Category Archives for "Football Basics"

What is a Pulling Guard in Football? (Full Explanation)

By Coach Martin | Football Basics

Offensive coaches are always looking for ways to keep defenses guessing and surprise them with new play calls and schemes.

One way that they do this is by calling misdirection plays that involve not just ball carriers and quarterbacks doing something different, but offensive linemen changing it up as well.

One of the most common misdirection plays that involve offensive linemen is when guards don’t block straight ahead, instead moving behind other offensive linemen to get to their assignment.

When this happens, they are called a pulling guard.

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What is the Tackle Box in Football? (Full Explanation)

By Coach Martin | Football Basics

The tackle box in football is a term that you’ll hear referenced many times throughout a game.

In most cases, it comes up in conversation when an offense is attempting a pass.

While the tackle box isn’t a set area outlined on the field, it does have a very distinct definition.

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What is a Hike in Football? (Full Explanation)

By Coach Martin | Football Basics

“Down, set, Blue 76, Blue 76, Set, Hike!”

If you’ve played, coached, or even just watched football, you’ve likely heard the quarterback yell something similar before every play.

That string of words and numbers is what’s called the cadence.

Quarterbacks (QB) use it to get the offense on the same page with regards to timing and the snap of the ball.

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What is a Silent Count in Football? (Full Explanation)

By Coach Martin | Football Basics

Just about every offensive play starts with the quarterback going through what’s known as a cadence.

He approaches the center, or takes his position in shotgun, and then begins to call out a set of commands (of sorts) that will help the offense get set.

This may sound something like: “Down. Blue 84, Blue 84, Set, Hike.”
Most of the words that are set before “hike” are irrelevant.

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Why is Tripping a Penalty in Football? (Full Explanation)

By Coach Martin | Football Basics

Offensive and defensive players in football are constantly trying to get an edge over their counterparts during games.

They learn different techniques for blocking and/or evading those blocks in an effort to accomplish their main task on a play.

Sometimes, players may think that an easy way to stop their opponent is to stick out their foot and trip another player.

Doing so, however, will result in a penalty in football.

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What is a Fumble in Football? (Full Explanation)

By Coach Martin | Football Basics

In football, turnovers can be huge game-changing instances.

In one minute, the offense might be marching down the field, looking to get into scoring position.

In the next, they could commit a turnover that completely turns the game around.

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How to Hold a Football Correctly (When Running and Throwing)

By Coach Martin | Football Basics

One of the more overlooked aspects of playing football is how to hold a football correctly.

Surprisingly, some players at even the professional level seem to forget at times how to correctly hold a football.

If you’re relatively new to the game, you might wonder why this Is so important.

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What is a Safety in Football? (Full Explanation)

By Coach Martin | Football Basics

While most scores in football games result in a team scoring six points, three points or one point on a play, there are some rare plays that result in two points.

One is a two-point conversion after a touchdown, and the other is a safety.

The safety in football is both a scoring play that results in two points and also the name of a position on defense.

In this article, we’ll be discussing the point-scoring play, not the position.

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What is a Snap Infraction in Football? (Full Explanation)

By Coach Martin | Football Basics

In football, you’ll sometimes see penalties called before a play even starts — these are what’s know as dead-ball fouls.

Dead-ball fouls can also occur after a play has concluded as well — with many of these being personal foul calls for late hits and the such.

The most common pre-snap dead ball foul is the false start that’s committed by the offense.

But, another one that can happen — but isn’t called as often — is a snap infraction.

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Touchback vs Safety: What’s the Difference? (Explained)

By Coach Martin | Football Basics

There are a few plays in football that look similar, but actually have different outcomes — one such comparison is a touchback vs safety.

In both of these plays, a player is either tackled or downed in their own end zone with possession of the football.

On one hand you have a touchback — the team with the football gets an offensive possession started at their own 25-yard line.

On the other hand, a safety — the team with the football not only loses possession of the football altogether, but the opposite team scores 2 points.

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