Entertainment / Football Glossary

Interception: A pass caught in the air (picked off) by a defender whose team immediately gains possession of the ball and becomes the offense.

Jack: Interior Linebacker (ILB) of the 3-4 formation, that plays in the weak side of the formation. Also know as Mo.

Jumbo: An offensive package which includes two tight ends, a full back and a half back. Similar to heavy jumbo, in which either the half back or the fullback is replaced by another tight end. In a . . . View Full Definition

Kick: As a verb, to strike the ball deliberately with the foot; as a noun, such an action producing a punt, place kick, or drop kick

Kick Returner: A player on the receiving team who specializes in fielding kicks and running them back.

Kicker (K): Player who specializes in placekicking (i.e. Field goals and kick offs).

Kickoff: When a player kicks a ball from a tee at his own 30-yard line (35 in college) to the opposing team, whose player tries to advance it the other way; used to start the game, the second half an . . . View Full Definition

Kneel: A low risk play in which the player in possession of the ball kneels down after receiving the snap, ending the play. Used to run out the clock. (Also called 'take a knee'.) Most commonly, th . . . View Full Definition

Lateral: A pass thrown to a teammate backwards from the team’s line of scrimmage or parallel to it; unlike a forward pass (which can be thrown only once per play), players may lateral the ball as oft . . . View Full Definition

Letterman: A player who has been awarded a 'letter' for excellence in an activity, especially a varsity sport. The specific requirements vary by school and by sport.

Letterwinner: A player who has been awarded a 'letter' for excellence in an activity, especially a varsity sport. The specific requirements vary by school and by sport.

Line Of Scrimmage: One of two vertical planes parallel to the goal line when the ball is to be put in play by scrimmage. For each team in American football, the line of scrimmage is through the point of the ba . . . View Full Definition

Line To Gain: A line parallel to the goal lines, such that having the ball dead beyond it entitles the offense to a new series of downs, i.e. A new 'first down'. The line is 10 yards in advance of where t . . . View Full Definition

Linebacker (LB): A player position on defense. The linebackers typically play 1 to 6 yards behind the defensive linemen and are the most versatile players on the field because they can defend both run and pa . . . View Full Definition

Lineman: A defensive or offensive position on the line of scrimmage. On offense, the player snapping the ball is the center. The players on either side of him are the guards, and the players to the o . . . View Full Definition

Live Ball: Any ball that is in play, whether it is a player's possession or not. The ball is live during plays from scrimmage and free kicks, including kickoffs.

Live Ball Foul: A foul given for various infractions such as changing numbers during a game

Long Snapper: A center who specializes in the long, accurate snaps required for punts and field goal attempts. Most teams employ a specialist long snapper instead of requiring the normal center to perform . . . View Full Definition

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