slot in the offensive line, the space between a tackle and an end.
slot formation a formation in which a running back is positioned in the slot between the tackle and the split end.
snap the center's passing of the ball between the legs to the quarterback to start play at the line of scrimmage.
spike after scoring a touchdown, the ritual of slamming the ball to the ground.
spiral the smooth, nontumbling spin of a well- thrown ball. Also, to throw a spiral.
split end a pass receiver positioned far to the outside of the line of scrimmage. More commonly known as a wide receiver.
split the uprights to kick the ball through the goalposts for a field goal or extra point.
squib kick a low, tumbling kick difficult to field without fumbling.
straight-arm to hold one's arm out stiffly to block a potential tackler.
strip the ball to knock or poke the ball out of the ballcarrier's hands and cause a fumble.
strong safety the safety lined up opposite the strong side of an offensive line.
strong side the side on which the tight end is positioned.
stutter step a faked step in one direction; a short, deceiving step or momentary change in running rhythm to throw off the timing of a pursuer.
submarine to duck below a lineman's block.
sudden death overtime.
sweep to run to one side behind a wave of blockers.
tackle to knock or pull the ballcarrier down to the ground to stop play.
tackling dummy a stuffed bag used in tackling practice.
tailback in an I formation, the back positioned farthest behind the quarterback.
TD a touchdown.
T formation a formation in which the backs assume the configuration of a T, with the fullback positioned far behind the quarterback and between the two halfbacks.
thread the needle to throw a perfectly placed pass between two or more defenders into the hands of a receiver.
throw for a loss to tackle a passer behind the line of scrimmage for a loss of yardage.
tight end an offensive lineman positioned at the end of the line of scrimmage near the tackle.
touchback an occurrence in which the ball is kicked into the opposite team's end zone and downed; it automatically brings the ball out to the receiving team's 20-yard line.
touchdown a goal or score of six points, made by successfully running or passing the ball into the opponent's end zone.
turnover a loss of possession of the ball due to a fumble or an interception.
umpire an official positioned behind the defensive line who assists the referee and is also responsible for inspecting players' equipment before a game.
unnecessary roughness kicking, hitting or butting, or tackling an opponent after the play is dead, all 15- yard penalties.
uprights the goalposts.
weak side the side of the line without the tight end.
wide receiver a pass receiver positioned on the end of the line. Also known as an end, split end, or flanker.
wishbone a formation, similar to the T, in which the halfbacks are positioned on either side and slightly behind the fullback.
zebra any of the officials, so nicknamed for their black-and-white striped shirts.
zone coverage a strategy in which each defender plays a zone instead of a man, as distinguished from man-to-man coverage.
frisbee
arcuate vanes the slightly raised diagonal ribs on a Frisbee.
Bernoulli principle the principle of physics by which air flowing over the top of a Frisbee's curved areas is slowed, producing lift.
cheek the inside face of the rim or lip.
crown see cupola.
cupola the raised center area. Also known as the crown, cabin, or dome.
dancing skips see skip flight.
drop a sudden loss of waft.
flight plate the top portion of the disk from rim to rim.
Frisbee finger separation of the fingernail from the nail bed, caused by an errant catch.
hyperspin a shot imparted with extra torque; it produces a hovering flight with little or no warp.
Hyzer angle the left or right angle or deviation from which the disk is thrown, producing a turning flight.
lift the lift from a wind current that propels a disk from a waft to a higher flight plane.
lip the rim.
Mung angle the upward pitch angle of the disk when released. Also known as the attack angle.
navel the indentation in the center of the cupola.
skip flight a disk thrown with negative Mung that bounces off the ground and rises.
tailskating a poor throw, having an extreme Mung angle, which produces a sharply ascending and sharply descending flight with no waft.
thermals rising warm air, used by a veteran disk thrower to create lift.
waft floating cleanly without disturbance.
wane the gradual loss of waft; it evolves into wasting.
warp the sideways turning in the opposite direction of spin, occurring at the end of a disk's flight.
wasting the descent and loss of power in a disk's last stage of flight.
wax the stabilizing period after release, when the Mung angle levels out.
well synonymous with climb.
whelm the release of the disk. Also known as the hatch.
yawing spinning.
golf
ace a hole made in one stroke.
addressing the ball preparing for a stroke by setting the body in the proper stance and lining the club up with the ball.
albatross scoring three strokes under par for a particular hole. Also known as a double eagle.
approach a stroke to the putting green or pin, usually a medium-length shot.
apron the grass surrounding the putting area; also known as the fringe.
away furthest from the hole; the golfer with the "away" ball shoots first.
back door the back of the hole. A ball "drops in the back door" when it precariously encircles the hole then miraculously drops in from the rear.
back side in an 18-hole course, the second nine holes. Also called the back nine.
backspin a reverse spin put on the ball to stop it from rolling too far on the putting green.
backswing the swing motion from the ground to the back of the head.
baffy a No. 5 wood (club) with a face angle similar to a No. 3 or No. 4 iron.
bail out to sink an extra-long putt to keep from losing a hole.
banana ball an extreme slice sending the ball curving in an arc in the shape of a banana.
barranca a deep ravine.
beach any sand trap on a course.
bend one to hook or slice a ball.
birdie scoring one stroke under par for a particular hole.
bisque a handicap stroke that may be used on any hole on the course.