PE

Blocking

When a player deliberately impedes an opponent’s approach to the ball, ball carrier, or potential ball carrier with or without making bodily contact with the opponent

Bobbled Ball

When a player attempting to receive a pass touches the ball, loses contact with the ball, then catches the ball without the ball touching another player

bodily contact

when a player contacts an opponent in such a manner as to stop the opponent’s motion, to push the opponent, to knock the opponent down, or to move the opponent off stride or away from the opponent’s intended direction or position.

boundary lines

all the sidelines, end zone sidelines and dead lines

completed pass

any pass which is legally caught in bounds prior to the ball becoming dead

contact

when a player touches any part of an opponent’s body or equipment in any manner

control

When a player has the ball firmly held in 1 or both hands, arms, or legs or holds the ball firmly under the body without having the ball touch the ground. the securement on the ball must be firm enough to enable the player to stop the rotation of the ball and be able to exhibit influence over its direction.

convert

a score of 1 or 2-points for the team which, during its covert attempt, legally advances the ball into the opponent’s end zone

convert attempt

a scrimmage play which a team is entitle to use for the purpose of scoring bonus points immediately after having scored a touchdown

dead ball

when the ball is not playable by either team

defense

the team that does not have possession of the ball

dipping

an attempt by the runner, with continuous movement, to avoid a flag pull by extra bending of the knees and lowering the level of the flags significantly compared to regular running. Legal.

Direct path

a straight line between a defensive and offensive player at any given time

diving

an attempt by the runner to avoid a flag pull by leaning the upper body forward, with or without jumping, dipping or spinning. A type of flag guarding and is illegal

down

1 of 3 consecutive attempts the offense may use to advance the ball towards the defense’s goal line

down the ball

when the defense catches a loose ball or knocks a loose or free ball to the ground

end zone

the area bounded by the goal line, end zones sidelines and dead line. the goal line is part of the end zone. goal posts, and any attached material such as pads, are considered to be in the end zone. end zone sidelines and the dead line are not part of the end zone.

fake handoff

a fake hand-off is any movement of the runner with the hands towards a nearby teammate that simulates a transfer of possession. a faked pass (pump or simulated pitch) or the runner turning the body towards a teammate without movement of the hands is not a fake hand-off

field

the area inside the boundary lines. the boundary lines themselves are out of bounds and are not considered to be in the field.

field of play

the area bounded by the goal lines and sidelines. these lines are not considered to be in the field of play.

first down

the first of 3 consecutive chances (“downs) awarded to a team to advance the ball towards the opponent’s goal line.

flagging (flag)

when an opponent removes a player’s flag to stop a play.

forward pass

when a pass is aimed towards the opponet’s end zone.

foul

a violation of the rules which allows a player to take unfair advantage of the opponent

free ball

a live ball that is not in a player’s control and can be legally recovered and advanced by either team. the ball is considered to e free from the time it leaves a player’s body until the instant it touches the ground.

huddle

when a team assembles on the field to decide offensive or defensive strategy for the next play

illegal participation

a player who goes out of bounds shall not participate further in that play unless that player went out of bounds as a result of a slippery field, contact with an opponent, or a missed flag pull. this is a LOD penalty if committed by the offense and Repeat Down penalty if committed by the defense.

illegal procedure

when a player violates a procedure rule at the beginning of a kick off, convert attempt, or scrimmage play

illegal substitution

when a player enters the field in between the ball is snapped and ball goes dead.

illegal use of hands

any contact with the hands that is made by a player on an opposing player which clearly interferes the latter from playing the position desired, or the use of the goal posts to change one’s direction

impede

to force an opponent to change direction or to slow down with or without contact

in bounds

when the ball or a player has not touched the boundary lines or a person or object that is out of bounds

incidental contact

when a player makes contact with an opponent off stride or away from the opponent’s intended direction or position

incomplete pass

a pass which touches the ground, official, or goal post assembly or goes out of bounds prior to being caught

intercepted pass

when a player’s pass is caught by an opponent.

interference

any obstruction, blocking, pushing off, screening or illegal contact committed by a player of either team against an opponent

interference with the rusher

when the offense does not provide the rusher(s) with direct access to the quarterback or punter (7v7)

jumping

an attempt by the runner to avoid a flag pull by pushing off the ground and thus raising the level of the flags significantly compared to regular running. a type of flag guarding and illegal.

line of scrimmage

an imaginary line extending from sideline to sideline, parallel to the goal line, the position of which is determined by the point of the ball closest to the defense’s goal line.

live ball

when the ball is considered to be in play. this begins when the ball is snapped or kicked off (7v7), after the referee has blown the whistle to indicate that a play may begin, and continues until the ball is considered to be dead

major foul

an act which severely threatens a player’s safety or is intended to injure any participant

muffed

an unsuccessful attempt to catch a lateral, kick off (7v7), punt(7v7), or snapped ball, the ball being touched in the process

muffed snap

when the snap is muffed by the quarterback

neutral zone (scrimmage)

the 1-yard wide area extending from sideline to sideline in front of the line of scrimmage

objectionable conduct

the use of intimidating, profane, obscene, insulting language or gestures to an opponent, official or spectator by any player or occupant of a team bench. Conduct such as throwing the ball at an opponent, official or occupant of a team bench or the threatening or striking of an official, player or occupant of a team bench. Prolonged arguments with the officials.

