Penalties & Enforcement

Philosophical Approach The “Quality” of your call or no-call can significantly affect the course of a game. Remember the purpose of the game – to legally advance the ball. As an official, your job is to judge the execution & if necessary, the intent of a player. If an illegal act occurs, then you must process the following 3 things: Does the infraction affect the play? Does it concern player safety or sportsmanship? Did his team gain an advantage during the course of the play due to that illegal action? “Ball position on the field” or “time on the clock” has no bearing on these 3 actions - consistency is the objective for officials. Don’t be too technical, avoid “nitpick” or “gotcha” calls, make it be there, especially major fouls! Phantom calls are truly game interrupters, see the entire play or keep the flag in your pocket. If the action falls into a gray area of “foul or no foul”, then it should be considered “no foul” unless safety or sportsmanship is a factor. Use videos to assist you in recognizing “warning signs” and improving your decision making abilities.

NFHS Enforcement Principals All-But-One: Enforcement is based on the fact that a team is given the advantage of the distance which is gained without assistance of a foul. It is assumed that the only foul which would give this aid would be a foul by the offense behind the basic spot. Therefore, “all fouls but this one” (a foul by the offense behind the basic spot), are penalized from the basic spot. This one foul is penalized from the spot of the foul. Exceptions to Live Ball – “All But One” fouls: Fouls which occur simultaneous with the snap. Foul by the opponent of the scoring team during a successful try, field goal, or touchdown. (Penalty is assessed from the succeeding spot if the score and penalty are accepted. On touchdown, scoring team has option of assessing penalty on try or kick-off). Non-player or unsportsmanlike fouls. Roughing the passer when the dead ball spot is beyond the NZ and there has been no change of possession. Kick catching interference when the offended team accepts a penalty of 15 yards from the spot of the foul.

Play Spots & Types Basic spot for a loose ball play is the previous spot. “Loose Ball Play” is action during: Free Kick or Scrimmage Kick. Legal Forward Pass. Backward Pass (including snap), illegal kick or fumble made by A from in or behind the NZ prior to a change of possession. Note: Includes run(s) which precede such legal or illegal kick, legal forward pass, backward pass or fumble. Basic spot for a running play is the end of the run. “Running Play” is any action which is not a loose ball play. In or behind the NZ in either of the following: Includes a run not followed by a loose ball. A run followed by an illegal forward pass. Beyond the NZ: Includes a run. A run followed by a loose ball, including an illegal forward pass or kick. Note: A run ends when a runner loses possession, but the related running play continues until the ball becomes dead or some player again gets possession.

Special Enforcement Rules Free Kick Out of Bounds Inbounds spot through yard line where ball went O.B.; or, Inbounds spot 25 yards from the previous spot; or, 5 yard penalty & re-kick by K; or, Kick-Catching Interference Results of play; or, Awarded fair catch following a 15 yard penalty from the spot of the foul; or, 15 yard penalty from previous spot & re-play down. Fouls During Scoring Plays - Fouls by the opponents of the scoring team: During Touchdown with no change of possession, or foul after change of possession. Accept results of play and have penalty enforced from succeeding spot or subsequent kick-off. During a Successful Try. Accept results of play and have penalty enforced from succeeding spot. If 1 point try, team could accept penalty (half the distance to goal) and go for 2 points. During a Successful Field Goal. Accept results of play and have penalty enforced from succeeding spot; or, Take points off the board, assess penalty, and re-play the down.

Special Enforcement Rules After a TD & before the initial ready for play signal for the try: If either team commits a foul for which the basic spot is the succeeding spot, the offended team can have the penalty enforced from the succeeding spot or the subsequent kickoff. First Touching by K is ignored (“erased”) If R commits a foul after the touching and the penalty is accepted. A penalty for any foul is accepted. Roughing the kicker (holder) / running into the kicker (holder) – Roughing – contact that endangers the safety of the kicker or holder (15 yds). Running into – contact where the kicker or holder is displaced from his position but not roughed (5 yds). Contact is ignored when: It is not reasonably certain that the kick will be made. The kick is touched. A defender is blocked into the kicker or holder by a member of the kicking team.

Special Enforcement Rules Roughing the passer – Enforcement is added from the dead ball spot beyond the neutral zone when there is no change of team possession. (15 yds.) Roughing the snapper – Defensive player must charge directly into the snapper when the offense is in kicking formation. (15 yds.) When a run ends in the end zone after a change of possession, the basic spot is determined based on the force that put the ball in the end zone. 20 Yard Line – Fouls by either team when the opponent of the team in possession at the time of the foul is responsible for forcing the ball across the goal line of the team in possession, & the run ends in the end zone & is followed by a loose ball, regardless of where the loose ball becomes dead. (10-4-6) Goal Line – Fouls which are committed during running plays by the opponent of the team in possession at the time of the foul when the team in possession is responsible for forcing the ball across its own goal line, & the related run ends in the end zone and is followed by a loose ball, regardless of where the loose ball becomes dead. (10-4-7)

