A proper stance is important, for it is one of the foundations on which good play is based.

Offensive Stances

There are many types of stances. Two of the most commonly used offensive stances are the four-point stance and the three-point stance.

The most popular and widely used is the three-point stance. For this, squat and place your right hand on the ground directly ahead of your right knee, dropping your right foot back slightly. Your hips are raised to make your back parallel to the ground, and your body weight should be distributed equally on the tripod formed by your feet and hand.

Defensive Stances

Because the defensive lineman is usually charging forward, rest more weight on your hands and keep your body close to the ground. The four-point stance is commonly used by the defensive linemen. Most defensive ends use a three-point stance.

The defensive secondary usually stand upright so they are ready for a fast start.

Blocking refers to legal contact made with an opponent who does not have the ball. A block is used to obstruct the opposition’s movement. The rule states that blockers are not permitted to use their hands or arms.

When you are blocking, the classic stance is to keep your hands in contact with your chest. You must also be sure to keep your hands and arms below the shoulders of the opponent you are blocking. When you are blocking, you are not allowed to use your hands to push, pull, or grab an opposing player.

As soon as any part of the runner’s body (besides the hands and feet) touch the ground, the player may not advance any further. In high school and college rules, a runner is “down” whether she/he has touched the ground because of a tackle or simply by slipping or falling. In professional football, when a runner slips or falls she/he is not considered “down” and may continue to advance the ball until he is tackled.

At either level, however, the tackler has to be sure that she/he is not grabbing the runner’s face mask. That will bring a penalty. The defense is allowed to use hands and arms to tackle, push, shove, or otherwise throw the runner to the ground.

A good ball carrier takes the hand-off by feel alone. Try to keep your eyes on the defensive players. The ball must be carried properly. The ball should rest in the palm your hand with the opposite end tucked under your elbow.

In open field running, the hand and arm carrying the ball can be moved away from your body to aid your balance and speed. However, if you are in danger of being tackled, you should place the ball right against your rib cage to protect it.