ENRUES
All penalties

Face mask

Penalty: Offense, Defense, Special teams

What it is

A player grabs or twists the face mask of an opponent’s helmet.

The penalty

The penalty is 15 yards, plus an automatic first down if the defense commits it. The penalty is enforced from the spot of the foul. If a defender is called, the offense also gets a first down.

More detail

Players are taught to wrap up with their arms and avoid the helmet when they tackle.

Animated play

101020203030404050504040303020201010END ZONEEND ZONEXXXXXGrabs the face maskFace mask15 yards added to the runAutomatic first downA runner breaks through the line.A tackler grabs his helmet by the face mask.

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

  1. A running back takes the handoff and breaks through the line.
  2. A defender reaches for the runner and grabs the face mask of his helmet.
  3. The officials flag it. The defense is penalized fifteen yards from the end of the run, and the offense gets a first down.