Football is a physical contact sport. As such, rules are put in place to protect the players involved and the integrity of the game. Some rules are necessary to ensure the game is played fairly, while other rules are to prevent players from receiving serious injuries. Violations of these rules result in penalties.
Offensive Penalties
The most common offensive penalties are false starts, illegal formations or illegal procedure. The referee signals these penalties by placing the right arm over the left arm and rolling them over and over, similar to a traveling call in basketball. Other offensive-specific penalties include an illegal chop block, signaled by the referee striking the sides of the thighs with both hands; ineligible receiver downfield, signaled by the right hand touching the top of the head; illegal forward pass, signaled by placing one arm behind the back; and intentional grounding, signaled by making a slashing motion towards the ground with both arms.
Defensive Penalties
Penalties that are called exclusively on the defense include offsides, signaled by placing both hands on the hips; illegal contact, signaled by one open hand extended forward; and illegal use of hands, arm or body, signaled by grasping the wrist of one open hand extended forward.
Special Teams Penalties
Special teams penalties occur on kickoffs, punts or field goal tries. Common special teams penalties include running into or roughing the kicker, signaled by making a kicking motion with one foot; ineligible member of the kicking team down field, signaled by touching the right hand to the top of the head; illegal kicking or batting of ball, signaled by touching the fingertips to both shoulders; invalid fair catch, signaled by waving one hand above the head; and kick-off out of bounds or kicking team player voluntarily running out-of-bounds, both signaled by forearms rotated over and over in front of the body.
Penalties That Can Occur on Offense or Defense
Some penalties can be called on the offense or the defense. These penalties include personal fouls for late hits or unnecessary roughness, signaled by one wrist striking the other above the head; unsportsmanlike conduct, signaled by arms outstretched with the palms down; pass interference, signaled by extending both arms forward with open palms; holding, signaled by grasping one wrist with the fist clenched, in front of the body; and face mask, signaled by making a grasping motion in front of the face.
References
- NFL Rule Book: Official Signals
- "Football for Dummies, (USA Edition)"; Howie Long & John Czarnecki; 2007
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