Learn-the-Lingo Reference for Rookies

Football and automobiles have a lot in common. Both are american inventions surrounded by mysterious terms and processes we don't understand. We say no more! See our short list of commonly misunderstood football terms below and sound like an old pro around the water cooler.

• Line of Scrimmage: The starting point for each play determined by where the ball was last downed during the last play. It moves per play.
   
• 1st Down & 10: A team gets four downs or attempts to move forward 10 yards from the original Line of Scrimmage established on the first down. A new set of downs starts when the team succeeds.
   
• In-Motion: Refers to an offensive player – usually a Wide Receiver – moving across the field before the ball is snapped. This is a legal play.
   
• Off-sides: When a player lines up in "the zone" – an enforced gap between the offensive and defensive line that's the length of the ball.
   
• Encroachment: Refers to illegal movement by a lineman to trick an opposing player into moving off-sides before the ball is snapped.
   
• Blitz: A defensive play where all players rush the Quarterback.
   
• Two-Point Conversion: An optional play after a touchdown is scored where the offensive team can try to get into the endzone again for two points rather than kick an extra point for one point.
   
• Shotgun Formation: An offensive formation where there are no Running Backs in the backfield. All eligible receivers are going out for a pass play.
   
• Audible: When a Quarterback calls a different play at the line than was originally called before the defensive team lined up.