Kneeling is a basic

human position Human positions refer to the different physical configurations that the human body can take. There are several synonyms that refer to human positioning, often used interchangeably, but having specific nuances of meaning. *''Position'' is a gen ...

where one or both knees touch the ground. Kneeling is defined as “to position the body so that one or both knees rest on the floor,” according to Merriam-Webster. Kneeling when only composed of one knee, and not both, is called

genuflection Genuflection or genuflexion is the act of bending a knee to the ground, as distinguished from kneeling which more strictly involves both knees. From early times, it has been a gesture of deep respect for a superior. Today, the gesture is common ...

. Kneeling is a primate behavior used to convey

deference Deference (also called submission or passivity) is the condition of submitting to the espoused, legitimate influence of one's superior or superiors. Deference implies a yielding or submitting to the judgment of a recognized superior, out of re ...

by making the figure kneeling look smaller than the other. Primates themselves establish

pecking order In biology, a dominance hierarchy (formerly and colloquially called a pecking order) is a type of social hierarchy that arises when members of animal social groups interact, creating a ranking system. A dominant higher-ranking individual is so ...

s that are important to the survival and behavior of a group.

Chimpanzees The chimpanzee (''Pan troglodytes''), also known as simply the chimp, is a species of great ape native to the forest and savannah of tropical Africa. It has four confirmed subspecies and a fifth proposed subspecies. When its close relative th ...

, for example, have a complex

social group In the social sciences, a social group can be defined as two or more people who interact with one another, share similar characteristics, and collectively have a sense of unity. Regardless, social groups come in a myriad of sizes and varieties ...

that involves a dominant

male Male (symbol: ♂) is the sex of an organism that produces the gamete (sex cell) known as sperm, which fuses with the larger female gamete, or ovum, in the process of fertilization. A male organism cannot reproduce sexually without access to ...

and corresponding

female Female ( symbol: ♀) is the sex of an organism that produces the large non-motile ova (egg cells), the type of gamete (sex cell) that fuses with the male gamete during sexual reproduction. A female has larger gametes than a male. Females ...

with the other submissive males and juvenile chimps. Males who threaten the hierarchy are often severely injured or killed; thus the use of submissive behavior is necessary in order to ensure survival in some instances.

Religion

Humans have also inherited the custom of submissive behavior. Kneeling has been prevalent in religious behaviour. It has been used as a form of prayer and a way to worship or revere deities and supernatural entities. Britannica defines kneeling's purpose as placing the hands upwards towards heavens while placing the knees downwards and closer to the

underworld The underworld, also known as the netherworld or hell, is the supernatural world of the dead in various religious traditions and myths, located below the world of the living. Chthonic is the technical adjective for things of the underwor ...

. Kneeling has taken on many different forms and styles as different cultures and institutions have adopted it.

Judaism and Islam

Kneeling is one way of praying in both

Judaism Judaism ( he, ''Yahăḏūṯ'') is an Abrahamic, monotheistic, and ethnic religion comprising the collective religious, cultural, and legal tradition and civilization of the Jewish people. It has its roots as an organized religion in t ...

and Islam, however, the more prevalent way to pray in Judaism is to stand up and perform the Amidah. Kneeling in Judaism is saved for specific kneeling stones which have become obsolete. Both faiths also perform a type of kneeling

prostration Prostration is the gesture of placing one's body in a reverentially or submissively prone position. Typically prostration is distinguished from the lesser acts of bowing or kneeling by involving a part of the body above the knee, especiall ...

that involves the entire body including the head, Qidah in Hebrew, and Sajdah in Arabic. This involves getting down on both knees and extending your hands on the ground until your forehead is up against the ground as well. Sometimes the disciples go so far as to lay down completely on the floor instead of just kneeling. In Islam kneeling or prostrating ( sujud) is usually done on dedicated

prayer rugs Prayer is an invocation or act that seeks to activate a rapport with an object of worship through deliberate communication. In the narrow sense, the term refers to an act of supplication or intercession directed towards a deity or a deified an ...

which are treated with especial care. Though common for Islam there is also a prayer rug in Judaism in conjunction with the holiday of

Yom Kippur Yom Kippur (; he, יוֹם כִּפּוּר, , , ) is the holiest day in Judaism and Samaritanism. It occurs annually on the 10th of Tishrei, the first month of the Hebrew calendar. Primarily centered on atonement and repentance, the day' ...

