ENRUES
All penalties

Clipping

Penalty: Offense, Defense, Special teams

What it is

A player blocks an opponent from behind at or below the knees, when the opponent is not the ball carrier.

The penalty

The penalty is 15 yards. The penalty is enforced from the spot of the foul. There is an exception for blocking in the tight area around the line of scrimmage at the snap.

More detail

Officials throw a yellow flag when they see it. The other team may accept the penalty or decline it if the play turned out better for them.

Animated play

101020203030404050504040303020201010END ZONEEND ZONEXHit from behind, below the kneesClipping15 yards backA runner breaks into the open field and a defender chases.A blocker hits the chaser from behind, at the legs.

Blue circles are the team with the ball. X marks the other team. The yellow oval is the ball.

  1. A ball carrier breaks free and a defender chases him.
  2. A blocker comes from behind the defender and hits him at or below the knees.
  3. The officials flag clipping: fifteen yards.