# Quarterback 'setting' his foot **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [June 4, 2012, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quarterback-setting-his-foot/623990 "2012-06-04T02:36:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![GreedySmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a698b9/32.png) [@GreedySmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreedySmurf)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2012, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quarterback-setting-his-foot/623990/1 "2012-06-04T02:36:35Z")
I know it’s not football season in the States right now, but I saw something over the weekend that made think about something I’ve been curious about. From my observations of NFL games, moments before the snap, many Quarterbacks will lift one of their legs a couple of inches off the ground before placing it back down. Why? Somewhere in the back of my head I sort of presumed it was probably some kind of ‘_set your tags/studs into the grass to make sure you get good traction_’ type of deal. I saw someone\* doing it on astroturf (presumably wearing grass sports shoes without actual tags). Is the traction thing the reason? or some other reason I haven’t thought of. And has it now become one of those, “_That’s just what a QB does_” without understanding why? - OK fine, if you must know I went along to watch a Lingerie Football Game. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2012, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quarterback-setting-his-foot/623990/2 "2012-06-04T02:41:05Z")
It’s a signal to the guy who’s supposed to be in motion on the play so he’s in the right spot when the quarterback wants the snap. ---
**Author:** ![satoridt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@satoridt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/satoridt)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2012, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quarterback-setting-his-foot/623990/3 "2012-06-06T16:59:43Z")
It is also used in shotgun sets to signal the center to snap the ball.