Glossary of sports and reporting terms abbreviations
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S.C.S. [PARA]: Like the S.C.R., but awarded to the eighth, or following jumpers in a free-fall formation. Stands for Star Crest Soloist. Sabre [FEN]: Weapon similar to the foil in size and weight, but with a two-sided blade, instead of the four-sided blade of the foil. Sack [BASE]: the first, second, and third bases. Sack [FB]: to tackle the quarterback for a loss. Sacrifice Bunt [BASE]: Batter bunts the ball to advance a baserunner and is called out while the baserunner advances safely. Sacrifice Fly [BASE]: Ball hit to the outfield that results in an out for the batter, but a successful advance for a runner on base. Saddle [PARA]: the portion of the harness on which the parachutist sits. A split-saddle harness is one with separate leg straps individually connected. Safe [POOL]: to shoot so as not to leave your opponent room to shoot. “Playing it safe.” Safety [FB]: is scored when a ball carrier is tackled behind his own goal. A safety scores two points for the defense. Safety Binding [SKI]: Locking device that releases the skis from the skier’s boots in the case of a fall, to prevent injury to the skier’s ankle or leg. Safety Squeeze [BASE]: Runner on third heads for home plate when the ball is bunted. Slightly different than running squeeze. Sandlot Ball [BASE]: School yard baseball, or any other informally organized game. Sarah [FB]: Coaching code for a strongside formation or play. SASE [JOUR]: Self-addressed stamped envelope. Many magazines require a writer to enclose a SASE to receive an answer to a query. The writer pays the return postage. Save [BASE]: when a relief pitcher wins a game begun by a starting pitcher, he is said to have saved the game. Save [HOCK]: Defensive play by the goalie that prevents a score. Save [SOC]: Play made by the goalkeeper to prevent a score. Saved by the Bell [BOX]: A boxer who is about to be counted out is said to be saved by the bell when the bell to signal the end of a round is rung before the count is up. No fighter can be saved by the bell during the final round of a bout. SCCA [MOTOR]: Sports Car Club of America. Schuss [SKI]: to ski down the fall line, usually too fast to be in complete control. Scissors Kick [SWIM]: a kick used in swimming side-stroke. The cycle is begun with the legs together; one leg is then thrust forward and one backward, on a plane parallel with the surface of the water. The knees are bent during the return portion of the cycle. The scissors kick is somewhat like the opening and closing of a pair of scissors. Scoop (noun) [JOUR]: Exclusive material, or to scoop (verb): To beat the competition. Scoop [FHOCK]: Short pass in which the ball is lifted with the front end, or toe, of the stick. Scorecard [BOX]: a card on which an official keeps score of rounds won or lost by each fighter. Scoring [SHUF]: One 10-point area, two 8-point areas, two 7-point areas, and one 10-off area. Scoring [VB]: One point is awarded for each score. Only a serving team may score a point. Scratch [HORSE]: a horse that has been withdrawn from a race. Scratch [POOL]: a playing error in which the cue ball falls into a pocket. Some hustlers scratch deliberately to fake incompetence. Scratch Line [T&F]: a line that runners or jumpers must not cross before the race begins. Similar to the line of scrimmage in football. Screen [BB]: to protect a teammate in the act of shooting by standing between him and an opponent. Screen [H&R]: Ball that passes too close to a player’s body for it to be seen clearly by the opponent. Screen Pass [FB]: a pass that is thrown parallel to the line of scrimmage or a pass that is completed behind the line of scrimmage. Or, a pass that is thrown to a receiver who is screened (blocked) from the defensive by another offensive player. Scrimmage [FB]: the line on which a play takes place. Scrummage [RUG]: a scrum is formed by players from each team prior to the start of play. The front row of each team in a scrum is composed of three players. The ball is thrown into the scrum and the players fight to control the ball with their feet. When one team controls the ball, the scrum is wheeled and opened and field play begins. Scuba [DIVE]: Stands for Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus. Seamless 558 [H&R]: Ball used for racquetball. Ball is 2½ inches in diameter and weighs approximately 1.4 ounces. Seasonal Story [JOUR]: An article emphasizing