Summary of Penalties
LOSS OF A DOWN
Illegal scrimmage kick [also loss of five yards]
Illegally handing ball forward [also loss of five yards]
Planned loose ball play [also loss of five yards]
Intentionally throwing backward pass out of bounds [also loss of five yards]
Illegal forward pass by Team A [also loss of five yards]
Intentionally grounding forward pass [spot of foul]
Forward pass illegally touched by player out of bounds
Illegally batting ball [also loss of 10 yards] (see exceptions)
Illegally kicking ball [also loss of 10 yards] (see exceptions)
LOSS OF FIVE YARDS
Alteration of playing surface for an advantage
Improper numbering
Coin-toss infractions
Delay after three timeouts expended
Illegal delay of the game
Advancing a dead ball
Disconcerting offensive signals
Substitution rules infractions
More Than Eleven Players in the formation or during the play
Putting ball in play before it is ready
Exceeding 40/25-second count
Infraction of free kick formation
Team A blocking during a free kick
Player out of bounds when ball free-kicked
Team A player illegally goes out of bounds (free kick)
Free kick out of bounds
Illegal kick [also loss of down if by Team A]
Team A player illegally goes out of bounds (scrimmage kick)
Defensive Linemen—3-on-1 on field goal formation
Taking more than two steps after fair catch
Illegal snap
Snapper’s position and ball adjustment
Team A not within nine-yard marks after ready
False start or simulating start of a play
Encroachment (offense) at snap
Player out of bounds when ball is snapped
Offensive player illegally in motion at the snap
Illegal Formation
Illegal formation due to numbering exception
Illegal shift
Offside (defense)
Abrupt defensive actions
Interference with opponent or ball
Defensive player charging unabated toward a back
Defensive player out of bounds at the snap
Illegally handing ball forward [also loss of down if by Team A]
Planned loose ball play [also loss of down]
Intentionally throwing backward pass out of bounds [also loss of down if by Team A]
Player on scrimmage line receiving snap
Illegal forward pass [also loss of down if by Team A]
Ineligible receiver downfield
Forward pass illegally touched
Running into kicker or holder
Game Administration Interference [second and third infractions]
Interlocked interference or helping ball carrier
LOSS OF 10 YARDS
Home team delay
Illegal use of hands or arms (offense)
Holding or obstruction (offense)
Illegal block in the back (offense)
Locked hands
Illegal use of hands (defense) [first down]
Holding or obstruction (defense) [first down]
Illegal block in the back (defense)
Holding or obstruction (loose ball)
Illegally batting loose ball [also loss of down]
Illegally batting a backward pass
Batting ball in possession by player in possession
Illegally kicking ball [also loss of down]
LOSS OF 15 YARDS
Marking ball
Numbers changed to deceive the opponent
Home Jersey Worn Without Permission
Illegal signal devices [also ejection]
Team not ready to play at start of either half
Rapid substitutions to opponents’ disadvantage
Illegal Wedge Formation
Interference with opportunity to catch a kick
Illegal block by fair-catch signaller
Tackling or blocking fair-catcher
Offensive pass interference
Defensive pass interference [first down]
Striking; tripping [first down]
Targeting/Initiating Contact w/Crown of Helmet [first down] [Also Disqualification]
Targeting/Initiating Contact to head/neck area of a defenseless player [first down] [Also Disqualification]
Clipping [first down]
Blocking below the waist [first down]
Late Hit/action out of bounds [first down]
Helmet / Face Mask Fouls [first down]
Continuous contact to the helmet; Hands to the face [first down]
Roughing the passer [first down]
Chop Blocking [first down]
Leverage/Leaping [first down]
Defensive restrictions
Fouling an opponent obviously out of the play [first down]
Hurdling [first down]
Illegal contact against the snapper [first down]
Horse Collar Tackle [first down]
Roughing the kicker [first down]
Kicker simulating being roughed
Continued Participation Without a Helmet
Blind-Side Block
Obscene or vulgar language
Persons illegally on the field
Player not returning ball to official
Provoking ill will
Unsportsmanlike conduct
Persons leaving team area
Illegal return of disqualified player
Noise by persons subject to rules
Concealing the ball
Simulated replacements or substitutions
Equipment to confuse opponents
Intentionally contacting an official [also ejection]
Game Administration Interference [fourth and subsequent]
Fighting [also ejection]
LOSS OF HALF DISTANCE TO GOAL LINE
If distance penalty exceeds half the distance (except on defensive pass interference)
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OFFENDED TEAM’S BALL AT SPOT OF FOUL
Defensive pass interference (if less than a 15-yard penalty) [first down]
CHARGED TIMEOUT FOR A VIOLATION
Not wearing mandatory equipment
Wearing illegal equipment
Head coach’s conference
Head coach’s challenge
Illegal cleats [Also ejection]
VIOLATION
Illegal touching of free kick by kicking team
Illegal touching of scrimmage kick
Scrimmage-kick-batting exception
EJECTION
Prohibited signal devices
Flagrant fouls
Two unsportsmanlike fouls
Illegal cleats
Contacting an official
Use of tobacco
Fighting
DISQUALIFICATION
Targeting/Initiating Contact w/Crown of Helmet
Targeting/Initiating Contact to head/neck of a defenseless player
AUTOMATIC FIRST DOWNS (DEFENSIVE FOULS)
Pass interference
Striking; tripping
Targeting/Initiating Contact w/Crown of Helmet
Contact to head/neck area of a defenseless player
Clipping
Blocking below the waist
Late Hit/action out of bounds
Helmet / Face Mask Fouls
Roughing the passer
Chop Blocking
Leverage/Leaping
Fouling an opponent obviously out of the play
Hurdling
Illegal contact against the snapper
Horse Collar Tackle
Roughing the kicker
Unsportsmanlike Conduct
Holding
Fighting
WHEN-IN-QUESTION RULES
Catch or recovery not completed
Block below waist
Chop block
Block in the back
Ball not touched on kick or forward pass
Ball is accidentally kicked (touched
Forward pass rather than backward pass
Forward pass and not fumble
It is a catchable forward pass
Stop clock for injured player
Forward progress stopped
Kick-catch interference
It is a catchable forward pass
Touchback rather than safety
Targeting
A player is defenseless
Twisting, turning or pulling face mask (helmet opening)
Roughing kicker rather than running into