Pass Play Fouls/Penalties Flashcards
INTENTIONAL GROUNDING—QB OUT OF THE POCKET—BALL DOES NOT GET BACK TO LOS
Third-and-5 on 50. A1 scrambles out of the pocket and is about to be tackled on the A42 when he throws the ball
directly down to the ground at the A44, or out of bounds at the A44 with no eligible receiver in the area.
Ruling: Fourth-and-15 on A40. Intentional grounding, as the ball did not get back to the line of scrimmage
NOT INTENTIONAL GROUNDING—RECEIVER OUTSIDE THE NUMBERS
First-and-10 on B40. QBA1 is about to be tackled in the pocket by B1 at the B48 when he throws the ball out of
bounds at the B30. The ball sails over the head of eligible receiver A3, who is between the numbers and the sideline.
Ruling: Second-and-10 on B40. No intentional grounding. If A3 was inside the numbers, it would be intentional
grounding.
INTENTIONAL GROUNDING—QB SPIKES BALL IN FRONT OF HIM—AFTER TWO-MINUTE WARNING
Second-and-8 on A42. Thirty seconds remain in the game, and Team A is behind in the score and out of timeouts.
Quarterback A1 drops back looking for receivers and then, after delaying, throws the ball down directly in front of
him at the A34 with no defenders near him
Ruling: Third-and-18 on A32. Intentional grounding. Ten-second runoff, (if the defense elects). Start the game clock
on the ready-for-play signal. The score is irrelevant. Even though the QB was not under pressure, he cannot throw
the ball directly into the ground, unless he receives the snap in a T-QB position and immediately spikes it to stop the
clock.
INTENTIONAL GROUNDING—SPIKE TO CONSUME TIME
First-and-10 on B30. The game clock is stopped with six seconds left in the first half. QBA1 takes the snap and
immediately spikes the ball into the ground to take one second off the clock so that a field-goal attempt will run out
the clock.
Ruling: Half over. Intentional grounding and a 10-second runoff. A QB can only spike the ball to stop a running game
clock. An attempt to take time off the clock is intentional grounding.
NOT INTENTIONAL GROUNDING—NOT UNDER PRESSURE
Third-and-3 on B40. Quarterback A1 drops straight back and, without any defenders near him, throws the ball
downfield to an open area at the B35. The pass falls incomplete with no receivers in proximity.
Ruling: Fourth-and-3 on B40. Not intentional grounding, as the quarterback is not under pressure.
NOT INTENTIONAL GROUNDING—QB TAKES STEP BACK BEFORE SPIKING BALL
Second-and-10 on A1. T-QB A1 takes a quick step back into the end zone and immediately throws the ball down in
front of him to stop the clock with 35 seconds remaining in the game. He is not under pressure.
Ruling: Third-and-10 on A1. Not intentional grounding. If the QB takes more than one quick step backward, it is a
foul for intentional grounding.
NOT INTENTIONAL GROUNDING—BALL OUT OF POCKET
Second-and-5 on A35. A1 hands the ball to A2 who runs outside the tackle and then pitches the ball back to A1 who
is still in the pocket. A1, under severe pressure, then throws the ball out of bounds beyond the line of scrimmage
with no receiver in the area.
Ruling: Third-and-5 on A35. Not intentional grounding as the ball has been out of the pocket before the pass.
INTENTIONAL GROUNDING—ELIGIBILITY OF RECEIVER
Third-and-8 on A42. Quarterback A1 drops back in the pocket, and while under severe pressure at the A30, throws
the ball into an area in which A5 is the only Team A player. The pass falls incomplete. (a) A5 is left tackle number
77; (b) A5 is tight end number 81 who was covered by a wide receiver at the snap; or (c) A5 was wide receiver
number 88 who stepped on the sideline while running his route.
Rulings:
(a) Fourth-and-20 on the A30. Intentional grounding. No eligible receiver in the direction/area of the pass.
(b) Fourth-and-8 on A42. Decline penalties for illegal formation and ineligible downfield. Not intentional grounding,
as A1 threw to a player whom he reasonably thought was eligible.
(c) Fourth-and-8 on A42. No foul unless A5 was first to touch the pass. Not intentional grounding as A1 threw to a
player who was eligible at the snap.
