New Rules for 2015

[JRutledge]

I do not believe so. But then again the NFL does not have many 5 yard live ball fouls.

Peace

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by CT1

Then why would you advocate ignoring the 5-yarders?

PLAY: Player A-68 commits a false start, after which B-79 and A-55 each commit DBPFs. RULING: ??

Even though the DBPFs now offset, why ignore the FS?

To emphasize the importance of the rule against personal fouls. Like, the personal fouls were such an issue, let's forget about the false start.

At least one major code takes that attitude regarding 5- & 15-yd. penalties for live ball fouls. How about extending it to dead ball fouls?

[KWH]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I do not believe so. But then again the NFL does not have many 5 yard live ball fouls.

Peace

I hope you don't mind me correcting your little oversight but, actually Rut,

The NFL has thirty-three (33) 5-yard fouls, twenty-six (26) of which are live ball fouls. Only seven (7) NFL five yard penalties are dead ball fouls.

Summary of Penalties

Automatic First Down

1. Awarded to offensive team on all defensive fouls with these exceptions:

(a) Offside.

(b) Encroachment.

(c) Delay of game.

(d) Illegal substitution.

(e) Excessive time out(s).

(f) Incidental grasp of facemask.

(g) Neutral zone infraction.

(h) Running into the kicker.

(i) More than 11 players on the field at the snap.

Five Yards Live ball, 5-Yard fouls are listed in BLUE font for your convenience

1. Defensive holding or illegal use of hands (automatic first down).

2. Delay of game on offense or defense.

3. Delay of kickoff.

4. Encroachment.

5. Excessive time out(s).

6. False start.

7. Illegal formation.

8. Illegal shift.

9. Illegal motion.

10. Illegal substitution.

11. First onside kickoff out of bounds between goal lines and untouched or last touched by kicker.

12. Invalid fair catch signal.

13. More than 11 players on the field at snap for either team.

14. Less than seven men on offensive line at snap.

15. Offside.

16. Failure to pause one second after shift or huddle.

17. Running into kicker.

18. More than one man in motion at snap.

19. Grasping facemask of the ball carrier or quarterback.

20. Player out of bounds at snap.

21. Ineligible member(s) of kicking team going beyond line of scrimmage before ball is kicked.

22. Illegal return.

23. Failure to report change of eligibility.

24. Neutral zone infraction.

25. Loss of team time out(s) or five-yard penalty on the defense for excessive crowd noise.

26. Ineligible player downfield during passing down.

27. Second forward pass behind the line.

28. Forward pass is first touched by eligible receiver who has gone out of bounds and returned.

29. Forward pass touches or is caught by an ineligible receiver on or behind line.

30. Forward pass thrown from behind line of scrimmage after ball once crossed the line.

31. Kicking team player voluntarily out of bounds during a punt.

32. Twelve (12) men in the huddle.

10 Yards

1. Offensive pass interference.

2. Holding, illegal use of hands, arms, or body by offense.

3. Tripping by a member of either team.

4. Helping the runner.

5. Deliberately batting or punching a loose ball.

6. Deliberately kicking a loose ball.

7. Illegal block above the waist.

15 Yards

1. Chop block.

2. Clipping below the waist.

3. Fair catch interference.

4. Illegal crackback block by offense.

5. Piling on.

6. Roughing the kicker.

7. Roughing the passer.

8. Twisting, turning, or pulling an opponent by the facemask.

9. Unnecessary roughness.

10. Unsportsmanlike conduct.

11. Delay of game at start of either half.

12. Illegal low block.

13. A tackler using his helmet to butt, spear, or ram an opponent.

14. Any player who uses the top of his helmet unnecessarily.

15. A punter, placekicker, or holder who simulates being roughed by a defensive player.

16. Leaping.

17. Leverage.

18. Any player who removes his helmet after a play while on the field.

19. Taunting.

Five Yards and Loss of Down (Combination Penalty)

1. Forward pass thrown from beyond line of scrimmage.

10 Yards and Loss of Down (Combination Penalty)

1. Intentional grounding of forward pass (safety if passer is in own end zone). If foul occurs more than 10 yards behind line, play results in loss of down at spot of foul.

15 Yards and Loss of Coin Toss Option

1. Team’s late arrival on the field prior to scheduled kickoff.

2. Captains not appearing for coin toss.

15 Yards (and disqualification if flagrant)

1. Striking opponent with fist.

2. Kicking or kneeing opponent.

3. Striking opponent on head or neck with forearm, elbow, or hands whether or not the initial contact is made below the neck area.

