1. Penalty Enforcement

2. Status of Ball and Plays Status of the ball – there are only two possibilities – it’s either a live ball foul or a dead ball foul. Unsportsmanlike fouls may occur while the ball is live or dead. Whatever the status of the ball, unsportsmanlike fouls are enforced as if they occurred after the play was over. When the ball is live, one of two types of plays occurs: a loose ball play or running play. A loose ball play is action during a free kick or scrimmage kick, a legal forward pass, a backward pass (including the snap), an illegal kick or fumble by team A from in or behind the neutral zone prior to a change of team possession. The run or runs that proceed a legal or illegal kick, legal forward pass, backward pass or fumble is considered part of a loose ball play. A post-scrimmage kick (PSK) foul is a special king of loose ball play and has special enforcement. Any other play is considered a running play.

3. SPOTS Previous Spot – is just what the name implies – point at which the ball was last put in play by snap or free kick. Succeeding Spot – point at which ball will next be put in play either by snap or free kick. Basic Spot – point of reference for penalty enforcement. For a loose ball play other than PSK, the basic spot is the previous spot. The basic spot is the end of the run for a running play. Dead Ball Spot – spot under the foremost point of the ball when it becomes dead by rule. PSK Spot – where the kick ends.

4. All But One Principal For many fouls, the enforcement spot is given as part of the statement of the penalty. Example – encroachment, illegal shift, illegal motion are always enforced from the previous spot. But for many fouls, the rule book refers to the basic spot, not a specific location on the field. Those penalties are enforced according to the three-and-one principal, referred to as the all- but-one principal. All-but-one determines the spot from which the penalty is stepped off. Key to using that principal if the notion of the basic spot. The basic spot is not a fixed location on the field; it’s a benchmark for locating the enforcement spot and varies according to the type of play. The basic spot (except for PSK) can only be either the previous spot of the end of the run; there are no other candidates

5. All But One Principal For running plays in which the run ends beyond the neutral zone, the basic spot is the end of the run. Same is true for running plays when there is no neutral zone, kick returns, interception returns and other plays involving change of team possession For running plays which end behind the neutral zone, the basic spot is the end of the run For legal forward pass plays and for kick plays that do not involve PSK, the basic spot is the previous spot. If the team that does not have the ball commits a foul, enforce the penalty from the basic spot regardless of where the foul happens. If the team in possession commits a foul, the enforcement spot depends on where the foul was committed. If it happens beyond the basic spot, go back to basic spot for enforcement. If it occurs behind the basic spot, enforce from the spot of the foul.

6. All But One Principal Applying the all-but-one principal is easy when you follow the recipe: Where is the basic spot, and where did the foul occur in relation to the basic spot? Answering those questions will allow you to correctly enforce any penalty that is governed by the all-but-one principal.

7. Live Ball Foul by Team A At or beyond end of the run Behind end of the run Penalty enforced from end of the run Penalty enforced from spot of the foul End of the run or foul in team A’s end zone Safety Fouls During Running Plays Live Ball Foul by Team B Penalty enforced from end of the run Anywhere End of the run or foul in team A’s end zone Enforce from team A’s goal line If

8. Running Play Team A Fouls First and 10 for team A from it’s own 20. A1 carries to team A 35 yard line. A2 is flagged for holding at team A 25 yard line. Is this all-but-one enforcement? Where is basic spot? Penalize from spot of foul – 1 st and 15 for from A 15. Same play but team fouls at team A 40. Is this all-but-one enforcement? Where is basic spot? Enforce from end of run, 1 st and 5 for A from 25.

9. Running Plays Team B Fouls Basic rule is to enforce any defensive foul on a running play from the end of the run. First and 10 for team A from its own 20. A1 carries to A’s 35. B2 is flagged for grabbing but not twisting A’s facemask. Foul occurs at teams A 25.

10. Ball loose behind line Team A’s foul occurs behind line Team A’s foul occurs beyond line Penalty enforced from spot of the foul Penalty enforced from Previous spot Spot of the foul is team A’s end zone Safety Fouls During a Backward Pass, Fumble or Legal Forward Pass Ball loose beyond line Team A’s foul occurs behind spot of fumble or backward pass Team A’s foul occurs beyond spot of fumble or backward pass Penalty enforced from spot of the foul Penalty enforced from spot of fumble or backward pass Spot of the foul is team A’s end zone Safety If

11. First and 10 for A from it’s 30. A1 legal forward pass is incomplete beyond line. Holding is called at team A 45 on (a) A2 or (b) B3. In either case the penalty is enforced from the previous spot.

12. Fouls During a Backward Pass, Fumble or Legal Forward Pass Team B fouls while ball is loose; loose ball occurs beyond line Team B fouls while ball is loose; loose ball occurs behind line Penalty enforced from spot of fumble or backward pass Penalty enforced from previous spot

13. First and 10 for team A from team B 30 yard line. Team A legal forward pass from behind line is complete to A33 to B 10. Team B is flagged for holding on team B 25. Where is enforcement?

14. Roughing the passer complete pass Change of possession, run ends behind neutral zone or play results Run ends beyond neutral zone, no change of possession Penalty enforced from previous spot Penalty enforced from dead ball spot Roughing the Passer on Legal Forward Passes Roughing the passer incomplete pass

15. First and 10 for A from it’s 40. Legal forward pass to A2 is complete to B 45. A2 fumbles at B45 but recovers at B 40. Roughing passer is called on B2. Where is dead ball spot?

