American Football Guide

Rookie of the year- an honor bestowed on one individual NFL player who performed better than
any​ ​of​ ​his​ ​other​ ​first​ ​year​ ​peers.
Roster- the amount of players that are on a football team and that can be used in a game. During
the​ ​regular​ ​season​ ​there​ ​can​ ​only​ ​be​ ​53​ ​players​ ​on​ ​the​ ​roster.
Rotator cuff injury – a common shoulder injury that happens to quarterbacks on the throwing
arm.​ ​Usually​ ​a​ ​surgery​ ​must​ ​take​ ​place​ ​followed​ ​by​ ​several​ ​weeks​ ​of​ ​rest.
Roughing the Kicker: this penalty is called whenever a special teams player intentionally or
unintentionally runs into or makes contact with the kicker or punter. This can happen while he is
kicking or punting, or even after he has kicked or punted the ball. The ball itself can be blocked,
but​ ​the​ ​kicker​ ​or​ ​punter​ ​cannot​ ​be​ ​touched​ ​unless​ ​a​ ​fumble​ ​occurs.
Roughing the Passer: When the quarterback is hit or thrown to the ground in a manner that above
and beyond the usual use of force. There are rules the refs follow that tell them when a defensive
player has gone too far. Quarterbacks can be quite vulnerable- a season or career-ending hit
could​ ​happen​ ​on​ ​any​ ​given​ ​play.
Route- A route is a specific path an offensive player is directed to run on any given play. Routes
are usually for receivers or tight ends, but running backs also run routes. Routes are important for
both the quarterback and the intended receiver because quarterback will know where to look for
the​ ​receiver​ ​on​ ​the​ ​field,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​receiver​ ​knows​ ​exactly​ ​where​ ​to​ ​be​ ​to​ ​catch​ ​the​ ​pass.
Run​ ​the​ ​Ball-​ ​a​ ​decision​ ​by​ ​an​ ​offense​ ​to​ ​select​ ​more​ ​running​ ​plays​ ​than​ ​passing​ ​plays​ ​on
an​ ​offensive​ ​series.
Running Back (RB)- a player who specializes in running the football via hand-offs from the
quarterback. Can also catch the ball and run routes like a receiver does. Running backs usually
come in two varieties: finesse or power. A finesse running back is strong and athletic but has the
ability to make cuts and elude defenders with his speed. A power running back is built like a bull
and gashes the defense as he moves forward. The best running backs are those who have a
combination of finesse, power and speed. A running back can be anywhere between 5’8 and 6’3
tall​ ​and​ ​200-245​ ​pounds.
Running out/down the clock- when an offense takes a long time to execute plays. This is usually
done​ ​in​ ​the​ ​fourth​ ​quarter​ ​when​ ​a​ ​team​ ​is​ ​trying​ ​to​ ​maintain​ ​a​ ​lead.
Running​ ​play-​ ​when​ ​an​ ​offense​ ​chooses​ ​to​ ​run​ ​the​ ​ball​ ​instead​ ​of​ ​passing​ ​it.
Running north and south- Running the ball straight up the middle of the field between the
Linemen.
Running outside- Running the ball around the offensive and defensive linemen. Instead of
running​ ​between​ ​them,​ ​the​ ​runner​ ​will​ ​go​ ​around​ ​them​ ​to​ ​the​ ​left​ ​or​ ​right.
Yanks​ ​Guide​ ​-​ ​The​ ​#1​ ​Guide​ ​to​ ​American​ ​Football
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