
Clipping-​ ​When​ ​a​ ​player​ ​throws​ ​his​ ​body​ ​across​ ​the​ ​back​ ​of​ ​an​ ​opponent’s​ ​leg​ ​or​ ​hits​ ​him​ ​from
the​ ​back​ ​below​ ​the​ ​waist,​ ​a​ ​penalty​ ​is​ ​called.
Coach-​ ​(see​ ​head​ ​coach)
Coach of the year- An honor bestowed on a head coach who has done a fantastic job with the
direction his team has taken. Usually is awarded to a coach who turns around a losing team into a
winning​ ​team​ ​upon​ ​his​ ​arrival.​ ​Is​ ​awarded​ ​to​ ​only​ ​one​ ​NFL​ ​coach,​ ​once​ ​a​ ​year.
Coaching staff- Supporting staff to the head coach. In addition to the Head coach there are
several specialized coaches for each position on the field- Quarterback coach, running back
coach,​ ​receiver​ ​coach​ ​etc.
Coast​ ​to​ ​coast-​ ​Running​ ​from​ ​one​ ​end​ ​zone​ ​to​ ​another,​ ​the​ ​full​ ​length​ ​of​ ​the​ ​field,​ ​and​ ​scoring
a​ ​touchdown.
College Football- Many of the same football rules in the pros apply to college as well, but there
are a few differences. A receiver has to have two feet in-bounds when receiving the ball whereas
Yanks​ ​Guide​ ​-​ ​The​ ​#1​ ​Guide​ ​to​ ​American​ ​Football
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