THE
CANADIAN RULE BOOK
RULE 8
SECTION
1. DEFINITIONS
Article 1
Penalties shall fall into the following
categories: (a)
Loss of Down Article 2 – Loss
of a Down
In any penalty, loss of a down (LD)
means that the down upon which the foul occurred has used up one of the series
of 3 consecutive downs permitted. Article 3 – Loss
of Distance
Distance penalties of varying lengths
may be assessed for various infractions. For
any foul calling for a distance penalty, there shall be no loss of down.
Exception – Unnecessary Roughness, Rough Play, Objectionable Conduct, and
Playing without a mouth guard. Article 4 –
Option Provided
(a)
When a foul has been committed on any play, the non-offending team shall
be entitled to the penalty, or the option of declining the penalty to take any
advantage of field position, score, down, time, etc.
The non-offending team may decline a score to accept a penalty, or may
decline a penalty to allow a score in order to gain an advantage from field
position, or may allow a score to gain an advantage from a better point of
application of a penalty such as UR. (b)
In certain cases, where so stated, a penalty shall be applied without the
necessity of choosing an option. This
gives the non-offending team the advantage of the play in addition to the
penalty. These cases include fouls such as Unnecessary Roughness, Rough Play,
Objectionable Conduct, and No Mouthguard, etc.. (c)
A team may decline the distance for any penalty, including those covered
in 4 (b) above, if they feel the application of
the distance would not be advantageous to them. The non-offending team may
decline the penalty for any foul which occurs after the ball has been snapped,
during the final play of a period, in order to terminate the period. (d)
Once the captain entitled to the option has made the choice of accepting
or declining the penalty, the choice may not be revoked. (e)
When dual fouls occur, one or both penalties may be refused. Exception
– Unnecessary Roughness, Rough Play, Objectionable Conduct, No Mouthguard.
The first option shall be given to the Team against whom the first foul
occurred. (f)
The disqualification penalty cannot be declined by the non-offending
team, but immediate legal substitution is permitted.
The disqualification shall be entered in the Referee’s report to the
appropriate league authority. SECTION
2. PENALTIES AND LEGAL GAINS
Article 1 –
After First Down Gained
If Team A or Team B commits a foul on a
scrimmage play after Team A has legally gained the distance for 1st
down, the penalty shall be applied from the point where the ball was held when
the foul occurred, and 1st down awarded at the point where the ball is
placed after the penalty application, with 10 to go. Article 2 –
Before First Down Gained
If Team A commits a foul on a scrimmage
play prior to gaining the distance for 1st down, the penalty shall be
applied form the PLS, with the down repeated. Article 3 –
After Change of Possession
If a team legally obtains possession of
the ball by a pass interception, recovered fumble, received kick, and then
commits a foul, the penalty shall be applied from the point where the ball was
held when the foul occurred and 1st down awarded at the point where
the ball is placed after the penalty application, 10 to go. Article 4 –
After Loss of Possession
(a)
Kick – If either team commits a foul while the ball is “in Flight”,
the penalty shall be applied at the point of possession by the team, which
legally gains possession. Those
penalties which are normally applied without option may be applied at PBD at the
option of the non-offending team. (b) Loose Ball – If the foul directly affects the recovery of the ball, the
ball will be awarded to the non-offending team If the foul occurs in an area remote from the loose ball, the penalty will be applied at the PLS, if the foul occurs during a scrimmage play before the required distance is gained, and at the point of possession in other situations. If either Team commits a foul after the
ball is dead, it shall be ignored unless it is Rough Play, Unnecessary
Roughness, or Objectionable Conduct, which will be applied at the appropriate
spot. If such a foul occurs after a
score, the score shall count, and the foul shall be ignored unless it is Rough
Play, Unnecessary Roughness, or Objectionable Conduct, which will be applied on
the subsequent scrimmage play, convert, or kick off at the option of the
non-offending team. There is no
option to decline the score since the infraction
occurred during the dead ball period following the score. SECTION
3. RESTRICTIONS NEAR THE GOAL LINE
Article 1 –
Inside 30 Yard Line
A yardage penalty applied within 30
yards of the offending team’s goal line, shall not exceed one half the
distance between the point from which the penalty is applied and that goal line. Exception: -
pass interference Article 2 –
Outside 30 Yard Line
A 25 yard penalty applied from a point
outside the offending team’s 30 yard line shall not advance the ball closer
than that team’s 15 yard line. Article
3 – Distance Gained by Restricted Penalty. If an restricted penalty would have
resulted in distance gained, or the goal line reached by Team A, a first down
shall be awarded. Article 4 –
Infraction on Own 1 Yard Line.
