James Madison University Intramural Sports
Officials Development Program- Flag Football
Penalty Enforcement
In addition to being able to identify and throw penalties, officials must also be able to administer the proper enforcement ensuring that the ball is correctly positioned for each and every snap.
Penalty Enforcement
Enforcing Penalties
The Referee will enforce all penalties during the game. This official must know the specific yardage and spot of enforcement for each of the various penalties. The following section will demonstrate the proper procedure and context for penalty enforcement.
If there is a flag on the play, the Referee will:
1. Confer with the official that threw the flag.
2. Give a preliminary signal of the foul and indicate what team committed it.
3. Inform the offended captain of the foul and their options.
4. Mark off the penalty yardage and move the pucks.
5. Announce the penalty verbally and with the appropriate mechanic.
6. Announce the down and the new line to gain.
The team always has the choice whether to Accept or Decline the yardage of a penalty.
The Referee will enforce all penalties in the order in which they occurred.
Referee Penalty Enforcement Procedure
1. Always establish the new line at the end of the run. Even though there is a flag, the new line may still be necessary and/or the penalty may be declined. An official other than the Referee and the one that threw the penalty flag must hold the line.
2. The last remaning offical will go to the spot from where the flag is in order to "guard" it. This prevents the flag from being moved since it should be at the spot of the foul.
3. The Referee will confer with the official that threw the penalty in order to confirm what the penalty is.
4. The Referee will the signal the foul and give the respective team captian his/her choice to Accept or Decline. It is OK to explain to the captain what will happen with each choice, and if the choice is obvious, advice the captain to which is the better choice.
5. If necessary, the Referee will enforce the penalty by marching off the penalty yards.
6. The Referee will then announce the foul, the penalty, the down, and the line to gain; set the pucks, retreat to the pre-snap position, and blow the 'ready for play' whistle.
Special Penalty Enforcements
Roughing the Passer: Succeeding Spot
Automatic First Down: Defensive Pass Interference, Roughing the Passer, Illegally Secured Flag Belt (Defense)
Loss of Down: Intentional Grounding, Illegally Secured Flag Belt (Offense), Offensive Pass Interference
Illegal Forward Pass: 5 yard penalty, loss of down, enforced from where the ball is thrown.
Half the Distance: A penalty can never move the ball more than half the distance to any goal line, this usually occurs when it is within either 20 yard line.
5 Yard Penalties
Delay of Game, Encroachment, False Start, Illegal Snap, Illegal Equipment, Substitution Infraction, Illegal Motion, Illegal Forward Pass, Illegal Formation
10 Yard Penalties
Offensive Pass Interference, Defensive Pass Interference, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, Holding, Roughing the Passer, Hurdling, Illegal Contact, Flag Guarding, Diving for a Flag, Diving for Yardage
Additional Information:
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