(Day of Atonement). This holiday is one of the few times in Judaism in which it is customary to pray while kneeling on the rug.

Christianity

The history of kneeling and prostration have always been a sign of worship in Christianity. Passages in the

Bible The Bible (from Koine Greek , , 'the books') is a collection of religious texts or scriptures that are held to be sacred in Christianity, Judaism, Samaritanism, and many other religions. The Bible is an anthologya compilation of texts ...

also show that kneeling is preferred over other forms of prayer. It is also mentioned in the

New Testament The New Testament grc, Ἡ Καινὴ Διαθήκη, transl. ; la, Novum Testamentum. (NT) is the second division of the Christian biblical canon. It discusses the teachings and person of Jesus, as well as events in first-century Chri ...

that “And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues”. The origin of this practice is within

Sacred Scripture Religious texts, including scripture, are texts which various religions consider to be of central importance to their religious tradition. They differ from literature by being a compilation or discussion of beliefs, mythologies, ritual pra ...

, which states: "Therefore God also highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth" (NRSV). Some churches may use a

kneeler A kneeler is a cushion (also called a tuffet or hassock) or a piece of furniture used for resting in a kneeling position during Christian prayer. In many churches, pews are equipped with kneelers in front of the seating bench so members of ...

in frequented areas in order to indicate where to kneel as well as provide some level of comfort during the prayer.

Marriage

Proposals

Kneeling is the position often associated with traditional, Western marriage proposals. This position typically involves the person proposing kneeling with one knee on the ground, a position sometimes referred to as

genuflecting Genuflection or genuflexion is the act of bending a knee to the ground, as distinguished from kneeling which more strictly involves both knees. From early times, it has been a gesture of deep respect for a superior. Today, the gesture is common ...

, holding an engagement ring up to the person being proposed to. Kneeling in a public space in front of an apparent significant other often suggests a forthcoming proposal, and kneeling is indeed typically the expected position when proposing publicly. While kneeling is considered a traditional style of proposing, there is little consensus on its historical origins, and it in fact appears to be a fairly modern custom. Connections have been made to kneeling in European feudal society, in which kneeling before a lord suggested servitude and surrender.

Medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...

imagery sometimes depicted a knight kneeling before a lady in an act of courtly love, suggesting kneeling as a form of romantic expression was similar to the submission given to lords. Kneeling during a marriage proposal has been suggested as a similar form of submission.

Christian wedding ceremonies

Casamento de Pedro e Leopoldina (alegoria), da coleção Museu Histórico Nacional

In Christian wedding ceremonies, especially those of the

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy * Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD * Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a let ...

Lutheran Lutheranism is one of the largest branches of Protestantism, identifying primarily with the theology of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German monk and Protestant Reformers, reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practice of the Cathol ...

and Anglican denominations, it is customary for the couple to kneel before the altar, following the Lord’s Prayer. Catholic, Lutheran and Anglican wedding ceremonies are often conducted within a

Mass Mass is an intrinsic property of a body. It was traditionally believed to be related to the quantity of matter in a physical body, until the discovery of the atom and particle physics. It was found that different atoms and different eleme ...

, and as such the couple and wedding guests alike kneel at several points throughout the ceremony as the liturgy calls for it. Couples are sometimes given kneelers to rest on at the

altar An altar is a table or platform for the presentation of religious offerings, for sacrifices, or for other ritualistic purposes. Altars are found at shrines, temples, churches, and other places of worship. They are used particularly in paga ...

. During the ceremony, the couple may participate in the customary placing of the veil or Lazo, a rope placed around the couple's shoulders, while they are kneeling with both knees on the ground as chosen sponsors place a veil over the head of the bride and the shoulders of the groom, or have the Lazo placed around them, in order to symbolize the binding of the marriage. Following the placement of the Lazo or veil, the couple remains in a kneeling position as the priest conducts the Nuptial Blessing.

