Forward Pass

• In December 1905, representatives from 62 colleges met in New York City to change the rules of the popular new game football. The meeting was necessitated by years of brutal, often illegal hits that sometimes targeted key players. Young men died on the playing field, and President Theodore Roosevelt took an interest in the game's reform. Regulations were changed, and the game was made safer. The forward pass became legal them. It took time to become popular among players and coaches but forever changed the game.
  
  

Hooks

• The players on the edge of the offense are called wide receivers. Their job is to move down field in a predetermined pattern, called a route, and catch the ball if the quarterback throws it their way. One of the most basic routes is the hook route. To begin it, a wide receiver sprints down field 8 to 14 yards, attempting to draw the defensive player with him. The receiver halts quickly at the top of the route, spinning toward his inside and looking for the passed football that should be in the air by then. The receiver normally moves a few paces back toward the ball to catch it before securing it and turning to gain more yardage.
  
  

Curls

• Curl routes are much like hook routes. The beginning of each pattern is the same -- a quick burst of speed down field after the ball is snapped. The difference is that instead of quickly turning, the wide receiver rounds the curl route to the inside or outside. By flattening the route toward the sideline or the center of the field, the receiver can maintain momentum and continue running, attempting to create space for the quarterback to throw a pass safely.
  
  

Fine Line

• The words "curl" and "hook" may be used interchangeably. Many football coaches and teams have their own jargon as they attempt to maintain an edge on the competition. Playbooks are closely guarded, and teams often devise elaborate systems of communication that they used to call plays.