Football penalties are called for illegal actions before or during a play. The most common fouls are false starts and offside before the snap, holding and pass interference during plays, and personal fouls such as unnecessary roughness, face mask and roughing the passer. Most penalties cost 5, 10 or 15 yards, and some defensive fouls also give the offense an automatic first down. The team that did not commit the foul usually chooses whether to accept or decline the penalty, and near the goal line a penalty cannot move the ball more than half the distance to the goal. Exact yardage and enforcement differ between the NFL, college and high school.
How penalties work
When an official sees a foul, they throw a yellow flag. After the play, the officials discuss the call, and the referee announces the penalty and the offending team. Fouls can be dead-ball fouls, which happen before the snap or after the play ends and usually stop the play from starting, or live-ball fouls, which happen during the play. For live-ball fouls, the offended team typically chooses whether to accept the penalty or decline it and keep the result of the play. For example, if the defense holds a receiver but the quarterback completes a long pass anyway, the offense usually declines the penalty.
Common penalties
| Penalty | What it is | Typical yardage (NFL) |
|---|---|---|
| False start | Offensive player moves before the snap | 5 |
| Offside, encroachment or neutral zone infraction | Defender over or into the neutral zone before the snap | 5 |
| Delay of game | Play clock expires before the snap | 5 |
| Illegal formation or illegal motion | Improper alignment or movement at the snap | 5 |
| Offensive holding | Illegally grabbing or restricting a defender | 10 |
| Defensive holding | Illegally restricting a receiver or blocker | 5 plus automatic first down |
| Defensive pass interference | Illegal contact on a receiver while the ball is in the air | Spot of the foul plus automatic first down |
| Offensive pass interference | Illegal contact by a receiver, such as pushing off | 10 |
| Face mask | Grabbing and twisting or pulling the face mask | 15 |
| Roughing the passer | Illegal hit on the quarterback | 15 plus automatic first down |
| Unnecessary roughness | Excessive or dangerous contact | 15 |
| Unsportsmanlike conduct | Taunting and similar behavior | 15 |
Pre-snap fouls explained
False start. An offensive player, usually a lineman, moves in a way that simulates the start of the play before the snap. Once set, offensive linemen must remain still until the ball is snapped.
Offside and encroachment. A defender is beyond the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped, or makes contact with an offensive player before the snap. A neutral zone infraction occurs when a defender moves into the neutral zone and causes an offensive player to react.
Delay of game. The offense fails to snap the ball before the play clock runs out, or a player delays the restart of play.
Illegal formation and motion. The offense lines up with fewer than seven players on the line, has more than one player in motion at the snap, or has a player moving toward the line of scrimmage at the snap.
Fouls during the play
Holding. Offensive holding occurs when a blocker grabs, hooks or restricts a defender illegally. Defensive holding occurs when a defender illegally grabs or restricts a receiver or blocker. Holding is one of the most frequently called penalties.
Pass interference. Defensive pass interference is illegal contact that hinders a receiver’s chance to catch a catchable forward pass. Offensive pass interference occurs when a receiver pushes off or blocks a defender while the ball is in the air. In the NFL, defensive pass interference is a spot foul, which can mean very large yardage, while college limits it to 15 yards in most cases.
Intentional grounding. A quarterback under pressure throws the ball away without a realistic chance of completion, outside the allowed exceptions, typically resulting in a loss of down and yardage.
Personal fouls and safety rules
Personal fouls involve dangerous or unnecessary contact. They include unnecessary roughness, face mask violations, roughing the passer, roughing the kicker, late hits, horse-collar tackles and hits on defenseless players. Most carry a 15-yard penalty, and some result in ejection. College football’s targeting rule, which penalizes forcible contact to the head or neck area of a defenseless player or leading with the crown of the helmet, can result in a 15-yard penalty and disqualification. These rules have been strengthened over time to reduce head injuries.
Special teams penalties
Kicks bring their own set of fouls. Running into or roughing the kicker occurs when a defender makes contact with a punter or kicker after the kick; roughing is the more serious foul and carries a larger penalty and often an automatic first down. Kick catch interference happens when the kicking team interferes with a returner’s opportunity to catch a punt or kick. Illegal blocks in the back, often called on returns, occur when a player blocks an opponent from behind above the waist. Kicking the ball out of bounds on a kickoff also results in a penalty that gives the receiving team good field position. Because special teams plays involve many players running at full speed, officials watch closely for these fouls.
The role of officials and replay
Games are officiated by a crew whose size depends on the level, commonly seven officials in the NFL and college and five or more in high school. Each official watches specific players and areas. At higher levels, instant replay can review certain decisions, such as whether a pass was caught or a player was in bounds, but most judgment calls, such as holding, are generally not reviewable. Replay rules differ between leagues and continue to evolve.
Enforcement basics
- Accept or decline. The team fouled against usually chooses whether to accept a penalty.
- Half the distance. A penalty cannot move the ball more than half the distance to the offending team’s goal line.
- Automatic first down. Many defensive fouls, such as defensive holding and roughing the passer, also give the offense a first down.
- Loss of down. Some offensive fouls, such as intentional grounding, cost the offense a down.
- Offsetting penalties. When both teams commit fouls on the same play, penalties may offset and the down is replayed.
Step by step: understanding a penalty call
- Look for the flag. A yellow flag signals a foul.
- Watch the referee’s signal and listen to the announcement.
- Note which team committed the foul and whether it happened before or during the play.
- Check the result: the new down, distance and spot of the ball.
- Consider whether the penalty was accepted or declined.
How players can avoid penalties
Many penalties come from poor technique or lack of focus. Offensive linemen reduce holding calls by keeping their hands inside the defender’s chest and moving their feet. Defenders avoid pass interference by playing the ball and staying in phase with receivers. Players reduce pre-snap penalties by knowing the snap count and staying disciplined. Personal fouls often come from emotion, so composure and good tackling technique matter.
Common mistakes fans make
- Confusing false start with offside.
- Assuming all penalties include an automatic first down.
- Forgetting the half-the-distance rule near the goal line.
- Believing the NFL and college use identical penalty yardage.
Rulebook note: penalty definitions, yardage and enforcement differ between the NFL, NCAA and NFHS and change regularly. This article summarizes common fouls; check the current rulebook for your level.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common penalty in football?
Offensive holding and false starts are among the most frequently called penalties.
What does an automatic first down mean?
The offense receives a new set of downs regardless of the yardage gained from the penalty.
Can a team decline a penalty?
Yes. The team fouled against can usually choose to decline a penalty if the play result is better.
