What happens to you when you are in "The Pile" in a football game?

Question

I am a girl and I don't play football. But I was just wondering what happens, my brother has played once and said people like poke your eyes and c**p but he likes to over exaggerate sometimes, so what really happens in "the pile"

Answer 1

The surface of the field matters alot.  If the field doubles as a baseball field or is in swamp or near coastal land, that means sand--and you don't want that in your eyes, but a defense wouldnt mind it accidently getting in there.  Where I grew up everyone dipped, and some could pinpoint their spit--some buddies always tried to spit luges down the ear hole of the running back.  I never would try, and modern facemasks are so intricate I doubt anyone could pull it off today.  If you did get your hand up someone's facemask--you can chop the nose, claw the face, jab the eyes, etc.  (Check out some stories about the Oakland Raiders and Pittsburgh Steelers of the Seventies.)  RBs better bite like heck if a hand ever gets up in there.   Bill Romanowski was a linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers.  He used to break fingers like it was going out of style.   Back in the day, defensive players, esp. linebackers, also wore towells, often exhibiting a squad nickname like Headhunters, Killer Bees or Doomsday, and the back could be lined with grease or other substances to be put either on the ball itself or on the ball carriers face.  Those towells were banned.  I shouldnt need to explain why.

This stuff is usually targetted at running backs or anyone with the ball (e.g., QBs often get kneed or cleated as the rusher gets up off them) because they are the center of attention at the end of a play, but it  happens to everyone.  For instance, when I moved up to varsity ball back in high school I learned the hard way that if a defensive lineman gets into a pile up an offensive lineman quickly falls on top of him and punches follow--a sort of counter measure to ensure you dont get to do something to the ball carrier.  This is isolated stuff, but happens in most every game at every level.   Mostly you just try to strip the ball ASAP.  That leads to trash talk, and things start to get heated from the opening minutes of the game.  It all sounds fictional, but its honestly cultural--when I coached in Virginia, tricks even I was unfamiliar with had been taught to the boys by their fathers mostly.  Afterall, culture and fiction go hand-in-hand.  

I hope this clarifies for you what it is like in "the pile", but also discourage anyone else from ever trying any of this stuff.  It is ignoble play and goes against the highest qualities of the game.  

Answer 2

sister you dont want to know what goes on down there... guys f**t and grab, pinch, squeeze and it it wasnt for facemask probably bite.. its not any fun...

Answer 3

Depends on the nature of the team you are playing. Alot of stuff that was mentioned before happens... punching, squeezing, poking, elbow on the neck.

When I played I wore an ankle brace. Everytime I carried the ball, they untied it at the bottom. I had to retie it in the huddle.

On the scary side..Last year, there was a team in my town that brought razors and cut 5 players. Sliced open kids arms, hand and jerseys.

Real tough teams don't need to do it. Let your play talk. It's a punks way to do something without anyone knowing he did it.

Answer 4

it's called a "dog pile" and Nothing really happens unless you have the ball.

Answer 5

You try to get the ball through whatever means you must use. If you have to punch, scratch, poke, whatever; you do it.  

Answer 6

mostly S**t talking and nut pinching.

Answer 7

Yeah. You try too kill people for the ball in the bile. Bite, Scratch, poke(visors were invented partly because of this),  ear hole hit, facemask tear, you name it.