ENRUES
All penalties

Neutral zone infraction

Penalty: Defense

What it is

A defender moves into the neutral zone before the snap and causes an offensive player to react, such as flinching or jumping.

The penalty

The penalty is 5 yards, and the down is replayed. The penalty is enforced from the line of scrimmage.

More detail

Defenders use quick fake moves to bait the offense into a false start. If the offensive player moves because of that, it is this foul on the defense, not a false start on the offense.

Animated play

101020203030404050504040303020201010END ZONEEND ZONEXXXXXHe jumps, and the lineman flinchesNeutral zone infraction5 yards forward, replay the downBoth lines are set.A defender jumps into the neutral zone and an offensive player reacts.

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

  1. The two lines are set, and the space between them is the neutral zone.
  2. A defender moves into it and an offensive player flinches. Without the defender’s move, this would have looked like a false start.
  3. The officials call neutral zone infraction on the defense: five yards, and the down is replayed.