a season, holiday, or celebration. Must be prepared well in advance, sometimes as much as a half-year in advance for monthly magazines. Second [BOX]: One man who is allowed in a boxer’s corner between rounds to advise him. Secondary [FB]: Defensive positions behind the line of scrimmage. Seeded [T&F]: to place the fastest runners in separate heats so they do not meet until the final races. Seeding [TEN]: Placing top tournament players in a tournament in such a way that they will not compete against each other until the final rounds. Sentinel [PARA]: Automatic barometric- and speed-computer that will fire the parachutist’s reserve open if the parachutist falls through the last 1,000 feet without having a good canopy over his head. The most popular automatic opening device in sport parachuting. Manufactured by S.S.E. Inc., Pennsauken, NJ. Sequential RW [PARA]: Relative work jump in which several different free-fall formations are completed. A four-man RW team might go from a Skirmish line to a four-man star to a Murphy star during one jump, for instance. Serve [H&R]: to put the ball in play. Server [BAD]: Player who puts the shuttlecock in play. Service Box [H&R]: 18”-wide boxes at each end of the serving line. Non-serving partners must stand in one of these boxes while the other partner serves the ball. Service Court [H&R]: Area in which the ball must land after hitting the front wall. Service Line [H&R]: Line 5 feet in front of and parallel to the short line. Service Line [TEN]: the line drawn across the court 21 feet from the net and parallel to the net. Service Zone [H&R]: where the server must stand when serving the ball. Serving [VB]: the act of putting the ball into play by propelling it over the net and into the opponent’s court. Set [TEN]: the first player to win six games provided that the player is at least two games ahead of the opponent (6–3, 6–4, 7–5, etc.). Set [VB]: An overhead pass designed to allow a teammate to spike the ball. Set [WTL]: a predetermined number of repetitions. Set Down [BASE]: same as retire the side. Set Play [BB]: A play in which offensive positions are deliberately taken; opposite of run-and-gun play. Set Point [TEN]: a point that, if won by the player, gives him or her the set. Setting the Game [BAD]: deciding how many further points will win the game, when it is tied. Setup [POOL]: An easy shot. Same as “natural.” Seventh-Inning Stretch [BASE]: Spectators’ tradition of standing and stretching before the home team comes to bat in the seventh inning. Spectators usually go to the restrooms, get a beer, or otherwise take a break. Shaft [ARCH]: Main part of the arrow. Shake off a Sign [BASE]: Occurs when a pitcher refuses to pitch a specific type of ball that the catcher signals him to pitch. Shank a Kick [FB]: to miskick a ball so that it travels only a few yards (football equivalent of hooking a golf ball). Sharp Angle Serve [H&R]: a shot that hits the front wall close to the floor and bounces at an angle to the right side wall and back toward the server. Shave Points [BB]: to illegally limit the number of points scored, to affect a bet on a basketball game. Sheet [B&F]: the line attached to the clew of a sail, used to trim it. When the sheets are brought in and made fast they are said to be sheeted together. Shelter Books [JOUR]: Magazines related to the home. Ship [B&F]: Vessel large enough to carry its own life-boat or lifeboats. Shoestring Catch [BASE]: Catch of a ball made at the shoe level. Also appropriate in football. Shoestring Catch [FB]: to catch a football at the ankle (shoestring) level. Shoestring Tackle [FB]: to tackle a ball carrier below the knees. Shoot the Tube [SURF]: to ride under the crest of a wave. Shooters [H&R]: Players who rely on kill shots (racquetball). Shooting Glove [ARCH]: Glove that protects the two fingers that hold the arrow nock on the bowstring. Short Line [H&R]: Line in the middle of the floor from side to side halfway between the front and back walls. The serve must carry over this line from the front wall. Short Reliever [BASE]: Relief pitcher used for only a few innings, or a relief pitcher who is effective for only a few innings. Short Serve [BAD]: Serve that barely clears the net, but lands in the opponent’s court. Short-handed goal [HOCK]: when a player scores a goal while his team has fewer players on the ice than the opposing team due to penalty Short-lining [PARA]: in static line jumping, a jump-master will short-line a static-line