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Home>Team Sports>Football>Football Penalties
Last updated: Feb 09, 2023
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Illegal contact in football occurs during the defender’s initial “jam up” after the ball is snapped. During a “jam up” the defender will attempt to slow the opposing receiver from running their route by pushing or locking arms with them on the line of scrimmage, hoping to throw off the timing between quarterback and receiver. Illegal contact can only be called on the defense.
Table of Contents
- Definition
- Result
- Penalty Signal
- Examples
- Similar Penalties To Illegal Contact
- FAQ
Definition
Illegal contact is when a defender grabs or holds onto an opposing receiver after the initial 5 yards of the line of scrimmage.
Defenders are allowed to make contact with receivers within the first 5 yards of the line of scrimmage, so long as the defender maintains continuous contact with the receiver and the quarterback has not thrown the ball. If contact breaks, any further contact initiated by the defensive player is considered illegal. It is also considered illegal contact if the defender continues to make contact with the receiver past the 5 yard window on a pass play.
Illegal contact rules and regulations vary between levels of the sport. For example, in high school (NFHS), there is no 5-yard space where a defender can jam a receiver. Instead of a penalty for illegal contact, the defender may be called for defensive holding or illegal use of hands if a ball is thrown to the receiver. A defender may still try to avoid a potential block on a run play.
In college, defensive players can get away with a little more contact than they can in professional leagues. They can’t jam the receivers up at the line of scrimmage, but they can make legal contact with the receiver down the field as long as the ball has not been thrown.
Illegal contact is often not called in an effort to allow the defenders and receivers to “play the game.” There is usually some contact at the line of scrimmage, but the referees will let the two play on unless it escalates to holding or grappling. In 2022 though, the NFL did announce that more illegal contact would be called going forward.
Result
| Penalty | NFL | NCAA | NFHS | CFL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illegal Contact | 5 Yards, Automatic 1st Down | No penalty for Illegal Contact (not allowed, but called for Defensive Holding or Defensive Pass Interference instead) | No penalty for Illegal Contact (not allowed, but called for Defensive Holding or Defensive Pass Interference instead) | 5 Yards, Automatic 1st Down*Only penalty when QB still has the ball |
When illegal contact is called in the NFL and CFL, it results in a 5 yard penalty and an automatic first down. Illegal contact is not a penalty that is called in NCAA or NFHS, and will rather be classified as defensive holding or defensive pass interference.
Penalty Signal
To signal an illegal contact penalty, the referee will stand upright with one arm extended outward with an open palm.
Examples
- Defender contacts a receiver 10 yards down the field before the ball is thrown to them.
- Receiver breaks the initial “jam” by the defender and the defender grabs or hooks the receiver to prevent a route from being run.
- Defender continues “jamming” the receiver while a pass is thrown to the receiver.
- Defensive Holding
- Illegal Use of the Hands
- Pass Interference
FAQ
What is an illegal contact penalty in football?
An illegal contact penalty in football occurs when a defensive player makes contact with a receiver beyond five yards past the line of scrimmage.Defenders are allowed to make contact with receivers within five yards of the line of scrimmage before the ball has been thrown. If the ball has been thrown or the defensive player makes contact beyond five yards, illegal contact will be called.
Can you challenge an illegal contact penalty in the NFL?
No, illegal contact penalties cannot be challenged in the NFL.In football, fouls and penalties are divided into categories based on whether they can be reviewed or challenged. Illegal contact is a judgment call that only a referee can make, so it cannot be reviewed with instant replay and the resulting loss of yardage and new down cannot be overturned.
What is the penalty for illegal contact in the NFL?
The penalty for illegal contact in the NFL is five yards against the defense and an automatic first down for the offense.Illegal contact is a less severe penalty than defensive pass interference, which places the ball at the spot of the foul and grants an automatic first down.
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Pages Related to Football Illegal Contact Penalty
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- Football Illegal Block Below the Waist Penalty
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