GLOSSARY OF IMPORTANT FOOTBALL TERMS Attack, Running.—Plays in which the carrier of the ball attempts to advance it by running.
Balanced Backs.—Arrangement of the backs in which one back stands directly behind the centre with a back on each side of him.
Balanced Line.—Arrangement of the line in which the seven for wards array in a regular line of end, tackle, guard, centre, guard, tackle, end, or any other alinement in which three forwards stand on each side of the centre.
Balanced Formation.—An offensive grouping of the II players in which seven men array along the line, three on each side of centre with the quarter-back behind the centre, the full-back behind the quar ter and one half-back on each side of, and equidistant from the full back.
Block.—The checking of the movements of a player by another player through interposition of the latter's body.
Box Defence.—A defensive system in which seven men stand on the line, with two backs about K yd. distant behind the tackles and with the two remaining backs standing about 8 yd. behind the two backs on the second line, the four backs thus forming a box. In this system no back plays in the deep back-field for safety or to cover kicks.
Close Formation.—The grouping of the players of a side in a com pact arrangement.
Close Line.—Arraying the line men in a straight compact line.
Cross Checking.—The diagonal charge by a player in the line, not against his opposite opponent but against an adjacent opponent. Defence 7-2-2.—A defensive system which deploys seven on the line, two in the secondary line and two on the tertiary line.
Defence 7-1-2-1.—A defensive system which deploys seven men on the first line, I on the secondary line and 2 on the tertiary line and I man farther back.
Defence 6-3-2.—A defensive system which deploys six men on the first line, three on the secondary line and two on the tertiary line.
Defence 6-2-2-1.—A defensive system which deploys six men on the first line, two on the secondary line, two on the tertiary line and one man farther back for safety.
Down.—The completion of a play, or the cessation of play by direc tion of the referee, or by the ball automatically becoming dead..
Drop-kickr--A kick made by dropping the ball from the hand or hands to the ground and kicking the ball immediately it rises from the ground.
Free-kick.—Any kick in which both teams are restrained by rule from advancing beyond a certain point before the ball is put in play.
Goal from Field.—The kicking of the ball from the field of play either by a drop-kick or by a place-kick, over the cross-bar of the opponent's goal.
Goal from Touchdown.—The kicking of the ball from the field of play, either by a drop-kick or by a place-kick, over the cross-bar of the opponent's goal, following the scoring of a touchdown, the latter giving the scoring team the right to try for a goal from the field at this junc ture and, thereby, if successful, to add an "extra point" to the total of their score. The extra point may be gained by a run or pass.
Huddle.—A grouping of the members of the attacking team before lining up for the purpose of getting the signal in secret for the next play.
Interference. Tactics which deploy a player or players in advance of the carrier to prevent opponents from tackling.
Kicking Game.—An attack in which kicking the ball is the principal offensive attack.
Line of Scrimmage.—An imaginary line parallel to the goal line and passing through the point of the ball as the latter rests upon the ground for the purpose of being put in play. There are two such lines, one passing through each of the two points of the ball.
Line Shift.—The sudden change of the players on the line from an initial alinement or position to a secondary alinement or position. Loose Centre.—A defensive centre who does not retain his position in the line but who falls back to support the line.
Off -Side.—A player is off-side when any part of his person is ahead of the ball, his scrimmage or restraining line when the ball is put in play.
Off-tackle Run.—A run directed, or accomplished, by the carrier of the ball which passes to the outside of and adjacent to either offensive tackle.
On-side.—A player is on-side when the ball has not last been touched by a player behind him.
Open Formation.—The grouping of the players of a side in a dis tended manner.
Reversing the Field—Running across the field from one side to the other by the carrier of the ball.
Safety Man.—The player on defence who plays farthest back as a final defence to the goal, and to receive punts.
Scoring.—Certain plays are assigned specific numerical values which determine the victory. These plays when achieved, and the numerical values thereof, are as follows:— Touchdown . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 points Successful try after touchdown . . . . . . . . i " Goal from the field . . . . . . . . . . . 3 " Safety by opponents . . . . . . . . . . . 2 " Forfeiture of game, total score . . . . . . . . i " Scrimmage.—A scrimmage occurs when the holder of the ball places it flat upon the ground, with its long axis at right angles to the line of scrimmage, and puts it in play by snapping or passing it back ; a game of football generally in action.
Shift Play.—Any play in which the players, assuming certain posi tions at a signal suddenly change their positions into another system of grouping.
Signal, Starting.—A signal secretly given to enable a team to charge forward in unison simultaneously with the putting of the ball in play.
Solid Charge.—A simultaneous charge forward by the seven offensive forwards, standing shoulder to shoulder and driving their opponents straight back.
Split Play.—An offensive play in which the interference or a part of the interference runs in one direction while the carrier of the ball runs in another direction, the course of the interference being designed as a feint.
Spread Play.—A play in which the forwards or backs deploy widely across the field.
Tandem.—The stationing or running of two or more players behind one another in a straight alinement. (P. H. D.; A. DA.)