Game play in American Football consists of a series of individual plays of short duration, outside of which the ball is ''dead'' or not in play. These can be --passes, runs, punts, and field goal attempts--or '''free kicks''' such as kickoffs. Substitutions can be made between plays, which allows for a great deal of specialization as Coach es choose the players best suited for each particular situation. During a play, each team must have 11 players on the field, and each of them usually have specific tasks assigned for that specific play.
The object of the game is to score points by advancing the ball to the opponent's end zone for a ''touchdown'', or to kick ''field goals'', and to prevent the other team from doing likewise. The team with the most points when time has expired wins.
Collegiate and professional football games are 60 minutes long, divided into four quarters of 15 minutes each. The clock is stopped frequently, however, so that a typical professional game can exceed three hours in duration. Timing is stopped after any incomplete pass and any play that ends out of bounds; in addition, each team is allowed 3 timeouts each half that they may use at their discretion, and the officials may call time-outs for a variety of reasons. Officials call for media time-outs after a change of possession, following a successful PAT or field goal try, or in the NFL after a kickoff when the opposing team scored, usually when there is more than 5 minutes to play in each quarter. If an instant replay challenge is called during the game, the referees also signal for a media time out.
In high school football, 12 minute quarters are usually played, resulting in a 48 minute game.
Separating the second and third quarters is a . Teams change ends of the field after the first and second quarters, or the first half. In the NFL , an automatic timeout is called by the officials when there are two minutes left (or less than two minutes if the play began with over two minutes left and ended with less than two minutes left) in both the second and the fourth quarters; this is most commonly referred to as the "two-minute warning." The two-minute warning is not used in college or high school games.
If a game is tied at the end of four quarters, is played.
- In the NFL, overtime periods are 15 minutes in length and are "", meaning that the team that scores first, by any means, wins, and the game automatically ends. A coin flip is employed to determine which team will gain possession first; the winning team has the option to either receive the kickoff or choose the side of the field they wish to defend. During the regular season in the NFL, one overtime period is played, and if neither team scores during overtime, the game officially ends in a tie. In the playoffs, as many overtimes are played as are necessary to determine a winner.
The longest pro football game in history was played in 1984 between the Los Angeles Express and the Michigan Panthers of the now-defunct USFL; with the Express winning the game 27-21 after 3:33 of the third overtime period.
- In college and high school football, an overtime procedure ensures that each team has equal opportunity to score. In college, both teams are granted possession of the ball at their opponents' 25 yard-line in succession. A coin flip takes place, with the winning team having the option either 1) to declare that they will take the ball first or second, or 2) to decide on which end of the field the series will occur (both teams' series occur on the same end of the field). The losing team will have the first option in any subsequent even-numbered overtime. In the first overtime, the team with first series attempts to score either a touchdown or a field goal; their possession ends when either a touchdown or a field goal have been scored, they turn the ball over via a fumble or an interception, or they fail to gain a first down. After a touchdown, a team may attempt either an extra-point or a two-point conversion. (However, if the team on defense during the first series recovers a fumble and returns it for a touchdown, or returns an interception for a touchdown, the defensive team wins the game. This is the only way for a college overtime game to end without both teams having possession.) Regardless of the outcome of the first team's series (be it touchdown, field goal, or turnover), the other team begins their series. If the score remains tied after both teams have completed a series, a second overtime begins. If the score remains tied after two overtimes, teams scoring touchdowns are required to attempt a two-point conversion from the third overtime on. Just as in regulation, if a defensive team recovers a fumble/returns an interception to the end zone during a two-point conversion attempt, they will receive two points.
The game begins with a ''kickoff'', which is one type of free kick (see below). Prior to the game, captains from each team participate in a Coin Toss . The winner of the toss may choose whether to kickoff or receive to start the game. The ball is placed on a tee (or held) at the kicking team's 30 yard line (35 yard line in college and high school). The kicking team's players line up on the field parallel to or behind this line and may not cross it until the ball is kicked. A valid kickoff must travel at least 10 yards, after which the receiving team attempts to catch or pick up the ball and advance it down the field before being ''downed''. The kicking team may also attempt to recover the kick; an is a play in which the kicker tries to roll the ball just over the required 10-yard distance so that his teammates can try to recover it. If a kickoff goes out of bounds before being touched by a player for the receiving team and before entering the end zone, the ball is spotted at the point where it went out of bounds, or 30 yards from the point of the kick, whichever is closer. This spot becomes the Line Of Scrimmage . A kick that travels through the end zone, or is caught by the receiving team within the end zone but not advanced, is called a Touchback . The ball is placed on the receiving team's 20 yard line, which becomes the line of scrimmage.