Kneeling in sexual intercourse

The kneeling position may be used in various ways in sexual intercourse. A member of a couple may take a kneeling position in front of their partner in order to perform oral sex for the other. Other sexual positions involving kneeling may include the position commonly referred to as “

doggy style Doggy style is a sex position in which a person bends over, crouches on all fours (usually on hands and knees), or lies on their abdomen, for sexual intercourse, other forms of sexual penetration or other sexual activity. Doggy style is a ...

,” in which one partner is crouched on all fours while the other takes a kneeling position, usually with both knees on the ground, in order to penetrate the crouching partner from behind, or various riding positions, in which one partner is kneeling with both knees down above the other partner and is penetrated from below.

BDSM

BDSM BDSM is a variety of often erotic practices or roleplaying involving bondage, discipline, dominance and submission, sadomasochism, and other related interpersonal dynamics. Given the wide range of practices, some of which may be engaged ...

, referring to bondage, discipline, dominance and submission, and masochism, encompasses a complex variety of practices involving interpersonal relationships, typically of a sexual nature, centered around the creation of an unbalanced power dynamic.

Consent Consent occurs when one person voluntarily agrees to the proposal or desires of another. It is a term of common speech, with specific definitions as used in such fields as the law, medicine, research, and sexual relationships. Consent as und ...

is considered of the utmost importance within a BDSM relationship. Kneeling is commonplace in BDSM practices as a way to show or enforce submission to or by the dominant partner. The role of the dominant or the submissive is not exclusively gendered, though gender may influence the dynamics of a D/s relationship. Some men who serve as submissives to dominant women, for example, find comfort in the action of kneeling submissively for a woman.

Kneeling in different cultural societies

East Asia

There are many forms of kneeling in

East Asia East Asia is the eastern region of Asia, which is defined in both Geography, geographical and culture, ethno-cultural terms. The modern State (polity), states of East Asia include China, Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, and Taiwan. ...

presented within their daily lives and daily rituals. This is different from western culture and other religions since these daily rituals are not necessarily tied to their religion but instead more to their

society A society is a group of individuals involved in persistent social interaction, or a large social group sharing the same spatial or social territory, typically subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations. Soci ...

and

culture Culture () is an umbrella term which encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, and habits of the individuals in these groups ...

Japan

Two forms of kneeling or prostration in Japanese culture,

Dogeza is an element of traditional Japanese etiquette which involves kneeling directly on the ground and bowing to prostrate oneself while touching one's head to the floor.Leaman, Olive''Friendship East and West: philosophical perspectives''p. 74 It ...

, and

Seiza ): "proper/correct sitting", seiza ( ja, , link=no): "quiet sitting" , Jing zuo '' Seiza '' ( or , literally "proper sitting") is the formal, traditional way of sitting in Japan. Form To sit ''seiza''-style, one must first be kneeling on the ...

is a traditional form of respectful

bowing Bowing (also called stooping) is the act of lowering the torso and head as a social gesture in direction to another person or symbol. It is most prominent in Asian cultures but it is also typical of nobility and aristocracy in many European c ...

to acknowledge superiors. This practice is two steps: kneeling down onto the ground, then bending over to touch the ground with the head. It can also be to express apology or attempt to bless someone with your good favor. This practice is mainly a form of formal and deeply emotional apology to someone of a higher rank than you within society. This is more of an older form of reverence, though, that has fallen out of practice.

is another Japanese kneeling position that refers to the traditional way of sitting down in Japan. This is a formal way of sitting down which was adopted by Japan after the

Edo period The or is the period between 1603 and 1867 in the history of Japan, when Japan was under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate and the country's 300 regional '' daimyo''. Emerging from the chaos of the Sengoku period, the Edo period was characte ...

. Since then, it has now become the traditional way of sitting down within the

household A household consists of two or more persons who live in the same dwelling. It may be of a single family or another type of person group. The household is the basic unit of analysis in many social, microeconomic and government models, and is i ...

and for certain cultural events. Many of the culturally significant and traditional events in Japanese society involve sitting positions such as

funerals A funeral is a ceremony connected with the final disposition of a corpse, such as a burial or cremation, with the attendant observances. Funerary customs comprise the complex of beliefs and practices used by a culture to remember and respect th ...

or tea parties. This form of sitting however is uncomfortable to those who have not practiced it for a long time; therefore people in Japan usually start practicing this posture at quite a young age.

