Rule 5 - Series of Downs, Line to Gain
SECTION 2. Down and Possession After a Penalty
Article 1 - Foul During Free Kick Down
a. Blocking is obstructing an opponent by intentionally contacting him with any part of the blocker’s body.
When a scrimmage down follows the penalty for a foul committed during a free kick down, the down and distance established by that penalty shall be first down with a new line to gain.
c. Continuous contact is a block where contact with an opponent is maintained for more than one second.
Article 2 - Penalty Resulting in New Series
It is a new series with a new line to gain:
a. After a penalty that leaves the ball in possession of Team A beyond its line to gain.
b. After a penalty that mandates a first down.
Article 3 - Foul Before Change of Team Possession
a. If a penalty is accepted for a foul that occurs between the goal lines before a change of team possession during a down, the ball belongs to Team A. The down shall be repeated, unless the penalty also involves loss of a down, mandates a first down, or leaves the ball on or beyond the line to gain (Exceptions: Rules 8-3-3-b-1, 10-2-3, 10-2-4 and 10-2-5). (A.R. 10-2-3:I)
b. If the penalty involves loss of a down, the down shall count as one of the four in that series.
Article 4 - Foul After Change of Team Possession
If a penalty is accepted for a foul that occurs during a down after a change of team possession, the ball belongs to the team in possession when the foul occurred. The down and distance established by any such penalty shall be first down with a new line to gain (Exception: Rule 10-2-5-a).
Article 5 - Penalty Declined
If a penalty is declined, the number of the next down shall be whatever it would have been if the foul had not occurred.
Article 6 - Foul Between Downs
After a distance penalty incurred between downs, the number of the next down shall be the same as that established before the foul occurred, unless enforcement for a foul by Team B leaves the ball on or beyond the line to gain or a penalty mandates a first down (Rule 9-1). (A.R. 5-2-6:I)(A.R. 10-1-5:I-III)
Article 7- Foul Between Series
a. The penalty for any dead-ball foul (including live-ball fouls treated as dead-ball fouls) that occurs after a series ends and before the ball is ready for play shall be completed before the line to gain is established.
b. The penalty for any dead-ball foul that occurs after the ball is ready for play shall be completed after the line to gain is established. (A.R. 5-2-7:I-V)
Article 8 - Fouls by Both Teams
If offsetting fouls occur during a down, that down shall be repeated (Rule 10-1-4 Exceptions). (A.R. 10-1-4:III-VI and VII)
Article 9 - Rules Decisions Final
No rule decision may be changed after the ball is next legally snapped, legally free kicked or the second or fourth periods have ended (Rules 3-2-1-a, 3-3-4-e-2 and 11-1-1). (Exception: The number of a down may be corrected any time within that series of downs or before the ball is legally next put in play after that series.)