16. Either team fouls during the kick Penalty enforced from previous spot. Fouls on Free Kick Plays Either team fouls after the kick ends (ball does not become loose during the run) Foul occurs behind end of the run Foul occurs beyond end of the run Foul by team K Penalty enforced from end of the run Foul by team R Penalty enforced from spot of the foul Penalty enforced from end of the run

17. K free kicks from it’s own 40. R5 catches kick on own 5 and returns to team A 40. During run, R6 clips at team R’s 10. Fouls that occur after the receivers catch or recover the free kick are fouls during a running play. Enforce team R foul from spot of foul. Team K free kicks from it’s 40. R1 holds while ball is in flight. R2 catches ball on 5 and returns to team R 20. Type of play? K will re kick after 10 yd penalty is enforced from previous spot. If K declines, teams R ball 1 st and 10 from 20.

18. Foul before change – PSK not involved Team B foulsTeam A’s fouls Running Play Team B must decline penalty to keep ball Penalty enforced from spot of fumble or backward pass Penalty enforced from previous spot Fouls on Change of Possession Plays Team last gaining possession must decline penalty to keep ball Both Teams Foul Team last gaining possession fouled before final change Team last gaining possession did not foul before final change Fouls offset, replay down Loose Ball Play

19. If B fouls prior to change of possession, the ball is returned to team A and team B’s foul is enforced form spot of fumble or backward pass. First and 10 for team A from it’s 40. A1 advances to A 45 when B2 grabs and twist A1 facemask. A1 reaches 50 and fumbles, where B3 recovers the loose ball. Because B fouled prior to gaining possession, it cannot keep the ball. Ball is returned to A and penalty is enforced from the spot of the fumble. Team A ball first and 10 from B 35.

20. Team A fouls after Team B has possession Dead ball in field of play Ball dead in team B’s end zone Penalty enforced from end of run Touchback enforce from team B’s 20 yardline Fouls on Change of Possession Plays Ball dead in team B’s end zone Team B provided the force Penalty enforced from the goalline Team A provided the force

21. Third and 5 for Team A from A’s 30. A8 legal forward pass is intercepted by B41 at 50. During B’s return to 10 yard line, A8 is flagged for block below waist at B’s 25. What type of play?? Penalty is enforced from end of team B run. 1 st and goal for B at 5.

22. Team B fouls after team B has possession Team B fouls in the field of play Team B fouls in it’s own end zone Penalty enforced using all-but-one Safety for team A Ball dead in the field of play Fouls on Change of Possession Plays

23. Team B fouls after team B has possession Ball dead in team B’s end zone Team A provided the force Team B fouls in team B’s end zone Safety for team A Basic spot is team B’s 20 yardline Fouls on Change of Possession Plays Safety for team A Team B provided the force Team B fouls in the field of play Team B fouls in team B’s end zone Safety for team A Team B fouls in the field of play

24. Team K fouls From snap until kick ends Foul occurs at or beyond line Penalty enforced from previous spot Fouls on Scrimmage Kick Plays Spot of foul is in team K’s end zone Foul occurs behind line Penalty enforced using all but one Safety If Exception: If team K commits kick- catching interference, team R may choose a 15 yard penalty from the previous spot or an awarded fair catch at he spot of the foul.

25. Team K fouls After Kick Ends Fouls on Scrimmage Kick Plays Penalty Enforced from End of Run

26. Team R fouls (PSK) Foul occurs behind end of kick Penalty enforced using all but one Fouls on Scrimmage Kick Plays Foul occurs at or beyond end of kick Penalty enforced from end of kick PSK applies if team R fouls on team R’s side of the expanded neutral zone prior to end of scrimmage kick (other than a try of successful field goal) that crosses the neutral zone, if team K does not have possession of the ball when the down ends.

27. Team R fouls (non PSK) Foul occurs anywhere Fouls on Scrimmage Kick Plays Penalty Enforced from Previous Spot

28. 4 th and 2 on the 50. R1 gives and invalid fair catch signal at his 20 while punt is in flight. R1 catches kick at 15. Is this PSK? Team B will likely accept 5 yd penalty from the PSK spot. 1 st and 10 from 10. 4 th and 10 for K from it’s own 20. While K’s punt is in flight, R2 blocks Ks below the waist at the 50. R4 muffs ball at 45 and K recovers Is this PSK? R2 block is illegal and occurred before kick ended. However PSK does not apply because K is in possession at end of down. K will likely decline penalty and start a new series at 45.

29. 4 th and 10 on the 20. While K’s punt is in flight, R block K below the waist at K 18. R4 makes fair catch at 50. Is this PSK? R bock is illegal and occurred before kick ended. Not PSK because spot of foul is behind the neutral zone. Penalty is marked 15 yards form previous spot. 4 th and 10 for K from it’s own 40. While punt is in flight, R2 block K3 below the waist. The foul occurs at R’s 18. The untouched kick lands in end zone. Is this PSK? PSK applies. Because kick resulted in touchback, team R’s 20 yard line is the basic spot. Foul is behind basic spot, and that’s the spot of enforcement. R’s ball 1 st and 10 from it’s 9.

30. Live ball foul by the opponents of the scoring team – no change of possession Live ball foul by the opponents of the team scoring a touchdown – foul comes after change of possessions Penalty enforced on try or succeeding kickoff Live ball fouls treated as dead ball fouls that occur during a touchdown Carryover Fouls (Bridges)