RULE 10. ENFORCEMENT OF PENALTIES
ESTABLISHING THE ZONE LINE-TO-GAIN
10.1.5 SITUATION: Third and 2 on A 18. A2 runs to the A 26. (a) A2 flag guards at the A25 and is deflagged at the A 35; or (b) A2 is deflagged at the A 26. The Referee calls an unsportsmanlike conduct foul on A2 prior to the ready for play signal. RULING: (a) Penalize Team A 10 yards for flag guarding, A’s ball third and 5 on A 15. (b) Penalize Team A 10 yards for the dead ball foul from the A 26, first and 4 on A 16.
LOOSE BALL FOULS
10.2.4 SITUATION A: First and 13 on A27. QB A1 throws a legal forward pass. While the pass is in flight A2 illegally contacts a Team B player on the Team A 25 yard line. The pass is complete and the runner is deflagged on the A 30. RULING: If accepted, penalize from the Team A 25 yard line, first and 25 on A 15. The penalty is enforced at the spot of the foul since the offense fouled behind the basic spot which is the previous spot or where the ball is snapped.
10.2.4 SITUATION B: Fourth and 8 on the A 32. Passer A1 is roughed by B1: (a) forward pass is complete to A2 who is tagged/deflagged at the A 35; (b) pass is incomplete; or (c) forward pass is complete to A2 who is tagged/deflagged at the A 28. RULING: Roughing the passer. (a) A’s ball first and 15 on B 35; in (b) and (c) it is A’s ball, first and 18 on the B 38. In (b) and (c) penalize from the previous spot.
POST-SCRIMMAGE KICK FOUL
10.2.4 SITUATION C: During a punt, R2 illegally contacts K2 beyond the neutral zone at the R 34 yard line. The kick then becomes dead: (a) in the R end zone; (b) when the punt rolls out-of-bounds at the R 31 yard line; or (c) when R1 catches the punt at the R 32 and is deflagged at the R 36. RULING: Enforce all 3 plays utilizing PSK enforcement as follows: (a) Enforce at the PSK spot, the R 14 yard line, first and 13 from at the R 7; (b) enforce at the R 31 since the spot of the foul is behind the PSK spot, first and 19 at the R 21; (c) enforce
at the PSK spot, the R 32 where the punt was caught by R1, first and 18 on the R22. In (a), (b) and (c) Team R retains the football, first down. NOTE: The BJ must drop a bean bag where the punt is caught by R.
FOULS DURING RUNNING PLAYS
10.2.5 SITUATION A: K1’s punt is caught by R1. During the run R1 guards the flag at his/her 22 yard line. R1 is then deflagged by K1 at the 40 yard line. RULING: Penalize Team R 10 yards from the 22 yard line which is the spot of the foul, R’s ball first and 8 on A 12. Once the punt is caught the loose ball play has ended. It is now a running play. The foul by the offensive team behind the basic spot, the end of the run, is enforced from the spot of the foul.
10.2.5 SITUATION B: K1’s punt is caught by R1. During the run K2 illegally contacts R1 at the K 35 yard line. R1 is deflagged/tagged at the K 28 yard line. RULING: Penalize Team K 10 yards from the K 28 yard line which is the end of the run, R’s ball first and goal on the K 18. All fouls, except by the offense behind that end of the run, are penalized from the basic spot, the end of the run.
10.2.5 SITUATION C: Third and 2 on A 38. QB A1 runs two yards beyond the Team A scrimmage line (first ball spotter-orange) and throws an illegal forward pass from the 40 yard line. RULING: Fourth and 5 on A 35. All illegal forward passes are treated as running plays. Penalize from the spot where the pass was thrown, the end of the run.
10.2.5 SITUATION D: Third and 5 on A 35. QB A1 throws a legal forward pass to receiver A2 who runs to the Team B 19 yard line and flag guards. A2 scores an apparent touchdown. RULING: No touchdown. Penalize A2 10 yards from the Team B 19 yard line, first and 9 on B 29. Once A2 caught the pass it became a running play. Since there was a foul by the offense behind the end of the run, which is the goal line, penalize from the spot of the foul.