A kickoff is also used to start the second half of the game. The team who received the kickoff to start the game kicks off to begin the second half. Kickoffs also take place after each touchdown and field goal.
A player carrying the ball is downed when any of the following occurs:
- The ballcarrier is tackled; that is, any part of his body other than the hands, forearms, or feet touches the ground after he is touched by an opponent. (In college a player is considered ''down'' whether or not an opponent causes him to fall.)
- The ballcarrier goes out of bounds; that is, any part of his body touches or goes past a sideline or an endline.
- The ballcarrier's forward progress is stopped; that is, in trying to avoid a tackle, his motion toward his opponent's goal is stopped with little chance to be resumed. The exact moment at which the player's forward progress stops is often unclear and is left to the judgement of the officials.
- The ballcarrier intentionally downs the ball; that is, any part of his body other than the hands, forearms, or feet touches the ground with obvious intent to down the ball. (In college such a player is considered ''down'' regardless of intent.)
- The ballcarrier scores a touchdown or a two-point conversion. (''See'' Scoring ''below'')
The majority of a football game takes place on plays that begin at the line of scrimmage, but they all must be positioned on the opposite side of the line from the offense when the ball is snapped.
The snap occurs when the ''center'' throws the ball backward to one of the backs, usually the Quarterback . The play ends when the ballcarrier is downed or scores a touchdown, or if a Forward Pass is incomplete. If a ballcarrier is downed, the ball is placed on the field between the hash marks at the spot the player was downed. This spot becomes the line of scrimmage for the next play. In the case of an incomplete forward pass, the ball is returned to the line of scrimmage for the next play. A fumbled ball that goes out of bounds is declared dead and possession is given to the team that most recently had control of the ball.
Each play from scrimmage is called a Down .
A play from scrimmage ends when the ball is dead; this occurs when one of the following happens:
- the ballcarrier is downed, as described above;
- a forward pass falls incomplete;
- the ball or ballcarrier goes outside the field of play ("out of bounds"), or the ball hits any part of the goalpost (even if it bounces back onto the field);
- a team scores;
- a punt receiver makes a fair catch;
- a member of the punting team "downs" a punt by touching the ball before any member of the receiving team;
- a punted ball comes to rest; or
- a touchback occurs.
A field goal is scored when the ball is kicked between the Goal Posts behind the opponent's end zone. The ball must first be snapped to a placeholder, who holds the ball upright on the ground with his fingertip so that it may be kicked. Three points are scored if the ball crosses the plane of the goal between the two upright posts and above the crossbar. If a field goal is missed, the ball is returned to the spot of the kick (in college, to the original line of scrimmage), and possession is given to the other team. If the ball does not go out of bounds, the other team may catch the kicked ball and attempt to advance it, but this is usually not advantageous. One official is positioned under each goalpost; if either one rules the field goal no good, then the field goal is unsuccessful. A successful field goal is signaled by an official extending both arms vertically above the head. A team that successfully kicks a field goal kicks off to the opposing team on the next play.
A touchdown is achieved when a player has legal possession of the ball and the ball crosses an imaginary vertical plane above the opposing team's goal line. After a touchdown, the scoring team is awarded a try (see below). A successful touchdown is signaled by an official extending both arms vertically above the head.
A is more frequently called an '''extra-point attempt''' or a '''PAT''' (abbreviation of "Point After Touchdown"). Either one or two additional points may be scored during the try. The ball is spotted at the 2 yard line (NFL) or 3 yard line (college/high school), and the team is given one play to earn points:
- The offensive team may attempt to kick the ball through the goalposts, in the same manner that a field goal is kicked. This option is chosen much more frequently, and if successful the team is awarded one point, referred to as an Extra Point .
- The offensive team may attempt to advance the ball via run or pass into the end zone, much like a touchdown on the extra-point attempt, except that it receives two points. This is called a . The success rate for two-point conversions is less than 40 percent in the NFL and college, making the two-point conversion attempt a risky tactic; thus it is usually attempted only when two points will help the team but one point will not. For example, suppose that it is late in the game with a score of 21-10 and the losing team scores a touchdown, making the score 21-16. The scoring team will always attempt the two-point conversion, because if successful, a three-point deficit later could be surmounted in one field goal; failure to convert would result in a five-point deficit that would not be surmounted without another touchdown--a situation no worse than the four-point deficit achieved with a kicked extra point.
