Can the defense decline a motion penalty on the offense?

 

Assume Team A has the ball and runs a play but the wing back leaves a little early. A flag is thrown just after the snap, but the play is not blown dead. Assume the play is an incomplete pass.

 

Can the defense decline the penalty and take the play or is it an automatic 5yd penalty and replay the down?

 

How does it differ from an offsides penalty?

Can the defense decline a motion penalty on the offense?

 

Assume Team A has the ball and runs a play but the wing back leaves a little early. A flag is thrown just after the snap, but the play is not blown dead. Assume the play is an incomplete pass.

 

Can the defense decline the penalty and take the play or is it an automatic 5yd penalty and replay the down?

 

How does it differ from an offsides penalty?

 

 

Yes the defense can decline the penalty. It differs from an offsides penalty in that it is a live ball foul. Offside is a dead ball foul, the play is blown dead as soon as the defense enters the neutral zone.

Thanks. :thumb:

Isn't there a difference between illegal procedure and illegal shift? I thought that an illegal procedure was a dead ball foul and could not be declined and an illegal shift could be.

Isn't there a difference between illegal procedure and illegal shift? I thought that an illegal procedure was a dead ball foul and could not be declined and an illegal shift could be.

 

Not sure but we have some resident official that should be able to help us.

Here's a long-winded answer to a simple question:

 

1. The term "Illegal Procedure" no longer exists, although most PA announcers don't seem to have received that memo. What you are referring to is False Start, which is a dead ball foul. The defense can decline the distance penalty, but the down will be still be replayed because the snap never really occurred. (I can't envision a scenario where this is an advantage to the defense.) Essentially, False Start is any movement before the snap which simulates action at the snap.

 

2. Because a back or end in motion can reset for a second before the snap, Illegal Motion is a live ball foul against a back or end who is simply going forward in motion, but not simulating action at the snap. The penalty can be declined and the results of the play can be chosen at the succeeding spot and down; or the distance penalty (5 yards) can be assessed from the previous spot and the down replayed.

 

3. The term "Offside" also does not exist in the Highschool Rulebook (NFHS), it is a college and NFL live-ball foul against the defense in the neutral zone at the snap. In highschool, the foul is Encroachment which is a dead ball foul. Most often, it is against the defense. But the offense can be called for lining up in the neutral zone, too.

 

offside

To add to the information from offside...

 

Illegal motion involves only one player moving illegally at the snap. Illegal shift involves multiple players.

 

All A players must be set for 1 second before the snap, or before any A player may go into legal motion. If all team A players do not get set, or there is more than 1 A player in motion at the snap, this is illegal shift, a live ball foul.

Thanks guys, you have answered well and I appreciate the clarification. :thumb: