The "sidelines" are the white or colored lines which mark the outer boundaries of a sports field, running parallel to each other and perpendicular to the goal lines. The sidelines are also where the coaching staff and players out of play operate during a game. The area outside the sidelines is said to be out of bounds. The term is predominantly in use in American football, Canadian football and basketball.
In rugby union, rugby league and association football, they are known as touch-lines. The foul line is a similar concept in baseball. Sports in which the playing surface is bounded by walls, such as ice hockey and indoor football, do not use sidelines.
The sideline can be used metaphorically to refer to players who have been "benched," meaning that they have been taken out of the game purposefully by the coaching staff due to poor performance in the game or previous play. Establishing shots of these players may be used by televised sports programs to indicate potential roster switches, or to build a narrative of the failure or success of the coaching staff's decision. Likewise, images of the sideline may suggest that the highlighted player had done something of interest outside of the confines of play. For example, in American football, dousing the head coach with water or sports drink is a popular way of celebrating crucial victories, established as a tradition by the New York Giants of the National Football League in the mid 1980s.
The term "to be sidelined" refers to a player in a sports event who is unable to play (e.g. confined to the sideline) for injury, suspension, or other similar reasons. This term has spread into a business context; a project that has been "sidelined" is no longer a major concern or objective of the proponent company.
Gridiron football concepts
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Codes |
- American
- Canadian (US–Canadian comparison)
- Arena
- Indoor
- 9-man
- 8-man
- 6-man
- Flag
- Touch
- Street/Backyard
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Levels of play |
- High school
- College
- Sprint
- Women's
- Professional
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Field |
- End zone
- Goal line
- Red zone
- Line of scrimmage
- Neutral zone
- Field goal range
- Out of bounds
- Sidelines
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Equipment |
- Football (ball)
- Helmet
- Shoulder pads
- Uniform number
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Positions |
Offense |
- Quarterback
- Running backs (Halfback, Fullback, H-back)
- Receivers (Wide receiver, Tight end, Slotback)
- Linemen (Center, Guard, Tackle)
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Defense |
- Linemen (Defensive tackle, Defensive end, Nose tackle)
- Linebacker
- Defensive back (Cornerback, Safety, Nickelback, Dimeback, Halfback)
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Special teams |
- Placekicker
- Punter
- Kickoff specialist
- Long snapper
- Holder
- Punt returner
- Kickoff returner
- Return specialist
- Gunner
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Other |
- Utility player
- Triple-threat man
- Skill position
- Game manager
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Play types |
Offense |
- Rush
- Pass
- Incomplete pass
- Lateral
- Bootleg play
- Draw play
- End-around
- Flea flicker
- Flexbone formation
- Fourth down conversion
- Hail Mary pass
- Halfback option play
- Hook and lateral
- Kneel
- Motion
- Hurry-up offense
- Option run
- Option offense
- Play-action pass
- Quarterback keeper
- Quarterback sneak
- Quick kick
- Reverse
- Scramble
- Screen pass
- Spike
- Statue of Liberty
- Sweep
- Tackle-eligible
- Trick play
- Wildcat formation
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Defense |
- Tackle
- Blitz
- Rush
- Sack
- Shooting the gap
- Stunt
- Zone blitz
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Special teams |
- Kickoff
- Kickoff return
- Punt
- Punt return
- Drop kick
- Fair catch
- Fair catch kick
- Icing the kicker
- Onside kick
- Squib kick
- Conversion
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Scoring |
- Touchdown
- Point after touchdown
- Two-point conversion
- Field goal
- Safety
- Single (rouge)
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Penalties |
- Blocking below the waist
- Block in the back
- Chop block
- Clipping
- Delay of game
- Encroachment
- Equipment violations
- Face mask
- False start
- Helmet-to-helmet collision
- Horse-collar tackle
- Illegal contact
- Illegal formation
- Illegal forward kick
- Illegal forward pass
- Illegal hands to the face
- Illegal motion
- Illegal participation
- Illegal shift
- Illegal substitution
- Illegal touching
- Illegal touching of a free kick
- Illegal use of hands
- Ineligible receiver downfield
- Intentional grounding
- Holding
- Leaping
- Neutral zone infraction
- Offside
- Palpably unfair act
- Pass interference
- Personal foul
- Roughing the kicker
- Roughing the passer
- Roughing the snapper
- Sideline infraction
- Spearing
- Time count
- Tripping
- Unsportsmanlike conduct
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Turnovers |
- Fumble
- Interception
- Muffed punt
- Turnover on downs
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Downs |
- First down
- Three-and-out
- Fourth down conversion
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Play clock |
- Timeout
- One-minute warning
- Two-minute warning
- Three-minute warning
- Running out the clock
- Untimed play
- Garbage time
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Statistics |
- Carry
- Rushing yards
- Passing yards
- Passer rating
- Reception
- Receiving yards
- Return yards
- Total offense
- Yards from scrimmage
- All-purpose yardage
- Touchdown pass
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Celebrations |
- Touchdown celebration
- Gatorade shower
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Officiating |
- Officials
- Penalty flag
- Chain crew
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Miscellaneous |
- Snap
- Dead ball
- Touchback
- Instant replay
- Coffin corner
- Resting the starters
- Glossary of American football
- Glossary of Canadian football
- Rules
- Rules in American football
- California playoff
- Concussions in American football
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