American Football Formations - Offense - Offensive Positions

Offensive Positions

Up to four players can be behind the line of scrimmage, but one is always designated the quarterback (defined as the player who receives the ball from the center). Upon the snap of the ball, the quarterback becomes the ball carrier. The ball carrier has five options:

• He may keep the ball and run with it.
• He may hand or pitch the ball sideways or backwards (also called a lateral) to another player, who then becomes the new ball carrier. Multiple pitches are permitted on a single play, as long as all of them go backwards.
• He may throw a forward pass to an eligible receiver, who then becomes the new ball carrier. Only 1 forward pass is permitted per play, and the pass must occur behind the original line of scrimmage. A forward pass is distinct from a pitch, and any number of pitches are permitted before or after a forward pass.
• He may hold the ball for a place-kicker who attempts a field goal.
• He may kick the ball himself, either by punting the ball to the other team, or by attempting a drop-kicked field goal (which is rare).

The three other backs can be halfbacks, (who primarily carry the ball), fullbacks, (who primarily block), or they can play near (but not on) the line of scrimmage to act as extra tight ends or wide receivers. A tight end that fills the role as the 4th back is often called an "H-Back" and a wide receiver that fills that role is sometimes known as a "flanker" or a "slot" receiver (depending on where he lines up). Most formations have a "strong" side (the side with the tight end, or the side with more players) and a "weak side" (the side opposite the tight end, or the side with fewer players).

The ends, which may be either wide receivers, or tight ends, may catch a passed ball or receive a handoff.

Descriptions and diagrams to display offensive formations typically use the following symbols:

• QB = quarterback (the player who leads and informs the offense the plays)
• C = center (the player who begins the play with a snap on the line and blocks afterwards)
• G = guard (the player who blocks on line beside the center)
• T = tackle (the player who blocks on the line beside the guard)
• TE = tight end (the player who often goes out for passes and often blocks on the line)
• WR = wide receiver (the player who gets assigned a route and has to catch the ball when passed to)
• HB = halfback (the primary ball carrier)
• FB = fullback (the secondary ball carrier also used for blocking)