4. Roughing kicker.

5. Roughing passer.

6. Malicious unnecessary roughness.

7. Unsportsmanlike conduct.

8. Palpably unfair act. (Distance penalty determined by the Referee after consultation with other officials.)

15 Yards and Automatic Disqualification

1. Using a helmet (not worn) as a weapon.

2. Striking or purposely shoving a game official.

Suspension From Game For One Down

1. Illegal equipment. (Player may return after one down when legally equipped.)

Touchdown Awarded (Palpably Unfair Act)

1. When Referee determines a palpably unfair act deprived a team of a touchdown. (Example: Player comes off bench and tackles runner apparently en route to touchdown.)

[CT1]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

To emphasize the importance of the rule against personal fouls. Like, the personal fouls were such an issue, let's forget about the false start.

At least one major code takes that attitude regarding 5- & 15-yd. penalties for live ball fouls. How about extending it to dead ball fouls?

PLAY: A 3/3 from the B16 yard line. Player B-68 encroaches, after which B-79 and A-55 each commit DBPFs.

You want to ignore the encroachment & deprive A of a new series?

[pjsaul]

The NFL rule is that a "simple 5" penalty (5 yard penalty with no automatic first down / loss of down component) will not offset a 15 yard penalty committed by the other team.

[APG]

Originally Posted by pjsaul

The NFL rule is that a "simple 5" penalty (5 yard penalty with no automatic first down / loss of down component) will not offset a 15 yard penalty committed by the other team.

More completely put, on a double foul with no COP, with a simple 5 yard penalty (no auto first/loss of down/10 second run off) and the other penalty being a major penalty (15 yards), the 5 yard penalty is disregarded and the 15 yard penalty is enforced from the previous spot. If this occurs on a scoring play, the score is canceled and the penalty is enforced from the previous spot. The combination can be dead/dead, live/live or live/dead.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by CT1

PLAY: A 3/3 from the B16 yard line. Player B-68 encroaches, after which B-79 and A-55 each commit DBPFs.

You want to ignore the encroachment & deprive A of a new series?

Yes, the idea being that that's unimportant & can be forgotten about once there are major fouls.

[CT1]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

Yes, the idea being that that's unimportant & can be forgotten about once there are major fouls.

That's ludicrous on it's face. A new series in the opponent's red zone could well be the difference between winning or losing. Certainly that trumps "major fouls".

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by CT1

That's ludicrous on it's face. A new series in the opponent's red zone could well be the difference between winning or losing. Certainly that trumps "major fouls".

Not necessarily. The 15 yds. are given out for stuff that either compromises safety or sportsmanship, so this'd be a statement that safety & sportsmanship are more important than winning or losing.

[FTVMartin]

I still don't understand why the illegal formation on the kickoff is not live ball. Same as illegal formation on a play from scrimmage.

[HLin NC]

Because the Fed doesn't want this particular illegal formation play that contains a safety factor in their eyes legally getting off.

[Sturno]

Originally Posted by HLin NC

Because the Fed doesn't want this particular illegal formation play that contains a safety factor in their eyes legally getting off.

Bingo.

[KWH]

Originally Posted by Sturno

Bingo.

If the ball is never allowed to become live because either team committed an illegal act at or before the kick. Then, by shutting the play down and never allowing the ball to become live, there is absolutely no possibility of repeating a Free Kick.

[CT1]

Originally Posted by KWH

If the ball is never allowed to become live because either team committed an illegal act at or before the kick. Then, by shutting the play down and never allowing the ball to become live, there is absolutely no possibility of repeating a Free Kick.

Unfortunately, that's not the reality. In actual game situations, most K players are well downfield and much contact has occurred by the time the whistle blows and the players react.

Giving R a "tack-on" option would lessen the numbers of rekicks as much, if not more, than keeping it a dead-ball foul.

[ajmc]

Originally Posted by CT1

Unfortunately, that's not the reality. In actual game situations, most K players are well downfield and much contact has occurred by the time the whistle blows and the players react.

Giving R a "tack-on" option would lessen the numbers of rekicks as much, if not more, than keeping it a dead-ball foul.

If there is significant delay in blowing the whistles to kill the play BEFORE, "most K players are well downfield and much contact has occurred", perhaps the solution is working on quicker, and more obvious, reaction to the foul by the Free Kick Line officials.

At the interscholastic level there is greater incentive to shut plays down that are tainted by violations, rather than allow them to play out before subsequent correction. The FK lines buffer allows for minimizing, if not stopping, unnecessary contact, but does require immediate and dramatically noticeable reaction by officials.