ENRUES
All penalties

Lowering the head

Penalty: Offense, Defense, Special teams

What it is

A player lowers his head and makes contact with an opponent using the crown or top of his 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. A flagrant hit can lead to ejection.

More detail

The rule applies to ball carriers, tacklers and blockers alike.

Animated play

101020203030404050504040303020201010END ZONEEND ZONEXXXXXCrown of the helmet leads the hitLowering the head15 yards added to the runAutomatic first downA defender comes in to make the tackle.He drops his head and hits with the top of his helmet.

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

  1. A defender closes in on the ball carrier.
  2. He lowers his head and uses the top of his helmet as the point of contact.
  3. The officials flag it: fifteen yards. The rule applies to runners, tacklers and blockers.