ARENA FOOTBALL GLOSSARY

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dead ball

a ball which is no longer in play.

defensive back

a cornerback or safety position on the defensive team; commonly defends against wide receivers on passing plays. Generally there are 4 defensive backs playing at a time; but see nickel back and dime back.

defensive end (DE)

a player position on defense who lines up on the outside of the defensive line.

defensive tackle (DT)

a player position on defense on the inside of the defensive line. When there is only one defensive tackle, he is known often as a nose tackle.

defensive team

the team that begins a play from scrimmage not in possession of the ball.

dime back

the second extra, or sixth total, defensive back. Named because a dime has the same value as two nickels.

double reverse

a play in which the ball reverses direction twice behind the line of scrimmage. This is usually accomplished by means of two or three hand-offs, each hand-off going in an opposite direction as the previous one. Such a play is extremely infrequent in football.

Some people confuse the double reverse with a reverse, which is a play with two hand-offs instead of three.

down

one of a series of plays in which the offensive team must advance at least 10 yards or lose possession. First down is the first of the plays; fourth is the last down in American, and third in Canadian, football. A first down occurs after a change of possession of the ball, after advancing the ball 10 yards following a previous first down or after certain penalties.

down lineman

a player stationed in front of his line of scrimmage and who has either one (three-point stance) or two (four-point stance) hands on the ground.

draw play

a play in which the quarterback drops back as if to pass, then hands off to a running back or runs with the ball himself. Contrast with scramble

Drive

A continuous set of offensive plays gaining substantial yardage and several first downs, usually leading to a scoring opportunity.

A blocking technique - "drive block" - in which an offensive player through an advantaged angle or with assistance drive a defensive player out of position creating a hole for the ball carrier.

drop kick

a kick in which the ball is dropped and kicked once it hits the ground and before it hits it again; a half-volley kick.

eligible receivers

players who may legally touch a forward pass. On the passer's team, these are: the ends (see below), the backs, and (except in the NFL), one player in position to take a hand-to-hand snap, i.e. a T quarterback; provided the player's shirt displays a number in the ranges allowed for eligible receivers. All players of the opposing team are eligible receivers, and once the ball is touched by a player of the opposing team (anywhere in American, or beyond the lines of scrimmage in Canadian football), all players become eligible.

encroachment

an illegal action by a player: to cross the line of scrimmage and make contact with an opponent before the ball is snapped, or to line up offside and remain there when the ball is put in play.

end

a player position, either on offense or defense -- see linemen.

end zone

the area between the end line (or deadline in Canadian amateur football) and the goal line, bounded by the sidelines.

extra point

a single point scored in a conversion attempt by making what would be a field goal or a safety during general play.

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ARENA FOOTBALL GLOSSARY