Rule 14 — Penalty Enforcement
(Governing all cases not otherwise specifically provided for)
Section 1 — General Rules
Article 1 — Refusal of Penalties
Unless expressly prohibited, the penalty for any foul may be declined by the offended team and play proceeds as though no foul had been committed. The offended team may not change its decision after the penalty has been fully administered.
Article 2 — Number of Down After Penalty
- Item 1. Foul by Team A. If the ball is behind the line to gain after enforcement of a distance penalty, the number of the ensuing down remains the same.
- Item 2. Combination Penalty. A combination penalty involving both distance and loss of down is enforced for: illegal forward pass from beyond the line; intentional grounding; backward pass that conserves time; illegally handing the ball forward; illegal punt/drop kick/place kick; illegal batting; and illegal kicking.
- Item 5. Foul by Team B. After a penalty for a foul by Team B, the ensuing down is first-and-10 for Team A (with several exceptions where the down and line to gain remain the same).
Article 3 — Choice of Penalties (Multiple Fouls)
If there is a multiple foul during the down, only one penalty may be enforced.
Section 2 — Special Enforcement for Penalties
Article 1 — Half-Distance Penalty
If the enforcement of a distance penalty would move the ball more than half the distance from the spot of enforcement to the offender's goal line, the penalty shall be half the distance to the goal line.
Article 2 — Foul Behind a Goal Line
When the spot of enforcement for a foul by the defense is behind the offensive goal line, a distance penalty is enforced from the goal line. When the spot of enforcement for a foul by the offense is behind the offensive goal line, it is a safety if the defense elects to enforce the penalty at that spot.
Article 3 — Foul During a Score
If a team commits a personal or unsportsmanlike conduct foul during a down in which the opponent scores, the penalty is enforced on the succeeding free kick or ensuing possession series in overtime.
Article 4 — Personal Fouls and Unsportsmanlike Conduct Fouls
If any team commits a personal foul or unsportsmanlike conduct foul that is not part of a double foul, and the opponent has possession at the end of the down, enforcement may be from the dead ball spot.
Section 3 — Spot From Which Penalty Is Enforced
Article 5 — Basic Spot
The basic spot is a reference point used to determine the spot of enforcement for fouls committed during a running play or a backward pass or fumble.
Article 6 — Three-and-One Method of Enforcement
For fouls committed during a run, a backward pass, or a fumble, the penalty is enforced from the basic spot if the defense fouls in advance of or behind the basic spot, or if the offense fouls in advance of the basic spot. If the offense fouls behind the basic spot, enforcement is from the spot of the foul.
Section 4 — Spots of Enforcement
Article 1 — Foul Before or at the Snap
- Item 1. Before the Snap. Enforced from the succeeding spot; the down remains the same.
- Item 2. At the Snap. Enforced from the previous spot; the down is repeated.
Article 5 — Foul Committed During Passing Play
If there is a foul by either team from the time of the snap until a forward pass thrown from behind the line ends, the penalty is enforced from the previous spot, with specified exceptions.
Article 6 — Foul During a Backward Pass or Fumble
The basic spot is the spot of the backward pass or fumble. The three-and-one method of enforcement is used.
Article 7 — Foul During Free Kick Play
Enforcement is from the previous spot, and the free kick is made again. The offended team may alternatively enforce penalty yardage from the dead ball spot.
Article 8 — Foul During Scrimmage Kick Play
Enforcement is from the previous spot, with specified exceptions.
Article 9 — Dead Ball Foul and Foul Between Downs
A dead ball foul is enforced from the succeeding spot, and the down counts. A foul between downs is enforced from the succeeding spot, and the down counts.