China

In China, there is a form of prostration involving kneeling called

Kowtow A kowtow is the act of deep respect shown by prostration, that is, kneeling and bowing so low as to have one's head touching the ground. In Sinospheric culture, the kowtow is the highest sign of reverence. It was widely used to show reverenc ...

. Kowtow is where the participant kneels down then subsequently bows on the ground so that their forehead touches the ground. This was a traditional way of showing respect in China. The literal translation of the

mandarin Mandarin or The Mandarin may refer to: Language * Mandarin Chinese, branch of Chinese originally spoken in northern parts of the country ** Standard Chinese or Modern Standard Mandarin, the official language of China ** Taiwanese Mandarin, Stand ...

word is “knock head”. This whole process consisted of three kneelings and nine knockings of the head, nine being important since it was a number associated with the

Emperor An emperor (from la, imperator, via fro, empereor) is a monarch, and usually the sovereignty, sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife (empress consort), ...

. This practice of kowtowing is not new to the Chinese nor is the concept of kneeling since they sat kneeling down for much of their history as well.

Kneeling in Ancient China

In ancient Chinese society, kowtow, or kneeling-bowing, was common for students to express gratitude to their teachers. Before learning any skills or knowledge, students or apprentices had to kneel down and bow toward their teachers to show appreciation. The students first thank the teacher and then demonstrate their commitment to the apprenticeship. After the ritual, teachers will express their willingness to teach and impart knowledge as well as life wisdoms. Besides students and teachers, kowtow was common among children and parents as well. The younger generation also performs kowtow toward their parents to show gratitude and appreciation. Although kneeling-bowing used to be seen as the highest expression of Confucianism for the master-apprentice and children-parents relationship, the behavior has caused controversies in the modern world.

Genderization of kneeling in Greek ritual

Kneeling can be a gendered behavior in Greek Ritual. In classical attic votive reliefs, almost all kneeling worshippers are females. The Greek literature also gives similar evidence. No male kneels in Greek tragedy, and in Greek comedy, only do slaves kneel. In those literature, people kneel when they are in a horrible situation, and kneeling is therefore related to supplication for change. In most cases, kneeling is considered a ritual act of last resort that usually takes place in front of a statue of God. It is also seen as a sign of submission for those in victim positions. It turned out that in Greek ritual, kneeling is only appropriate for females or slaves.

Prehistoric Ecuador

Kneeling behaviors occurred in prehistoric Ecuador as well. Prehistoric skeletal samples from Coastal Ecuador suggest behaviors or squatting and kneeling. Bone evidence of

metatarsophalangeal joints The metatarsophalangeal joints (MTP joints), also informally known as toe knuckles, are the joints between the metatarsal bones of the foot and the proximal bones (proximal phalanges) of the toes. They are condyloid joints, meaning that an ellipti ...

(between the

metatarsal bones The metatarsal bones, or metatarsus, are a group of five long bones in the foot, located between the tarsal bones of the hind- and mid-foot and the phalanges of the toes. Lacking individual names, the metatarsal bones are numbered from the me ...

of the foot and the proximal bones) show that the

articular surface A joint or articulation (or articular surface) is the connection made between bones, ossicles, or other hard structures in the body which link an animal's skeletal system into a functional whole.Saladin, Ken. Anatomy & Physiology. 7th ed. McGraw- ...

of the head of the

first metatarsal bone The first metatarsal bone is the bone in the foot just behind the big toe. The first metatarsal bone is the shortest of the metatarsal bones and by far the thickest and strongest of them. Like the four other metatarsals, it can be divided into ...

s (located behind the big toe) is extended onto the upper side. On the

ventral Standard anatomical terms of location are used to unambiguously describe the anatomy of animals, including humans. The terms, typically derived from Latin or Greek roots, describe something in its standard anatomical position. This position prov ...

side, the edge of the articular area is lifted away from the shaft, or the midsection of the long bone. and is extended on the

lateral Lateral is a geometric term of location which may refer to: Healthcare *Lateral (anatomy), an anatomical direction * Lateral cricoarytenoid muscle * Lateral release (surgery), a surgical procedure on the side of a kneecap Phonetics *Lateral co ...

side. All the bone evidence suggests a tendency of prolonged hyperdorsiflexion, or an increased use of muscles in the front part of the foot, which is associated with habitual kneeling posture. In addition, the flattening of the

surface on metatarsal implies pressure points related to kneeling.

