Spiral (football)

For other uses, see Spiral (disambiguation).
Bradbury Robinson, who threw the first legal forward pass, demonstrates an "Overhand spiral—fingers on lacing"[1]

In American football, a spiral is the continuous in-flight rotation around the longitudinal axis of a football following its release from the hand of a passer[2][3] or foot of a punter.

History

Pop Warner is credited for teaching his players both the spiral punt and the spiral pass.[4]

Pass

The development of the forward pass is traced to Eddie Cochems and Bradbury Robinson at St. Louis. Howard R. Reiter also claimed to develop the overhand forward pass.

Punt

Alex Moffat invented the spiral punt, described by one writer as "a dramatic change from the traditional end-over-end kicks."[5] He also invented the drop kick.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ Cochems, Eddie, "The Forward Pass and On-Side Kick", Spalding's How to Play Foot Ball, American Sports Publishing, Walter Camp, Editor, Revised 1907 edition
  2. ^ "What is Spiral? Definition from SportingCharts.com". sportingcharts.com.
  3. ^ Chad Orzel. "Football Physics: Why Throw A Spiral?". Forbes.
  4. ^ Warner, Glenn Scobey (1912). "A course in football for players and coaches".
  5. ^ David M. Nelson. The Anatomy of a Game: Football, the Rules, and the Men who Made the Game. p. 53.
  6. ^ Mark F. Bernstein. Princeton Football. p. 14.