- If the defensive team advances the ball the length of the field into the other end zone on the try, for example by an interception or a fumble recovery, it receives two points. This is officially recorded as a safety scored by the defense. The NCAA adopted this rule in 1990 . This scenario cannot occur under NFL rules; in the NFL, the ball is dead and the extra-point attempt is over immediately when the defense gains possession. High school rules vary from state to state on this matter.
- In the extremely rare event that the offensive team scores a safety (see below) on the try, it receives one point. In college football, this can occur when the defense gains control of the ball and attempts to advance it, then fumbles it out of bounds in its own end zone. In the NFL, since the try ends once the defense gains possession, a safety can only be scored if a defensive player bats a loose (fumbled) ball out of bounds in the end zone.
- The officials' signal for a successful try, whether an extra point or a two point conversion, is the same as for a touchdown. After the try, the offense kicks off to the opposing team.
The uncommon is scored if a player causes the ball to become dead in his own end zone; two points are awarded to the opposing (usually defending) team. This can happen if a player is either downed or goes out of bounds in the end zone while carrying the ball, or if he fumbles the ball, and it goes out of bounds in the end zone. A safety is also awarded to the defensive team if the offensive team commits a penalty which is enforced in its own end zone. A safety is ''not'' awarded if a player intercepts a pass or receives a kick in his own end zone and is downed there. This situation, in which the opponent caused the ball to enter the end zone, is called a Touchback ; no points are scored, and the team that gained possession of the ball is awarded possession at its own 20-yard line. If the interception or reception occurs outside the end zone, and the player is carried into the end zone by momentum, the ball is placed at the spot of the catch and no safety is awarded. A safety is signaled by a referee holding both palms together above the head, fingertips pointing upwards.
A free kick (see below) may be taken on the play immediately after any Fair Catch of a punt. If the receiving team elects to attempt this and time expired during the punt, the half is extended with an untimed down. The ball must be held on the ground by a member of the kicking team; a tee may not be used. This is both a field goal attempt and a free kick; if the ball is kicked between the goal posts, three points are scored for the kicking team. This is the only case where a free kick may score points. This method of scoring is extremely rare; it is only advantageous when as a team catches a very short punt with no time left. Note that a team is unlikely to be punting with only a few seconds left in a half, and it is rarer still for punts to be caught near field goal range. The officials' signal for a successful fair catch kick is the same as for a field goal.
A is a special play which does not occur from scrimmage. The kicking team begins behind the ball, while the receiving team must remain at least 10 yards downfield before the ball is kicked.
A is a kind of free kick used to start each half, and also used to restart the game following a field goal or touchdown. At the beginning of a half, the kicking team is determined by Coin Toss . After a field goal or touchdown, the kicking team is the team which just scored. A tee is used, unless the ball is blown off the tee by winds twice in succession, in which case the ball must be held by a member of the kicking team. The receiving team may recover and attempt to advance the ball at any time after the kick, but the kicking team may not field the ball until it has traveled at least 10 yards. The ball is usually kicked as deep as possible to the receiving team, in order to force the receivers to start far down the field, but sometimes a team will attempt to recover its own short kick, in a play known as an ''' Onside Kick .'''
A free kick is also used to restart the game following a safety. The team that was trapped in its own end zone, therefore conceding two points to the other team, kicks the ball from its own 20-yard line. In this case, the free kick may be either punted or kicked from the ground, but a tee may not be used and the ball may not be held on the ground.
In the NFL, a free kick may be taken on the play immediately after a Fair Catch ; see "fair catch free kick" above.
Because football is a high- Contact Sport requiring a balance between offense and defense, many rules exist that regulate Safety , contact, and actions of players on each team. It is very difficult to always avoid violating these rules without giving up too much of an advantage. Thus, an elaborate system of penalties has been developed to " Let The Punishment Fit The Crime " and maintain a balance between following the rules and keeping a good flow of the game. Players are constantly looking for ways to find an advantage that stretches the limitations imposed by the rules. Also, the frequency and severity of penalties can make a large difference in the outcome of a game, so coaches are constantly looking for ways to minimize the number and severity of infractions committed by their players.
