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Illegal Sorting, Five Points, Replay Third Column Quiz
Penalties in the NFL
There are so many penalties in the NFL that it can be tough to keep track of them all. See if you can group some of the most common 15 penalties into their standard yardages imposed for an infraction.
A classification quiz
by bmrsnr.
Estimated time: 3 mins.
Last 3 plays: Guest 174 (12/15), psnz (15/15), Jdoerr (3/15).
Standard yardage assumes the foul was was committed in a spot on the field that would allow for the full yardage to be assessed.
Five-Yard Penalties
Ten-Yard Penalties
Penalties of 15 or more yards
Offensive Pass InterferenceIllegal Forward PassOffensive HoldingHorse-collar tackleFacemaskUnsportsmanlike conductChop blockRoughing the PasserBlock in the BackTrippingIllegal Hands to the Face (Offense)Illegal FormationFalse StartDelay of GameOffside
* Drag / drop or click on the choices above to move them to the correct categories.
Most Recent Scores
Nov 20 2024
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psnz: 15/15
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Jdoerr: 3/15
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Guest 172: 13/15
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Cheappleasures: 12/15
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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Delay of Game
Answer: Five-Yard Penalties
Delay of game occurs most commonly when the offense fails to snap the ball before the play clock hits zero. On defense, this can be called when defensive players take an action that delay's the referees' ability to get the ball set for the next play such as spiking the football or failing to unpile in a timely manner after a tackle.
2. Offside
Answer: Five-Yard Penalties
Also called encroachment, this penalty is called when a player on the defense is in the neutral zone (an area that runs sideline to sideline that is the width of the football) when the ball is snapped. Offside can also be called when a defensive player makes contact with an offensive player before the snap or enters the neutral zone in a way that causes an offensive player to react.
When not blown dead by the referees, many offenses will use take the opportunity to throw a deep downfield pass. If the pass falls incomplete or is intercepted, they know they will get another chance at the down.
3. False Start
Answer: Five-Yard Penalties
A false start occurs when an offensive player moves in a way that imitates the start of play before the ball has been snapped.
4. Illegal Formation
Answer: Five-Yard Penalties
The NFL requires that seven offensive players be lined up on the line of scrimmage. Thus, if too many players are in the backfield or if a wide receive is lined up too far behind the line of scrimmage, this penalty will be called. Illegal formation can also be called on a kickoff if the kicking team has too many players on one side of the kicker or another.
5. Illegal Forward Pass
Answer: Five-Yard Penalties
An illegal forward pass is one that is either thrown beyond the line of scrimmage or that has been thrown after one forward pass has already been completed. This penalty also includes a loss of down.
6. Offensive Holding
Answer: Ten-Yard Penalties
Possibly one of the most called penalties in football, holding is typically called on offensive lineman who illegally grabs onto the defensive player's jersey or other equipment in order to impeded his progress toward the ball carrier. Holding can also be called on defensive players, mostly those covering receivers, and results in a 5-yard penalty and an automatic first down.
7. Block in the Back
Answer: Ten-Yard Penalties
A block in the back occurs when a player makes contact with a non-ballcarrying member of the opposing team above the waist and from the rear. This happens most often on kickoffs and punt returns.
8. Offensive Pass Interference
Answer: Ten-Yard Penalties
While most instances of pass interference are called on defensive players, pass interference occurs when, after the ball is thrown, any player makes contact with an opposing player in a manner that impedes that player from catching a pass. When committed by a defensive player, the ball is placed at the spot of the foul and an automatic first down is awarded.
When committed by an offensive player, the the offense is penalized ten years.
9. Tripping
Answer: Penalties of 15 or more yards
There's not a whole lot to this one. If a player trips another player with the lower leg, tripping will be called. Using hands or arms does not constitute tripping. Tripping is now considered a personal foul and is assessed a penalty of 15 yards.
10. Illegal Hands to the Face (Offense)
Answer: Ten-Yard Penalties
Illegal hands to the face is called when one player makes contact with an opposing player's helmet (or head) in a pushing or hitting manner. When committed by a defensive player, the penalty is five yards and an automatic first down.
11. Roughing the Passer
Answer: Penalties of 15 or more yards
If a defender continues to tackle the quarterback after the ball has been thrown or if contact is made above the quarterback's shoulders, Roughing will be called. The NFL has clarified that a defender can take one additional step after the ball is thrown but additional steps followed by a tackling effort will result in a penalty.
12. Facemask
Answer: Penalties of 15 or more yards
Grabbing of the facemask in a deliberate attempt to tackle or block a player will result in a facemask penalty. If committed by the defense, an automatic first down is awarded.
13. Unsportsmanlike conduct
Answer: Penalties of 15 or more yards
This is one of the rare penalties that can be called on a non-player. Coaches and even spectators on occasion have been called for unsportsmanlike conduct. Unsportsmanlike conduct includes, but is not limited to, taunting, verbal abuse of officials, and excessive celebrations.
14. Chop block
Answer: Penalties of 15 or more yards
A chop block is one in which an offensive player engages the legs of a defensive player who is already engaged with another offensive player. This particular tackling maneuver places defensive players at a much high risk of foot and ankle injuries and was banned outright in the NFL prior to the 2016 season.
15. Horse-collar tackle
Answer: Penalties of 15 or more yards
Often referred to as the Roy Williams rule (after the player who made such tackling maneuvers famous), the horse-collar tackle involves grabbing the back collar of a player's shoulder pads and pulling them violently back and/or down. The horse-collar tackle rule was implemented in the 2005 NFL off-season.
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
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