Guard (American football)

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The positioning of the offensive guards in an offensive formation.

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 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.

Guards, like other linemen, today are often over 300 pounds / 135 kg. Currently, the heaviest guard is free agent Toniu Fonoti, weighing 360 pounds (160 kg). The lightest is Pete Kendall at 280 pounds (127 kg) (formerly of the Seattle Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals and New York Jets, now playing for the Washington Redskins). To date, no lineman over 300 pounds has ever been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but linemen of this mass have become prevalent only since the mid-1980s.

[edit] Right guard

Right guards (RG) are in the right of the offensive line. Similar to right tackles.

[edit] Left guard

Left guards (LG) are in the left of the offensive line. Right next to the center on the left of him.

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	Backs	Nickelback, Dimeback	Tackling	Gunner
Formations - Nomenclature

v • d • e 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 • Line of scrimmage • Neutral zone • Field goal range • Out of bounds • Sidelines

Equipment	Football (ball) • Helmet • Winged helmet • Shoulder pads • Uniform number • Penalty flag

Positions	Offense: Linemen • Quarterback • Running back • Halfback • Fullback • H-back • Wide receiver • Tight end • Slotback • Guard • Offensive tackle • Center • Eligible receiver Defense: Linemen • Linebacker • Defensive tackle • Defensive end • Nose tackle • Defensive back • Cornerback • Safety • Nickelback • Dimeback Special Teams: Placekicker • Punter • Kickoff specialist • Long snapper • Holder • Punt returner • Kickoff returner • Gunner

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 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 • Try

Scoring	Touchdown • Extra point • 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 • 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 • Tripping • Unsportsmanlike conduct

Turnovers	Fumble • Interception • Muffed punt • Turnover on downs

Downs	First down • Three-and-out • Fourth down conversion

Play clock	Timeout • Two-minute warning • Running out the clock

Statistics	Passer rating • Reception • Return yards • Total offense • Yards from scrimmage

Celebrations	Touchdown celebration • Gatorade shower

Miscellaneous	Snap • Dead ball • Touchback • Instant replay • Coffin corner • Glossary of American football • Glossary of Canadian football • Rules • Rules in American football