The term "penalty" is used to refer both to an infraction and the penal consequence of that infraction. Some of the more common penalties are listed below. In most cases when a penalty occurs, the offending team will be assessed a penalty of 5, 10 or 15 yards, depending on the infraction. Also, in most cases, if the penalty is committed while the ball is in play, the down will be replayed from the new position (for example, if the offense commits a penalty on a first-down play, the next play will still be first down, but the offense may have to go 15 yards, or farther, to achieve another first down.) But if a defensive penalty results in the ball advancing beyond the offense's first-down objective, the next play will be the first down of a new series. Some penalties, however, require a loss of down for the offense; and some a defensive penalties may result in an automatic first down regardless of the ball position. In most cases, the non-offending team is given the option of declining the penalty and letting the result of the play stand. (Penalties that occur before the snap, such as illegal procedure or delay of game, generally carry 5-yard penalties and cannot be declined.) For some infractions by the defense, the penalty is applied in addition to the yardage gained on the play. Most , which involve danger to another player, carry 15-yard penalties; in rare cases, they result in specific players being ejected from the game. A penalty also results in an automatic stoppage of the clock. If a defensive penalty occurs after time has expired at the end of a half, the half will be continued for a single, untimed play from scrimmage.
With three exceptions, no penalty may move the ball more than half the distance toward the penalized team's goal line. These exceptions are defensive pass interference (see the discussion of that penalty for more details), intentional grounding, and offensive holding – but in this last case the exception pertains only if the infraction occurs within the offensive team's own end zone, in which case an automatic safety is assessed (intentional grounding from the end zone also carries an automatic safety).
Specific penalties most often fall into larger categories; the penalties here are listed as such.
A penalty shall be called against the team on offense, or the team with possession of the ball, when...
- (5 yards) - they commit any of a number of infractions in failing to adhere to the rules that govern action before the snap. Referee signal: two arms in front of chest with closed fists "rolling" around each other. In the NFL, if the following penalties occur with less than a minute remaining in the half, then a ten-second penalty is also assessed. The half automatically ends if the penalty occurs with 10 seconds or less remaining to be played. Illegal procedure includes, but is not limited to:
- --- - any player moves after they have gotten in their set position before the snap in a way that simulates the start of the play.
- --- - more than one player is in motion at the snap, or a player in motion is moving forward at the time of the snap. Referee signal: One arm in front of chest, palm open and down, with the elbow out to the side, moved away from chest.
- --- - a player is not in motion but is not set before the snap. Referee signal: two arms in front of chest, palms open and down, with the elbows out to the side, moved away from chest.
- --- - has fewer than 7 players on the line of scrimmage, or fails to have an eligible receiver as the leftmost and rightmost players on the line.
- (5 yards) - they fail to snap the ball before the Play Clock reaches zero. The 40-second play clock (25 seconds in college) starts running immediately when the previous play ends. If there is a timeout or other stoppage of play, a 25-second play clock starts from when the ball is spotted and declared ready for play. Referee signal: Two forearms in front of chest parallel to the body with open fists, one on top of the other.
- of a pass (5 yards) - a forward pass first touches an ''ineligible receiver'', that is, one of the five members of the interior offensive line. If the ball touches a defender or an eligible receiver (not the passer) first, any player may touch it, and defenders may freely make contact with receivers. Referee signal: Hands held up to shoulders, fingertips touching each shoulder.
- (5 yards) - an ineligible receiver is past the line of scrimmage prior to a forward pass. Ineligible receivers must wait until the pass has been thrown and travels past the line of scrimmage to move past the line of scrimmage. This penalty is not imposed if the receiver is behind the line of scrimmage when he receives the pass. This exception has been added to accommodate the screen pass, where a receiver (most often a back, but sometimes a tight end or wide receiver) catches a ball behind the line of scrimmage behind a "screen" of offensive linemen. Referee signal: One palm touching the top of the head with the elbow out to the side.
- - a forward pass is thrown intentionally away from eligible receivers so that the passer avoids being tackled for a loss
- ---NFL penalty: 10 yards or spot of foul, whichever is farther from the original line of scrimmage, and loss of down. If the penalty occurs with less than a minute left in the 1st or 2nd half, a 10-second penalty is also enforced. If it occurs with 10 seconds or less left, the half automatically ends.
