Either to start the play or continue moving the ball down the field, passing, receiving, and kicking are necessary skills. In fact, there are typically designated players that are punters or kickers for the team. If you are a quarterback, you will need to know how to pass well. If you are a receiver, you'll need to catch the ball and be able to run with it quickly. Click through the tabs below to learn about these more specific fundamentals.
Passing
Receiving
Kicking
A quarterback must be able to throw the ball consistently and accurately from a standing, set position and while running. A running passer puts great pressure on the defense. If the defense drops back to cover the pass, the quarterback will be able to run with the ball more easily. If the defense commits itself to stop the threatened run, the quarterback can still throw the ball (as long as he is behind the line of scrimmage.)
If you are playing quarterback, after the ball has been snapped, move to a passing position as quickly as possible. Once in position, look at the defensive man covering your primary receiver. Don’t look at your primary receiver, directly; you should know where that receiver is going ahead of time.
As you prepare to pass, hold the ball with both hands. When you are ready to throw, step forward with your right leg, hold the ball with your fingers across the laces, and cock the ball back behind your ear. As you throw, rotate the ball off your fingertips.
If you choose to throw the ball away to prevent loss of yardage (ie: if you are about to be tackled) and there is no eligible receiver in the vicinity, you will be guilty of intentionally grounding the pass. The penalty for intentional grounding is loss of 10 yards and a down.
Keeping an eye on the ball is important for a receiver. If you are a receiver, watch the ball as it travels into your hands; do not watch the defenders. Relax your fingers and hands, placing your arms back toward your body. Your elbows should be held close to your body to form a “bread basket” pocket which will support your arms and hands as you catch the pass.
| Eligible Receivers | Eligible pass receivers are the two ends on the scrimmage line and the players in the backfield who are at least one yard behind the line of scrimmage. In professional football, the quarterback is not an eligible receiver. The rule on eligible receivers remains the same regardless of whether the end man is a tackle or guard in another formation. All 11 players on the defensive team are eligible to intercept a pass. |
| Landing Out-of-Bounds | When a receiver catches a forward pass inbounds, but lands outside the sideline, the play is ruled out-of-bounds and the pass is incomplete. |
| Playing the Ball | Eligible players on both teams have equal rights to the football, as long as they are making a legitimate attempt to catch it, or, playing the ball rather than the opponent. Any contact that ensues as a result is legal. |
| Pass Interference | Pass interference occurs when a player interferes with an eligible receiver’s ability to make a fair attempt to catch a forward pass. Pass interference may include tripping, pushing, cutting in front of the receiver, or pulling on the receiver’s arms. It does not include catching or batting the ball before it reaches the receiver. Once the ball touches any player, the above rules no longer apply, and the defender may tackle the receiver or attempt to prevent the receiver from gaining control of the ball. If pass interference is called, the penalty will give the passing team a first down at the spot where the interference occurred. |
The ball is put into play at the start of each half by the kick-off. The ball is placed on the 40 yard line (35 yard line for professionals) of the kicking team, usually resting on a tee, but a place kick or a drop kick may be used legally.
The Punt
A punter is a special teams player who receives the snapped ball directly from the line of scrimmage and then kicks the football to the opposing team. This generally happens on a fourth down situation. Punters may also occasionally take part in fake punts in those same situations, when they throw or run the football instead of punting.
The punt is usually used on a scrimmage play. The ball is kicked before it touches the ground. It may also be used as a free-kick after a safety. When a team punts, it gives up possession of the ball.
Placekick Holder
A placekick holder, who is a teammate of the kicker, holds the ball in position so that it may be kicked. At the command of the holder, the center snaps the ball back to the holder. The holder quickly sets the ball on the predetermined spot on the field and the kicker—usually in motion—kicks the ball the instant it is placed in position.
