# Where is "the flat" on a football field and why is it called that?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-flat-on-a-football-field-and-why-is-it-called-that/735820>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Created:** [October 26, 2015, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-flat-on-a-football-field-and-why-is-it-called-that/735820 "2015-10-26T21:31:59Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![WF\_Tomba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d9b06d/32.png) [@WF\_Tomba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WF_Tomba)\
**Post date:** [October 26, 2015, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-flat-on-a-football-field-and-why-is-it-called-that/735820/1 "2015-10-26T21:31:59Z")

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In commentary about football plays, you sometimes hear references to players being “in the flat”. This seems to refer to a region close to the line of scrimmage. Is there a more precise definition? And why is it called “the flat”? I would hope that the whole field is flat, no? 😛

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**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\
**Post date:** [October 26, 2015, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-flat-on-a-football-field-and-why-is-it-called-that/735820/2 "2015-10-26T21:51:37Z")

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It’s called that because the receiving route traversed by running backs to the area is “flat.” That is, when drawn on an overhead view of the field, it’s pretty much a horizontal line.

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**Author:** ![Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/do_not_taunt/32/2968_2.png) [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Do_Not_Taunt)\
**Post date:** [October 26, 2015, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-flat-on-a-football-field-and-why-is-it-called-that/735820/3 "2015-10-26T21:52:01Z")

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Right, line of scrimmage forward about 10 yards, and from the hashmarks to the sidelines (so not the center of the field.)

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flat\_(football)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flat_%28football%29)

I don’t know the answer to your ‘Why’ question.