- ---College penalty: Spot of foul and loss of down; defense awarded a quarterback sack in some leagues
- ---In both NFL and college, intentional grounding from the offensive team's own end zone constitutes an automatic safety unless the defense chooses to decline the penalty, which might only ever happen if the infraction had occurred on a fourth-down play. If the quarterback has moved outside of the area between his offensive tackles (the "pocket"), there is no penalty for grounding the ball if the quarterback throws the ball past the line of scrimmage. There is also no penalty for "spiking" the ball to stop the game clock, by throwing it directly into the ground. However, such an action must be executed immediately after the snap of the ball, before the quarterback demonstrates intent to make a forward pass.
- ---Referee signal: both hands held out flat, facing each other, in front of the referee, moving down together diagonally roughly from one shoulder to the opposite hip.
- (10 yards from the previous line of scrimage) - a player physically hinders a defender attempting to catch a pass. Referee signal: two arms in front of the body with palms out and fingers up, moved in a pushing motion out.
- (5 yards and loss of down) - a forward pass is thrown from past the line of scrimmage, or when a second forward pass is thrown on the same play. Referee signal: One hand, flat, waved behind the small of the back. Defense credited with a quarterback sack in some college leagues.
- (10 yards) - there is illegal use of the hands or arms while blocking, usually a grasp or a tackle of a defending player; an automatic safety is assessed if the spot of the infraction is within the offensive team's own end zone. Referee signal: one forearm vertically held in front of the body with a closed fist facing the referee's chest; the other hand grasping the first arm's wrist. The penalty is enforced from the previous spot, unless the infraction occurred beyond the line of scrimage or during a running play, in which the penalty is enforced from the spot of the foul.
Or, when a player on offense commits an illegal block, such as if...
- --- (10 yards) - a player makes any block from behind and ''above'' the waist. Referee signal: one forearm vertically held in front of the body with palm facing outward; the other hand grasping the first arm's wrist.
- --- (15 yards) - an illegal block from behind and ''below'' the waist
- --- (15 yards) - an illegal block, from any direction, below the waist by any offensive player not on the offensive line (e.g. wide receivers, quarterbacks and running backs). Referee signal: Personal foul signal, followed by the right hand held out above the shoulder and moving down to strike the right leg.
- --- (10 yards) - a player trips a defender near the ankles. Referee signal: one foot kicks the ankle of the other leg from behind.
- (10 yards) - The center, guard, and tackles are considered ineligible receivers(although they may become eligible if they are the last man on the line of scrimmage and before the play the offensive team notifies the referee who will notify the other team. As such if the ineligible player goes downfield before the pass or touches the pass, this penalty is called. The exception is if the ball is tipped by a defender, then anyone is eligible to catch the ball. In the NFL all ineligible receivers have the numbers 50-79 (though not all players wearing those numbers are ineligible). Referee signal: Right hand placed on top of the head.
A penalty shall be called against the defensive team when...
- (5 yards) - any part of a player is in or past the neutral zone when the ball is snapped. Unlike offensive players, defensive players are not compelled to come to a set position before the snap, so if a defender jumps across the line but gets back to his side before the snap there is no penalty. In the case of an offsides penalty, play is not stopped, and the penalty is announced at the conclusion of the play. The offense can thus decline the penalty and take the yardage gained on the play - unlike in the case of a false start penalty against the offense, whereupon the play is immediately stopped by the officials. Referee signal: both hands placed on hips, with elbows pointing outwards.
- --- (5 yards) - a defensive player crosses the line of scrimmage and makes contact with a player, or has a unabated path to the quarterback, before the snap. Unlike the offsides penalty, this penalty immediately halts play: the referees blow the whistle, the clock stops, and the offense does not run a play. Referee signal: same as offsides.
- (5 yards) - a defensive player delays the game or hinders the offense in hurrying to make the next snap. This happens most often in the last two minutes of a half when the offense is trying to go down the field in a hurry. Referee signal: same as offensive delay of game.
- (5 yards) - on a kicking play where the defense fails to touch ("block") the kicked ball, they run into the kicker/punter. If such an act occurs but is not flagrant, this penalty is assessed. If flagrant, the personal foul of roughing the kicker may be assessed instead (see below).
