What Is a Holding Penalty Football? (Full Explanation)
What is a holding penalty in football?
An unlawful off-the-ball foul for trying to obstruct an opponent is called holding. The team that commits the holding penalty loses five or ten yards from the line of scrimmage. If it is offensive holding, there is a 10-yard penalty.
Defensive holding, however, results in a five-yard penalty and a straight first down. If it is reported within 20 yards of the end zone, the distance to the goal will be reduced by half as a penalty.
Holding penalty football is the most frequent foul. Every play, including passing plays, handoffs, field goal attempts, punts, and kickoffs, has the potential to involve holding. Although it is most frequently called on linemen, it is as frequently called on wide receivers and defensive backs.
Garett Boles, an offensive tackle for the Denver Broncos, has the most offensive holding penalties (10) in the NFL in 2019. This included four against the Chicago Bears in his Week 2 game.
Why do players hold during plays?
In order to protect their quarterback or player carrying the ball and help them achieve positive yards on a play, offensive players (wide receivers, offensive linemen, running backs, etc.) may cling onto another player during a play.
Many players depart from their technique and grab or hook onto a player, almost as a defense mechanism, in an effort to block and hold back a defender if they recognize that player may get by them.
A football holding penalty typically happens as a result of a blitz or a breakdown in communication where a defensive player may easily penetrate the offensive line on a play. Consequently, offensive player tries to stop them in whatever manner they can.
Can you decline a holding penalty football?
You have the option to reject, just like any other penalty. It is also important to remember that holding penalties in football occurs as the play progresses. The officials, therefore, gave the play time to finish before ending it. Defensive holding essentially gives the offensive team a “free play” to try to make a big play.
Only when the outcome of the play is better for their team than if they took the penalty, coaches might want to decline a holding penalty. Consider the scenario where a defensive holding infraction is assessed and an offensive touchdown is scored on the same play. As a result, the coach would typically decide against the penalty.
The coach would likely accept the penalty if the offensive team made a gain of three. As a result of the penalty, his team would gain more yardage and a new set of downs.
Why do some holds not result in penalties?
You will notice holding that won’t result in a penalty when watching a game in person or on television. Depending on whether the referee noticed the play, not every hold results in a penalty. The officials on the field must keep an eye on a variety of details during each play. So, occasionally they may overlook a hold that would help the offensive team.
Despite this, some fans still whine that their team did not receive a holding penalty on a play, even when a play’s replay clearly reveals a flagrant hold. When a play does not go in their favor, it can be upsetting for players, spectators, and coaches, but that is just the human side of the game.
Some players may take a tiny hold on a play knowing that some holds might go undetected. Sometimes it is advantageous to delay a player on plays for an extra second because of the potential danger and reward. A QB may be able to complete a pass down the field if given an extra second on a play.
Is holding penalty football a loss or down?
No, if it is offensive holding. The down is repeated after a 10-yard penalty for offensive holding.
For instance, if it is called on 2nd down and 5 with the ball on the 50-yard line, the line of scrimmage is moved back 10 yards to the offense’s 40-yard line, and the 2nd down is replayed. Next up, it’s second down and fifteen.
However, defensive holding grants the offense a first down and a gain of five automatically. Say the defense commits a holding penalty on the play at 3rd down and 9 yards from the opponent’s 40-yard line. On the 35-yard line, the offense begins the following play with a first down.
Sum up
In conclusion, one of the most frequent penalties on the offensive side of the ball is offensive holding. Most plays most likely contain some holding. But whether or not to call the penalty is ultimately up. Remember to follow the website Footballterms to update more reliable news on NFL football.
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