Hail Mary – A Hail Mary is a long passing play with a low success percentage in which the quarterback throws for distance over accuracy in an attempt to score immediately from far away in a single play. The player who is throwing the ball in this play does not target any particular receiver; rather he throws for distance in hopes that one of his players will be able to get to the ball. This type of play is most often used on the last play of the half or end of the game when a team is out of range for attempting a field goal and there is only enough time for one play left. The term Hail Mary originated in reference to a legendary play by the Dallas cowboys which garnered them the 1975 NFC Playoff game. The Cowboys were able to win the game through a last minute upset.

Halfback – The halfback is the primary ball carrier on most running plays; this player lines up behind the full back and also runs short routes on passing plays. A halfback may alternatively be referred to as a tailback. He frequently serves as the receiver on short passing plays, but also aids offensive linemen in their blocking, protecting whichever player has the ball. A halfback is an eligible receiver, and as such may also catch passes. Halfbacks may be small and fast (often called ‘scat backs’) or larger, stronger players. These ‘power backs’ may be slower, but can often break through tackles to arrive where they need to be successfully. Although halfbacks specialize in running the ball, many also have exceptional pass-catching skills, and as such are considered a dual threat by other players. Some teams choose to designate one of their halfbacks as a short yardage specialist, who can enter into the game in situations in which the offense only needs a few yards in order to get their first down.

Handoff – A handoff occurs in football when the ball is handed directly from one player to another without being thrown or touching the ground or another player’s hand. A handoff most frequently takes place between the quarterback, and the running back who takes the ball on a running play. If the ball is dropped during this maneuver, it is a fumble. In order to avoid fumbling the ball, both players must execute proper handoff technique. For the receiving player, this means having his arms situated against his body in such a way as to be able to firmly grasp the ball to his chest immediately when the quarterback (or other passer) releases it to him. The passer must be certain that the receiver has the ball totally in his grasp before he lets go of it. Handing off is a fundamental skill in football, as this is one of the primary ways to initiate running plays and score points.

Hands Team – A hands team is a team of sure-handed players that specialize in recovering onside kicks. During onside kicks, both teams will usually put in the players that they call the hands team, which includes the players with the best ball-handling skills. In order to be an onside kick, the kick must be a free kick and must cross the receiving team’s restraining line. An onside kick is a free kick than is attempted to maximize the possibility of the kicking team recovering it. In the past, most onside kick formations consisted of all ten players on the kicking side of the field lining up to either the right or the left of the kicker, but NFL rules now require that at least four players line up on each side of the kicker. Onside kicks are very rarely successful, in fact only about 20% of the time in the NFL, which is why teams put in their hands teams for such attempts.

Hang Time – the length of time a ball stays in the air after being punted

Hash Marks – Hash marks are the two rows of short lines near the middle of a football field that run parallel to the side lines. These small lines are about 1 yard long each and mark every yard on the field, sitting between the larger 5-yard lines, which extend from sideline to sideline. The sidelines and end lines, as marked on the field, are out of bounds, but the hash marks are not. The yard lines are numbered every ten yards from each of the goal lines to midfield, the fifty yard line. All plays start with the ball on or between these hash marks; in the event that the ball is downed between hash marks and a sideline, it has to be reset on the hash mark to begin the next play. This familiar hash mark pattern is the origin of the term gridiron, referring to a football field.

Head Coach – The head coach is a team’s supervising authority, the person in charge of managing all the players and the other coaches. At both the college and professional levels, head football coaches are generally paid far more than any of the other members of the coaching team. The head football coach will oversee the playbook and make final decisions on plays and rosters, whereas assistant coaches generally specialize in either offense or defense, or even coaching players in a particular position. At the level of NFL play, head coaches are paid millions of dollars per year. For this reason, and because of the high stress nature of their job, most professional head coaches choose to retire in their early 50’s. NFL coaches are concerned primarily with tactics and training, whereas college coaches must typically also serve as a sort of PR manager for their players and the public face of the team. Another notable difference between NFL and college football coaching is the extremely high turnover rate for college head coaches.

Head Linesman – A head linesman is an official who lines up on the sidelines at the line of scrimmage. The head linesman’s primary responsibility is to watch for encroachment and false starts and to judge ball placement. The head linesman is one of a team of officials, the people who are responsible for enforcing rules and maintaining order during the game. Although all football officials are often referred to by the generic term referee, each one actually has a title based upon his position. The head linesman usually stands at the end of the line of scrimmage opposite the press box. He watches for offsides, encroachment and other fouls before the snap occurs and continues to judge the action nearest his sideline throughout the play. One of the most important duties of the head linesman is to mark the forward progress of the ball. He oversees the chain gang, the group of officials who move the chain to indicate ball position.

Helping the Runner – an illegal maneuver in which the ball carrier is pushed or pulled forward by another player, a 10 yard penalty

Heisman Trophy – The Heisman Trophy is an award given by the Downtown Athletic Club of New York annually to the best player in the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association).The trophy was named after former college football coach John Heisman, and is designed to award the most outstanding collegiate football player. The Heisman is awarded at the end of the regular season, prior to the postseason games. Although this award is only one of several that are presented to collegiate athletes, it is generally considered the most prestigious. All football players in all divisions of college football are eligible for balloting, but overwhelmingly the winners are from Division I Football Bowl schools. Although voting attempts to focus on personal playing statistics, typically the Heisman winning player represents a team that has had an exceptional season. Interestingly, although freshmen are technically eligible to receive the Heisman, none has ever won it. In fact, only two sophomores have ever received the award, with the vast majority of recipients being seniors.

