• Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
  • Home
  • Learn Baseball
    • Basic Baseball Overview
    • Baseball Terms
  • Learn Basketball
    • Basic Basketball Overview
    • Basketball Terms
  • Learn Football
    • Basic Football Overview
    • Football Terms
  • Learn Ice Hockey
    • Basic Ice Hockey Overview
    • Ice Hockey Terms
  • Learn Soccer
    • Basic Soccer Overview
    • Soccer Terms
  • BLOG
    • MLB
    • NBA
    • NFL
    • NCAAB
    • NCAAF
    • College Sports
    • Soccer
    • MMA & Boxing
    • THE SCRAPS
    • GIMME!
  • More Sports Lingo
    • Learn Bowling
      • Basic Bowling Overview
      • Bowling Terms
    • Learn Golf
      • Basic Golf Overview
      • Golf Terms
    • Learn Tennis
      • Tennis Overview
      • Tennis Terms
    • Winter Olympics
      • Figure Skating
      • Downhill & Cross Country Skiing
      • Snowboarding
      • Bobsled
    • Archery
    • Billiards
    • Boxing
    • Cricket
    • Disc Golf
    • Fencing
    • Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)
    • Motorsports & Car Racing
    • Swimming
    • Skateboarding
    • Volleyball
    • Wrestling

A Dictionary for Common Sports Slang & Jargon

You are here: Home /All The Lingo /Sports Terms That Begin With ‘T’ / Take A Knee

Take A Knee

take a kneeWhat Is Take A Knee Definition & Meaning

What Is The Definition Of Take A Knee?

1. This refers to when the quarterback snaps the ball and immediately takes a knee behind the center in order to run out the clock. By taking a knee, it automatically ends the play forcing the other team to take a timeout, if they have any left, in order to stop the clock.

Examples Of How Take A Knee Is Used In Commentary

1. With the lead intact, Brady snaps the ball and takes a knee to run out the clock and preserve the win.

SportsLingo Goes The Extra-Inch With The Meaning Of Take A Knee

Kneeling, or taking a knee, is an offensive strategy by the team with the lead to run out the clock and eventually win the game. This is only affective if the team kneels when the opposing team does not have any timeouts left to stop the clock. By kneeling and not running a play, the offensive reduces the chances of a turnover and therefore minimizes their opponent’s chances of scoring. Teams will also take a knee before halftime, regardless of the score, if they feel that the risk of running a play is greater than kneeling. If a team feels that they can’t at least get a field goal before time expire, then they will elect to take a knee.

During the NFL preseason of 2016, the term take a knee also took on a new meaning. San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick sat and later kneeled during the national anthem, when it was customary to at least stand. Kaepernick kneeled during the national anthem to silently protest the racial inequality and police brutality that was occurring around the country, particularly towards African-American citizens. This has since sparked athletes from the NFL and other sports to also silently protest during the national anthem. While most athletes take a knee during the national anthem, others have locked arms with teammates or have expressed their protest in their own unique ways.

Sport The Term Is Used

1. Football

Also Known As:

1. Kneel

(Visited 2,391 times, 1 visits today)

What’s Trending on SportsLingo

  • Johnny Manziel Is Now "Johnny Wonderlic"? Get Outta HereJohnny Manziel Is Now “Johnny…
  • PICS: Alex Morgan Is "Not Impressed" By Tonight's CancellationPICS: Alex Morgan Is “Not Impressed” By…
  • Zion Williamson Ruled By Judge To Answer Questions Under Oath About Duke BenefitsZion Williamson Ruled By Judge To Answer Questions…
  • VIDEO: Okay, So Kim Kardashian Got Kanye West A Pretty Awesome Birthday GiftVIDEO: Okay, So Kim Kardashian Got Kanye West A…
  • NCAA Basketball & COVID-19's Toll On The SportNCAA Basketball & COVID-19’s Toll On The Sport
  • James Wiseman Ruled Ineligible By NCAA. Will Play Friday NightJames Wiseman Ruled Ineligible By NCAA. Will Play…

Learn About The Different Sports

  • The Basics of Baseball
  • The Basics of Basketball
  • The Basics of Football
  • The Basics of Ice Hockey
  • The Basics of Soccer

Browse Our Sports Dictionary For The Latest Sports Terms & Jargon

  • #
  • A
  • B
  • C
  • D
  • E
  • F
  • G
  • H
  • I
  • J
  • K
  • L
  • M
  • N
  • O
  • P
  • Q
  • R
  • S
  • T
  • U
  • V
  • W
  • X
  • Y
  • Z
Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | About Us | Contact Us

Copyright © 2021 · SportsLingo.com, a BrainBoost Media LLC. property.