ByCoach Martin|Football Basics
The 4-point stance is one of three main stances players align themselves in before the snap of the ball.
The other are the 2-point stance and the 3-point stance.
Different players use each stance for different reasons, and each have their pros and cons.
The 4-point stance is often used most by defensive linemen, especially in goal line and short-yardage situations.
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ByCoach Martin|Football Basics
In the last few years, football leagues have been trying to crack down on plays that have a high chance of causing serious injuries.
This is especially true for those that could result in a serious head injury.
As a result, the NFL, college football, and even other levels have instituted a new rule called Targeting.
This is a great new rule that really seeks to eliminate hard hits to an opponent’s head, which is a serious cause for concern.
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ByCoach Martin|Football Basics
Not all rules are this straightforward and easy to understand.
One of these more complicated penalties in football is clipping.
Clipping is one of the more serious penalties in football.
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ByCoach Martin|Football Basics
Football leagues have rules that protect players who find themselves in vulnerable positions.
Whether this be receivers waiting for a pass, kick returners waiting for the ball, or punters in the act of kicking, there are different rules that are set to reduce the chances of injuries in the game.
The Roughing the Kicker is one of those rules meant to protect both place kickers and punters while in the act of kicking.
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ByCoach Martin|Football Basics
To simplify the game on defense, coaches came up with a number mechanism to describe the various pre-snap alignments on the line of scrimmage.
A different number is assigned (in ascending order) from heads-up on the center on down the line of scrimmage.
Teams call each of these numbers “techniques.”
These techniques not only describe pre-snap alignment, they have also come to signify the type of player you are talking about.
One of these examples is a 3 Technique.
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ByCoach Martin|Football Basics
A 5 Technique who lines up on the strong side may be a little bigger and a little stronger to take on those extra blocks and extra contact, while the weakside may be a little smaller, a little quicker, and be the pass-rushing specialist.
Either way, all of them will be strong, agile, fast, and quick players who love to run their high motors and cause disruption along the line of scrimmage and in the backfield.
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ByCoach Martin|Football Basics
Every offensive lineman dreams of executing pancake blocks.
It’s the outcome coaches hope for in every block by every offensive lineman on every running play.
While there is no official statistic for pancake blocks in football, it’s one of the most celebrated plays by offensive line coaches and offensive line groups.
It’s a great individual accomplishment and something definitely worth celebrating.
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ByCoach Martin|Football Basics
In a football game, not every player on offense is actually eligible to receive a pass.
There are certain players on the field who may catch a pass, in other words, and others who aren’t.
Those players who aren’t allowed to catch a pass are ineligible receivers.
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ByCoach Martin|Football Basics
All quarterbacks are taught the basics of throwing a football when they start playing.
There are some intricacies of throwing a football that are slightly different than throwing a baseball, for example.
This is why there are a few more steps when throwing a football.
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ByCoach Martin|Football Basics
The pass interference rule in football is one that is often surrounded by controversy.
It seems that on just about every incomplete pass attempt, a receiver tries to get a ref to call pass interference.
While, of course, the defender would say otherwise.
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