Football 15-Yard Penalties

A 15-yard penalty is the worst that can be given for a team with a player that commits the following violations:Clipping - This violation is called if the player blocks his opponent from behind. Chop block is similar to clipping except the player blocks another person below the waist.Fair catch interference is when the defensive player touches the receiver in any way after he signals for a fair catch. What the defensive player must do is to give the receiver at least 2 yards to catch the ball. Faking a roughing is a rarely called penalty but it is committed by the passer or the kicker when he fakes being roughed in an attempt to get a foul called against his opponent. Illegal low block is called if a player blocks his opponent below the knees. Kneeling or kicking is similar to illegal low block. A player who commits this violation can be disqualified if the foul is flagrant. Roughing the kicker is similar to the 5-yard penalty, only the foul is more severe. The player can be ejected from the game. Automatic first down is called. Slapping, punching or hitting an opponent using the fist can be subject to a 15-yard penalty. If the act is flagrant, the player can be ejected from the game.Spearing is when a player lean with the top of his helmet when tackling his opponent. Roughing a passer is when the defensive player hits the quarterback 2 or more steps after the ball is passed. In other words, the defense can only tackle the quarterback 1 step after the ball has been released from his hands. Otherwise, the penalty is called. If the foul is flagrant, the tackler can be thrown out. Automatic first down is called as well.Roughing an official in anyway (kicking, tackling, attacking, slapping, punching, pushing, etc) will disqualify the player. Unnecessary roughness is called if the official feels that the tackle or the block is totally unnecessary in the play. If it is flagrant, the player can be ejected. Unsportsmanlike conduct is called if the player commits unnecessary roughness while the ball is dead. If flagrant, the player is disqualified for the rest of the game.A player that removes his helmet while on the field when the ball is alive and uses it as a weapon or to argue, celebrate, etc is prohibited. This is automatic disqualification.
Related Articles:

• Football 5-Yard Penalties
• Football - Advancing The Ball
• Football Basics: Change Of Ball Possession
• Football Defensive Line Alignment: 4-3 And 3-4
• Football: Defensive Players
• Football Defensive Tactics
• Football Differences: Nfl, Ncaa And Afl
• Football Equipment Essentials