- - a defensive player physically hinders an offensive player from catching a catchable forward pass that has not been touched by any other player. Referee signal: same as offensive pass interference - two arms in front of the body with palms out and fingers up, moved in a pushing motion out.
- ---NFL: An automatic first down and the ball is moved forward to the location of the interference -- a devastating penalty if the play was a long pass. If the interference takes place in the end zone, the ball is placed on the one-yard line.
- ---College: An automatic first down. Penalty is 15 yards or the spot of the foul, whichever is closer to the previous line of scrimmage. The half-the-distance rule apply, unless the previous line of scrimmage was on or inside the 2-yard line. If the ball was snapped between the defensive team's 17-yard and 2-yard lines, '''and''' the foul occurred inside the 2-yard line or in the end zone, the ball is placed on the 2-yard line.
- ---High school: 15 yards and an automatic first down; the half-the-distance rule always applies.
- ---At any level, if the receiver is interfered with behind the line of scrimmage, the defender cannot be charged with pass interference (although he may be guilty of a different penalty). This nuance in the rules almost never arises, but can conceivably occur on a screen pass. Pass interference is also rendered inapplicable if the ball was tipped by a player on either team prior to the contact being made, regardless of how slight or incidental the "tipping" was.
- (5 yards and an automatic first down; in college, the down is repeated if the previous play was 1st and 10, making the next play 1st and 5) - a player illegally uses his hands against a player on offense while attempting to ward off a block, cover a receiver, or tackle a ballcarrier. Referee signal: one forearm vertically held in front of the body with an open fist facing away from the referee's chest; the other hand grasping the first arm's wrist. There are several restrictions on how a defender may initiate contact, such as when...
- --- - a player grasps a player on offense while attempting to ward off a block or cover a receiver. Referee signal: one forearm vertically held in front of the body with a closed fist facing the referee's chest; the other hand grasping the first arm's wrist.
- --- - a player pushes or hits as a player on offense in the head or helmet. Referee signal: One open fist in a pushing motion to the referee's chin.
- --- - a player makes significant contact with a receiver after the receiver has advanced five yards beyond the line of scrimmage, This rule was adopted in 1978 , and its enactment is regarded as contributing to the dramatic increase in both passing yardage and scoring the NFL has witnessed since that time. Referee signal: One arm in front of the body with palm out and fingers up, moved in a pushing motion out.
- (15 yards and a first down) - a player commits a conduct- or safety-related infraction. If the officials decide that the action was particularly flagrant, the player in question can be ejected from the game. Referee signal: same as offensive personal foul, ''possibly'' followed by the appropriate signal for one of the following penalties:
- --- - a defender continues an effort to tackle or "hit" a passer after the passer has already thrown a pass. The NFL standard is that a defender is allowed to take one step after the ball is thrown; a defender is penalized if he hits the passer having taken two or more steps after the ball leaves the passer's hand. Referee signal: arm moved in a passing motion.
- --- - a defender, having missed an attempt to block a kick, tackles the kicker or otherwise runs into the kicker in a way that might injure the kicker or his vulnerable extended kicking leg. Referee signal: leg moved in a kicking motion.
A penalty shall be called against the offending team when...
- (5 yards) - the ball is snapped while the team has twelve or more players on the field. Referee signal: two hands, palms down, touching the top of the head, with an elbow out to each side.
- (5 yards) - the team has twelve or more players in a huddle before a play.
- (5 yards) - a player grasps the facemask of another player at any time, but does not siginficantly turn or twist the player's head. If there is pulling, twisting or turning, the 15-yard personal foul will be assessed instead. In college, any face mask penalty on the defense results in an automatic first down; in the NFL, only the 15-yard ("flagrant") personal foul face mask penalty results in an automatic first down, but in the case of a 5-yard penalty the down remains the same, which can result, for example, in the next play being "1st and 1" if the previous down was 1st and 10 and the ball carrier gained four yards on the play where the foul occurred. The 5-yard penalty will be called when the contact with the face mask is deemed "incidental," but any such contact at all is illegal. In rare cases where an offensive player--particularly a lineman--commits this foul and pulling or twisting is not involved, holding will generally be called instead. This penalty is also occasionally called against a ball carrier who, attempting to "stiff-arm" a pursuing defender, inadvertently grabs the latter's face mask; when this occurs a 5-yard penalty would be assessed. Referee signal: one closed fist in front of and facing the referee's mouth moved in a downward motion, mimicking a facemask being pulled straight down.
