Football Penalties
Football Penalties
By Christopher Fister
Teams are penalized for breaking the rules, usually in increments of 5, 10 and 15 yards, although there are stiffer penalties for the most heinous of infractions.
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Five-yard penalties include:
Offside – When a defensive player crosses the offensive line of scrimmage before the ball is snapped.
False start – When an offensive player moves out of his football stance before the ball is snapped.
Delay of game – The offense fails to execute a play before the play clock (usually 30 seconds) expires.
Illegal substitution – When either team sends in a player who has not been approved for that play by the game officials.
Excessive time outs – Each team has a set number of time outs it can call in each game.
Incidental grasp of facemask – Touching the facemask, but not grabbing or pulling on it, results in a 5-yard penalty.
More than 11 players on the field at the snap.
Defensive holding or illegal use of hands – A defensive player illegally holds or impedes an offensive player after the snap. Also results in an automatic first down.
Delay of kickoff – A rare infraction. But if a team takes too long to kick the ball off, it is a 5-yard penalty.
Illegal formation – An offensive team must have a set number of players on the line of scrimmage or in the backfield.
Invalid fair catch signal – The receiver on a punt must give a clear signal for a fair catch.
More than one man in motion at snap – Offensive teams may send a player in motion prior to the snap, but not more than one.
Ineligible player downfield during passing down – When a player not eligible to catch a pass has gone into the passing zone before the pass is thrown. A 5-yard penalty also results when a forward pass is first touched by an eligible receiver who has gone out of bounds and returned to the field of play.
A pass made after the passer crosses the line of scrimmage will result in a 5-yard penalty and loss of down.
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10-yard penalties include:
Offensive pass interference – When an offensive player illegally prevents a defensive player from making a play during a pass.
Holding, illegal use of hands, arms or body by offense – Players blocking on offense may not hold defensive players. Also, players on either team may not trip an opposing player.
Helping the runner – Teammates may not push or pull their own ball carrier.
Deliberately batting or punching a loose ball. Also, teams may not deliberately kick a loose ball.
Intentional grounding – When the passer throws the ball, usually to avoid being tackled for a loss of yards, to an area where there is no receiver it is a 10-yard penalty and loss of down.
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15-yard penalties include:
Clipping – When a player blocks an opposing player from behind.
Fair catch interference – Players on the kicking team may not touch a receiving team player after a legal fair catch signal has been made.
Piling on – Players from either team may not hit an opposing player or jump onto the pile after a tackle has been made.
Roughing the kicker – Hitting or tackling a kicker or punter after the kick has been made. Also, a kicker or punter can be penalized 15 yards for simulating being roughed by an opposing player.
Roughing the passer – An illegal tackle or hit on the quarterback after a pass has been attempted.
Twisting, turning or pulling an opponent by the facemask.
15-yard penalties are also given out for tacklers who use their helmets to butt, spear or ram an opponent. Any player who taunts another player or removes his helmet after a play while on the field may also be penalized 15 yards.
Leaping and leverage – When a kicker is attempting a field goal, opposing players may not use leverage from teammates to leap and attempt to block the kick.
The most egregious of infractions may also result in players being disqualified from the game. The infractions, which also result if 15-yard penalties, include deliberately punching or kicking an opponent and any deliberate blow the head. Any deliberate contact with a game official will also result in a player’s disqualification.
Two other, rarely seen penalties include showing up late for a kickoff and officials awarding a team a touchdown. If a team arrives late for the kickoff, or its captain misses the coin toss, it is a 15-yard penalty and loss of coin toss option. Officials may award a team a touchdown if they determine the opposing team used an unfair act to prevent a touchdown from being score. This rarest of all penalties would only be called in instances such as a player coming off the bench to tackle an opposing player who had a clear path to a touchdown.
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Christopher Fister is a former sports editor at the New York Post.
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October 21st, 2005 at 6:51 am
What rual apply to: ball goes back to line of presious line, ball placed at the line of foul, ball placed at the line where the ball cfinished the play.
November 15th, 2005 at 2:41 am
several years ago, a clipping penalty on the receiving team of a kickoff or punt was called by another name. it was a term of art not used today. does anyone remember what it was called.
February 10th, 2006 at 8:44 pm
Football Penalties
Football Penalties
By Christopher Fister
Teams are penalized for breaking the rules, usually in increments of 5, 10 and 15 yards, although there are stiffer penalties for the most heinous of infractions.
Five-yard penalties include:
Offside – When a defensive player crosses the offensive line of scrimmage before the ball is snapped.
False start – When an offensive player moves out of his football stance before the ball is snapped.
Delay of game – The offense fails to execute a play before the play clock (usually 30 seconds) expires.
Illegal substitution – When either team sends in a player who has not been approved for that play by the game officials.
Excessive time outs – Each team has a set number of time outs it can call in each game.
Incidental grasp of facemask – Touching the facemask, but not grabbing or pulling on it, results in a 5-yard penalty.
More than 11 players on the field at the snap.
Defensive holding or illegal use of hands – A defensive player illegally holds or impedes an offensive player after the snap. Also results in an automatic first down.
Delay of kickoff – A rare infraction. But if a team takes too long to kick the ball off, it is a 5-yard penalty.
Illegal formation – An offensive team must have a set number of players on the line of scrimmage or in the backfield.
Invalid fair catch signal – The receiver on a punt must give a clear signal for a fair catch.
More than one man in motion at snap – Offensive teams may send a player in motion prior to the snap, but not more than one.
Ineligible player downfield during passing down – When a player not eligible to catch a pass has gone into the passing zone before the pass is thrown. A 5-yard penalty also results when a forward pass is first touched by an eligible receiver who has gone out of bounds and returned to the field of play.
A pass made after the passer crosses the line of scrimmage will result in a 5-yard penalty and loss of down.
10-yard penalties include:
Offensive pass interference – When an offensive player illegally prevents a defensive player from making a play during a pass.
Holding, illegal use of hands, arms or body by offense – Players blocking on offense may not hold defensive players. Also, players on either team may not trip an opposing player.
Helping the runner – Teammates may not push or pull their own ball carrier.
Deliberately batting or punching a loose ball. Also, teams may not deliberately kick a loose ball.
Intentional grounding – When the passer throws the ball, usually to avoid being tackled for a loss of yards, to an area where there is no receiver it is a 10-yard penalty and loss of down.
15-yard penalties include:
Clipping – When a player blocks an opposing player from behind.
Fair catch interference – Players on the kicking team may not touch a receiving team player after a legal fair catch signal has been made.
Piling on – Players from either team may not hit an opposing player or jump onto the pile after a tackle has been made.
Roughing the kicker – Hitting or tackling a kicker or punter after the kick has been made. Also, a kicker or punter can be penalized 15 yards for simulating being roughed by an opposing player.
Roughing the passer – An illegal tackle or hit on the quarterback after a pass has been attempted.
Twisting, turning or pulling an opponent by the facemask.
15-yard penalties are also given out for tacklers who use their helmets to butt, spear or ram an opponent. Any player who taunts another player or removes his helmet after a play while on the field may also be penalized 15 yards.
Leaping and leverage – When a kicker is attempting a field goal, opposing players may not use leverage from teammates to leap and attempt to block the kick.
April 10th, 2006 at 6:17 pm
What league are these rules from. could you address high school? Thanks
October 16th, 2006 at 10:59 pm
are there any football pentalies that also remove time from the clock???
October 22nd, 2006 at 9:30 am
i saw a clip once where a player came off the bench and made a tackle to prevent a touchdown. what game was it?!?!! i want to find the clip so badly. please respond or send me an email to let me know, thanlks