1. Rogers Redding NCAA Rules Editor
PENALTY ENFORCEMENT
Rogers Redding
NCAA Rules Editor

2. PENALTY ENFORCEMENT OUTLINE
Penalties Completed---Offsetting Fouls
Enforcement: “3-and-1” Principle
Postscrimmage Kick Enforcement
Fouls on Scoring Plays

3. PENALTY VS. FOUL
FOUL: A Rule Infraction For Which a Penalty is Prescribed
PENALTY: The Consequences of Such a Rule Infraction—Accepted Or Declined

4. “Penalty” Is To “Punishment”
PENALTY VS. FOUL
THEY ARE NOT THE SAME!
“Foul” Is To “Crime” as
“Penalty” Is To “Punishment”

5. PENALTIES COMPLETED Penalty Completed When:
Accepted, Declined, or Canceled
ANY Penalty May Be Declined
Multiple Live-Ball Fouls By One Team
-- Offended Team Chooses One

6. PENALTIES COMPLETED Offsetting Fouls --Only Live-Ball Fouls Offset
--Exceptions:

7. EXCEPTIONS TO OFFSETTING FOULS
“Clean Hands” Provision
Postscrimmage Kick Enforcement
Try, After Team B Possession
Extra Periods, After Team B Possession

8. EXAMPLE: EXCEPTION
A22 and A39 In Motion At The Snap. B55 Intercepts a Forward Pass.
B63 Clips on the Return.

9. EXAMPLE: EXCEPTION
RULING: “Clean Hands”: B May Decline Offsetting Fouls to Retain Possession Following Completion of the Clipping Penalty.

10. EXAMPLE: EXCEPTION
At the Snap, Team A Has Only 6 On The Line and B76 is In the Neutral Zone. B34 Recovers A22’s Fumble.
B47 Clips on the Return.

11. EXAMPLE: 10-1-4 EXCEPTION RULING: Offsetting Fouls. No Option.
Team B Was Not “Clean.”

12. EXAMPLE: 10-1-4 EXCEPTION B23 Intercepts a Pass.
B76 Clips On the Return .
A45 Tackles B23 by Twisting His Face Mask.

13. EXAMPLE: EXCEPTION
RULING: Team B May Decline Offsetting Fouls and Retain the Ball After the Penalty for B76’s Foul Is Completed.
Note: Timing of A45’s Foul Does Not Matter.

14. EXAMPLE: 10-1-4 EXCEPTION B23 Intercepts a Pass.
B76 Clips On the Return.
A45 Tackles B23 by Twisting His Face Mask.
Time in the First Half Expires on the Play.

15. EXAMPLE: EXCEPTION
RULING: Team B May Decline Offsetting Fouls to Retain the Ball.
However, Team A Will Decline the Penalty for B76’s Foul, Ending the Half.

16. “3-and-1” PRINCIPLE Applies ONLY
When No Enforcement Spot Is Specified in a Rule Penalty
“BASIC SPOT”--Key Words in Penalty Statement

17. BASIC SPOT AND ENFORCEMENT SPOT
Benchmark for Application of “3-and-1” Principle--Depends on Type of Play
ENFORCEMENT SPOT
Spot From Which a Penalty Is Enforced
See 10-2 and 2-25

18. PENALTY ENFORCEMENT The 3-and-1 Principle Asks:
Where Is the BASIC SPOT?
Where Is the FOUL in Relation to the Basic Spot?

19. ENFORCEMENT SPOTS Previous Spot End of the Run Spot of the Foul
BASIC SPOTS
Previous Spot
End of the Run
Spot of the Foul
Special Cases:
Succeeding Spot: Dead-Ball Fouls
End of the Kick: Postscrimmage Kick

20. BASIC SPOTS END OF THE RELATED RUN
Running Plays When Run Ends Beyond NZ
Running Plays When There Is No NZ

21. BASIC SPOTS PREVIOUS SPOT
Running Plays When Run Ends Behind Neutral Zone
Forward Pass Plays
Kick Plays (Except When PSK Applies)

22. DIAGRAM For “3-and-1” FOUL BY TEAM In Possession Not In Possession
BASIC SPOT
*Penalize From Basic Spot
Beyond Basic Spot*
Beyond Basic Spot*
Behind Basic Spot
Behind Basic Spot*

23. EXAMPLE: “3-and-1” 2nd and 7 at B-36. A25 is Tackled at B-45.
During the Run A89 Blocks in the Back at B-30.
RULING: 10-Yard Penalty From B-36, the Previous Spot, Which Is the Basic Spot.