Ethnicity and kinetic implications of kneeling-related postures

In East Asian cultures such as Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese, postures with high

flexion Motion, the process of movement, is described using specific anatomical terms. Motion includes movement of organs, joints, limbs, and specific sections of the body. The terminology used describes this motion according to its direction relativ ...

including kneeling and squatting are used more often in daily activities, while in North America, people kneel or squat less frequently in daily activities, unless for occupational, religious, or leisure practices. The favored style of those high flexion postures also differs among ethnic groups. While Caucasians tend to flex the forefoot when kneeling or squatting, East Asians are more likely to keep the foot flat on the ground. In the two common styles of kneeling, the plantarflexed kneel and the dorsiflexed kneel, the lead leg may experience higher

adduction Motion, the process of movement, is described using specific anatomical terms. Motion includes movement of organs, joints, limbs, and specific sections of the body. The terminology used describes this motion according to its direction relativ ...

and flexion moment, which is associated with increased knee joint loads.

Modern Europe

In 1970,

Willy Brandt Willy Brandt (; born Herbert Ernst Karl Frahm; 18 December 1913 – 8 October 1992) was a German politician and statesman who was leader of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) from 1964 to 1987 and served as the chancellor of West Ge ...

, Chancellor of West Germany, visited

Warsaw Warsaw ( pl, Warszawa, ), officially the Capital City of Warsaw,, abbreviation: ''m.st. Warszawa'' is the capital and largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the River Vistula in east-central Poland, and its population is officia ...

, Poland. After laying a wreath at the memorial to the 1943

Warsaw Ghetto Uprising The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising; pl, powstanie w getcie warszawskim; german: link=no, Aufstand im Warschauer Ghetto was the 1943 act of Jewish resistance in the Warsaw Ghetto in German-occupied Poland during World War II to oppose Nazi Germany' ...

, which had been brutally put down by the

Nazi Nazism ( ; german: Nazismus), the common name in English for National Socialism (german: Nationalsozialismus, ), is the far-right totalitarian political ideology and practices associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in ...

regime, he unexpectedly, and apparently spontaneously, fell to his knees for about half a minute, as a mark of humility and penance. The event is known in German as the ''

Kniefall von Warschau The term ''Kniefall von Warschau'', also referred to as ''Warschauer Kniefall'' (both German for "Warsaw genuflection"), refers to West German Chancellor Willy Brandt kneeling and giving a moment of silence during a visit to a Warsaw Ghetto ...

'' (the Warsaw genuflection).

Monarchs

European knights in the Middle Ages and now

Kneeling is viewed as a sign of submission when it is done in a royal setting. One of the most common royal settings kneeling takes place is when a person is being knighted. When knighthood began in Europe in the Middle Ages, only men could be knights. When a change to include women was made, the knighted women were made

dames ''Dame'' is an honorific title and the feminine form of address for the honour of damehood in many Christian chivalric orders, as well as the British honours system and those of several other Commonwealth realms, such as Australia and New Zeala ...

. At the ritual portion of a religious knighthood ceremony in the Middle Ages the man that would later be knighted knelt before a chapel altar with a sword placed on it. During the accolade the man would kneel or bow before a knight, lord, or king to be dubbed with the flat side of a sword or a hand. When a knight kneels before royalty, they are proclaiming with the gesture that they are dedicated to serving and honoring the country or the Church. However, knighting ceremonies are not as rigid and demanding as they once were in the Middle Ages. There have been a few changes to the aspect of kneeling that have made the ceremony accessible to a more diverse number of people. Knighting ceremonies now usually take place with the

Investiture Investiture (from the Latin preposition ''in'' and verb ''vestire'', "dress" from ''vestis'' "robe") is a formal installation or ceremony that a person undergoes, often related to membership in Christian religious institutes as well as Christian k ...