Obstruction

when a player impedes an opponent’s approach to the ball, ball carrier or intended receiver with or without contacting the opponent.

offense

the team that has possession of the ball

offside

when a player is in or beyond the neutral zone the instant that the ball is snapped or kicked off (7v7); or when a player is closer to the opponent’s dead line the instant that a teammate touches the ball.

offside pass

any pass that goes in the direction of the opponent’s dead line

onside

when a player is not in or beyond the neutral zone at the instant that the ball is snapped or kicked off (7v7). When a player is parallel to, or closer to their own dead line than a teammate who last touched the ball, at the instand or anytime after that particular teammate last touched the ball.

opponent

a player on the opposite team

onside pass

when the ball is thrown, dropped, knocked, batted, or propelled in any manner (including bouncing off the body) by a player parallel to, or in the direction of that player’s dead line.

option

when a non-offending team has a choice of a penalty or to let the play stand. this also may involve a choice of application of a penalty

out of bounds

when a player or the ball touches the boundary lines, or the ground or any object on or beyond these lines, including an official, any player or substitute. a player with possession of the ball touches any boundary line, the ground or any object beyond these lines, except a field official or another player who is out of bounds while the ball carrier is fully in bounds.

pass

when there is a transfer of the ball that has not touched the ground from one player to another player where the ball is not in contact with two players at the same time

forward pass

when the pass is aimed towards the opponent’s end zone

lateral/backwards pass

when the pass is aimed in any direction other than towards the opponent’s end zone

pass interference

any interference made by a player against an eligible receiver before an eligible receiver has caught the pass

passer

any player who attempts to throw a pass

point after touchdown

the play that follows the touchdown. the offense will have the option to go fror 1-point from the 5-yard line, or 2-points from the 10-yard line

play

a period of action that begins when the ball is snapped or kicked off (7v7) and ends when the ball is considered to be dead

point of scrimmage

the spot in the field of play where the ball is placed on the scrimmage line for the next scrimmage play

possession

when a player has control of the ball (player possession) or when a team has the right to advance the ball, be awarded a first down or continue its downs (team possession)

pushing off

when any player pushes an opponent with sufficient force to knock that player off stride or away from that player’s intended direction

tipped pass

a pass that is touched by 1 player then caught by the same player, a teammate, or an opponent

touchdown

a score of 6 points for the team which legally carries the ball into the opponent’s end zone or legally gains possession of the ball inside the opponent’s end zone

unobstructed path

when the opponents allow a player to continue running the intended path without causing the player to slow down or change direction to avoid conflict

goal line

The line marking the end of the field of play. The goal line is in the end zone.

in flight

Without having touched the ground or any object since last kicked, punted, or touched.

infraction

see “foul“

kickoff

When a team kicks the ball to its opponents by means of a place kick to begin a game, a hall, or immediately following a convert attempt or safety touch. (7V7)

lateral pass

see “onside pass“

personal foul

An act whereby a player does not control the body motions and thereby threatens the safety of others by making aggressive bodily contact.

quarterback

The offensive player who receives the snap of the ball from the Centre during a scrimmage play for the purpose of running, passing or punting the ball (7v7).

recover

to gain possession

redirect

see impede

referee

The chief official who is in charge of the game and all other officials.

regulation field

The size of the field is 80-yards by 25-yards wide for 5v5 and 110-yards by 65-yards for 7v7.

regulation time

The length of the game, which is 2x20 minute halves on 5v5 and 4x15 minute quarters in 7v7.

right of place

Right of place is given to any stationary players who maintains normal player posture and make no movements in any horizontal direction to change their position. A purely vertical movement, including a lift from the ground, in order to throw or catch a pass does not mean that a previously established right of place has been lost. Right of place supersedes right of way when determining who is guilty of a foul.

right of way

Right of way is given to a player according to rule who has established a direction of movement in a regular manner and does not alter that direction. A player with right of way has a higher privilege when determining who is guilty of a foul than all other players except those with right of place.

rusher

The defensive player who crosses the line of scrimmage before any teammate.

rusher’s line

An imaginary line parallel to and 7-yards from line of scrimmage 5v5. 5-yards for 7V7.

safety touch

A score of 2-points against the team which does not legally carry, punt (77), or pass the ball out of its own end zone after 1 of its players has caused the ball to enter its own end zone from the field of play.

screening

When any player who is not playing the ball extends the arms or waves a hand in an attempt to distract a receiver, to block a receiver's vision, or to touch the ball.

scrimmage play

The action by the offense to score or advance the ball towards the defense's goal line by passing, running or punting (7v7). It begins by a snap of the ball by the Centre to a teammate.

set

When the ball is resting on the ground or the scrimmage bag while in the Centre's hand(s) ready to be snapped.

shotgun formation

Term used to describe positioning of the quarterback and Center. Space is left between the 2 players, allowing the quarterback to start further back from the line of scrimmage, further from the defense.

sideline

The line marking the side of the field of play between the goal lines.

simultaneous possession

When players of opposing teams legally obtain possession of the ball at the same time.

snap

The action of the Centre at the beginning of a scrimmage play in throwing the ball from its position on the ground to the Quarterback

spinning

Spinning is an attempt by the runner to avoid a flag pull by rotation of the body along the vertical axis.

Spinning is legal if the height of the flags is not significantly raised. Spinning combined with dipping is legal, combined with jumping is illegal.

stripping the ball

see “jarred ball“

time count

A period of 25 seconds given to the offense prior to a scrimmage play to huddle and put the ball into play.

toss

see “onside pass“

yard line

An imaginary line parallel to the goal line, extending from sideline to sideline, which represents each yard between the goal lines. On a well-marked field, every yard between the goal lines is marked at the hash marks and sidelines, and every 5-yards is marked from sideline to sideline.