What is the line called where the ball is placed before each play begins?

The line where the ball is placed before each football play begins is called the line of scrimmage.

It is an imaginary transverse line extending across the field, marking the ball’s position before the snap. The offensive team must begin the play on its side of this line, while the defense lines up on the opposite side. Once the center snaps the ball, the line no longer limits players’ movement during that down.

The line of scrimmage changes after every play. If a team gains eight yards, the next line is eight yards farther downfield; if it loses ground, the line moves backward. The officials determine the ball’s position, and the familiar bright line shown on television is a computer-generated broadcast graphic rather than paint on the field.

It is commonly confused with the line to gain, which marks the yardage needed for a first down. Hash marks are also different: they are field markings that help determine where a play begins, while the line of scrimmage runs across the field through the ball’s location.