<Table> <Tr> <Th> Foul </Th> <Th> Description </Th> <Th> Signal </Th> <Th colspan="4"> Penalty Yardage </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> NFL </Th> <Th> NCAA </Th> <Th> HS </Th> <Th> CFL </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Blocking below the waist </Td> <Td> An illegal block , from any direction , below the waist by any defensive player or by an offensive player under certain situations , by any player after change of possession , by any player in high school with certain exceptions . Sometimes incorrectly referred to as a `` chop block '' . </Td> <Td> ( US ) Both hands brought down , wrists turned inward , in a chopping motion across the front of the thighs ( CFL ) Same as unnecessary roughness ; it is a subset of that penalty </Td> <Td> 15 yards ; automatic first down if committed by the defense </Td> <Td> 15 yards ; automatic first down if committed by the defense </Td> <Td> 15 yards </Td> <Td> 15 yards ; automatic first down if committed by the defense </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Block in the back ( offense , defense , or special teams ) </Td> <Td> A blocker contacting a non-ballcarrying member of the opposing team from behind and above the waist . Called an `` illegal block '' in the CFL . </Td> <Td> One arm extended horizontally in front of the body , palm facing outward . The other hand grasps the first hand 's wrist and pushes outward </Td> <Td> 10 yards </Td> <Td> 10 yards </Td> <Td> 10 yards </Td> <Td> 10 yards </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Chop block ( offense ) </Td> <Td> An offensive player tries to cut block a defensive player that is already being blocked by another offensive player . The second block may need to be below the thigh or knee , depending on the code . </Td> <Td> ( US ) Arms extended alongside the body , palms facing outward , then moving in to the upper thigh in a chopping motion . ( CFL ) Both hands held out flat , facing each other , in front of the referee , moving down together diagonally roughly from one shoulder to the opposite hip . </Td> <Td> 15 yards ( if it is in the end zone the play will be ruled a safety ) ; automatic first down if committed by defense ( penalty also counts regardless of how many yards the offense gained ) . </Td> <Td> 15 yards ; automatic first down if committed by defense ( penalty also counts regardless of how many yards the offense gained ) . </Td> <Td> 15 yards </Td> <Td> 15 yards ; automatic first down if committed by defense </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Clipping ( offense , defense , or special teams ) </Td> <Td> A blocker contacting a non-ballcarrying opponent from behind and at or below the waist </Td> <Td> Chopping the back of one thigh with the hand . </Td> <Td> 15 yards ; automatic first down if committed by defense </Td> <Td> 15 yards ; automatic first down if committed by defense </Td> <Td> 15 yards </Td> <Td> 15 yards ; automatic first down if committed by defense </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Delay of game ( offense , defense , or special teams ) </Td> <Td> Any action which delays the next play . In the US , on offense , this includes failing to snap the ball before the play clock reaches zero . ( In the CFL , that action is a time count violation . ) It may also include spiking the ball . On defense , it occurs when a player hinders the offense in hurrying to make the next snap . This happens most often in the last two minutes of a half when the offense is trying to go down the field in a hurry . The defense can also be flagged for a delay of game if a player spikes the ball after the end of a play . On special teams , it happens when the return team runs after signaling for a fair catch , or the defense does not unpile in a timely manner after the play ends . </Td> <Td> ( US ) Upper arms extended out from the body , forearms bent toward the opposite arm , such that the arms lie on top of one another or that each arm touches the opposite shoulder . ( CFL ) Both hands behind the back , resting roughly at the waist , so that the elbows extend out from the side of the body </Td> <Td> 5 yards </Td> <Td> 5 yards </Td> <Td> 5 yards </Td> <Td> 10 yards </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Encroachment ( defense ) </Td>
<Table> <Tr> <Th> Foul </Th> <Th> Description </Th> <Th> Signal </Th> <Th colspan="4"> Penalty Yardage </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> NFL </Th> <Th> NCAA </Th> <Th> HS </Th> <Th> CFL </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Blocking below the waist </Td> <Td> An illegal block , from any direction , below the waist by any defensive player or by an offensive player under certain situations , by any player after change of possession , by any player in high school with certain exceptions . Sometimes incorrectly referred to as a `` chop block '' . </Td> <Td> ( US ) Both hands brought down , wrists turned inward , in a chopping motion across the front of the thighs ( CFL ) Same as unnecessary roughness ; it is a subset of that penalty </Td> <Td> 15 yards ; automatic first down if committed by the defense </Td> <Td> 15 yards ; automatic first down if committed by the defense </Td> <Td> 15 yards </Td> <Td> 15 yards ; automatic first down if committed by the defense </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Block in the back ( offense , defense , or special teams ) </Td> <Td> A blocker contacting a non-ballcarrying member of the opposing team from behind and above the waist . Called an `` illegal block '' in the CFL . </Td> <Td> One arm extended horizontally in front of the body , palm facing outward . The other hand grasps the first hand 's wrist and pushes outward </Td> <Td> 10 yards </Td> <Td> 10 yards </Td> <Td> 10 yards </Td> <Td> 10 yards </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Chop block ( offense ) </Td> <Td> An offensive player tries to cut block a defensive player that is already being blocked by another offensive player . The second block may need to be below the thigh or knee , depending on the code . </Td> <Td> ( US ) Arms extended alongside the body , palms facing outward , then moving in to the upper thigh in a chopping motion . ( CFL ) Both hands held out flat , facing each other , in front of the referee , moving down together diagonally roughly from one shoulder to the opposite hip . </Td> <Td> 15 yards ( if it is in the end zone the play will be ruled a safety ) ; automatic first down if committed by defense ( penalty also counts regardless of how many yards the offense gained ) . </Td> <Td> 15 yards ; automatic first down if committed by defense ( penalty also counts regardless of how many yards the offense gained ) . </Td> <Td> 15 yards </Td> <Td> 15 yards ; automatic first down if committed by defense </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Clipping ( offense , defense , or special teams ) </Td> <Td> A blocker contacting a non-ballcarrying opponent from behind and at or below the waist </Td> <Td> Chopping the back of one thigh with the hand . </Td> <Td> 15 yards ; automatic first down if committed by defense </Td> <Td> 15 yards ; automatic first down if committed by defense </Td> <Td> 15 yards </Td> <Td> 15 yards ; automatic first down if committed by defense </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Delay of game ( offense , defense , or special teams ) </Td> <Td> Any action which delays the next play . In the US , on offense , this includes failing to snap the ball before the play clock reaches zero . ( In the CFL , that action is a time count violation . ) It may also include spiking the ball . On defense , it occurs when a player hinders the offense in hurrying to make the next snap . This happens most often in the last two minutes of a half when the offense is trying to go down the field in a hurry . The defense can also be flagged for a delay of game if a player spikes the ball after the end of a play . On special teams , it happens when the return team runs after signaling for a fair catch , or the defense does not unpile in a timely manner after the play ends . </Td> <Td> ( US ) Upper arms extended out from the body , forearms bent toward the opposite arm , such that the arms lie on top of one another or that each arm touches the opposite shoulder . ( CFL ) Both hands behind the back , resting roughly at the waist , so that the elbows extend out from the side of the body </Td> <Td> 5 yards </Td> <Td> 5 yards </Td> <Td> 5 yards </Td> <Td> 10 yards </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Encroachment ( defense ) </Td>
how many yards is a block in the back penalty
how many yards is a block in the back penalty
10 yards
10 yards