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USA Football

Roles

Glossary

7 results found

Does a rule or game term have you stumped? Look no further. We have the answers.

  • pass rush
    a defender’s attempt to tackle or hurry a member of the offensive team attempting to pass the football.
  • placekick
    an action in which the ball is kicked from a tee or from the hold of a member of the kicking team; used for field goals and kickoffs.
  • play action pass
    a play in which a fake handoff precedes a pass attempt; this fake is designed to pull in the linebackers and defensive backs and to slow the pass rush (by making the defense think the play is a run).
  • possession
    having control of the ball.
  • punt
    kicking the ball after dropping it and before it reaches the ground. Offensive teams who have failed to cover 10 yards in their first three attempts often punt on the fourth down.
  • punt coverage
    the action of the players of the punting team running downfield when the ball is punted in an attempt to tackle the opponent who has fielded the punted ball if no fair catch has been called for.
  • punt return
    the action of the player who has received a punted ball in trying to advance it.