INTENTIONAL GROUNDING—UNNATURAL THROWING MOTION
Second-and-10 on A45. Quarterback A1, still in the pocket, and under heavy pressure at the A34, in an effort to
avoid a sack: (a) throws the ball behind his back toward the sideline; or (b) flips the ball with his non-throwing hand;
or (c) throws the ball underhanded. The ball hits the ground on the A47. There is an eligible receiver five yards away
from where the ball hits.
Ruling: (a) (b) and (c) Third-and-10 on A45. Not intentional grounding, as the pass was in the direction and vicinity
of an eligible receiver.
FORWARD HANDING TO INELIGIBLE RECEIVER—NO DAYLIGHT
Second-and-5 on A45. Quarterback A1, in an effort to avoid a sack, tries to hand the ball forward to lineman A67 at
the A35. The ball touches A67, but knowing he is ineligible, A67 lets the ball drop to the ground. The ball is knocked
around and recovered and downed at the A41: (a) by A2; or (b) by B2.
Rulings:
(a) Second-and-10 on A40, or third-and-9 on A41. Illegal forward handing. No player may hand the ball forward
except to an eligible receiver who is behind the line of scrimmage.
(b) B’s ball, first-and-10 on A41. Illegal forward handing would be declined.
PERSONAL FOUL TEAM B PRIOR TO CHANGE OF POSSESSION
Second-and-5 on 50. B5 head slaps A3 on the line of scrimmage prior to the pass. A1 completes a pass to A2 at the
B40, where A2 fumbles. B4 recovers at the B35
Ruling: A’s ball, first-and-10 on B35. Enforce from the previous spot, as the passing team subsequently lost
possession after the completion. Had the head slap occurred while A2 was running with the ball, or during the fumble,
the penalty yardage would be added to the spot of the fumble, A first-and-10 on B25.
PERSONAL FOUL TEAM A PRIOR TO CHANGE OF POSSESSION
Second-and-5 on 50. A3 chop blocks prior to the pass. B3 intercepts a forward pass at the B40, runs, and is downed
at the A30.
Ruling: B’s ball, first-and-10 on A15. When the personal foul is prior to an interception, or the recovery by the
defense of a fumble or backward pass, or failure to make the line-to-gain on fourth down, the enforcement is 15
yards from the dead-ball spot.
LEGAL/ILLEGAL FORWARD PASS AND PERSONAL FOUL PRIOR TO CHANGE OF POSSESSION
Second-and-10 on A40. Quarterback A1 scrambles to the A41 where (a) he throws a forward pass; or (b) he returns
to the A39 where he throws a forward pass. The pass is intercepted by B1, who is downed at the 50. A2 pulled and
twisted B3’s facemask at the line of scrimmage at the snap.
Rulings: (a) and (b): B’s ball, first-and-10 on A35. The personal foul can be enforced from the dead-ball spot
following the change of possession. Decline the illegal forward pass penalty.
PERSONAL FOUL TEAM A PRIOR TO CHANGE OF POSSESSION—FUMBLE IN END ZONE
Second-and-10 on B25. Before the pass, A2 chop blocks at the B27. The pass is intercepted in the end zone by B1.
As B1 runs with the ball: (a) he is tackled in the end zone; or (b) he fumbles and the fumble is recovered and downed
in the end zone by A2.
Rulings:
(a) B’s ball, first-and-10 on B35. As the play resulted in a touchback, the foul is enforced from the 20-yard line.
(b) B’s ball, first-and-10 on B15. The enforcement is from the goal line (deemed the spot of the interception), and
the ball is returned to Team B.
PERSONAL FOUL TEAM A PRIOR TO DOUBLE CHANGE OF POSSESSION
First-and-10 on A20. A1 throws a pass that is intercepted by B3 at the A40. Tackle A6 chop blocks prior to the
interception. B3 returns the interception to the A17 and fumbles, and the ball is recovered by A2 at the A15.
Ruling: B’s ball, first-and-10 on A25. When there is a personal foul or unsportsmanlike conduct foul by Team A prior
to an interception or the recovery of a fumble or backward pass, and Team B subsequently loses possession, the
ball is returned to Team B, and the penalty is enforced from the spot of their interception/recovery.