All-But-One Enforcement Defensive Penalties are Not Part of the All-But-One Principal!!! 20 Offensive Live-Ball Foul Basic Spot Beyond Defensive Live-Ball Foul 30 Penalty Marked off from the basic spot Offensive Live-Ball Foul Behind Penalty Marked off from the spot of the foul 40

All-But-One Enforcement Running Play Basic Spot Play (run) whistled dead 20 Offensive Live-Ball Foul Behind Penalty Marked off from the spot of the foul Spot of Snap 30 40

All-But-One Enforcement Loose Ball Play (Pass) Pass caught & player tackled immediately. 20 Offensive Live-Ball Foul Basic Spot Spot of Snap Beyond 30 Penalty Marked off from the basic spot Offensive Live-Ball Foul Behind Penalty Marked off from the spot of the foul 40

All-But-One Enforcement Running Play (Which Includes a Loose Ball – Fumble) Offensive Live-Ball Foul 20 Play whistled dead Beyond Penalty Marked off from the basic spot Basic Spot Penalty Marked off from the spot of the foul Behind Spot of Snap 30 Offensive Live-Ball Foul 40

All-But-One Enforcement End Zone Enforcement 20 Running play whistled dead 10 Spot of Snap Basic Spot G Offensive Live-Ball Foul SAFETY Behind Goal Line

All-But-One Enforcement Touchback Enforcement Basic Spot 20 Penalty marked off from the spot of the foul Spot of Snap 10 Defensive Live-Ball Foul After Interception Play Whistled Dead G Behind Goal Line - Touchback Defensive Interception

All-But-One Enforcement Double Foul Enforcement / Change of Possession Offensive Live-Ball Foul Before Interception 20 Defensive Live-Ball Foul After Interception Spot of Snap 10 Basic Spot Play Whistled Dead Penalty on defense is marked off from the basic spot, half the distance. G Defense must decline the penalty in order to keep the ball since they obtained it with “clean hands”. Defensive Interception

Dead Ball Enforcement 20 30 40 Situation: 2nd down & 5 from B-30 Play whistled dead at B-23 Offensive Dead-Ball Foul Penalty Marked off from the succeeding spot Spot of Snap 30 First down was achieved by A. First & 10 from B-38 40

Dead Ball Enforcement 20 30 40 Situation: 4nd down & 4 from B-35 First down was not achieved by A. B’s ball, 1st & 10 from B-22 30 Spot of Snap Penalty Marked off from the succeeding spot Play whistled dead at B-37 Defensive Dead-Ball Foul 40

Live / Dead Ball Enforcement Situation: 2nd down & Goal from B-15 Touchdown Defensive unsportsmanlike foul in end zone G Live ball penalty marked off under “all but one”, back to 13 yard line. Offensive holding foul at 3 yard line Remains A ball, 2nd down & Goal from the 6-1/2 yard line. 10 Dead ball penalty marked off from the succeeding spot, half the distance to 6-1/2 yard line. Spot of Snap Remember: Live ball penalties are administered first, then all dead ball penalties in the order of occurrence! Live Ball / Dead ball penalties do not offset! 20

Enforcement During a Score Situation: 2nd down & Goal from B-15 Touchdown G 40 Live ball penalty marked off on the try half the distance, or the succeeding kick-off. Defensive foul during run Kick-off from R’s 45 yard line if succeeding spot option is taken.. K 10 50 Spot of Snap 20 40

PSK Enforcement 20 30 40 Kick Ends Here Penalty marked off from basic spot - end of kick 20 Penalty marked off from basic spot - end of run Receivers Live-Ball Foul During Kick Return Ends Here Receivers Live-Ball Foul After Kick Ends 30 Receivers Live-Ball Foul During Kick Spot of Snap Expanded Neutral Zone Penalty marked off from basic spot – previous spot 40

Scrimmage Kick Enforcement Penalty marked off from the spot of the foul, or Kick Ends Here Kick Catch Interference 20 Return Ends Here 30 Spot of Snap Penalty marked off from basic spot – previous spot 40

Scrimmage Kick Enforcement Kick Ends Here Kick Catch Interference 20 The penalty cannot be carried over since the foul occurred before the change of possession (during the loose ball play). 30 Spot of Snap Return Ends as Touchdown 40

Scrimmage Kick Enforcement B-9 retreats to his own end zone where he is tackled there. Momentum is not a factor. What are our options/decisions? G Accept the results of play; Safety - B free kick from B20 Ball then rolls untouched to the 11 and is then “illegally kicked” forward by A-78. B-9 picks ball up at 2 10 Accept first touching by A – First down for B at B11 Spot of Snap Expanded Neutral Zone Accept 15 yard penalty – Replay 4th. down from B30 Situation – 4th & 4 from B-15; Scrimmage Kick Formation 20 FG attempt partially blocked by B-99