24. EXAMPLE: “3-and-1”
A’s Runner Is Tackled Behind the NZ. During the Play B36 Slugs A29 Eight Yards Downfield.
RULING: Basic Spot Is Previous Spot. 15-Yard Penalty From the Previous Spot.
Automatic First Down. B36 Ejected.

25. EXAMPLE: “3-and-1” A25 Gains Ten Yards to the B-25.
A65 Clips at the B-30.
RULING: 15-Yard Penalty From the Spot of the Foul (B-30).

26. “From Where It Hurts Most”
The “3-and-1” PRINCIPLE
“3-and-1” Does NOT Mean
“From Where It Hurts Most”

27. “Worst” Spot? Spot of Foul.
EXAMPLE: “3-and-1”
A12 Is Tackled for a 3-Yard Loss. During the Play, B35 Twists A40’s Facemask 10 Yards Beyond the Neutral Zone.
RULING: 15-yard Penalty Against Team B, Enforced From PREVIOUS SPOT (the Basic Spot).
“Worst” Spot? Spot of Foul.

28. POSTSCRIMMAGE KICK ENFORCEMENT
Applies ONLY to Fouls by Team B:
Three or More Yards Beyond NZ
During Scrimmage Kick Play
Not on a Try
Not in Extra Period
Not On Successful Field Goal
Kick Crosses NZ
Team A Does Not Have Legal Possession When The Ball Is Declared Dead

29. POSTSCRIMMAGE KICK ENFORCEMENT
If These Conditions Are Satisfied:
END OF KICK (or B-20) is Basic Spot
Apply “3-and-1” Principle

30. POSTSCRIMMAGE KICK ENFORCEMENT
Punt Receiver Catches Kick at the B-16 and Returns It to the B-48. During the Kick B62 Clips at the B-35.
RULING: Basic Spot Is End of the Kick. Penalize From the B-16. Team B’s Ball, 1st Down at the B-8.

31. POSTSCRIMMAGE KICK ENFORCEMENT
B27 Downs a Punt in His End Zone. During the Kick B57 Blocks Below the Waist (a) the B-10 (b) at the B-32.
RULING: Basic Spot Is the B-20 (End of the Kick).
(a) Half the Distance to the B-5
(b) Half the Distance to the B-10

32. POSTSCRIMMAGE KICK ENFORCEMENT
During The Punt, B66 Fouls 10 Yards Beyond The Neutral Zone. B24 Returns The Punt To The A-5 And Fumbles. The Ball Strikes The Goal-line Pylon.
RULING: PSK Applies. End Of Kick Is The Basic Spot. Enforce Penalty Accordingly.

33. Foul by Defense During Touchdown Play:
FOULS ON SCORING PLAYS
Foul by Defense During Touchdown Play:
Penalties for PERSONAL FOULS Enforced on Try OR Kickoff. Do NOT Carry Over in Extra Period.
Penalties For ALL OTHER FOULS Do Not Carry Over. Usually They Are DECLINED BY RULE. (Exception: When Illegal Touching Enables Enforcement)

34. EXAMPLE: SCORING PLAY
A89 Catches a Legal Forward Pass for a TD. (a) B79 Offside. (b) B63 Roughs the Passer. (c) B26 Commits DPI.
RULING: (a) Penalty Declined By Rule. TD Counts.
(b) TD Counts. Penalty Enforced on Try or Kickoff.
(c) Penalty Declined By Rule. TD Counts

35. EXAMPLE: SCORING PLAY
A19 Touches the Punt Beyond the NZ. B29 Recovers and Fumbles. B64 CLIPS During B29’s Run. A47 Returns the Fumble (a) for a TD (b) to the B-5.
RULING: (a) TD Counts; Penalty on Try or Kickoff.
(b) B’s Ball, Either After the Clipping Penalty or at the Illegal Touching Spot.

36. EXAMPLE: SCORING PLAY
A19 Touches the Punt Beyond the NZ. B29 Recovers and Fumbles. B64 HOLDS During B29’s Run. A47 Returns the Fumble for an Apparent TD.
RULING: Penalty Can Be Enforced Due To the Illegal Touching. Ball Belongs To B Either After the Penalty Or At the IT Spot. AR VII

37. EXAMPLE: SCORING PLAY
A19 Touches the Punt Beyond the NZ. B29 Recovers and Fumbles. A47 Returns the Fumble for an Apparent TD. B64 HOLDS During A47’s Run.
RULING: Penalty Declined By Rule. Team B’s Ball at IT Spot.
AR V

38. FOULS ON SCORING PLAY
Unsportsmanlike Conduct Fouls During or After TD Play:
Penalty Enforced on Try or on Kickoff
(On Try in Extra Period)

39. EXAMPLE: SCORING PLAY
A24 Taunts His Opponents As He Scores a Touchdown.
RULING: TD Counts. 15-Yard Penalty Enforced Either on the Try or the Kickoff.
(In Extra Period, the Penalty Is Enforced on the Try.)