SAFETY/GOAL LINE
10.3.2 SITUATION A: Team B intercepts a pass in their own end zone, Team A commits an illegal contact foul, and Team B then is deflagged/tagged in the end zone. RULING: Option for Team B—decline the illegal contact foul and accept a touchback, first and 6 on B 14, or accept the illegal contact foul and it will be first and 16 on B 24, measured from the succeeding spot, the B 14.
10.3.2 SITUATION B: B1 intercepts a pass in the Team B end zone. (a) B3 commits an illegal contact foul after the interception on the B 5 yard line. (b) B1 flag guards in his/her end zone. Team B is deflagged in the end zone. RULING: (a) B’s ball first and 17 ½ on the B 2 ½. The basic spot on a touchback is the 14 yard line. Penalize from the B5. (b) Safety.
FOUL ON A SCORE
10.3.6 SITUATION A: Third and goal on B 6. QB A1 runs for a touchdown. B1 illegally contacts A3 prior to the touchdown on the B 2 yard line. RULING: Touchdown. The Referee will ask the Team A Captain whether they wish to go for a 1, 2, or 3 point Try, after explaining that the 10 yard penalty will be enforced as part of the Try. Once the Team A Captain makes a decision, penalize Team B 10 yards or half the distance on the Try from the 3, 10, or 20 yard line.
10.3.6 SITUATION B: Try. QB A1 runs across the Team B goal line for a successful 2 point Try. B1 grabs and holds A1’s jersey in an unsuccessful attempt to deflag A1. RULING: Score 2 points for Team A. Penalize Team B for illegal holding at the succeeding spot, the Team B 14 yard line, half the distance, first and 13 at the B 7.
FOUL PRIOR TO A TRY
10.3.7 SITUATION: QB A1 scores a touchdown and then spikes the ball. RULING: The touchdown counts. The Referee will ask the Team A captain whether they wish to go for a 1, 2, or 3 point Try, after explaining that the 10 yard penalty will be enforced as part of the Try. Once the Team A captain makes a decision, penalize Team A 10 yards on the Try from the 3, 10, or 20.
FOUL DURING A TRY OR OVERTIME AFTER TEAM B POSSESSION
10.3.10 SITUATION A: During a Try, A1’s pass is intercepted by B1. During the return B1: (a) flag guards in his/her own end zone; or (b) A3 holds B1. A5 deflags B1 on the A 15 yard line. RULING: The Try has ended. A new series begins. Penalize at the succeeding spot, the Team B 14 yard line. (a) B’s ball first and 13 at the B 7. (b) B’s ball, first and 16 at the B 24, if accepted.
10.3.10 SITUATION B: On second down during an overtime period, A1’s pass is intercepted by B1. During the return B1 flag guards in his/her own end zone, or A3 holds B1, then deflags B1. RULING: A new series begins. Penalize either foul at the succeeding spot, the Team B 10 yard line.
10.3.10 SITUATION C: A3 is called for illegal motion. QB A1’s pass is intercepted by B3. B3 flag guards on the return and then scores a touchdown during: (a) a Try down; or (b) an overtime period. RULING: Negate the score. The fouls offset at the succeeding spot.
CLEAN HANDS
10.3.11 SITUATION A: K1 punts, R1 catches the ball and throws an illegal forward pass from his/her 26 yard line. R2 catches the pass and K2 holds R2 prior to the tag/deflag. RULING: The Referee will present the following options to the R captain: (1) if you accept the holding foul by K2, it is a double foul, and the ball will be punted again, if elected; (2) if you want to keep the ball, you must decline the holding foul by K2. The Referee will make off 5 yards to R’s 21 yard line, R’s ball, first and 19.
10.3.11 SITUATION B: Second and goal on the B6. B1 intercepts A1’s pass in the Team B end zone. On the return B1 flag guards in the Team B end zone and A2 holds on the B 10. B1 is deflagged/tagged at the B 12. RULING: Fouls offset and the down is replayed. (If B declines A’s penalty, it would be a safety).