Hitch and Go – Hitch and go is a football passing route in which a receiver runs downfield then quickly pivots to fake a cut in or outside. The player then continues downfield to catch a deeper pass instead. This pattern is alternatively referred to as a hitch route. In order to deceive other players, the receiver usually takes one or two steps forward before he quickly stops to look for a pass. In order to be effective, the receiver must do so before the defender is able to deflect the pass that is coming. This route may also be used to initiate a screen. In such a case, one or more of the linemen, running backs or tight ends run in the direction of the eligible receiver to help block the initial defensive players in order to allow their receiver a space in which to get their pass.

Holder – The holder is the player who receives the snap on kicking plays and secures the ball for the kicker. The holder is generally a player who plays another position, such as punter or backup quarterback. The holder is generally positioned between seven and eight yards behind the line of scrimmage. After he receives the ball, the holder places it on the ground as quickly as possible, so that one end of it touches the ground and the other is supported by one finger. When it is particularly windy, a holder can be used to help during kickoffs. Good holders must have steady hands and excellent concentration, the reason that a quarterback is often used as a holder. When a snap goes so badly that it will be impossible for the kick to succeed, the holder may then attempt to run or pass the ball, although this type of maneuver is rarely successful.

Holding – Holding is a penalty (or foul) in which a player illegally uses his hands or arms while blocking to restrain any member of the other team who is not in possession of the ball. It is a type of foul that falls under the category of illegal use of hands and may be committed by either offense or defense. The penalty for holding is 10 yards, when committed offensively, and 5 yards if committed by the defense. Holding is one of the most commonly called fouls in football, and most often occurs when a player grasps or tackles a player who does not have the ball in his possession. When a penalty for holding that occurs in the offensive endzone is accepted, a safety results. The referree signal for holding is to put one forearm vertically in front of the body with a closed fist facing his chest. and his other hand grasping the first arm’s wrist.

Hole Number – the numbers given to the spaces between the “Offensive Linemen”

Home-Field Advantage – The home field advantage is the popular idea that playing on one’s own home stadium or field gives a distinct advantage over being a visiting team. Although there is some controversy as to the existence and extent of the phenomenon, it is generally held to be true for a variety of reasons. Proponents of this advantage cite player’s comfort level and intimate knowledge of the field as one reason. Additionally, weather and even altitude can have some effect on players who are not accustomed to playing under said conditions. When a team plays in its home field, the team has first pick of uniform, as well as the advantage of being surrounded by its own fans, who can provide a valuable psychological boost. In football games, the crowd will often attempt to distract the visiting team by making a lot of noise as they begin to run a play, making it difficult for them to even hear the snap count. Because many of these factors are not quantifiable, it is difficult to definitely prove the existence or non-existence of this phenomenon.

Hook and Ladder – Hook and Ladder is a rarely used trick football play. The play consists of the hook, in which the wide receiver runs a predetermined distance along the sideline, usually about ten yards, then ‘hooks in’, cutting toward the center to receive a pass. (The quarterback, in the meantime, has thrown a short pass towards the receiver facing the line of scrimmage.) Another player, usually another wide receiver, times his run so that he ends up going full speed just behind the player who gets the ball. He then laterals the ball to another receiver. This receiver is running full speed in the opposite direction of the original receiver, and he proceeds to the end zone. If this second receiver is able to successfully catch the lateral pass while in stride, he can be long gone towards the end zone, giving the defenders no time to react. The danger in running a hook and ladder play is that the offense runs the risk of turning the ball over because a dropped lateral pass results in a live ball.

Hot Receiver – a “A hot receiver is a receiver who runs a short route and is designated for the quarterback to throw to quickly in case of a blitz. He is designated to accept this pass A receiver designated to accept a quick pass from the quarterback in the event of a blitz by the defense. If a quarterback recognizes a blitz is going to happen before the snap occurs, he can audible to a hot receiver so that he’ll be able to get rid of the ball quickly, before the defense is able to reach him. A blitz (or alternatively, a red dog) is a defensive maneuver in which one or more of the linebackers or defensive backs who normally stay on the defensive side of the line or scrimmage, instead cross over to attempt to tackle the quarterback or disrupt a pass. Most often, a team will send a linebacker over to blitz, rather than a defensive back.

Huddle – A huddle is a gathering of the 11 on-field players in a team to discuss the upcoming play. A huddle may be used not only to strategize, but also for a coach or player to motivate others or to celebrate a play or a game win. Players in a huddle most frequently arrange themselves in a circular formation in order to insulate the opposite team from getting sensitive information. The leader of the huddle is most frequently the quarterback or linebacker. Between plays, the quarterback will assign the next play to the offense during the huddle. Another type of huddle is the typewriter huddle, which is a formation that was created by former Florida State Head Coach Tom Nugent. In this type of formation, a quarterback or coach speaks to the (other) players who are arranged in rows, with the front row kneeling down so that the others can see. This type of huddle isn’t as secure as the circular huddle, as observers can potentially see hand signals being made or be able to read the speaker’s lips.

Hurry-up Offense – A hurry-up offense is a quick-moving offensive strategy meant for using the time remaining on the clock as efficiently as possible, reducing the average game time that elapses per play. The hurry up offense can take two forms: a ‘two minute drill’ or a ‘no huddle offense.’ The offensive team may choose to use either or both of these clock management techniques as a means of achieving the goal or reducing game time per play. A no-huddle offense does not necessarily result in snapping the ball more quickly. Instead, not taking the time for a huddle allows the offense to deny the other team any time to substitute players or strategize. In a no-huddle play, the offense generally lines up in a predetermined formation with a pre-arranged play in mind. A two-minute drill is a situational strategy that is used only when there are only (close to) two minutes left in the first half or at the end of the game and refers to a number of clock-stopping tactics such as substitutions, time-outs and special plays.