Football Facemask Penalties
The facemask is the part of the football player's helmet that is supposed to keep his or her eyes, mouth, nose and cheeks from getting pummeled. Staying away from the facemask may seem like a simple thing, but many defenders clutch for these pieces of hardened plastic in desperation and a penalty flag is then thrown.
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The 5-Yard Penalty
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Up until the 2008 season, a defensive player who touched an offensive player's facemask accidentally was called for a five-yard penalty. After 2008, all facemask fouls are 15 yards.
The 15-Yard Penalty
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A fifteen-yard penalty is called when either an offensive of defensive player grabs another player's facemask and tugs, twists or yanks it. On the offensive side, this is most often called on linemen.
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Other interpretations
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If there is less than 15 yards to the goal line when the penalty is called, then the referee will make the penalty half the distance to the goal. For example, if the penalty is called on the four-yard line, then the penalty will be marked to the two.
Repeated Abuses
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The head referee has the discretion to kick a player off the field if they repeatedly and deliberately facemask another player. However, the rulebook does not state how many times a facemask penalty must be called in order for the disqualification.
Signaling the Facemask Penalty
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The referee signals a facemask call by putting his right hand to his face in a fist and making a pulling motion. The referee then must announce the call and the penalty yardage.
Financial Penalties
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A facemask alone will not draw a financial penalty from the Commissioner's Office. However, the league can use the penalty as an indicator of a player's sportsmanship when assessing illegal hits.
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