jumper by pulling in the static line to prevent the jumper from being entangled in the line or to begin the deployment sequence faster than normal. To short-line a canopy is to trim (shorten) the suspension lines to alter the flying characteristics of the parachute. Shortstop [POOL]: A player who can be beaten only by the top players. Shot Bag [PARA]: Weighted pouch used to hold down a parachute during packing. Shot Clock [BB]: Clock that indicates that the team with the ball has a time limit to take a shot. Shotgun [FB]: Offensive formation in which the quarterback stands to receive the snap a few (5–10) yards behind the center. This gives the quarterback slightly more time to find his receivers for a pass. Shovel Pass [FB]: Pass that is thrown underhanded to a receiver. Showboating [SURF]: same as hot dogging. Shrouds [B&F]: Wires that support the mast on either side; part of the standing or permanent rigging. Shut Out [BASE]: to prevent an opposing team from scoring through an entire game. Sign Signal shown to the pitcher by the catchers to indicate what kind of ball to throw next. First base and third base coaches may also signal to runners and batters, and the manager may signal to his team from the dugout. Shut the Gate [MOTOR]: to block a driver’s path during a race. Shuttlecock [BAD]: Feathered object—now usually plastic—that is batted back and forth across a net in the game. Siamese Catch [FRIS]: any catch made by two (or more) players at the same time. SID [JOUR]: Sports Information Director. The promotion-and-publicity arm of a college or university’s athletic department. Side Out [VB]: Exchange of serve after a previous serving team fails to score. Sidebar [JOUR]: a short feature that accompanies a longer article. The sidebar usually focuses on one aspect of the larger article; an aspect that the larger article may have only touched on. Side-by-Side [H&R]: Doubles play in which partners stand side-by-side, as opposed to front-and-back. Sideslip [SKI]: to ski diagonally down a hill. Silk [PARA]: what parachutes were made of before rip-stop nylon, pre-World War II. The phrase still remains, “Hit the silk,” a reference to early military paratroop jumping. Modern jumpers have never even seen a silk parachute, much less jumped with one. Single Handle [WSKI]: One towing handle at the end of a tow rope. Sink [HANG]: to lose altitude in the air. Sink Rate [HANG]: the rate of descent. Sinker [BASE]: Pitch that drops vertically as it crosses the plate. Sister Publications [JOUR]: Magazines that are published by the same firm: Time, Life, Fortune, Money, People, and Sports Illustrated are all sister publications, published by Time, Inc. Sitting Up [PARA]: the jumper sits up in free-fall to stop. He literally raises his torso, arms, and head. Sitzmark [SKI]: a hole or mark left in the snow by a skier who has fallen. Snowplow To form the point of a V with the tips of the skis to slow down. Six-Beat Crawl [SWIM]: a version of the crawl in which there are six beats of the legs in a flutter-style kick to one full arm cycle. Most common version of the crawl. Skin Diving [DIVE]: Diving, generally on the surface of the water without scuba tanks, and usually with a snorkel. Skirt [BAL]: Fabric around the bottom edge of the balloon. Skirt [PARA]: the bottom edge of a parachute canopy. Skirt the End [FB]: to run offensively around the defensive end. Sky Hook [BB]: High hook shot that is impossible to block. Skygod [PARA]: Expert free-fall jumper, usually with an SCR, SCS, or other RW experience and achievements. The skygod is sometimes a less-than-complimentary term, meaning a jumper who demands an ideal position on the load, or first lift, to the exclusion of others. An inconsiderate RW jumper, obsessed with his or her own perceived importance and abilities. SL Jump [PARA]: Static Line jump, in which the parachutist’s canopy is pulled open by a static line, an unbreakable line that runs from the backpack to an anchor in the airframe of the aircraft. The novice graduates from an automatic static line to a self-actuated free-fall parachute rig. Slalom [WSKI]: Zig-zag course between obstacles, similar in nature to a slalom run on snow skis. Slam Dunk [BB]: Hard dunk shot. Slant [JOUR]: to emphasize a particular aspect of a story. Slapshot [HOCK]: a shot on goal in which the players winds up and violently slaps the puck. Sleeper [BOWL]: A standing pin hidden from the bowler’s view. Sleeve [PARA]: Long cloth protection for