Football has plenty of jargon, but most of it falls into a few groups: terms about the basic structure of the game, such as downs, the line of scrimmage and the red zone; scoring terms, such as touchdown, field goal and safety; offensive terms, such as audible, play action and shotgun; defensive terms, such as blitz, coverage and sack; and special teams terms, such as fair catch, onside kick and touchback. This glossary explains the words you will hear most often on broadcasts and at practice, grouped by category so you can learn them in context, with a quick-reference table of the most common terms.
Quick reference: the most common terms
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Down | A single play; the offense gets four to gain 10 yards |
| First down | Gaining 10 yards to earn a new set of downs |
| Line of scrimmage | The imaginary line where the ball is placed before a play |
| Touchdown | Six points for getting the ball into the opponent’s end zone |
| Field goal | Three points for kicking the ball through the uprights |
| Interception | A pass caught by the defense |
| Fumble | Losing possession of the ball while carrying it |
| Sack | Tackling the quarterback behind the line before a pass |
| Blitz | Sending extra defenders to rush the quarterback |
| Red zone | The area inside the opponent’s 20-yard line |
Game structure and field terms
- Down. A single play. The offense gets four downs to gain 10 yards; a play is described by its down and distance, such as second and 7.
- First down. Achieved when the offense gains the required yards, giving it a new set of four downs.
- Line of scrimmage. The imaginary line running across the field through the ball before each snap. Neither team may cross it before the snap.
- Line to gain. The spot the offense must reach for a first down, often shown as a yellow line on television.
- End zone. The 10-yard scoring area at each end of the field.
- Hash marks. Lines near the middle of the field that mark where the ball is placed between plays.
- Red zone. The area between the opponent’s 20-yard line and goal line, where scoring chances are highest.
- Two-minute warning. An automatic timeout in the NFL when two minutes remain in each half.
- Turnover on downs. Losing possession after failing to gain a first down on fourth down.
- Possession. Control of the ball; the team with possession is on offense.
Scoring terms
- Touchdown. Worth six points, scored by carrying, catching or recovering the ball in the opponent’s end zone.
- Extra point (PAT). A one-point kick attempted after a touchdown.
- Two-point conversion. A play from close range after a touchdown worth two points if the ball reaches the end zone.
- Field goal. A three-point kick through the uprights, usually on fourth down.
- Safety. Worth two points to the defense, most often when a ball carrier is tackled in their own end zone.
- Pick-six. An interception returned for a touchdown.
Offensive terms
- Audible. A play change called by the quarterback at the line of scrimmage.
- Snap. The exchange that starts each play, when the center passes the ball back to the quarterback or another player.
- Shotgun. A formation in which the quarterback stands several yards behind the center.
- Under center. The quarterback takes the snap directly from the center.
- Handoff. Giving the ball directly to a teammate, usually a running back.
- Play action. A fake handoff followed by a pass, designed to fool the defense.
- Screen pass. A short pass behind the line of scrimmage with blockers set up in front of the receiver.
- Route. The path a receiver runs on a passing play, such as a slant, post or out.
- Pocket. The protected area formed by blockers around a passing quarterback.
- Scramble. When the quarterback runs around to avoid pressure, either to throw or to run.
- Hail Mary. A long, desperate pass, usually at the end of a half.
- Checkdown. A short, safe pass to a back or tight end when deeper options are covered.
- Blind side. The side the quarterback faces away from when throwing, usually protected by the left tackle for right-handed passers.
Defensive terms
- Blitz. Sending extra defenders, such as linebackers or defensive backs, to rush the quarterback.
- Sack. Tackling the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage before a pass is thrown.
- Interception. A pass caught by a defender, giving the defense possession.
- Fumble recovery. Gaining possession of a ball the offense has lost.
- Man coverage. Each defender covers a specific offensive player.
- Zone coverage. Defenders cover areas of the field rather than specific players.
- Nickel and dime. Defensive packages with five or six defensive backs to cover extra receivers.
- Box. The area near the line of scrimmage between the tackles where run defenders line up.
- Tackle for loss. Tackling a ball carrier behind the line of scrimmage.
- Pass breakup. Knocking down or deflecting a pass so it falls incomplete.
Special teams terms
- Kickoff. The free kick that starts each half and follows most scores.
- Punt. A kick, usually on fourth down, to push the opponent back.
- Fair catch. A signaled catch of a kick; the returner cannot be hit and cannot advance the ball.
- Touchback. When a kick or turnover results in the ball becoming dead in the end zone, giving the receiving team the ball at a set yard line.
- Onside kick. A short kickoff the kicking team tries to recover.
- Squib kick. A low, bouncing kickoff that is hard to return.
- Coffin corner. A punt aimed to go out of bounds near the opponent’s goal line.
Penalty terms
- False start. An offensive player moving before the snap.
- Offside. A defender crossing the line of scrimmage before the snap.
- Holding. Illegally grabbing or restricting an opponent.
- Pass interference. Illegal contact that hinders a player’s chance to catch a pass.
- Personal foul. A serious foul such as unnecessary roughness or roughing the passer.
- Delay of game. Failing to snap the ball before the play clock expires.
How to learn football terms faster
- Watch games with the glossary nearby and look up terms as you hear them.
- Focus on one category at a time, such as offense one week and defense the next.
- Listen to broadcasters’ explanations during replays.
- Play or watch flag football, where many terms apply in simpler form.
- Ask coaches or experienced fans to explain terms in context.
Common mistakes
- Thinking a team gets four downs to score rather than to gain 10 yards.
- Confusing a false start (offense) with offside (defense).
- Mixing up a safety the position with a safety the score.
- Assuming a touchback only happens on kickoffs.
Rulebook note: definitions and rules vary slightly between the NFL, college and high school. For official definitions, check the current NFL, NCAA or NFHS rulebook.
Frequently asked questions
What does red zone mean in football?
The red zone is the area inside the opponent’s 20-yard line, where teams have their best scoring chances.
What is the difference between a sack and a tackle for loss?
A sack is specifically tackling the quarterback before a pass, while a tackle for loss is any tackle behind the line of scrimmage.
What does audible mean?
An audible is a play change the quarterback calls at the line of scrimmage after seeing the defense.