(a) Team A – when PLS is the A 1, and Team A commits any infraction Penalty: 1.2D – LD, 3D – DR. (b) Team B – where PLS is the B 1 yard line and Team B commits any infraction Penalty: 1D at 1 yard
line to Team A SECTION
4. FOULS IN END ZONE
Article 1 –
Fouls in Own End Zone
(a)
Team A
1. If Team A commits a foul in its own end zone while in possession of the
ball within its own end zone, Team B
2. If Team A makes an offside pass in its own end zone, and retains
possession of the ball, Team B shall
be
3. If a kicked ball lands and is loose in the end zone before possession is
gained by A, and Team A commits a
4
If an A player fumbles the ball in his own end zone, and while the ball
is loose, Team A commits Illegal Penalty: Team B may accept a rouge or a safety touch (1 or 2 points) as applicable
OR (b)
Team B 1.
If Team B commits a foul in its own end zone, while in possession of the
ball Team A shall be awarded a rouge or safety touch ( 1 or 2 points) as applicable (Exception
– see interception in End Zone – 2.
If Team B makes an offside pass in its own end zone, after receiving a
Team A kick in the end zone, Team A shall be awarded a rouge, or option. 3.
If Team B makes an offside pass in its own end zone, while intercepting
or after intercepting a Team A forward pass, there is no score.
If the ball goes dead in the end zone, Team B shall scrimmage at the B
10. If the ball goes dead in the
field of play, Team B shall scrimmage at the PBD or at the B 10 at the option of
Team A. 4.
If a kicked ball lands and is loose in the end zone before possession is
gained by B and Team B commits a foul in its own end zone, Team A shall be
awarded a rouge (1 point) or option. 5.
If the ball is loose in the Team B end zone, and Team B commits illegal
interference, thus preventing Team A from gaining possession of the ball in the
end zone: Penalty:
Team A may take possession of the ball as 1st down at the B
10, or at the PLS whichever is closer to Article
2 – Fouls in Opponents’ End Zone. (a) Team A
1.
If Team A commits a foul in the Team B end zone on a play from scrimmage,
the penalty shall be applied as
2. If the kicking team commits a “restraining zone” foul in the
receiving team’s end zone, the receiving team shall
3.
If the ball is loose in the Team B end zone, and Team A commits illegal
interference, thus preventing Team B Penalty:
No score, B scrimmage 1D at B 10 (b)
Team B
1.
If Team B commits a foul in the team A end zone on a play from scrimmage,
the penalty shall be applied as
2.
If an A player fumbles the ball in his own end zone, and while the ball
is loose, Team B commits illegal Article 3 – Foul
in End Zone after Intercepted Pass
See (Rule 6, Section 4, Article 11) Article 4 – Foul
with Ball in End Zone
(a)
If Team A commits a foul on the field of play while the ball is in the A
end zone, the penalty shall be applied from the PLS (Except UR, RP, etc.). (b)
If Team B commits a foul on the field of play while the ball is in the B
end zone, the penalty shall be applied from the B 10 Yard line (Except UR, RP,
etc.). (c)
If Team A commits a foul on the field of play while the ball is in the B
end zone, the ball shall be awarded to team B at any point between the hash
marks on the B 10 yard line (UR, RP etc., may be applied at the 10 yard line or
at PBD). (d)
If Team B commits a foul on the filed of play while the ball is in the A
end zone, the penalty shall be applied at PLS. (UR, RP etc., may be applied at
the PLS or at the PBD). SECTION
5. UNNECESSARY ROUGHNESS AND ROUGH PLAY – POINTS OF APPLICATION
Article 1
The distance penalties for Unnecessary
Roughness and Rough Play will be applied in addition to the advantage of
distance gained and score made. In
addition to the distance, an automatic 1st down will be awarded to
Team A for Unnecessary Roughness or Rough Play by Team B, unless it is part of a
dual penalty where both infractions are UR or RP. Article 2 –
Scrimmage Plays – Foul before distance gained.
The non-offending team shall have the
option of having the penalty applied at PLS, DR or of allowing the play to stand
and have the penalty applied at PBD, with downs continuing. Article 3 –
Scrimmage Play – Foul after distance gained.
The non-offending team shall have the
option of having the penalty applied at PBH at the time of the foul, or at PBD.
If the point of application selected results in distance gained, 1st
down will be awarded, the penalty applied, and it will the 1D and 10 at the
point following the penalty application. Article
4 – Change of Possession – Foul before change. Where a foul occurs during a play in
which possession changes, before possession is gained, such as on a kick,
intercepted forward pass, or fumble recovery- (a) Foul before possession is lost – Apply penalty a PLS, point of
possession, or PBD at option of non-offending team. Article 5 –
Change of possession – Foul occurs after change.
Where a foul occurs after possession has
changed, the non-offending team shall have the option of having the penalty
applied at the PBH at the time of the foul, or at the PBD. Article 6 – UR
or RP in end zone after change of possession.
