Football Glossary
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- face mask, five yards
The official, using one hand with fist closed, will pull his hand down from just below his chin to the top of his chest. - failure to wear mandatory equipment
The official will place one hand directly behind his head/hat and hold this position for at least two seconds. - fair catch
A fair catch is a catch of a free kick or scrimmage kick by a player of Team B (receiving team) after a valid signal, where the ball is untouched beyond the neutral zone. - fair catch
An unhindered catch by a member of the receiving team of any kick that has crossed the kicking team’s line of scrimmage or free-kick line, provided that the proper signal (one hand and arm extended above the head and moving from side to side) has been given by the receiver. - false start
A false start is any movement simulating action prior to the snap. This may be a shift, feint, an act to cause Team B to encroach, or a Team A interior lineman who after placing his hand on or near the ground, shifts or makes a quick movement. The official, in front of his chest, will roll his forearms forward in a circular motion 2-3 times. - fask mask
Grasping, turning, pulling, twisting an opponent's face mask, any edge or opening including the chin strap. First using the personal foul signal, the official will then use one hand with his fist closed, pulling his hand down from just below his chin to the top of his chest. The result is a 15-yard penalty. - field goal
A place-kick or dropkick from scrimmage that goes over the crossbar and through the uprights of the goal without touching the ground first. Three points are awarded for a field goal. - field judge
[6-7] A field judge is a deep sideline official, a primary on passing plays and scrimmage kicks. - field of play
The field of play is the in-bounds area that extends goal line to goal line and sideline to sideline. The goal line is not part of the field of play. - first down
The first in the series of four downs in which an offensive team must advance 10 yards to retain possession of the ball. To signal a first down, the official extends his arm straight ahead in the direction the offensive team is moving. - first touching
During a free kick, first touching is touching the ball by a member of the kicking team before the kick travels ten yards, or before the receiving team touches it. - forward pass
A forward pass is a pass thrown that strikes anything beyond the spot of the pass, including the ground, a player or an official. - forward progress
A runner's forward progress toward an opponent's goal line is stopped when contact from an opponent allows the runner little change to resume. The exact moment in which a player's forward progress is stopped is subject to the judgment of the officials. - four-point stance
The position taken by a defensive lineman before snap in which both hands are on the ground. - free kick
A kick from a tee that starts either half or follows a score. A kickoff is a free kick. - fullback
An offensive player lined up in the backfield whose primary duty usually is as a blocker. The fullback often lines up behind the quarterback but in front of or to the side of a running back or tailback. - fumble
The act of an offensive player losing possession of the ball during play, other than an incomplete pass. A fumble is a live ball situation where either side can gain possession unless the ball goes out of bounds.
