Penalty Enforcement (Special Enforcement Rules)

We devoted the last seven days to examining Rule 10-4 articles. Let’s conclude our penalty enforcement “series” by unpacking Rule 10-5.

These fouls have special enforcement provisions and options for the offended team:

a. Free kick out of bounds untouched by R (6-1-9). After the ball goes out of bounds (and after the wing properly dead-ball officiates until players separate), the receiving team’s wing should make a beeline to the coach to determine which option he wants. Always offer the most “desirable” option first. Only two options will apply depending on the circumstance (one will always be the :

  • Accept a 5-yard penalty from the succeeding spot
  • Put the ball in play at the inbounds spot 25 yards beyond the previous spot
  • Accept a 5-yard penalty from the previous spot and have K rekick
  • Decline the penalty and put the ball in play at the inbounds spot (I have no idea why this is in the rules book)

b. Kick-catching interference (6-5-6)

  • R may accept the results of the play. This would be the preferred choice if R picked up the ball and advanced more than 15 yards downfield from the spot of the foul.
  • R may take an awarded fair catch after a 15-yard penalty is enforced from the spot of the foul. This is valid regardless of which team recovers the kick.
  • R may enforce a 15-yard penalty from the previous spot and replay the down. Never say “rekick” because Team K does not have to kick the ball during the subsequent play.

c. Unfair acts (9-9). The referee enforces any penalty he/she considers equitable, including the award of a score.

d. A foul by the opponent of the scoring team on a successful try (8-3-5) or field goal (8-4-3)

  • Accept the penalty and replay the down following enforcement (anywhere between the hash marks)
  • Accept the result of the play and enforcement of the penalty from the succeeding spot (including overtime)

e. Fouls that occur during or after a touchdown scoring play (8-2-2 through 8-2-5). The offended team may accept the penalty and choose enforcement on the:

  • Try
  • Subsequent kickoff (this option is not available in overtime as there is no kickoff in overtime)

f. Roughing the passer (9-4-4)

  • 15 yards and an automatic first down when
  • The dead ball spot is beyond the neutral zone, and
  • Team A has possession of the ball at the end of the down, and
  • There has been no change of possession, and
  • The foul is not for an incidental face mask
  • If the above caveats do not apply, the 15-yard penalty and automatic first down will be enforced from the previous spot

g. Roughing the kicker or holder (9-4-5) or snapper (9-4-6). 15-yard penalty and an automatic first down from the previous spot

h. Fouls by K during a free or scrimmage kick down prior to the end of the legal kick (10-4-2 EXCEPTION). This does not apply to kick-catching interference and does not apply if K will be next to snap the ball.

  • Team R may enforce the foul from the previous spot and replay the down
  • Team R may enforce the foul from the succeeding spot

Quiz

Read the quiz stem and then choose the best answer(s). (Choose all that apply.)

2/3 from the B-24. A12 completes a pass to A38 and B70 is flagged for roughing the passer. A38 is hit at the B-4 and he fumbles the ball which strikes the goal line pylon.

  1. The result of the play is a touchback
  2. The result of the play is a safety
  3. The foul will be enforced from the B-4. 1/10 for Team A at the B-2
  4. The foul will be enforced from the B-24. 1/10 for Team A at the B-12
  5. The foul will be enforced from the B-20. 1/10 for Team B at the B-10

Review Rules 1-2-4, 9-4-4 PENALTY, and 10-1-5

Click below to reveal the Quiz answer and accompanying explanations.

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