American Football Offside Rule Explained

American football offside rule explained: Offside is a standard penalty that occurs when a defensive player crosses the line of scrimmage before the ball snaps. The penalty for an offsides violation is five free yards, which can lead to an automatic first down. Here is everything you need to know about offsides in American Football.

How Many Penalty Yards is an Offsides Violation?

An offsides violation gives the offensive team a 5-yard penalty in their favor if the defense moves too early. Both sides have to stay on their side of the line of scrimmage before a snap.

If the offensive line moves before a snap, it is a false start, which results in a 5-yard penalty the other way. This 5-yard penalty is the same for the NFL, college football, and high school leagues.

Are Offsides an Automatic First Down in American Football?

An offside rule states that the offense receives five yards automatically. If the play was third and four, and the defense creates an offside penalty, the offense now gets an automatic first down. The offense receives an automatic first down since those five yards will make a first down.

What Happens if there are Offsides on a Field Goal Attempt?

A few things happen if the offense attempts a field goal kick and there are offsides by the defense. First, the offense can keep those three points if the kicker makes the field goal attempt. However, if the kicker misses the field goal attempt, they can move up five yards and attempt the kick again.

If moving up five yards creates a fresh set of downs since that got them a first down, the offense can come back out, and the special teams can go back to the sidelines.

What Happens if there are Offsides on a Punt Attempt?

If there are offsides during a punt attempt, a few things happen. First, the kicking team can keep the placement of the kick if it is a good one. However, the kicking team can also redo the kick and move up five yards. If moving up five yards makes a first down, the offense comes out, and the special teams go back to the sidelines.

What Happens if the Defense is Offsides Close to the Goal Line?

If the defense creates an offside penalty close to the goal line, the offense can move the ball half the distance to the end zone.

Can a Defense Keep Getting Offsides to Stop the Offense from Scoring a Touchdown?

If the defense keeps creating offside penalties to stop the offense from scoring, the referees can enact rulebook 12.3.2. This rule states that the referee must warn the defense to stop making offside penalties. If the defense continues to ignore this warning, the offensive team receives a touchdown.

Why Do Some Teams Get Offsides?

Defensive teams might get an offside penalty due to the quarterback running a hard count. Defensive players try and time up when the passer receives the ball to get the best jump against the offense. However, sometimes the QB will change their hike call and either ask for the ball earlier than the defensive team expects or much later. That change in count might have a defender move too soon, which results in offsides.

Another reason why defensive teams get offsides is when they are blitzing. Blitzing players, like a linebacker, line up via the pre-snap to look for a gap in the opposing team’s formation. Sometimes a player might break the line of scrimmage to time up their blitz perfectly, but that could backfire and result in a five-yard penalty. However, timing up a blitz perfectly could be the difference between sacking the QB and not.

How Does the Referee Signal Offside?

A referee will signal a defensive offsides call by throwing their penalty flag up in the air. Throwing the flag up in the air does not create a delay of the game, but it becomes free to play for the offense to run whatever they want.

Why is Offsides Referred to as a Free Play for the Offense?

If a defensive player moves past the line of scrimmage and the referee signals the penalty, QBs tend to throw a Hail Mary type of pass because they have no downside to the play. For example, throwing a Hail Mary pass can result in a wide receiver catching the ball, which means the offense can decline the penalty and start their new position there.

Meanwhile, an interception won’t count because the opposing team made the penalty, and an incomplete pass will still result in a 5-yard penalty. There is zero risk for the offense to try whatever they want during an offsides penalty.

What about Neutral Zone Infractions?

Neutral Zone Infractions are similar to offside penalties in American Football. The main difference is that a defensive player might enter the neutral zone, which results in the offensive player reacting and moving. The referee will then blow their whistle, signaling the neutral zone infraction. However, the play continues without penalty if the offensive player does not respond, and the defender can get back out of the neutral zone before the snap.

The penalty for a neutral zone infraction is a 5-yard penalty, but the main difference is that the referee will call the play dead before the snap. Unlike an offsides penalty where the offensive team has a chance to pick up big yardage on a play, neutral zone infractions immediately stop the action.

What about Encroachment on the Defense?

Encroachment on the defense pertains to a defensive lineman making contact with an offensive lineman. Another example of encroachment is if a defender contacts the football before a snap. An encroachment penalty will result in the play being over and five yards awarded to the offensive team.

What is the Difference Between a False Start and Offsides in the NFL?

A false start penalty occurs if the offensive line makes any illegal motion before the snap of the ball. For example, an offensive line player might move back to anticipate a player blitzing before the ball snaps. If that is the case, the offense needs to move the ball five yards back from the ball’s original spot.

Offsides, on the other hand, occur with the defense. If a defender passes the line of scrimmage before the ball snaps, the offense gets an automatic five yards.

Conclusion: What Does Offsides Mean in the NFL?

In summary, offsides in the NFL mean that a defensive player broke the line of scrimmage to get to the offense before the snap. There becomes free play for the offense when offsides happen because they get five free yards if they choose. If the offsides penalty automatically creates a first down for the offensive team, it can dramatically swing the momentum of one team during a football game.

Hope that with this article at Footballterms, you had more information about the American football offside rule explained.