General Penalties

  • All penalties are 5-yards, the down will be repeated, and will be assessed from the line or scrimmage unless otherwise noted.
  • All penalties may be declined except dead ball fouls and penalties that stop the current play (Flag guarding, delay of pass, etc.)
  • Penalties will not exceed half the distance to the opposing team's goal line from the line of scrimmage unless it is a spot foul. The ball can never be placed closer than the 1-yard line
  • Game officials determine incidental contact that may result from normal run of play.
  • Games cannot end at half time or the end of the game on an accepted penalty.
  • Penalties after an interception shall be assessed after the return is over and/or the play is blown dead.

Defensive Penalties

  • Offside - player(s) lined up across or crossing the Line of Scrimmage at the snap of the ball.
  • Disconcerting Signals - signals to distract or simulate offensive signals prior to snap
  • Illegal Rushing - players) not lined up at least 12 inches on 1 side from rusher bean bag or rushing & crossing the Line of Scrimmage from inside the 7-yard rusher bean bag.
  • Pass Interference- both contact & non-contact that interferes with an offensive player catching a ball while it is in air. also includes screening & pushing off at Soot or Foul Automatic First Down).
  • Illegal Contact - physical contact such as impeding, redirecting, obstruction, blocking, holding, & tackling as well as any upper body contact with an offensive player throwing the ball including the ball in their hand at Spot of Foul (Automatic First Down)
  • Illegal Flag Pull - pulling a flag of a player before they have the ball at Spot of Foul (Automatic First Down).

Offensive Penalties

  • Delay of Game - ball is not snapped within 20 seconds, play whistled dead.
  • Delay of Pass - ball is not passed by Quarterback in
  • 7 seconds, play whistled dead.
  • Offside - player(s) lined up across or crossing the LOS at the snap of the ball.
  • Illegal Snap - Center lifting or moving ball to simulate a snap.
  • Flag Guarding, Jumping or Diving - ball carrier uses any part of their body or ball to prevent flags from being pulled or advancing the ball, play is whistled dead at Spot of Foul
  • Rusher Interference - impeding a rusher's direct path to Quarterback.
  • Player Out of Bounds - player goes out of bounds by themselves, returns inbounds & then touches the ball inbounds.
  • Interference - impeding, redirecting, obstruction, blocking with no contact, play whistled dead at Spot of Foul
  • Illegal Contact - physical contact such as impeding, redirecting, obstruction, blocking, holding & tackling (Loss of Down).
  • Pass Interference - both contact & non-contact that interferes with a defensive player's catching a ball while it is in air, also includes screening, pushing off & pick plays (Loss of Down).
  • Illegal Running Play - a quarterback running with the ball across the Line of Scrimmage without any transfer of the ball. 
  • Illegal Forward Pass - when a second forward pass occurs, or when a forward pass occurs after the ball has crossed the Line of Scrimmage. 

General / Major Penalties

  • Illegal Substitution - Any offensive player substitution after the center is prepared to snap the ball and a defensive player substitution during the play.
  • Game Interference - any substitute players, coaches or spectators interfering with ball, player or official while ball is in play.
  • Leaving Team Area - players or coaches leaving their designated team sideline area or crossing the middle of the held into the opponent's team area
  • Objectionable Conduct - players, coaches, teams or spectators using profane language or gestures, threats, demeaning or intimidating remarks & actions, persistent arguments, fake injuries, delay of game or targeting players to initiate contact will result in a 3-vard penalty. A player, coach, team or spectator receiving a second Objectionable Conduct penalty during a game will be ejected from that game
  • Objectionable Conduct - players, coaches, teams, or spectators using profane language or gestures, threats, demeaning or intimidating remarks & actions, persistent arguments, fake injuries, delay of game or targeting players to initiate contact will result in a 15-yard penalty. Any player, coach, team or spectator receiving a second Objectionable Conduct penalty during a game will be ejected from that game. An official can decide to immediately eject a player if the conduct is deemed severe enough.