History:

    The present game of football can truly be said to be a mixed-up blend of the two games of soccer and rugby.  Here is the reason why...
    It began at Harvard University in the spring of 1871.  A group of college students were given permission to organize a "new game".  This game used a soccer ball and followed many of the soccer rules, but with one exception.  The players were allowed to pick up the ball and run with it when they were chased by an opponent.  Because no other American schools played this new style of soccer, Harvard decided to challenge McGill University of Montreal, Canada.  However, McGill University was accustomed to playing rugby, another English sport.  So the two schools decided to play two games..onegame of "football" and one game of rugby.  This all happened in the year 1874.
    As you may have guessed, the Harvard players were fascinated with the oval shaped rugby ball.  In fact, they enjoyed playing rugby so much that they adopted many of the rugby rules into their "new game".  Of course, the oval shaped rugby ball soon replaced the round soccer ball.  In 1906, players decided to allow a forward pass into the game.  Well, that one small rule brought added excitement into the sport.  Today, football is the most popular fall sport in the U.S.

FOOTBALL TERMS:

BACK:    One of the four players who usually carries the ball on offense.

BALANCED LINE:  A lineup where there is an equal number of players on either side of the center.

CLIPPING:   A violation in which a player throws his or her body across the back of the legs of an opponent (who does not have the ball) in an attempt to cause the player to fall. (This action is illegal).

CONVERSION:   Another term for the "point after touchdown" or "extra point".

DEFENSIVE TEAM:  The team without the ball.

FUMBLE:   When a player who has the ball loses control of it, causing it to fall to the ground.

HANDOFF:   A play where the ball is handed to another player who attempts to run for a gain.

LATERAL PASS (OR PITCH):  A play where the ball is thrown underhand to another player.  The lateral cannot be thrown forward, but is thrown to another player who is behind or the the side of the passer.

LINE OF SCRIMMAGE:  This is an imaginary line that marks the ends of the ball nearest to each team's goal line.  There is a line of scrimmage for each team, with the zone between the lines called the "neutral zone".

OFFENSIVE TEAM:  The team with the ball.

OFF SIDES:   This is an infraction of the rules.  It happens when a player on defense moves past the line of scrimmage before the Ball is snapped.

SAFETY:   This usually happens when the offensive team has possession of the ball near the touchdown zone of the defending team.  If the defending team tags an offensive player in the end zone or the ball rolls out of bounds behind the goal line, then two points are awarded to the defensive team.
 

SIGNALS:   The numbers called by the quarterback before the ball is hiked to indicate to the offensive players what the play will be.

STRONG SIDE:   The side of an unbalanced line that has more players.

TRIPLE THREAT:  A player who is good at running, passing, and kicking.

WEAKSIDE:    The side of an unbalanced line that has fewer players.

BE FAMILIAR WITH THESE PATTERNS: