Football Glossary

In pressure packed moments as the kicker steps up to hit a game-winning field goal, right there beside him is his holder, primed and ready to set up the kicker to seal the game. Their job is also one with high stakes, as the ball is snapped, their job is to catch the snap, and quickly transition to get the ball down for the kicker exactly to his liking. Any bobble, hesitancy or errant placement is sure to result in disaster. With the defense selling out to block the kick, the holder must operate with stillness and urgency, and ultimately...

While you may agree the barometer of perfection is unattainable, that is exactly what is expected, and essentially required from a long snapper especially at the highest levels of football. In snapping the ball back to both holders and punters at extended distances, their job is essential to punts, extra points, and field goals, which are all critical in the special teams battle of every game. The long snapper must embody a similar mindset to that of an offensive lineman. Their specialty is one that doesn’t show up on the stat sheet in any capacity, but one that must be...

If you find yourself seated to even the most intense football fan you know at a game, they are probably likely to glance at their phone, or turn their attention to something else as the punt team comes on the field. Quite frankly, nobody is thrilled to see the punter come out after a failed offensive possession. Within the split-second that the punter sends off a high-flying football, a lot more goes into it than what meets the eye. Punting is an art form, as punters today exhibit the ability to creatively get the job done with a variety of...

Football fans everywhere love to watch their favorite teams play every week, but if you're new to the sport, it may seem very overwhelming to watch. American football is one of the most unique sports in the world, because almost every player on the field has a different job, and if you're watching the game for the first time, you may have trouble fully understanding what's going on. In this article we're going to cover all of the offensive football positions you're going to see when you watch an NFL game on Sunday or a college football game on Saturday....

The swinging gate formation is one of the most unique plays in football, and an important part of special teams. But what is it? How does it work? And why do some teams like to use it? In this article we're going to be answering all of those questions. We'll also be using some answers from a great presentation by Coach John Grayson, which you can watch for free in its entirety below.   Watch the video, or scroll down to learn more about this exciting special teams play. What is the Swinging Gate Formation? The swinging gate formation is...