the canopy; the sleeve holds the canopy in the container and acts to slow the deployment sequence during opening. The sleeve also has room on the outside for stowing bands—rubber bands used to keep the suspension lines. In some containers and some systems, the sleeve has been replaced by the bag or P.O.D. (Pack Opening Device). The sleeve is one of the new innovations that make sport parachuting comfortable at opening shock time. Slice [GOLF]: a shot that curves from left to right for a right-handed golfer. Slice [TT]: a late stroke so the ball spins away from the paddle. Slice [TT]: Stroke with the paddle so that the ball spins away from the server. Slick [JOUR]: a magazine printed on high-gloss heavy paper. Common industry term for mass circulation consumer magazines. Slider [FRIS]: a throw that makes the disc skid across the ground. Slingshotting [MOTOR]: to drive around the lead car after slipstreaming. Slip [BOX]: to dodge a punch. Slipstreaming [MOTOR]: to drive slightly behind another driver during a race to take advantage of reduced air resistance. Slipstreaming [T&F]: to run slightly behind another runner so the second runner does not have to fight the wind. Also appropriate in motor sports, where one car will slipstream another. Slots [PARA]: Positions in an RW formation. Near-side slots are positions on the side of the formation nearest the aircraft; far-side slots are on the side of the formation opposite the aircraft. Far-side slots presume more flying ability on the part of RW jumpers to reach the other side. Slow Court [TEN]: a court with a rough surface on which the ball bounces slowly or clumsily. Slow Track [HORSE]: Refers to a wet track, which slows down the horses. Slug [BOX]: to punch hard. Slug [JOUR]: Abbreviated headline used to identify each story. In hot metal composition, a line of type. Slugger [BASE]: Hitter known for many hits and runs. Slugger [BOX]: A fighter with little finesse. Slush Pile [JOUR]: Unsolicited manuscripts that arrive at magazine editorial offices and that must be sorted, read, and accepted or returned. Smash [BAD]: Powerful overhead stroke that sends the shuttlecock over the net and in a downward arc. Smash [TEN]: a stroke used to return a lob, usually powerfully. Smoke (noun) [PARA]: Smoke, in the sense of a smoke grenade, worn on the boot, helps spectators locate a sky diver during a free-fall exhibition, such as a county fair. A smoke grenade will also be dropped on the peas by a competition director to indicate to an aircraft approaching jumprun that winds on the ground have become too hazardous for safe landings. Jumpers will also watch for smoke from “natural” situations such as chimneys and fires, to gauge wind direction during canopy control toward the DZ. “To smoke it in” (verb) means to drop in free-fall below the generally accepted altitudes of 2,500 to 2,000 feet. Smoking it in during competition such as a conference meet or a turkey meet may be cause for grounding. Smurf [FB]: In the NFL, a “midget,” that is, a player under 6 feet tall and under 180 pounds. Snap [FB]: to start a play, the center throws the ball upwards between his legs to the waiting hands of the quarterback. Snookered [POOL]: a bad position, that is, one in which the player cannot shoot a straight shot. Snorkel [DIVE]: J-shaped breathing tube that allows the skin diver to view under water (face down) while breathing surface air, without inhaling water. Soar [HANG]: to fly without power and without loss of altitude. Soccer Kicker [FB]: to kick the ball with the instep of the foot, instead of with the point of the toe. Soccer kickers are said to have more accuracy than regular kickers. Soccer kickers are often Europeans who learned their technique by playing soccer first, then football. Sock [HANG]: Wind indicator used to indicate direction of winds on the ground. SOHC [MOTOR]: Single Over Head Cam engine. Solicit [JOUR]: to commission an article, photographs, or other material from contributors. Solo [BAL]: Single flight; flight without passengers. Soup [SURF]: the foam a wave makes. Southpaw [BASE]: Left-handed player. Usually refers to left-handed pitcher. Span [HANG]: Length of wing, tip-to-tip. Spar [B&F]: Long wooden beam, generally rounded and used for supporting or extending the sails of a ship. Spar [BOX]: to box in practice. Spare [BOWL]: all pins knocked down on two balls. Sparring Download 7.55 Mb. Share with your friends:
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