Hand-off

{{About|the American football concept||Handoff (disambiguation)}}

File:2007 Hawaii Bowl - Boise State University vs East Carolina University - Chris Johnson handoff.jpg Chris Johnson of the East Carolina Pirates (#5) receiving the handoff and rushing the ball during the 2007 Hawaii Bowl]]

In American football, a handoff is the act of handing the ball directly from one player to another, i. e. without it leaving the first player's hands.{{cite web|url=http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/the-quarterbacks-stance-drop-back-and-hand-off.html|title=The Quarterback's Stance, Drop Back, and Hand Off|work=dummies.com}} Most rushing plays on offense begin with a handoff from the quarterback to another running back. The biggest risk with any hand-off is the chance of fumble on the exchange.{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0YXOFLZHpKIC&pg=PA41 | title=Football the Basics: Strategies and Techniques| isbn=9781412005128| last1=Schaeffer| first1=Jeffrey W.| year=2003}} A hand-off can occur in any direction. Sometimes called a "switch" in touch football. Alternately spelled without the hyphen; i.e., "handoff".