1. Penalties & Enforcement
Philosophical Approach
Targeting Discussion
Enforcement Principals
Enforcement Situations

2. Philosophical Approach
The “Quality” of your call or no-call can significantly affect the course of a game, therefore you must use sound officiating judgment.
Refer to NFHS Game Officials Manual (Basic Philosophy & Principals)
As an official, your job is to judge the execution & when necessary, the intent of a players’ actions. If illegal action occurs, you must analyze the act using the following three principals:
Does the infraction affect the total result of the play?
Does the infraction concern player safety or sportsmanship?
Did the offending team gain an advantage due to the illegal action?
“Ball position on the field” or “time on the clock” has no bearing on these three principals because consistency is the objective and expectation for all game officials.
Don’t be too technical. Avoid “nitpick” or “gotcha” calls. Make it (infraction) be there, especially major fouls!
Phantom calls are truly game interrupters so you must see the entire play, otherwise keep the flag in your pocket.
If the action falls into a gray area of “foul or no foul”, it should be considered “no foul” unless safety or sportsmanship is a factor.
Use HUDL video to assist you in recognizing “warning signs” and improving your decision making abilities.

3. Holding Philosophy
Holding presents a challenge for officials because so many factors surround throwing the penalty flag.
Keys to Offensive Holding fouls:
Point of attack
Double-teamed
Advantage / Disadvantage
Direction of runner. (Is the defender actively pursuing the runner?)
Blockers positioning, can the opponent separate?
Watch the blockers feet & quickness of the defender
Types of offensive holding:
Tackle: Holding below the waist or at the legs.
Takedown: Wrestler style holding. Smaller blockers seeking an advantage.
Pullover: Blocker pulls the defender on top of him to the ground.
Hook, Grab, or Jerk and Restrict: Holding after the player has been beaten by the defender. Be sure that the action affects the play.
Types of defensive holding:
Pull & Shoot: Defense pulls a lineman away so a clear path can be used by a teammate.

4. Pass Interference Guidelines
Pass Interference Criteria:
Action that interferes with an opponent’s opportunity to move toward, catch, or bat a legal forward pass. Incidental contact is not interference. Contact is not necessary.
Interference must occur inbounds, beyond the line of scrimmage, and must be in the direction of the pass.
Restrictions Begin:
Offense – At the snap. (If he initiates contact 2 yds. beyond the LOS or sets a pick, it’s OPI.)
Defense – When the ball leaves the passers hand.
Both offense and defense have a legal right to the ball.
A “Catchable Pass” is not a factor in high school football.
It’s the responsibility of the offensive player to avoid the defenders.
Contact by the Defense:
Contact by the defense on a potential blocker is legal until the offensive receiver demonstrates that he is not a blocker by one of two actions:
1. Moving away from the defender.
2. Passing the defender.
Once either occurs, the defender may not make contact. (9-2-3d)
GUIDELINE: Allow defensive contact until offensive receiver occupies same yard line, or until he demonstrates that he is not blocking.
PENALTY: Illegal Use of Hands (10 yards)

5. Targeting
Targeting is a flagrant foul that occurs when a player takes aim against an opponent for the purposes of attacking (contact above the shoulders) with apparent intent that goes beyond making a legal tackle, legal block, or playing the ball.
Leading with the helmet, forearm, fist, hand or elbow to attack with contact at the head or neck area.
Don’t confuse targeting with illegal use of hands.
Lowering the head before attacking by initiating contact with the crown of the helmet.
Launching by leaving his feet to attack an opponent by an upward and forward thrust of the body to make contact in the head or neck area.
A crouch followed by an upward and forward thrust to attack with contact in the head or neck area, even if one or both feet are still on the ground.

6. Targeting
Targeting may be considered a flagrant foul if it’s against a defenseless player.
A defenseless player is a player who, because of his physical position and focus of concentration, is especially vulnerable to injury.
Examples of vulnerable players:
A quarterback who has handed or pitched the ball to a teammate and makes no further attempt to participate in the play.
A kicker who is in the act of kicking the ball, or who has not had a reasonable time to regain his balance after the kick.
A passer who is in the act of throwing the ball, or who has not had a reasonable amount of time to participate in the play again after releasing the ball.
A pass receiver whose concentration in on the ball and the contact by the defender is unrelated to attempting to catch the ball.
A pass receiver who is clearly relaxed after he has missed the pass or feels that he can no longer make the catch.
A kick receiver whose concentration is on the downward flight of the ball.
A kick receiver who has just touched the ball.
Any player who has just become relaxed after the ball has become dead.
Any player that is obviously out of the play.
Draw the distinction between necessary contact and contact that’s flagrant.

7. 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”, that is 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.)
Non-player or unsportsmanlike fouls.
REMEMBER – When there’s contact, it’s a personal foul; no contact, it’s unsportsmanlike. When in doubt, it’s unsportsmanlike.
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.

8. Enforcement - Play Types
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. 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.

9. Special Enforcement Situations
Free Kick Out of Bounds
Inbounds spot through yard line where ball went O.B.
Inbounds spot 25 yards from the previous spot.
5 yard penalty and re-kick by K.
Kick-Catching Interference
Awarded fair catch following a 15 yard penalty from the spot of the foul, or;
15 yard penalty from previous spot & re-play down.
Unfair Acts
Referee imposes penalty that he considers equitable if not covered by rule.
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.
During a Successful Field Goal.

