Summary of Penalties / Rule 12 Instant Replay / NCAA
Introduction
This document provides a comprehensive summary of penalties related to NCAA football rules as compiled by the San Diego County Football Officials Association.
Penalty Categories
Loss of a Down
Illegal Scrimmage Kick: Also incurs a 5-yard penalty.
Illegally Handing Ball Forward: Also incurs a 5-yard penalty.
Planned Loose Ball Play: Also incurs a 5-yard penalty.
Intentionally Throwing Backward Pass Out of Bounds: Also incurs a 5-yard penalty.
Illegal Forward Pass by Team A: Also incurs a 5-yard penalty.
Intentionally Grounding Forward Pass: Penalty at the spot of foul.
Forward Pass Illegally Touched by Player Out of Bounds.
Illegally Batting Ball: Also incurs a 10-yard penalty.
Illegally Kicking Ball: Also incurs a 10-yard penalty.
Loss of Five Yards
Alteration of the playing surface for an advantage.
Improper numbering.
Coin-toss infractions.
Delay after three timeouts are expended.
Illegal delay of game.
Advancing a dead ball.
Disconcerting offensive signals.
Substitution rules infractions.
More than 11 players in formation or during play.
Infraction of free kick formation.
Illegal kick (also loss of down if by Team A).
Various illegal motions and formations.
Loss of Ten Yards
Home team delay.
Illegal use of hands or arms (offense).
Holding or obstruction (offense and defense).
Illegal block in the back (offense and defense).
Illegally batting loose ball (also loss of down).
Illegally kicking ball (also loss of down).
Loss of Fifteen Yards
Marking ball.
Numbers changed to deceive the opponent.
Illegal signal devices (also ejection).
Illegal block by fair-catch signaller.
Tackling or blocking fair-catcher.
Offensive and Defensive pass interference.
Various severe fouls like targeting, clipping, blocking below the waist, late hits, helmet fouls, roughing the passer, and more.
Loss of Half Distance
Penalty applied if distance penalty exceeds half the distance to the goal line (except on defensive pass interference).
Other Penalties and Infractions
Offended Team's Ball at Spot
Defensive pass interference results in a first down if less than a 15-yard penalty.
Charged Timeout
Violations such as not wearing mandatory equipment or wearing illegal equipment.
Violations
Illegal touching of free or scrimmage kick by the kicking team.
Warnings
Game administration interference on the first infraction.
Ejection
Prohibited signal devices, flagrant fouls, illegal cleats, contacting an official, use of tobacco, fighting.
Disqualification
Targeting/initiating contact with the crown of the helmet or to the head/neck area of a defenseless player.
Automatic First Downs (Defensive Fouls)
Pass interference, targeting, clipping, blocking below waist, roughing the passer, unsportsmanlike conduct, etc.
When-In-Question Rules
Includes rules for catch or recovery, blocking, fumbles, forward passes, and player conduct.
Referee's Discretion
Penalty for unfair acts is at the referee's discretion.
Conclusion
The San Diego County Football Officials Association provides this detailed list to help understand the various penalties applicable under NCAA rules. The document is integral for officials to administer games correctly and maintain fair play.