American Football Guide

all back by either catching the receiving team off-guard or by being in the right place at the
right time. The rules state that the ball only has to travel ten yards before the kicking team can
make a play for the ball. An onside kick is usually attempted by a team late in the fourth quarter
who​ ​is​ ​losing​ ​by​ ​a​ ​wide​ ​margin​ ​and​ ​time​ ​is​ ​running​ ​out.
Open holes- It is the job of the offensive line to open holes at the line of scrimmage for the
running backs so it will be easier for them to gain positive yards after the hand-off. Opening
holes is blocking the defensive players, keeping them entangled (without holding on to them)
long enough for a runner to burst through. It is the job of the running back to find the open hole
in​ ​the​ ​line​ ​and​ ​make​ ​the​ ​split​ ​second​ ​decision​ ​of​ ​which​ ​one​ ​to​ ​burst​ ​through.
Opponent-​ ​the​ ​opposing​ ​(opposite)​ ​team​ ​or​ ​player
Out-​ ​when​ ​an​ ​injured​ ​player​ ​is​ ​on​ ​the​ ​active​ ​roster,​ ​but​ ​will​ ​not​ ​play​ ​in​ ​the​ ​game​ ​for​ ​that​ ​week.
Out-of-bounds​ ​–​ ​Outside​ ​the​ ​boundaries​ ​of​ ​the​ ​designated​ ​playing​ ​field.
Overturning the Call- a call made on the field will be overturned (reversed) if the instant replay
video​ ​shows​ ​clearly​ ​that​ ​the​ ​call​ ​made​ ​on​ ​the​ ​field​ ​was​ ​in​ ​error.
Overtime- Overtime is triggered if the score is tied at the end of regulation. Overtime is 15
minutes in duration, but will end when a team scores. The first team who scores wins and the
game​ ​is​ ​over.​ ​This​ ​is​ ​called​ ​sudden​ ​death
Owner-​ ​The​ ​individual​ ​who​ ​owns​ ​the​ ​football​ ​team​ ​and​ ​pays​ ​the​ ​players​ ​salaries
P
Pads-​ ​protective​ ​equipment​ ​worn​ ​underneath​ ​a​ ​player’s​ ​jersey.
Pass Interference- This penalty is called in two different ways. If it is a defensive pass
interference, in some way a defender is illegally interfering with an intended receiver. This could
be done by making any kind of illegal contact with the receiver before the ball arrives to him,
while the receiver is running his route. A defensive interference stops the receiver from
effectively running his route and catching the pass. If it is offensive interference, an offensive
player in some way prevents the defender from making a play at the ball to get an interception.
In the split second when the ball is in the air and within reach of the target, a receiver and a
defender​ ​can​ ​clash​ ​and​ ​make​ ​contact​ ​because​ ​they​ ​are​ ​both​ ​making​ ​a​ ​play​ ​for​ ​the​ ​ball.
Passer rating- a key stat used to measure the effectiveness of a quarterback. Primarily deals with
completion​ ​percentages.​ ​How​ ​many​ ​passing​ ​attempts​ ​resulted​ ​in​ ​completed​ ​passes.
Passing​ ​yards-​ ​measurement​ ​of​ ​how​ ​many​ ​yards​ ​a​ ​quarterback​ ​threw​ ​for
Passing​ ​play-​ ​when​ ​an​ ​offense​ ​chooses​ ​to​ ​pass​ ​the​ ​ball​ ​instead​ ​of​ ​running​ ​it.
Yanks​ ​Guide​ ​-​ ​The​ ​#1​ ​Guide​ ​to​ ​American​ ​Football
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