10. Special Enforcement Situations
After a Touchdown and before the initial “ready for play signal” for the try.
If either team commits any 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 R is ignored
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.

11. Special Enforcement Situations
Roughing the passer – Enforcement is added from the dead ball spot beyond the neutral zone when there is no change of team possession.
Any illegal personal contact except incidental facemask. (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, and the run ends in the end zone and 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, and 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)

12. Processing a Player Foul
When a foul occurs, there are a series of questions to be asked, then answered by the crew before the offended team captain is given his options.
Penalty Administration Questions to be Answered Following a Foul:
1. What is the status of the ball at the end of the down?
A. Who has possession of the ball?
B. Where did the play start and end?
C. What down is it?
D. What is the status of the clock?
1. Will the clock restart on the “ready or snap?
2. Will there be an untimed down?
2. What is the foul?
3. Who committed the foul?
4. Where is the basic spot for the penalty administration?
5. Was the foul during a “live or dead” ball interval?
6. Was there a change of possession?
A. If there was a change of possession, was the foul before or after the change?
7. If there is more than one foul, is it a multiple or double foul?
A. If double, do they offset?
B. If multiple, which foul will most likely be penalized?
8. What are the captains options?

13. Defensive Penalties are Not Part of the All-But-One Principal!!!
All-But-One Concept
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

14. 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

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

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

17. 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

18. All-But-One Enforcement
End Zone 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

19. All-But-One Enforcement
End Zone Enforcement
Basic Spot 20
Penalty marked off from the B20 to the B30; First Down for Offense, Clock Starts on Snap
Spot of Snap 10
Fumble Recovery by Offense & Return
Holding by Offense During Fumble G
Touchdown
Defensive Interception & Fumble

20. 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
Play Whistled Dead
Basic Spot
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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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 unless they cancel each other out! Live Ball / Dead ball penalties do not offset! 20

24. Enforcement Involving 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 kickoff.
Defensive foul during run
Kickoff from R’s 45 yard line if succeeding spot option is taken.. K 10 50
Spot of Snap 20 40

25. Sideline Interference Enforcement
Situation:
First Offensive Play From Scrimmage to Open the Game
Do not confuse this situation with a team box infraction. This is a contact foul / penalty, not unsportsmanlike conduct.
USC is administered as:
Sideline warning (no flag)
5-yard penalty
15 yard penalty charged to the Head Coach (second offense, HC is disqualified) 20
Administration for this situation?
Run Ends Here OB
1. Assess live ball holding penalty from spot of the foul, B-37.
2. Assess non-player dead ball sideline interference penalty from the succeeding spot at B-47.
3. Inform Head Coach that a second offense will result in his disqualification. (9-4-8) 30
Spot of Snap
Offensive Holding at B-37
Linesman Contacts Assistant Coach in Restricted Area During the Down 40

26. What is the result of the play? What are the options if any?
Free Kick Enforcement
What is the result of the play?
What are the options if any?
R-40 then kicks the ball into and out of the end zone. G
Loose ball then rolls to the 2 yard line.
Free Kick is muffed by R-28 at the R-10. 10
Options: First & 10 for R from R20 yard line or accept 15 yard penalty from the previous spot – rekick from R45 yard line.
Situation – Free Kick from K-40 yard line 20

27. 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

28. Scrimmage Kick Enforcement
Kick Catching Interference
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

29. Enforcement Involving a Score
Penalty Carry Over
Kick Ends Here
Kick Catch Interference 20
What about the penalty???????
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

30. 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 rolls untouched to the B11 and is then intentionally kicked forward by A-78.
B-9 picks the loose ball up at the B2 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 B15; Scrimmage Kick Formation 20
FG attempt partially blocked by B-99

31. Enforcement Involving a Score
SITUATION
Third & 15 from A-5
Score: A-21 / B-12
Quarter: 4
Time: 0:39
WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS FOR B?
WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS FOR A?
B Option 1: Decline the holding penalty; accept the TD; kickoff to A
B Option 2: Accept the holding penalty & safety; receive free kick from A-35 20
Interception by B at A-18
A Option if B accepts TD: Accept 15 yard penalty PAT (A-18) / kickoff (B-45)
A Option if B accepts safety: Accept 15 yard penalty and free kick from A-35 10
Spot of Snap
USC Foul by B During the Return G
Offensive Holding During Pass in End Zone
Pass Thrown From End Zone
Returned for Touchdown by B

32. Officiating Guides
You have specific officiating responsibilities, work your position, no more – no less.
Tenth Commandment - Thou shalt not covet your neighbors house, wife, or another officials area.
A five man crew can’t afford the luxury of having officials look anywhere other than where their responsibilities are.
See the whole play. Rely on your experience, your judgment, and the intent or spirit with which the rules are written. Consistency in judgment throughout the game establishes credibility!
Use preventative officiating (not coaching). Communicate with players, coaches, and fellow officials.
Player actions that can result in injury must be called and enforced.
Proper penalty protocol:
Drop the flag at the appropriate yard line. Keep officiating if ball is live.
Be sure your flag is covered by another official before you report to the referee. (Don’t leave the dead ball spot.)
Be clear in your communication with the referee regarding the penalty. Don’t give a visible signal as you approach the referee.
Record unsportsmanlike penalties on your card.
Don’t indulge in a “make-up” call or be “talked into” a call by a coach.

33. Good luck to you all!