, a special day when those that have been awarded with an honor from the Crown receive their award in person at a Royal residence. Those that are present to be knighted are no longer required to take part in all of the expansive sections of the knighthood ceremony from the Middle Ages. One of the sections that has been done away with is the individual kneeling at a chapel altar with a sword placed on it. The individual is still required to kneel before the monarch during the accolade to be dubbed. They do so on an Investiture stool. While kneeling is seen as a sign of respect and

humility Humility is the quality of being humble. Dictionary definitions accentuate humility as a low self-regard and sense of unworthiness. In a religious context humility can mean a recognition of self in relation to a deity (i.e. God), and subsequent ...

in countries where there is a

monarch A monarch is a head of stateWebster's II New College DictionarMonarch Houghton Mifflin. Boston. 2001. p. 707. for life or until abdication, and therefore the head of state of a monarchy. A monarch may exercise the highest authority and power i ...

, it is not considered commonplace in countries where there is not a monarch. Because of this cultural difference, kneeling is not required for individuals from these countries when they are knighted. For example, when General Herbert

Norman Schwarzkopf Jr. Herbert Norman Schwarzkopf Jr. (; August 22, 1934 – December 27, 2012) was a United States Army general. While serving as the commander of United States Central Command, he led all coalition forces in the Gulf War. Born in Trenton, New ...

received an honorary knighthood from Queen

Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during ...

in 1991, he didn’t have to kneel when he was knighted because he is not a British subject. A few other exceptions of not kneeling before a monarch when being knighted is old age, physical inability, or health conditions.

Interacting with royalty

Kneeling is a sign of reverence and submission when done toward royalty upon meeting them. Properly acknowledging the Crown is a nervous time for some individuals that are meeting royalty for the first time or are from a country without a monarch. They want to do what is appropriate. During the reign of Queen

Elizabeth I Elizabeth I (7 September 153324 March 1603) was List of English monarchs, Queen of England and List of Irish monarchs, Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death in 1603. Elizabeth was the last of the five House of Tudor monarchs and is ...

, she valued the bend of an individual’s knee to her over a verbal commitment as an act of loyalty. Those that would comply, like one of her favorite

courtiers A courtier () is a person who attends the royal court of a monarch or other royalty. The earliest historical examples of courtiers were part of the retinues of rulers. Historically the court was the centre of government as well as the official ...

Blanche Parry Blanche Parry (1507/8–12 February 1590) of Newcourt in the parish of Bacton, Herefordshire, in the Welsh Marches, was a personal attendant of Queen Elizabeth I, who held the offices of Chief Gentlewoman of the Queen's Most Honourable Privy C ...

, would be rewarded with proximity to the Crown and other political gifts. However, the British Royal Family and the Royal Household at Buckingham Palace now no longer insist or require individuals to follow traditional codes of behavior when greeting a member of the Royal Family.Berry, Ciara. (2016, April 2). “Greeting a Member of The Royal Family". The Royal Family. Retrieved May 9, 2021, from https://www.royal.uk/greeting-member-royal-family They still accept people who wish to follow the traditional codes, but they understand if an individual is not comfortable with kneeling, amongst other gestures, in submission.

Sports

Placing a single knee on the ground (''taking a knee'') may have different meanings in different sports and situations. In many sports, taking a knee is a sign of respect and solidarity when a player from either team, or an official, is injured such that they need or may need assistance to leave the playing area. In these cases, it is considered proper for all other players (but not officials or any player assisting the injured person) to place one knee on the ground until the injured person is off the playing area.

American football and Canadian football

American football American football (referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada), also known as gridiron, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense, the team wi ...

and

Canadian football Canadian football () is a sport played in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed oval-shaped ball into the opposing team's scoring area ( ...

, the

quarterback kneel In American football and Canadian football, a quarterback kneel, also called taking a knee, genuflect offense, kneel-down offense, or victory formation, occurs when the quarterback immediately kneels to the ground, ending the play on contact, ...

may be performed to quickly end a play and use up time on the clock with only a minimal penalty. This is particularly useful when the offensive team is ahead by a few points and does not want to risk a fumble or other turnover. Also in American football and Canadian football, any player with the ball may take a knee to end a play or to indicate that they do not intend to advance further with the ball.

References

Durga subedi, Takma k.c et.al, Fundamental of nursing (foundation of nursing),first editions

External links

The Theology of Kneeling
{{Webarchive, url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161015014244/http://www.adoremus.org/1102TheologyKneel.html , date=2016-10-15

Knee Bowing Gestures of respect Human positions