Stiff arm

The stiff-arm or stiff-arm fend is a ball carrier’s tactic in gridiron. It runs towards defenders who try to block them with a secured ball in one arm. The other player’s hand extends, locks the elbow and outstretches its palm. Then the player uses it to push potential tackler. This pushing motion causes removing the defender out of play. If the tackler preserved the vertical position, it is impossible to finish the tackle.

New fans often confuse it with the handoff. The stiff-arm is a synonym for hand off, so the radio listeners or background TV football viewers often misunderstand when they hear this word. The handoff happens when the quarterback directly delivers the ball to any eligible receiver. It may run or choose the player who is near it. The next ball carrier runs to the end zone or first-down line. It may use hand off for the defender.