line of scrimmage
Football's dividing boundary
The line of scrimmage is an imaginary line across a football field marking where the ball is positioned at the start of each play.
Both teams line up on opposite sides of it, and crossing it before the snap draws a penalty.
The term extends figuratively to any starting point or boundary in a contest: We need everyone at the line of scrimmage when negotiations begin.
Illegal forward position
- encroachmentGradual intrusion on territory
- false startPremature beginning violation
- illegal formationPlayers positioned against rules
- delay of gamePenalty for slow play
Prohibited hostility area
- hash marksParallel lines denoting position
- trenchesElongated ground excavations
- turfGrass-covered earth surface
- gridironBarred frame for broiling
sideline · endzone · down marker · chains · pylons
Middle of anything
- guardWatchful defensive attention
- tackleGear or takedown
- nose tackleInterior defensive lineman position
- tight endVersatile gridiron pass-catcher
linebacker · defensive end · gap · trenches · nose guard · edge rusher
Creation or arrangement
- playbookDocumented set of tactics
- audibleCapable of being detected by ear
- blitzSwift, overwhelming offensive
- blockingImpeding forward progress
scheme · pass protection · play action · run game · pass rush · stunts · gaps · penetration
Extended walk outdoors
- cadenceRhythmic pulse or pattern
- shotgunLong gun firing shot
- under centerDirect snap alignment
- hard countSimulated snap call
quarterback · exchange · ball placement · ready position · set
offside
Illegal forward position
- encroachmentGradual intrusion on territory
- false startPremature beginning violation
- illegal formationPlayers positioned against rules
neutral zone
Prohibited hostility area
- hash marksParallel lines denoting position
- trenchesElongated ground excavations
- turfGrass-covered earth surface
gridiron · sideline · endzone · down marker · chains · pylons
center
Middle of anything
- guardWatchful defensive attention
- tackleGear or takedown
- nose tackleInterior defensive lineman position
tight end · linebacker · defensive end · gap · trenches · nose guard · edge rusher
formation
Creation or arrangement
- playbookDocumented set of tactics
- audibleCapable of being detected by ear
- blitzSwift, overwhelming offensive
blocking · scheme · pass protection · play action · run game · pass rush · stunts · gaps · penetration · leverage
hike
Extended walk outdoors
- cadenceRhythmic pulse or pattern
- shotgunLong gun firing shot
- under centerDirect snap alignment
hard count · quarterback · exchange · ball placement · ready position · set
- footballfootball, touchdown, field goal, quarterback, end zone
- flag footballflags, two-hand touch, quarterback, touchdown, end zone
- football playsplay-action pass, slant, counter, draw, sweep
- line blockingdouble team, chop block, wall off, pass protection
line of scrimmagegoal line
Scoring boundary stripe
end zone · end line · scoring position · sideline · out of bounds
line, lines, outline, lineage, underline, borderline, linear, liner, baseline