Football Glossary
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- I-formation
An offensive formation in which the fullback is positioned 2 to 4 yards behind a quarterback, who is positioned immediately behind the center, and the halfback is positioned behind the fullback another 2 to 3 yards. - illegal batting
Batting the ball is an intentional act of striking it or intentionally changing it direction with the hand or arms. It is legal to bat a loose ball backward but illegal to intentionally bat a loose ball forward. The official will tap the top of his shoulder using one hand. The result is a 15-yard penalty from the spot of the foul. It may sometimes result in a loss of downs for Team A. - illegal block in the back
illegal block in the back is a block against an opponent when the initial contact is in the opponent's back, inside the shoulders and below the helmet and above the waist and not against a player who is a runner or pretending to be a runner. The official, using both arms, with one hand open and facing forward, hold that wrist with the other hand and make a push forward and hold that position for at least two seconds. The result is a 10-yard penalty from the spot of the foul. - illegal helmet contact
The official will place one hand, with closed fist, against the side of his head/hat. - illegal kick
An illegal kick is going beyond the neutral zone and kicking/punting the football. The result is a dead ball with a five-yard penalty from the spot of the foul and loss of down. - illegal kicking
Illegal kicking is intentionally kicking a loose ball, generally in an attempt to prevent your opponent from recovering the loose ball. The official will tap the top of his shoulder using one hand, followed by a point toward the toe to denote the illegal kicking. The result is a 15-yards penalty. If by Team A, a loss of down also. There is not an automatic first down if by Team B. - illegal motion
Movement at the snap by a Team A player that is not backward or parallel to the line of scrimmage. The official, in front of his chest with one arm parallel to the ground, will extend one hand and forearm forward two times. The result is a five-yard penalty from the previous spot. - illegal participation
Playing with 12 or more players during a down or free kick. A player trying to get off the field at the snap may be considered illegal substitution. 12 or more participating through the down is illegal participation. The official will place both hands on top of his head/hat and hold this position for at least two seconds. The result is a 15-yard penalty from the previous spot. - illegal pass or illegal forward handing
Throwing a pass when the passer is completely beyond the line of scrimmage; or throwing a 2nd forward pass during the same down; or any forward pass following a free kick, or change of possession play. Facing the press box, the official using one hand/arm will make a downward motion from the back of his belt to the ground and back two times. The result is a five-yard penalty from the spot of the foul and, if during a "down" play by Team A, a loss of down. - illegal shift
An illegal shift may be two or more Team A players moving at the snap or 11 players on Team A not coming to a complete stop for one second prior to the snap or shifting. The official, in front of his chest with his hands parallel to the ground, will extend his hands and forearms forward two times. The result is a five-yard penalty from the previous spot. - illegal touching
Touching of a free kick by a member of the kicking team when no Team B player has touched the kick or the kick has traveled 10-yards. On a scrimmage kick (punt), no in-bounds player of the kicking team shall touch a scrimmage kick that has crossed the neutral zone before it touches an opponent. This is not a penalty but deemed a violation that gives Team B the option to take the ball at this illegal touching spot if not trumped by an accepted penalty. The official touches his shoulders with two or three taps using both hands. Illegal touching of a forward pass by an ineligible Team A player results in a five-Yard penalty from the previous spot. - inadvertent whistle
An inadvertent whistle is a whistle blown by an official in error while the ball is still alive. An inadvertent whistle causes a live ball to become dead. The official extends his right arm, with a closed fist, directly in front of his chest. - incomplete pass
The official crosses both arms across his chest and extends them back open, repeating this a second time. - ineligible downfield
An ineligible player is generally an interior lineman, center, guard, tackle or a covered receiver. Ineligibles are restricted from being more than three-yards down field prior to the pass being thrown. The official, using one hand, will tap the top of his head/hat. The result is a five-yard penalty from the previous spot. - intentional grounding
A pass thrown into an area not occupied by an eligible receiver; generally the passer is under duress of being sacked for a loss. Using both hands/arms, the official will make a forward motion from his shoulder toward the ground and slightly across his body. The result is a five-yard penalty from the spot of the foul and a loss of down. - interception
A pass caught in the air by a defensive player that immediately changes possession. - invalid or illegal fair catch signal
A valid fair-catch signal is the extending and lateral waving of one arm at full arm’s length above the head by any member of the receiving team. An invalid fair-catch signal is any signal by a receiver before the kick is caught or recovered that does not meet the requirements of a valid signal; made after the kick has touched an R player; or made after the kick has touched the ground. An illegal fair-catch signal is any signal by a runner after the kick has been caught or after the kick has been recovered. The official will hold his hand and forearm up in a "stop sign" type signal. Hold this position for at least two seconds. The result is a dead ball with a five-yard penalty from the spot of the foul.
