Splits

What does Splits Mean?

In football, the spacing between two neighboring offensive linemen at the line of scrimmage.

Sporting Charts explains Splits

Splits between offensive linemen in most formations are typically narrow, as their primary responsibility in pass plays is to prevent defensive players from penetrating the "wall" they create. In practice, the ideal distance between center and guard is two feet, and two-and-a-half feet between guard and tackle. Depending on the scheme, offenses will not always have such tight formations. In certain configurations of the spread formation, for example, the splits between offensive linemen are wider to allow for more running and passing lanes.

The term "gap" should not be confused with the term "splits", as a gap is the actual space between offensive linemen, whereas splits is the measurable distance between them.