Penalties

Common penalties listed below are explained in categories

 where they are most likely to occur.

For more detailed descriptions or interpretations,

please consult the high school football rules published by

National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).

NOTE:  State associations may modify NFHS rules.

For visual illustrations of the referee's signals, click on

    Official Football Signals Page 1 and Official Football Signals Page 2.

General

Major infractions and “personal foul” penalties are designed

to protect players from injury and result in a 15 yard assessment.

Depending on the intent and severity, disqualification of a player is possible.

Most penalties, however, result in a 5 or 10 yard assessment

and provide a fair playing field for both teams.

Penalties assessed close to either goal line can result

in the referee marking the ball “half the distance to the goal”.

Violations prior to the beginning of a play or after a play is completed

 are referred to as “dead ball foul” infractions. 

A few penalties even result in a “loss of down”

as well as a yardage assessment.

It’s rare, but offensive penalties in the end zone can result in a “safety”

whereby 2 points are awarded to the defensive unit.

If a penalty occurs at the end of a quarter, an “untimed down” may be awarded

or the yardage assessed at the beginning of the next quarter or overtime,

 depending on the circumstances.  

Kickoff

The team kicking the ball is "offside"

when a player crosses the line of scrimmage,

normally the 40-yard line, before the ball is kicked.

"Delay of game" is called if the ball is kicked out of bounds.

Kickoff Return

The team receiving the kickoff has an "illegal formation"

when less than 5 players

are not within 5 yards of the receiving unit’s line of scrimmage;

this is normally between their 45-yard line and 50-yard line.

The receiving team is penalized when "holding" a player,

"blocking below the waist",

or "clipping" another play from behind.

Offense

The offensive unit is in an "illegal formation" when less than 7 players

 are positioned along the line of scrimmage.

An offensive player is lined up offside when any part of his body is crossing

the line of scrimmage prior to the beginning of a play.

At least 10 players must be set in their stances for 1 second prior to

the offensive unit snapping the football, otherwise a “false start” is called.

Only one player may be in motion parallel or away from the line of scrimmage

and can not be running toward the line of scrimmage prior to the snap.

If more than 1 player is in motion at one time, "backfield in motion" is called.

Offensive lineman are not allowed to cross the line of scrimmage

 on a passing play until the ball is thrown,

 otherwise there is an "illegal lineman downfield" violation.

Exception:  In high school football, linemen are allowed downfield

if the ball is caught behind the line of scrimmage.

A lineman can not be the first player to touch the ball once it is thrown,

but can catch it once it is touched by another player.

Offensive players are not allowed to extend their arms when blocking

or grab a defensive player’s jersey, otherwise they committed an

"illegal use of hands" or "holding" infraction.

Illegal blocking combinations are penalized

to protect defensive lineman from injury,

however an imaginary “zone” exists from Tackle to Tackle where certain blocks

are allowed that may normally be penalized in other areas of the field. 

This zone is approximately 8 yards wide by 6 yards deep

(4 yards either side of center and 3 yards on either side of line of scrimmage). 

 An "illegal forward pass" occurs whenever a player crosses

 the line of scrimmage prior to passing the football to another player.

 An "illegal lateral" occurs when one player tosses the ball

to a player ahead of him.

A "shuttle pass" behind the line of scrimmage is not considered illegal.

A player who throws the football towards an area with no eligible receivers

to avoid being tackled commits "intentional grounding"

and there is a loss of down.

A player may not intentionally fumble the football forward or out of bounds.

A "delay of game" occurs when the offensive unit does not snap the football

within 25 seconds of the referee placing the ball in play.

Defense

Although there are no illegal formations on defense,

a player is lined up offside when any part of his body is crossing

the offensive line of scrimmage prior to the beginning of a play.

If a player lines up or jumps offside, he is called for "encroachment".

Defensive players may use their hands to avoid being blocked

by an offensive player,

 yet they can still be called for “defensive holding” under certain conditions.

Most defensive penalties occur while making a tackle

and during pass coverage. 

When a player tries to tackle by reaching with his arm, he is often called for

 “inadvertently grasping and releasing” an opponent’s face mask. 

A personal foul for “face masking” is assessed whenever he grabs the mask

and does not release it, whether intentional or not.

Defensive “pass interference” occurs when a player makes contact with

a potential receiver before the football is touched by the offensive player.

NEW: Hindering an opponent’s vision without making an attempt to catch,

intercept or bat the ball is pass interference, even though no contact was made.

In high school football, this penalty is marked off from the line of scrimmage

 and not where the foul occurred.

A personal foul is assessed for a “late hit” whenever a player is clearly hit

after the whistle or going out of bounds, whether it was intentional or not.

A personal foul called “spearing” occurs if using your helmet

to injure an opponent.

If the defense gains possession of the football via a fumble or interception,

“change of possession” blocking rules are in effect with

the most common penalties being

 “illegal use of hands”, "blocking below the waist", and  "clipping". 

Punt

Normal “offensive formation” and “illegal procedure” penalties apply. 

The most common errors are less than 7 players along the line of scrimmage,

 lining up offside, moving before the ball is snapped, and illegal use of hands.

Members of the punt unit must stay outside of a “2-yard halo”

when a member of the punt return team is attempting to catch the ball.

A personal foul occurs if contact is made before the receiver touches the ball

or if the receiver signals for a fair catch.

Punt Return

The most common errors are “lining up offside” and

poor change of possession blocking leading to “illegal use of hands”,

 blocking below the waist", and  "clipping".

A player called for “running into the kicker” receives a 5-yard penalty,

whereas “roughing the kicker” is a personal foul and automatic first down.

A player signaling for a fair catch must wave his arm from side to side

 and not hold his hand still, as if shading the sun,

otherwise he can be called for an “invalid fair catch signal”

 and risks being hit by the punt unit players.

Field Goal & P.A.T.

Normal “offensive formation” and “illegal procedure” penalties apply. 

The most common errors are less than 7 players along the line of scrimmage,

 lining up offside, moving before the ball is snapped, and illegal use of hands.

Field Goal & P.A.T. Block

The most common errors are “too many men on the field”, lining up offside,

“running into the kicker or holder”, and “roughing the kicker or holder”.

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Last modified: 07/27/11