40. FOULS AFTER SCORING PLAY
Personal Foul Committed Between Touchdown and Try:
Penalty Enforced on Try or Kickoff
(On Try in Extra Period)

41. PENALTY ENFORCEMENT ON THE TRY
Successful Try, Foul by Team B:
A May Decline Penalty; OR Accept and Go for 2 Points.
HOWEVER
Personal Foul: Accepted Penalty Carried Over to KO or Extra Period.

42. PENALTY ENFORCEMENT ON THE TRY
No Change of Possession
Offsetting Fouls: Repeat Try
Loss-of-Down: Try is Over. No Penalty. No Score.
Kick-Catch Interference: Penalty Declined by Rule

43. PENALTY ENFORCEMENT ON THE TRY
Change of Possession
Either Team (Not Both) Fouls After Change of Possession:
Penalty Declined By Rule—No Carry-Over
[EXC: Flagrant Personal Foul or LBF Treated as DBF: Penalty Carries Over]

44. PENALTY ENFORCEMENT ON THE TRY
Change of Possession
Both Teams Foul and Team B Fouled Before Change of Possession:
Fouls Offset--Down is Replayed
Both Teams Foul, and Team B Did NOT Foul Before Getting Possession:
Fouls Cancel, No Replay. Exception to Does Not Apply.

45. EXAMPLE: FOULS ON THE TRY
A46 Illegally in Motion and B76 Offside. B34 Intercepts Pass and Is Tackled.
RULING: Fouls Offset. Repeat Try.

46. EXAMPLE: FOULS ON THE TRY
A46 Illegally in Motion. B56 Intercepts Pass and B21 Clips on the Return.
RULING: Fouls Cancel. No Replay. Try Is Over. (No “Clean Hands” Option for B.)

47. EXAMPLE: FOULS ON THE TRY
Try Kick Is Good. Team B Is Offside.
RULING: Team A May Decline Penalty, or Accept Penalty and Go for 2 Points. Penalty DOES NOT Carry Over.

48. EXAMPLE: FOULS ON THE TRY
Try Kick Is Good. B79 Commits a Personal Foul During The Down.
RULING: Team A May Decline and Keep 1 Point; or
Accept and Go for 2; or
Keep 1 Point and Have Penalty Enforced on KO or in Extra Period.

49. EXAMPLE: FOULS ON THE TRY
B65 Is Offside at Snap. B23 Intercepts Pass and Scores. A45 Fouls on the Return.
RULING: Fouls Offset. Replay The Down. No Score.

50. EXAMPLE: FOULS ON THE TRY
B21 Intercepts a Pass and is Tackled at the B-35. During the Run, B64 Clips in Team B’s End Zone.
RULING: Penalty Declined By Rule. Try is Over. NOT a Safety.

51. Dead Ball Foul Following Try:
FOUL AFTER THE TRY
Exception to 8-3-5
Dead Ball Foul Following Try:
If Try Is Replayed, DBF Penalty Enforced on Replay.
If Try Is Not Replayed, DBF Penalty Enforced on Kickoff or in Extra Period

52. EXAMPLE: FOUL AFTER THE TRY
Try Attempt Is Unsuccessful. After the Play A60 Commits a Personal Foul. (a) B79 Was in the Neutral Zone at the Snap. (b) No Live-Ball Fouls Occurred.
RULING: (a) Both Penalties Enforced. Try Replayed From 16-and-One-Half Yardline. (B) No Replay. 15-Yard Penalty Against Team A on Kickoff or in Extra Period.

53. EXAMPLE: FOUL AFTER THE TRY
Team A Scores Two Points on the Try. After The Play A60 Commits a Personal Foul. B79 Was in the Neutral Zone at the Snap.
RULING: Team A Will Decline the Offside Penalty. DBF Penalty Carries Over; Team A Penalized 15 Yards on Kickoff or in Extra Period.

54. SUMMARY: PENALTIES CARRIED OVER
Penalties Carry Over to Try or KO ONLY:
Personal Foul by Non-Scoring Team on a Touchdown
DBF Between TD and Try
Penalties for Other Fouls Do Not Carry Over

55. SUMMARY: PENALTIES CARRIED OVER
Penalties Carry Over to KO or XP:
During Try: Personal Foul by Team B
DBF Field Goal Score
DBF After the Try (To Kickoff, if Try is Not Replayed)

56. ADDRESS