Home > NFL > Rules

NFL Rules

Del.icio.us

This set of rules applies to NFL football exclusively and not to NCAA or NFHS (High School football).

The NFL playing field is 120 yards long (100 yards of regulation field and 10 yards in each end zone) and 50 yards wide. All players must stay within these boundaries to remain active. If a ball carrier should go out of bounds, the play is over and the clock is stopped. The object of the game is to successfully carry the football into the opposing team's end zone and score more points than the other team. A touchdown is worth six points, followed either by an extra point kick for one point, or the offense remains on the field and attempts to carry the ball into the end zone again for two points. Teams also have the option to kick the ball through the goal posts for a field goal which is worth three points. If an offensive player is tackled in their own end zone, the other team is awarded two points and gets to receive a drop kick from the other team. Each offense gets four downs to move the ball 10 yards. Once the offense has surpassed that mark, they are awarded a new set of four downs. If the offense is unable to cross that line within four downs, they lose possession of the ball. This is why teams punt on fourth down to prevent the defense from having good field position.

Turnovers are also a big part of the game. If a ball carrier loses the football before they hit the ground and is touched by a defensive player while down, the ball is live and fair game for both teams. When a forward pass is thrown, the defense has the same right to the football as the offense and can try to intercept the pass. If they successfully intercept the forward pass, the defense may advance the ball towards the other team's end zone as far as they can before being tackled or running out of bounds.

There are seven referees on the field keeping track of all the penalties that can be called.

Offensive Penalties

False Start: A false start penalty is called when any player moves before the snap and after they have gotten set in their position. An offensive player cannot simulate the start of a play. The referee will stop the play before it starts and roll his arms in front of his chest similar to how a basketball referee would signal traveling. This is a 5-yard penalty.

Illegal Formation: When there are not exactly 7 players lined up on the line of scrimmage, if five properly numbered ineligible players fail to line up on the line, or when eligible receivers do not line up at the leftmost and rightmost positions on the line. This is a 5-yard penalty.

Illegal Motion: When a player in motion, usually a receiver or tight end, starts moving forward at the time of the snap. The referee will stop the play before it starts and signal with one arm in front of his chest, with his elbow out to the side, moving away from his chest. This is a 5-yard penalty.

Illegal Shift: When a player is not in motion but also does not get set before the snap, when more than one player is in motion at the snap, or if all 11 players have not been in motion less for one second. The referee will stop the play before it begins and signal with two arms in front of his chest, palms open and down with his elbows out to the side and moving away from his chest. This is a five yard penalty.

Illegal Touching: There are two instances when the referee will call illegal touching. The first is when there is a forward pass that touches an ineligible receiver. If, however, the ball touches a defensive player first, any player can touch the ball. The second is during an onsides or free kick. If an offensive player touches the ball before it travels 10 yards, the referee will throw the penalty flag. Again, if the ball touches a defensive player first, the ball is fair game. The referee will signal with two hands held up to his shoulders. This is a 5-yard penalty.

Delay of Game: When the offense fails to snap the ball before the 40-second play clock reaches zero. The play clock starts running exactly when the previous play ends. If a timeout is called, the play clock starts at 25 seconds from when the ball is spotted and the referee signals ready for play. If there is a delay of game penalty, the referee will stop the play before it starts and signal with his arms extended out from the body, bend his forearms toward the opposite arm and lay the arms on top of one another so that each arm touches the opposite shoulder. This is a five-yard penalty.

Intentional Grounding: When the quarterback, or passer, intentionally throws the ball incomplete to avoid a sack or to conserve time. The referee will signal with both hands held out facing each other. Then he'll move his hands from one shoulder to the opposite hip. This is either a 10-yard penalty or spot of the foul, whichever is farther from the line of scrimmage, and a loss of down. If the penalty occurs with less than one minute left in the half, there is a 10-second runoff on the clock. If it happens with less than 10 seconds left in the half, the half will automatically end. The penalized team may expend a timeout to avoid the time runoff if necessary.

Illegal Forward Pass: When a forward pass is thrown from beyond the line of scrimmage, or when a second forward pass is thrown on the same play. The referee will signal with one hand, flat, waved behind the small of his back. This is a five yard penalty and the offense loses a down.

Holding: When an offensive player has an illegal use of his hands. This is usually grabbing or tackling the defensive player. The referee will signal holding one forearm vertically then grabbing his wrist with the opposite hand. This is a 10-yard penalty from the line of scrimmage.

Illegal Block in the Back: When an offensive player blocks a defensive player from behind and above the waist. The referee will signal with one forearm held vertically and the other hand grabbing the opposite arm's wrist. This is a 10-yard penalty.

Offensive Pass Interference: If an offensive player intentionally makes contact with a defensive player going for a pass to prevent him from making the catch, the referee will throw his flag. If the ball is touched beforehand by any player, full contact is permitted. The referee will signal with two arms in front of his body with palms out moved in a pushing motion. This is a ten yard penalty from the line of scrimmage.