If the foul occurs after Team B has
gained possession in their own end zone and the ball goes dead in the end zone
(exception – intercepted forward pass, (Rule 6-4-11). (a) UR or RP by Team A before ball is dead. Penalty:
No score. UR -15 yard penalty
applied at the 10, B 1D and 10 on B 25. (b)
UR or RP by Team B before ball is dead. Penalty:
Score allowed, UR 15 yard penalty, or RP 25 yard and disqualification,
applied on the subsequent play. (c)
UR or RP by Team A or B after the ball is dead. Penalty:
Score allowed if applicable. UR
15 yard penalty applied on the subsequent play.
RP – Article 7 –
Illegal Interference – Loose Ball.
When an Unnecessary Roughness or Rough
Play foul also constitutes Illegal Interference, affecting the recovery of a
fumble or loose ball: Penalty: -
option to the non-offending team NOTE:
First down is awarded for UR or RP by Team B (automatic) or is awarded
for the illegal interference Article 8 –
Forward Pass
Where illegal interference also includes
UR or RP: The UR or RP penalty will be added to
the distance penalty for the illegal interference. NOTE: The distance penalty awarded for the Illegal Interference is not subject
to the restriction near the goal
(b) Unsuccessful attempt: Team B
(a) Successful attempt:
(b) Unsuccessful attempt: Dual Fouls –
adjust
penalties at PLS. Repeat convert. Article 9 –
Convert
The penalty will be applied as follows: (a)
Foul by Team A
2.
Convert unsuccessful – L15 (or 25) on subsequent kick off. (b)
Foul by Team B
2.
Convert unsuccessful – Team A option – (a)
Foul by Team A before score – B option L15 PLS DR, or PBH if the foul
occurs after distance gained, or allow score and apply the penalty on subsequent
play. (b)
Foul by Team B before score – A option plus 15 PLS 1D, or PBH if the
foul occurs after distance gained, or accept score and apply the penalty on
subsequent play. (c)
Foul by Team A or Team B after score.
The score is allowed and the penalty will be applied on the subsequent
play. NOTE:
In (a), (b) and (c), if the subsequent play is a convert attempt, the
penalty may be applied on the convert or Article 11 –
After the Ball is Dead
When the foul occurs after the ball has
been declared dead, the down has been used, and the penalty shall be applied at
the PBD. Penalty:
1.2D - Penalty applied at PBD, downs continue (unless the required distance is
gained by the NOTE: Piling
on is a foul, which occurs after the ball is dead. If this occurs on a 3rd D, when DNG, the ball SECTION
6. DUAL AND DOUBLE FOULS
Dual fouls occur when each team commits
one or more fouls on the same play. With the exception of Unnecessary
Roughness and Rough Play, dual penalties will be administered as follows: (a)
Both penalties must be accepted for the dual penalty rule to apply.
If one team declines the penalty, the remaining penalty is applied as a
single penalty. (b)
If both penalties are accepted, the distance penalties will be adjusted
at one of 3 points in general. These
points, as shown in the following articles are – PLS, PBH at the time of the
first foul, and the point of possession (PP). (c)
The teams have the option of acceptance of penalty as determined by the
sequence in which the offences occurred, e.g. First offence by A – First
option to B. (d)
If one of the dual fouls is a non-distance foul, it shall be applied as a
10 yard penalty – e.g. Illegal Forward Pass Interference by team B less than 15 yards
from PLS. (e)
A ”restraining zone” foul is an “in flight” foul for the purpose
of this rule. (f)
Pass interference by Team B is not an automatic first down in a dual foul
situation. (g)
Where both fouls are UR or RP the automatic 1D for the B foul will not
apply. The distance penalties will
be adjusted at the appropriate point of application. Article
3 – Application of Penalties The penalties will be adjusted at the
appropriate point of application of the first foul. If the first foul is UR or RP, the non-offending team shall
have the option of adjusting the penalties at the appropriate point of
application of the first or second foul. Article
4 – Double Fouls (by one team) When a team has been guilty of two or
more infractions on the same play, the non-offending team may take its choice of
one of the penalties. If one of the fouls is UR or RP, Objectionable Conduct, or
No Mouthguard, it shall be added to the penalty chosen, at the point of
application of the penalty chosen. Where UR or RP occurs before a change of
possession and another penalty such as Holding or Blocking from the Rear occurs
after the change of possession, if the UR or RP penalty is chosen to cancel the
change of possession, the other penalties are not applied (except another UR
or RP). If the other penalty is accepted, and
the change of possession remains, the point of application is PBH, and the UR or
RP penalty will be added to that penalty. Fouls on repeated converts – If a team
fouls on a convert, and the non-offending team chooses to apply the penalty on
the kick off, fouls by the same team on repeated convert attempts may be added to
the first penalty and applied on the kick off at the option of the non-offending
team. If 2 or more fouls occur on any convert, or repeated convert, the choice of penalty will be made in accordance with paragraph 1 of this article. |