FLAG FOOTBALL RULES 2023 Rule 10 - Penalty Enforcement
SECTION 1. General
Article 1 - Flagrant Fouls
A flagrant foul is one which puts an opponent in danger of serious injury or one which is contrary to the principle of sportsmanship. Flagrant fouls require disqualification. [S47]
Any player or coach who commits two unsportsmanlike acts during the same game shall be disqualified.
A disqualified player or coach is required to leave the team area and remain out of view of the field. Further regulations are to be made by the organizer of the tournament or championship.
Article 2 - Unfair Tactics
If a team refuses to play or repeatedly commits fouls that can be penalized only by halving the distance or commits an obviously unfair act not specifically covered by the rules, the Referee may take any action considered equitable, including assessing a penalty, disqualifying a player or coach, ordering a loss of down, awarding a first down to either team, awarding a score or suspending or forfeiting the game. AR 10-1-2-I to VI
NOTE: The Referee should, but need not, warn the team and inform them that the foul will be called if they continue to repeat a certain unfair situation.
It needs a lot of experience to find the appropriate judgment for when the Referee should make use of this rule. Officials should confer prior to any announcement by the Referee in order to ensure that the action being taken is appropriate.
SECTION 2. Penalties Completed
Article 1 - How and When Completed
a. A penalty is completed when it is accepted, declined or canceled.
b. Any penalty may be declined by a team of the non-offending team, but a disqualified player must leave the game.
c. When a foul is committed, the penalty shall be completed before the ball is declared ready for play for the next down.
Article 2 - Simultaneous with Snap
A foul that occurs simultaneously with the snap is considered as occurring during that down. The spot of foul is the scrimmage line.
Article 3 - Live Ball Fouls by the Same Team
When 2 or more live ball fouls by the same team are reported, the Referee shall explain the alternative penalties to the non-offending team, which then may elect one of these penalties to be enforced.
Article 4 - Offsetting Fouls
If live ball fouls by both teams are reported, the fouls offset and the down is replayed with the following exceptions:
a. When there is a change of team possession during a down and the team last gaining possession had not fouled before last gaining possession, it may decline offsetting fouls and thereby retain possession after completion of the penalty for its foul.
b. When a live ball foul is administered as a dead ball foul it does not offset and is enforced in order of occurrence.
AR 10-2-4-I to IV
Article 5 - Dead Ball Fouls
Penalties for dead ball fouls are administered separately and in order of occurrence.
Dead ball fouls by both teams simultaneously will offset and the previous down counts. AR 10-2-5-I
Article 6 - Interval Fouls
Penalties for fouls that occur between periods are enforced from the start of the next series.
SECTION 3. Enforcement Procedures
Article 1 - Basic Spot (BS)
The basic spot is the scrimmage line with the following exceptions:
a. For offense fouls behind the scrimmage line, the basic spot is the spot of foul. AR 10-3-1-a-I to VIII
b. For defense fouls when the dead ball spot is beyond the scrimmage line, the basic spot is the dead ball spot. AR 10-3-1-b-I to X
c. For fouls after a change of team possession the basic spot will be the dead ball spot. If the foul is on the last related run from the team ending up in possession and the foul is behind the dead ball spot, the basic spot is the spot of foul. AR 10-3-1-c-I to VI
d. For fouls after a change of team possession, committed by a team in their own end zone, before the ball is brought out of this end zone, the enforcement spot is the Touchback spot (own 5-yard line). AR 10-3-1-d-I to IV
Article 2 - Procedures
The enforcement spot for live ball fouls is the previous scrimmage line if not otherwise stated in the penalty. The enforcement spot for dead ball fouls is the next scrimmage line. Fouls during or after a touchdown or try:
a. Fouls with a 10 yard penalty by the non-scoring team during a touchdown are enforced on the try. Other fouls by the non-scoring team are declined by rule.
b. Fouls after a touchdown and before the ball is ready for play on the try are enforced on the try.
c. Fouls with a 10 yard penalty by the non-scoring team during a successful try are enforced on the next new series. Other fouls by the non-scoring team are declined by rule.
d. Fouls with a 10 yard penalty by the non-scoring team after a change of team possession during a try will be enforced on the next new series. Other fouls are declined by rule.
e. Fouls after a try are enforced on the next new series.
AR 10-3-2-I to X
Article 3 - Half-Distance Enforcement
No distance penalty, including tries, shall exceed half the distance from the enforcement spot to the offending team’s goal line. AR 10-3-3-I to II
Basic Sport Enforcement
The basic spot will be used for: pass interference, illegal contact, game interference, shielding,illegal flag pull, intentionally kicking a pass
Below are the 6 possible situations with the basic spot marked with a red dot.AR 10-3-3-I to II
Offense fouls – SF related to SL defines BS
Defense fouls – DB related to SL defines BS
Fouls after COP – SF related to DB defines BS
only for foul during last run from team in possession, in other situations BS is DB
Philosophy of Enforcement
A simplified quick guide (“rules of thumb”) to help to understand the rules.
The exact enforcement shall be done according to rule.
Illegal Contact and Unsportsmanlike Conduct fouls are 10 yards, non-contact fouls are 5 yards. A loss of down is enforced only with live ball fouls, automatic first downs will be enforced always.
Fouls prior to the snap mean the ball remains dead and will be enforced from the dead ball spot (scrimmage line).
Illegal snap, delay of game, encroachment, false start, offside, disconcerting signal, illegal Blitzer signal
Technical fouls will be enforced from the scrimmage line.
Delay of pass, illegal touching, illegal motion, illegal blitz, side line interference, illegal participation, illegal substitution
Fouls which can be committed only by the runner will be spot fouls and include loss of down.
Illegal kick, illegal run, illegal run play, Illegal hand-off, illegal (forward and backward) pass, jumping, diving, flag guarding, backward pass batted forward by an offensive player
Fouls during the play will be enforced from the basic spot.
Shielding, illegal flag pull, intentionally kicking a pass, pass interference, illegal contact, game interference
The basic spot will be the worst of the scrimmage line and the spot of foul for offense fouls and the worst of the scrimmage line and the dead ball spot for defence fouls.
Unsportsmanlike acts will be enforced as dead ball fouls.
Live ball fouls by both teams during the play will offset and the down will be replayed.
Exception: The team last in possession can decline offsetting penalties and keep the ball if it has not fouled before getting the ball. The foul of the team last in possession will be enforced. (“clean hands principle”)
Fouls after a change of team possession will be enforced from the dead ball spot. The worst spot principle between spot of foul and dead ball spot will be used only for fouls during the last run. Fouls in their own end zone after a change of possession will be enforced from the Touchback spot.
If the distance between enforcement spot and goal line is less than double the penalty, the ball will be placed halfway to the goal line.