Glossary of American Football - E

E

eligible receivers

Players who may legally touch a forward pass. On the passer's team, these are: the ends, the backs, and (except in the NFL) one player in position to take a hand-to-hand snap, i.e. a T quarterback; provided the player's shirt displays a number in the ranges allowed for eligible receivers. All players of the opposing team are eligible receivers, and once the ball is touched by a player of the opposing team (anywhere in American, or beyond the lines of scrimmage in Canadian football), all players become eligible.

encroachment

An illegal action by a defensive player: to cross the line of scrimmage and make contact with an opponent before the ball is snapped.

end around

A play, often confused with a reverse, where the quarterback hands the ball off to a wide receiver. The receiver motions/moves into the backfield as the ball is snapped to take the handoff and runs around the opposite end from where he lined up.

end zone

The area between the end line (or deadline in Canadian amateur football) and the goal line, bounded by the sidelines.

extra point

A single point scored in a conversion attempt by making what would be a field goal during general play. See try.