By Coach Martin | Football Basics
A false start is one of the most common penalties called against the offense in football.
It’s a “minor” penalty that results only in a loss of five yards but can still derail an offense’s progress.
The false start is a relatively simple rule to understand but not as easy to avoid — especially for players who are just learning to play the game.
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By Coach Martin | Football Positions
The H-Back is making a comeback in today’s game of football, and for good reason.
It’s a versatile position that allows offenses to deploy different tactics to keep defenses guessing.
The H-Back is a hybrid position — a combination of a traditional tight end and a traditional fullback.
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By Coach Martin | Football Basics
Holding is one of the most commonly-called penalties in football.
At times, it can be difficult to understand what constitutes holding and what doesn’t just by watching a game.
Although quite common, holding can also be the most devastating penalties called during a game.
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By Coach Martin | Football Routes
Unlike many other passing routes, the Smash route involves more than one player.
It’s a combination of two routes run by two separate players lined up on the same side of the field, close to one another.
In this sense, the Smash route is more of a concept than it is a simple route.
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By Coach Martin | Football Routes
The Fade route is one of the most misunderstood passing routes in all of football.
Receivers aren’t as aggressive as they should be — that’s because it’s often taught to them the wrong way.
When run properly, though, it can be quite the devastating passing play.
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By Coach Martin | Football Routes
When defenses look like they’re bringing extra pressure with a blitz, offenses can counter this by calling a Hot route.
This is a quick-hitting passing route designed to get the ball out of the quarterback’s hands as quick as possible.
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By Coach Martin | Football Strategies
A squib kick is a strategy that teams can deploy if they don’t want the receiving team’s best players to return the kick.
It’s rarely used in the college and professional game, but is employed at a much higher rate in youth football.
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By Coach Martin | Football Basics
The screen pass is one of the most used deceptive passes, but can be one of the toughest to master on a consistent basis.
It’s a type of pass that’s meant to make the defense think the play will be a deep pass, only to end up being a short pass in the end.
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By Coach Martin | Football Basics
There are plenty of physical lines painted on a football field, but the most important one — the line of scrimmage — is an imaginary line.
But just what is the line of scrimmage, its relevance and what are the rules surrounding it?
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By Coach Martin | Miscellaneous
A crackback block is a defensive scheme that involves wide receivers or tight ends performing blocks rather than trying to get open.
These players surprise defenders, blocking them from an angle that’s not head-on.
A crackback block can be an extremely effective blocking scheme and is often used for running plays that aim to get the ball to the outside.
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