Clipping: When an offensive player blocks a defensive player from behind and/or below the waist. The referee will signal by making his hand strike the back of his leg. This is a 15-yard penalty.

Tripping: When any player intentionally trips another with his lower leg. The referee will signal by kicking his ankle from behind.

Blocking Below the Waist: When any player intentionally hits another player below the waist. The referee will signal with both hands brought down in a chopping motion across his thighs. This is a 15-yard penalty.

Defensive Penalties

Neutral Zone Infraction: When a defensive player moves into the neutral zone (the area along the line of scrimmage) in an attempt to cause the offensive player to false start. The referee will signal by putting both his hands on his hips. This is a 5-yard penalty.

Encroachment: When a defensive player crosses the line of scrimmage and touches an offensive player or has a clear path to the quarterback. The referees will immediately blow their whistle to stop the play before it starts. The referee signal is the same as the Neutral Zone Infraction and also carries a 5-yard penalty.

Running Into the Kicker: When there is a kicking play and a defensive player runs into the kicker or punter. If the contact is incidental, a 5-yard penalty is assessed, but if the foul is flagrant, then the officials will call a Roughing the Kicker penalty for 15 yards.

Roughing the Kicker: The defender misses the block kick but hits the kicker or punter in a way that could cause bodily harm. The referee calls a personal foul. This is a 15-yard penalty and gives the offense an automatic first down.

Defensive Delay of Game: When a defensive player intentionally delays or prevents the offense from making the next snap in a timely manner. The referee's signal for defensive delay of game is the same as it is for offensive and this also carries a 5-yard penalty.

Defensive Pass Interference: When a defensive player impedes an offensive player from receiving a catchable pass and the ball has not yet been touched by any other player. The referee's signal is the same as offensive pass interference. This penalty results in an automatic first down and the ball is moved to the spot of the foul. If the penalty happens in the end zone, the ball is moved to the one yard line.

Defensive Holding: When a defensive player grabs an offensive player (to prevent a block) or a receiver from getting by. The referee's signal is the same as offensive holding. This is a 10-yard penalty.

Illegal Hands to the Face: A defensive player pushes or hits an offensive player in the helmet. The referee signals with his forearm vertically held in front of him with his fist closed to his face in an up and down pulling motion. This penalty costs the defense 5 yards and gives the offense an automatic first down.

Incidental Facemask Contact: A touch and release of the face mask by a player on either team. The referee signal is the same as Illegal Hands to the Face. This is a 5-yard penalty.

Intentional Grabbing of the Face Mask: A defensive player grabs or twists the helmet of an offensive player while tackling or blocking. This is a 15-yard penalty and gives the offense an automatic first down.

Illegal Contact: A defensive player hits a receiver after the receiver has gone beyond 5 yards of the line of scrimmage. The referee signals by pushing one arm out from his body with his palm facing forward. This is a 5-yard penalty.

Roughing the Passer: a defender hits the passer a reasonable amount of time after the passer has thrown the ball. The referees also make a judgment call as to whether the hit was malicious which can result in ejecting the player from the game. Otherwise, this is a 15-yard penalty and gives the offense an automatic first down.

Penalties Against Either Team

Spearing: A tackle or any kind of contact when the player leads the tackle with his helmet. The referee signals this by placing his closed fist against the side of his head.

Personal Foul: A player conducts himself in a way that can cause injury to another player or himself. The referees can make a judgment call to eject the player from the game depending on how malicious the act was. The referee signals this by moving one arm in a hammer striking or karate chop motion to his opposite wrist. This is just a 15-yard penalty if committed by the offense, however, an automatic first down is awarded to the offense if committed by a defensive player. If players from both teams are involved in the penalty, the penalties offset each other, and the down is replayed.

Unsportsmanlike Conduct: Any player or coach acts or speaks in a way the referees think is objectionable. Contact will not be involved as that would be a Personal Foul. These penalties can be verbal (taunting) or non-verbal (extended end zone celebration). The referee will signal with both arms extended to the sides perpendicular to the body with open hands. This is a 15-yard penalty.

Illegal Participation: When 12 or more players participate in a play by either team. No player may join the field of play once the play has begun, even if their team has less than 11 players on the field. This penalty is also called when a player runs out of bounds and touches the ball whether by reception, or loose ball recovery. This is a 15-yard penalty and the referee signals this by placing both hands on top of his head.

Substitution Infraction: When either team has 12 or more players in the huddle or if a player attempts to leave the field after the play has begun. The referee signals by placing their arm along the side of the body with their palm touching the opposite shoulder. This is a 5-yard penalty.

Sideline Infraction: When any coach or player on the sidelines breaches the sideline boundary. A referee typically issues a sideline warning before throwing a penalty flag. The first infraction is 5 yards and any following fouls are 15 yards.

Violations of the Equipment: When any player on the field is without the necessary safety equipment such as a mouthpiece or if their chin strap isn't fastened. This is a 5-yard penalty.