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The Minnesota Vikings offense in a huddle
England huddle to celebrate victory over India in Mumbai, March 2006







Baker Wildcats huddle up during a game


Former University of Illinois Coach Bob Zuppke is also credited with the invention of this formation.




American football

Though seemingly random, huddles can have several forms. In American football, the huddle originated before the first collegiate football game in 1869.[citation needed] Before the 1890s, football players didn’t form huddles; they instead discussed the play far enough from the other team that they could not be overheard. As American football became more organized and formalized, so too did the huddle. Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania is often credited with first using an official huddle in 1926 against the University of Pennsylvania. Before the huddle, players used hand signals to communicate plays. Lafayette's coach decided to have players use huddles to prevent the UPenn players from learning their plays. Due to the use of the huddle Lafayette was able to win 35-10. Another instance of its use was when the huddle was formed by Paul Hubbard, a deaf player who went to Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. To avoid having the other team see his sign language between plays, he and his team huddled to conceal the signs.[2]

Association football (soccer)

Celtic do their customary huddle before the UEFA Cup final, 2003

In Association football, the huddle has been used before games by Brazil and the Ireland national teams and club team such as Derry City FC. Club teams such as Celtic FC from Scotland also use it.

Australian football



UK supermarket Sainsbury's also utilise the huddle, known as the morning, afternoon or daily huddle depending at what time of the day the huddle is held at. The team huddle is used in order to keep team members up to date with what is going on in store and also as a method to increase team morale within the organisation.


  1. ^ Gannon, Jack. 1981. Deaf Heritage–A Narrative History of Deaf America, Silver Spring, MD: National Association of the Deaf, pp. 272, 276 (PDF)(PDF)
  2. ^ "Deaf Athletics Home Page". Retrieved 2008-04-22. 

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