History UsefulNotes / AmericanFootballPenalties

* '''Ineligible receiver downfield''': An ineligible receiver crosses the line of scrimmage before the quarterback either makes a forward pass beyond the line of scrimmage or the ball is touched behind the line, such as a screen pass.

** In the NFL, this is the number of the player and whether he's on offense, defense, or the kicking or receiving team as appropriate.

::''Signal''

::''Signal''[=:=] Same as for Roughing the Kicker (but that is usually preceded by a personal foul signal.)

::''Signal''[=:=] Referee makes chopping motion onto one thigh. (Canada[=:=] Same signal as for personal foul, as this is considered a subset of unnecessary roughness.)

::''Signal''[=:=] Same as block below the waist, but with both hands. (Canada[=:=] Referee raises both hands, with palms open and facing each other, to shoulder level on one side, and then makes chopping motion toward the opposite hip.)

::''Signal''[=:=] Referee makes pulling motion at collar with right hand. (Canada[=:=] Same signal as for personal/major foul, as this is considered a subset of unnecessary roughness.)

::''Signal''[=:=] Referee makes kicking motion with right foot against back of left foot. (Canada[=:=] Referee extends arms downward to knee level, going into a semi-squat, with hands bent inward toward the center of the body.)

::''Signal''[=:=] Referee holds both arms out to sides with hands flat and palms down. (Canada[=:=] Referee places one hand behind the back at waist level.)

::''Signal''[=:=] Referee holds left fist over his head and makes a chopping motion with right hand against the left wrist. This signal is followed by the signal for the specific penalty. (Canada[=:=] Referee extends one arm to the side of the body and makes a pumping motion.)

::''Signal''[=:=] Referee makes up-and-down motion with open hand behind back. (Canada[=:=] Referee places one arm on chest, with elbow out to the side and palm open and facing down, and then moves arm away from chest.)

::''Signal''[=:=] Same as for false start. (Canada[=:=] Same as false start/procedure, plus a swinging motion of one leg to simulate a kick.)

::''Signal''[=:=] Referee places right hand flat on the top of his head. (Canada[=:=] Referee extends both arms horizontally at shoulder level.)

* C is the number of the player who committed the penalty and whether he's on offense, defense, or the kicking or receiving team as appropriate.

The following is an explanation of various penalties in UsefulNotes/AmericanFootball. The list is primarily [[UsefulNotes/NationalFootballLeague NFL]]-oriented; college, high school, and UsefulNotes/{{Canadian|FootballLeague}} penalties are noted as such as appropriate. If one of these infractions is seen by an official, they will throw a yellow flag (orange in Canada) and, if the penalty calls for it, blow their whistle to signal the play dead. If they're not the referee (the one wearing the white hat; however in Canada, the referee wears a black hat and the other officials wear white), they will then tell the referee what they saw and which team and/or player caused the infraction, which the referee will then announce to the audience. On rare occasions, an official will also throw their hat; this almost always happens during altercations on the field or other situations that lead to multiple penalties, and when that official has already thrown their flag.

The following is an explanation of various penalties in UsefulNotes/AmericanFootball. The list is primarily [[UsefulNotes/NationalFootballLeague NFL]]-oriented; college, high school, and UsefulNotes/{{Canadian|FootballLeague}} penalties are noted as such as appropriate. If one of these infractions is seen by an official, they will throw a yellow flag (orange in Canada) and, if the penalty calls for it, blow their whistle to signal the play dead. If they're not the referee (the one wearing the white hat), they will then tell the referee what they saw and which team and/or player caused the infraction, which the referee will then announce to the audience. On rare occasions, an official will also throw their hat; this almost always happens during altercations on the field or other situations that lead to multiple penalties, and when that official has already thrown their flag.

** In Canada, the order is reversed (team, then number) and in the CFL, the referee uses the penalized team's region identifier rather than which side of the ball they are on (ex., "Holding, Toronto, #74" rather than "Holding, #74, [on the] Defence"). %% Canada uses Commonwealth spelling of "defence".

* '''Roughing the passer''': A defensive player hits the quarterback after the ball has either been passed or handed off. There are three main ways this happens: The defender takes two or more steps to hit the quarterback, hits above the shoulders, or leads the hit with his head.

* A is a qualifier such as "Dead ball foul:", "After the play was over:", "Personal foul:", etc. Only done when necessary.

** '''Targeting''': A helmet-to-helmet collision that's initiated either intentionally or recklessly. Called spearing in the NFL. In college, this gets a booth review to determine whether or not the hit was done with intent.
::''Penalty''[=:=] 15 yards (offense), 15 yards + first down (defense); can also lead to ejections for either side. In college, a confirmed targeting call is an automatic ejection and suspension for one full game (if done in the second half of one game, the player can't play the first half of the next game).
::''Signal''[=:=] (college) Referee puts a closed fist to the side of his head.

* '''Targeting''': Exclusive to American college football, an especially egregious penalty when a player (intentionally or otherwise) leads with his helmet and hits the target in the head and neck area.
::''Penalty''[=:=] 15 yards and ejection of the offending player. If this occurs during the second half, the player is also suspended for the first half of the next game. Such calls are always reviewed.
::''Signal''[=:=] Referee puts a closed fist to the side of his head.