Yardage Loss/Gain

• The most common penalty in the NFL is the yardage loss penalty. The team that breaks a general technical rule or is responsible for a minor infraction is given a 5- or 10-yard penalty before the start of the following play. Because the defensive team is usually responsible for the violation, the officials award the offensive team an automatic first down on most plays in addition to the yardage advancement. The officials give a 15-yard penalty in more severe circumstances, such as clipping below the waist, unsportsmanlike conduct, or roughing of the kicker or passer.
  
  

Combination Penalties

• Two types of combination penalties exist in the National Football League’s rulebook, both given to the offensive team during play. The first is the loss of 5 yards and a down, which occurs when a pass is thrown beyond the line of scrimmage. The second transpires when officials determine that the offensive team intentionally grounded the ball during a forward pass. This usually happens when the quarterback tries to avoid a sack by throwing the ball away. The infraction is punished by a loss of a down and 10 yards.
  
  

Severe Penalties

• Severe penalties only occur when a player engages in a violent, flagrant, or “palpably unfair” act. The player can be disqualified from participating in the game and 15 yards will be taken away from the team. If the player uses his helmet as a weapon or intentionally shoves or injures an official, he is automatically disqualified.
  
  

Other Penalties

• Infractions that are fairly uncommon, such as the late arrival of a team prior to scheduled kickoff, can result in that team’s loss of a coin-toss option and sets them back 15 yards before the start of the game. Illegal equipment does not pass without a repercussion, either. The player sporting the equipment becomes ineligible for play for one down and cannot return to the game until his equipment matches regulations.
  
  

Significance of Indisputable Calls

• The National Football League determined that the penalties cannot be challenged because each challenge during a football game slows down the play clock and increases negative press about controversial calls. After the game, newscasters, coaches and fans across the country analyze the key plays. More controversy means more press, but if the press is negative, the industry suffers. The responsibility of a fair game rests on the officials. Because they have to review the footage from every play that a coach challenges, whole minutes are added to the clock. It may not seem like much, but every game has 60 minutes of playing time. Add in additional time for penalty determinations, challenges, time-outs, commercials and injuries and the game can easily run longer than 2 hours. Limiting the coaches' abilities to challenge a call allows for more control, both on and off the field.