NFL Penalties Explained #1: Pre-Snap Penalties

If you've ever watched an American football game, you've probably seen the officials call some penalties. You've probably seen a lot of penalties. This video covers pre-snap penalties and focuses on how they are handled in the NFL.

- What is offside?
- What is a false start?
- What is a neutral zone infraction?
- What is illegal motion?
- What is an illegal shift?
- What is delay of game?

This is the first in a two-part series explaining NFL penalties. The next video will cover post-snap penalties and personal fouls.

Thanks as always to my subscribers and for leaving comments!

[peterbreen]

I love the production value and quality behind these. Even as a guy who likes to think he has about a 90% grasp of the topic, the explanation of where the minute differences come in are super high quality. A really exciting young channel!

[jspecland]

I've been a semi-casual football fan all my life, but I never had any idea what the differences between the offside penalties were. I just always assumed that a neutral zone infraction was when one of the defensive players was a Romulan.

[stormy]

Why does this have so few views? This is an absolute godsend for people like me who can't enjoy a game if they don't understand what's happening!

[mattjohns]

As a referee for rugby league down here in New Zealand - this is pure gold and crazy complicated all at the same time 😅🙂 Love it!

[thattimestampguy]

0:00 Intro
0:43 Basic Overview
- You do something wrong
- the ref calls you out on it
- you suffer setback

1:55 Neutral Zone

3:20 False Start
4:06 Illegal Shiift
4:35 Illegal Formation

Defensive Penalties
7:17 Offsides
8:20 Neutral Zone Infraction [Dead ball]

8:55 Delay of Game

[emilylloyd]

I’m a relatively new fan within the last 2 years and the penalties are what I have never understood. It also doesn’t help as I live in the uk and can’t watch many games so cannot see the penalties in the first place unless they are on the high list reels. This video is so helpful!

[mattmartucci_]

I’m a baseball umpire looking into refereeing football games in the fall. This video really helps explain a lot of things.

[Whitsoxrule]

Great video on an important topic! Being a very very casual football fan, I've always had a vague idea of what these penalties are for but having all the distinctions explained like this is incredibly helpful! Can't wait for part 2!

[KTC]

I love the clear explanations! And thank you for placing some examples in here too!

[jimmiejohnson]

Funny thing is the ref at 11:55 was officiating the 2023 opening game between the Lions and the Chiefs which made me think of this video. Surely enough, at some point in the game he called this EXACT penalty on the Lions’ Offense! IIRC one of the commentators rightfully stated: “that usually means it’s actually the center’s fault.” Thanks for giving us a good reference to fall back to SE! Hope to see more content from you in the future!

[Angel-nlwy]

Came from the pitching video, now binging the content

Seriously great work, even for knowledgeable fans this is awesome to watch and learn from. Best way to learn is to teach etc etc

[tomzd]

I love this. Concise with great quality. I feel good about these pre-snap penalties after watching this.

[TheVolginator]

This is cool, being a filthy casual I get hung up on these rules a lot. Makes me wonder if the game would change a lot if some of the rules like illegal shift weren’t in the game

[scottbilger]

The old term for false start was "illegal procedure". You might still here that from time to time.

[nenelan]

More of this, straight in my veins. This that good stuff.

[hankgoldenshaft]

Thanks mate, helped me enjoy American football even more now

[itsallagame]

And I thought there were many rules already 😂. Very informative. Great video

[freedomnaruda]

Just want it documented I was here for the birth of a great channel! Congrats on your success

[juannietoacuna]

This is great! I never could tell encroachment, offsides and a neutral zone infraction apart, they were just all the same for me.

[LaVieDeReine]

I had never seen a delay of game on the defence, since I started watching American football as a kid in the 90s (I'm now 36). I saw it twice these season (2022). The defence was winning late in the game and didn't give the ball back/impeded offensive players. I love unusual fouls.