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ARENA FOOTBALL GLOSSARY

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sack

tackling a ball carrier who intends to throw a forward pass. A sack is also awarded if a player forces a fumble of the ball, or the ball carrier to go out of bounds, behind the line of scrimmage on an apparent intended forward pass play. The term gained currency ca. 1970.

safety

a player position on defense -- see free safety and strong safety.

a method of scoring (worth two points) by downing an opposing ballcarrier in his own end zone, forcing the opposing ballcarrier out of his own end zone AND out of bounds, or forcing the offensive team to fumble the ball so that it exits the end zone. A safety is also awarded if the offensive team commits a penalty within its own end zone. After a safety, the team that was scored upon must kick the ball to the scoring team from its own 20-yard line.

A safety scored during a try scores 1 point and is followed by a kickoff as for any other try.

safety valve

a receiver who gets a short pass because all other receivers are covered.

sam

the strong side outside linebacker

scramble

on a called passing play, when the quarterback runs from the pocket in an attempt to avoid being sacked, giving the receivers more time to get open or attempting to gain positive yards by running himself.

screen pass

a short forward pass to a receiver who has blockers in front of him. The receiver in this play is usually a running back or fullback, although wide receiver and tight end screens are sometimes employed.

scrimmage

see: play from scrimmage

shift

when two or more offensive players move at the same time before the snap. All players who move in a shift must come to a complete stop prior to the snap.

shooting

the action of a linebacker or defensive back to blitz

shotgun formation

formation in which offensive team may line up at the start of a play. In this formation, the tailback receives the snap 5-8 yards behind the center.

sideline

one of the lines marking each side of the field

as adjective: on the field near a sideline

side zone

the area between a hash mark and a sideline

single wing

a formation, now out of fashion, most popular about 1920-50, with an overload and wingback on one side and two backs about 5 yards deep to receive the snap.

slobber-knocker

a particularly gruesome tackle or hit.

slot

The area between a split end and the offensive line. A pass receiver lined up in the slot at the snap of the ball may be called a slotback or slot receiver.

snap

the handoff or pass from the center that begins a play from scrimmage.

sneak

an offensive play in which the quarterback, immediately on receiving the snap dives forward with the ball. The play is used when a team needs a very short gain to reach either the goal line or the line to gain.

special teams

the units that handle kickoffs, punts, free kicks and field goal attempts.

spike

a play in which the quarterback throws the ball at the ground immediately after the snap. Technically an incomplete pass, it stops the clock.

splits

the distance between the feet of adjacent offensive linemen. Said to be wide, if there is a large gap between players, or narrow, if the gap is small.

split end

a player position on offence. A wide receiver who lines up on the line of scrimmage, several yards ouside the offensive linemen.

sticks

the pole attached to the end of the 10-yard chain that is used by the chain crew to measure for a new series of downs -- i.e. the line to gain a new "first down".

stiff-arm or straight-arm

a ballcarrier warding off a would-be tackler by pushing them away with a straight arm.

strong safety (SS)

a kind of safety on defense, as opposed to a free safety. This is a central defensive back; originally, the term indicated that he lined up on the strong side of the field and covered the tight end. However, the modern usage of the term now indicates a central defensive back with responsibility for run and pass support, slightly favoring run support.

strong side

simplistically speaking, the side of the field (left or right) that has the most players, but it depends on the formations of the teams. When a team uses one tight end, the strong side is the side of the field where the tight end lines up. If the offensive package uses no tight end, or more than one tight end, the strong side is the side of the field with the most offensive players on or just behind the line of scrimmage.

stunt

a tactic used by defensive players in which they switch roles in an attempt to get past the blockers.

sweep

a running play in which several blockers lead a running back on a designed play to the outside. Depending on the number of blockers and the design of the play this is sometimes referred to as a "power sweep" or "student-body-right" (or left).

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ARENA FOOTBALL GLOSSARY