Entertainment / Football Glossary

Home And Away: A method of scheduling opponents, such that the two teams play one game at each team's home stadium. In college football, conferences such as the Big12, where a team does not play all the ot . . . View Full Definition

Home Field Advantage: The benefit a team gets by playing games in the area where it is based, due to fan support, familiarity with its surroundings and the lack of required travel.

Home Game: A game played in a team’s own stadium.

Hook And Ladder: A trick play in which a receiver (usually a wide receiver) runs a hook pattern (i.e., moving toward the line of scrimmage to make a catch), and then laterals the ball to a second player (gen . . . View Full Definition

Hook And Lateral: A trick play in which a receiver (usually a wide receiver) runs a hook pattern (i.e., moving toward the line of scrimmage to make a catch), and then laterals the ball to a second player (gen . . . View Full Definition

Huddle: An on-field gathering of members of a team in order to secretly communicate instructions for the upcoming play.

Hurry-Up Offense: An offensive strategy designed to gain as much yardage as possible while running as little time off the clock as possible. Often involves making plays without a huddle. This technique can al . . . View Full Definition

I Formation: A formation that includes a fullback and tailback lined up with the fullback directly in front of the tailback. If a third back is in line, this is referred to as a “full house I” or “Maryla . . . View Full Definition

Illegal Formation: On offense, there must be exactly seven players lined up on the line of scrimmage for at least one count before the ball is snapped. If not, then it is an illegal formation.

Illegal Motion: On offense, a player may be in motion but cannot be going forward at the time of the snap (except in Arena football where one player is allowed to do so), and a lineman must be set for one s . . . View Full Definition

Illegal Shift: On offense, only one person is allowed to be in motion at the snap. If not, it is an illegal shift.

In Bounds: The region of the field inside the sidelines and end lines.

Inbounds Lines: The hash marks.

Incomplete Pass: A forward pass that touches the ground before being caught.

Indirect Snap: A play in which the ball is handed to the quarterback rather than thrown directly to the ballcarrier by the center as in a direct snap play. So named because the quarterback acts as an inter . . . View Full Definition

Ineligible Receiver: Certain players on the offense are not allowed to catch passes. For example, in most situations offensive linemen cannot be receivers and they may cause their team to be penalized if they ca . . . View Full Definition

Inside: Inside of a player's path: relatively close (in reference to the sides of the field) to where the ball was snapped from. Thus, a ballcarrier's path in crossing the neutral zone may be said t . . . View Full Definition

Intentional Grounding: A type of illegal forward pass; thrown without an intended receiver and no chance of completion to any offensive player, for the sole purpose of conserving time or loss of yardage. This foul . . . View Full Definition

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