- (5 yards) - when a coach or player on the sidelines is on the edge of the field during the snap. An official will usually issue a "Sideline Warning" once before issuing a penalty.
- (15 yards) - a player commits a conduct- or safety-related infraction. If the officials decide that the action was particularly flagrant, the player in question can be ejected from the game. Referee signal: Open fists held diagonally perpendicular and above the head, with the front edge of one hand striking the rear edge of the other hand near the thumb.
- --- - When a player grasps the facemask of another player at any time, and twists or turns the helmet or uses the facemask to gain leverage. Referee signal: one closed fist in front of and facing the referee's mouth moved in a downward motion, mimicing a facemask being pulled straight down.
- --- - a player tackles or makes siginificant contact with another player that doesn't affect play, such as hitting a ball carrier after he is already out of bounds or "piling on" a ball carrier who is already down.
- --- - any person—usually a player, but occasionally a coach, and very rarely one or more spectators—acts or speaks in a manner deemed to be especially objectionable by the game officials, or by rule. Examples include throwing punches, deliberate physical contact with officials, verbal abuse of officials, and taunting, which, since 2004 in the NFL, has included any "prolonged and premeditated celebrations" by players (prior to that year these latter carried only a 5-yard penalty). Referee signal: both arms extended to the sides perpendicular to the body with open fists, palms down.
- (as necessary) - Called in the case of any illegal action that the officials deem has clearly and indisputably deprived a team of a score. For example, if a player or other person not legally in the game at the start of a given play comes onto the field to tackle a player apparently en route to a touchdown, the team that would have scored is awarded the touchdown. This can also conceivably be invoked in cases where the defense commits repeated intentional infractions very close to its own goal line (the half-the-distance rule making the consequence of such infractions otherwise infinitesimal).
See Also: Official (American football)
During each play, any official may signal a penalty by tossing a bright yellow colored Flag onto the field toward or at the spot of a foul. Multiple officials may flag the same play. When a flag is thrown, the Referee with the official(s) that threw the flag(s) and other officials with a view of the play usually confer to come to a consensus on whether an infraction was actually committed, what it was, and who committed it. The final determination and assessment of the penalty is the sole responsibility of the referee.
The referee then makes initial visual body signals to the crowd indicating what penalties were committed and the team that committed them, the latter shown by extending the arm toward that team's end zone. The referee then confers with the offended team's on-field captain to find out whether the offended team would rather decline the penalty and take the result of the play. However, there are certain scenarios where the referee may not have to confer with the team captain because the enforcement is entirely automatic (such as a false start penalty) or when the choice is fairly obvious (such as when the defense commits a foul during a play in which the offense scores a touchdown).
After any final conference, the referee then makes full visual signals describing the penalty in detail, which consists of: the penalty that was committed, the team that committed it, whether or not the opposing team chooses to decline it, and the resulting down or possession. In College Football , the NFL and other professional leagues, and in some high school games, the referee also announces the penalties over a wireless Microphone to the crowd. In college and professional football, the referee will also give out the numbers of the players who committed the fouls.
Example: Suppose that, on a pass play from the offense's 30 yard line, the safety, wearing number 26, commits defensive pass interference at the defense's 45 yard line. The official closest to the play, the Side Judge, throws his flag. After the pass falls incomplete and the play is whistled dead, the referee confers with the Side Judge and perhaps the Umpire (who could also see the play), who inform the referee of what they saw. The referee will likely then choose to assess the penalty.
The referee stands in the middle of the field, gives the pass interference signal and points to the defense's end zone. Since the penalty is very advantageous to the offense, the referee will likely assume that the penalty is not declined. After a short pause to confirm the penalty, the referee gives the full signal, displaying the body signals as he describes them: "Pass interference, number 26, defense. The ball will be placed at the spot of the foul. Automatic first down." The ball is moved to the defense's 45 yard line, and the next play begins.
In the NFL, a number of penalties can be reviewed by officials or challenged by coaches (see Instant Replay ). If a coach wants to challenge a penalty, he must do so before the next play begins, and he does so by throwing a red flag similar to the officials' yellow flags. Coaches allowed 2 challenges per half, but the coach has to win the first challenge. The team loses a timeout if they lose the challenge. Plays inside the two-minute-warning cannot be challenged. The referee will announce the result of Instant Replay reviews over his wireless microphone.
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