Multiple fouls: 2 or more fouls against the same team during the down.
There can only be one enforced.
Double fouls: Each team fouls at least once during the down and will offset.
Offsetting fouls: No yardage enforced, and the down is replayed.
Team possession: A ball is always in either Team A’s or Team B’s possession, even though it is loose.
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REMINDERS:
PSK fouls: If a foul meets PSK criteria, it is considered a POST-POSSESSION foul (meaning, a foul that occurs after Team B gains possession of the ball).�
Under PSK, even though Team B fouls before they actually gain possession of the ball, the fouls are treated as if they happened after Team B gains possession.
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REMINDERS:
Oversimplification of PSK rule:
If Team B will be next to put the ball in play...
If the Team B foul was a part of punt coverage, it's PSK.
If the Team B foul was part of the punt rush, it's normally all-but-one loose ball previous spot.
When a penalty is enforced, the team that was in possession at the time of the foul will have the ball when the foul is enforced.
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CLEAN HANDS
This means that there was a change of possession and Team B got the ball without fouling.
For the sake of simplicity, we will assume only 1 change of possession happened during the down.�
If Team B only fouls AFTER they gain possession, they got the ball with clean hands. Their hands became dirty AFTER they already had possession.
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CLEAN HANDS
TO KEEP THE BALL: Team B will have to decline any foul by Team A prior to the change of possession.
If Team B fouls AFTER the change of possession, their foul will be enforced.
If BOTH Team B and Team A foul AFTER the change of possession, then Team B will have to decline the Team A foul to keep the ball.
If Team B accepts the foul, Team A will also accept theirs and the fouls will offset and the down will be replayed.
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PLAYS
Team A is in an illegal formation at the snap. Team B intercepts the pass.
Did B get the ball with clean hands?
Yes
So, the ILF is declined, Team B will keep the ball.
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PLAYS
Team B illegally blocks below the waist while the QB is in the pocket. Team B then intercepts the pass.
Did B get the ball with clean hands?
No
So, the BBW is enforced. Team A gets the ball back after enforcement (since they had the ball at the time of the foul).
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PLAYS
Team A is in an illegal formation at the snap. Team B roughs the passer. The pass is intercepted.
Did B get the ball with clean hands?
No
Since both teams fouled, and B did not get the ball with clean hands, the fouls will offset and replay the down.
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PLAYS
Team A is in an illegal formation at the snap. The pass is intercepted. Team B then commits a block in the back.
Did B get the ball with clean hands?
Yes
Since Team B has clean hands, they can keep the ball by declining Team A’s illegal formation. Team B’s block in the back will then be enforced and Team B will be in possession for the next down.
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PLAYS
The pass is intercepted. Team B then commits a block in the back. Team A then tackles the runner by his facemask.
Did B get the ball with clean hands?
Yes
Since Team B has clean hands, they can keep the ball by declining Team A’s facemask foul. Team B’s block in the back will then be enforced and Team B will be in possession for the next down.
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PLAYS
Team B roughs the passer. The pass is intercepted. Team A then tackles the runner by the facemask.
Did B get the ball with clean hands?
No
Since Team B did NOT have clean hands, and Team A also fouled, these will offset and the down will be replayed.
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PLAYS
During the punt, Team R holds down field. The punt is returned by Team R and downed.
Did R get the ball with clean hands?
Technically, No. The ball was still in Team K’s possession at the time of the foul.
*But*, this is a PSK foul. If a foul qualifies for PSK, it’s considered to have occurred after Team R gained possession of the ball.
The hold will be enforced from the end of the kick and Team R will have possession.
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PLAYS
During the punt, Team R commits a pull-and-shoot defensive hold at the line of scrimmage. The punt is returned by Team R and downed.
Did R get the ball with clean hands?
No. The ball was still in Team K’s possession at the time of the foul.
However, this is *NOT* a PSK foul. Therefore Team R did NOT get it with clean hands.
The hold will be enforced from the previous spot and Team K will retain possession.
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PLAYS
Team K clips before the kick. During the punt, Team R holds down field. The punt is returned by Team R and downed.
Did R get the ball with clean hands?
Technically, No. The ball was still in Team K’s possession at the time of the foul.
*But*, this is a PSK foul.
The clip by Team K will be declined and the hold will be enforced from the end of the kick and Team R will have possession. R also has the choice of accepting the clip to create offsetting fouls and replaying the down.
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PLAYS
The pass is intercepted. Team B then blocks in the back. The ball is fumbled and Team A recovers and advances. Team A then holds. The ball is fumbled again and Team B recovers.
Did Team B get the ball with clean hands?
The first time yes, but the second time (when it counts), NO
Fouls offset, replay the down.
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SUMMARY
If there is a COP, always ask yourself, “Did the team that ended up with the ball foul before getting the ball?”
If they didn’t foul, then they can keep the ball.
If they didn’t foul, but the other team fouled, they can decline the other team’s foul and keep the ball.
If they fouled, then they don’t keep the ball.
If they fouled, and the other team fouled too, it’s an automatic offset.