In American and Canadian football, a guard (G) is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team.
The guard's job is to protect the quarterback from the incoming defensive line and linebackers during pass plays, as well as creating openings (holes) for the running backs to head through. Guards perform speed blocking and "pulling"—sprinting out in front of a running back in order to block for him. Guards are automatically considered ineligible receivers, so they cannot intentionally touch a forward pass, unless it is to recover a fumble or is first touched by a defender or eligible receiver.
Right guards (RG) is the term for the guards on the right of the offensive line, while left guards (LG) are on the left side. Guards are to the right or left of the center.
| Positions in American football and Canadian football |
| Offense |
|
Defense |
|
Special teams |
| Linemen |
Guard, Tackle, Center |
Linemen |
Tackle, End, Nose tackle |
Kicking players |
Placekicker, Punter, Kickoff specialist |
| Quarterback |
Linebackers |
Snapping |
Long snapper, Holder |
| Backs |
Halfback (Tailback), Fullback, H-back |
Backs |
Cornerback, Safety |
Returning |
Punt returner, Kick returner |
| Receivers |
Wide receiver, Tight end, Slotback |
Nickelback, Dimeback |
Tackling |
Gunner |
| Formations — Nomenclature |
|
Gridiron football concepts
|
|
| Codes |
- American
- Canadian (US–Canadian comparison)
- Arena
- Indoor
- 9-man
- 8-man
- 6-man
- Flag
- Touch
- Street/Backyard
|
|
| Levels of play |
- High school
- College
- Sprint
- Women's
- Professional
|
|
| Field |
- End zone
- Goal line
- Red zone
- Line of scrimmage
- Neutral zone
- Field goal range
- Out of bounds
- Sidelines
|
|
| Equipment |
- Football (ball)
- Helmet
- Shoulder pads
- Uniform number
|
|
| Positions |
| Offense |
- Quarterback
- Running backs (Halfback, Fullback, H-back)
- Receivers (Wide receiver, Tight end, Slotback)
- Linemen (Center, Guard, Tackle)
|
|
| Defense |
- Linemen (Defensive tackle, Defensive end, Nose tackle)
- Linebacker
- Defensive back (Cornerback, Safety, Nickelback, Dimeback, Halfback)
|
|
| Special teams |
- Placekicker
- Punter
- Kickoff specialist
- Long snapper
- Holder
- Punt returner
- Kickoff returner
- Return specialist
- Gunner
|
|
| Other |
- Utility player
- Triple-threat man
- Skill position
- Game manager
|
|
|
| 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
|
|
| Defense |
- Tackle
- Blitz
- Rush
- Sack
- Shooting the gap
- Stunt
- Zone blitz
|
|
| Special teams |
- Kickoff
- Kickoff return
- Punt
- Punt return
- Drop kick
- Fair catch
- Fair catch kick
- Icing the kicker
- Onside kick
- Squib kick
- Conversion
|
|
|
| Scoring |
- Touchdown
- Point after touchdown
- Two-point conversion
- Field goal
- Safety
- Single (rouge)
|
|
| 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
|
|
| Turnovers |
- Fumble
- Interception
- Muffed punt
- Turnover on downs
|
|
| Downs |
- First down
- Three-and-out
- Fourth down conversion
|
|
| Play clock |
- Timeout
- One-minute warning
- Two-minute warning
- Three-minute warning
- Running out the clock
- Untimed play
- Garbage time
|
|
| Statistics |
- Carry
- Rushing yards
- Passing yards
- Passer rating
- Reception
- Receiving yards
- Return yards
- Total offense
- Yards from scrimmage
- All-purpose yardage
- Touchdown pass
|
|
| Celebrations |
- Touchdown celebration
- Gatorade shower
|
|
| Officiating |
- Officials
- Penalty flag
- Chain crew
|
|
| 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
|
|