In football, ATH stands for Athlete. It is a term used in recruiting to describe a player who does not fall into one specific position, but rather has a wide variety of skills and can play multiple positions on the field. ATH players are highly sought after because they can fill in for other players if they are unable to play the game. If a recruiter marks a player as an ATH, there is a good chance that the player will receive offers from coaches.

Other important abbreviations and shorthand words used in football include:

• Sk: Shorthand for a sack, which is when a defensive player tackles the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage.
• OA: Overall Athletics, which is a term used to describe a top ATH recruit who performs at a high level in football combine activities and portrays outstanding athletic attributes on the field.

To become an ATH, a player needs to have a wide range of skills and be able to play any position on the field well. Recruiters do not label just anyone as an ATH, so players need to focus on developing their skills and playing each position as if they have held it all their athletic life.