offsides, neutral zone violation, and encroachment are penalties all defensive linemen avoid when they line up at scrimmage. these penalties are similar in that they all occur before the snap, but they differ in what they are called.
offside in American football is when the player lines up over the line of scrimmage before the ball is thrown out, neutral zone infraction is when the player moves over the neutral zone before the ball is thrown out, and trespassing is when a defensive player touches an offensive player before the ball is thrown out.
Each of these penalties applies to the defensive lineman or linebackers approaching the line of scrimmage.
In order to get a good jump on the ball and interrupt the timing of the offense, it is essential to know the difference between the three called penalties.
what are offsides in soccer?
Offsides are one of the most common pre-snap defensive penalties among players young and old. it can be easily fixed simply by considering your stance and where the ball is.
offsides, as identified in the nfl rule book is:
A player is offside when any part of his body is in or beyond the neutral zone or beyond a restraining line when the ball is in play.
The most recent example of offside is Dee Ford in the playoffs against the New England Patriots.
As you can see, Dee Ford (defensive end at the top of the screen) is lined up over the neutral zone.
This mostly happens to defensive ends as they disregard their hand or head, or misjudge the line of scrimmage because tackles are allowed to go off the line of scrimmage.
When in doubt, find a yard marker and line up a full yard behind the line of scrimmage. in this case, the Patriots ended up throwing what would have been a game-ending interception, but the Patriots were given a second chance because of the penalty.
what is a neutral zone violation?
neutral zone violation is primarily about players encroaching into the “neutral zone”, the 6 inches of space between the ball and the defender.
This call is primarily seen with an interior defensive lineman.
as defined in the nfl rulebook:
It is a neutral zone violation when:
1. a defender moves beyond the neutral zone before the snap and is parallel to or beyond an offensive lineman, with an unobstructed path to the quarterback or kicker, even though a blocker does not make contact; officials should blow their whistles immediately
2. a defender enters the neutral zone before the snap, causing offensive players in close proximity (including a quarterback under center) to react (move) immediately to guard against impending contact; officers must blow their whistles immediately.
If there is no immediate reaction from offensive players in close proximity and the defensive player returns to a legal position before the snap without contacting an opponent, there is no foul. a flexed or split receiver is considered to be close if he is aligned on the side of the ball on which the violation occurs; Other offensive players are considered close if they are within two and a half positions of the defender entering the neutral zone.
if the defender is directly over the center, a quarterback below the center, the center and the guards and tackles on either side of the center are considered in close proximity; if the defender is in a space, the two offensive players on either side of the space are considered to be in close proximity (including a quarterback under center, if applicable)
3. a player, having received a warning, enters the neutral zone. it is a foul, even if he returns to a legal position before the snap without contacting an opponent or eliciting a reaction (move) from an offensive player in the vicinity.
A real-life example of a neutral zone infraction is when a defensive player anticipates a quick count, causing an offensive player to move. the defense will always be called for infractions in the neutral zone before they can return.
what is invasion?
from the nfl rulebook:
trespassing is if a defensive player enters the neutral zone and contacts an offensive player or the ball before the snap or interferes with the ball during the snap. the work dies immediately.
Encroaching penalty: Loss of five yards from scrimmage. the fault is imposed before the center.
An example of usurpation in a real life game is when a player is tricked into a difficult count, loses his balance and touches an offensive player or soccer ball.
The whistle blows immediately and a 5-yard encroachment penalty is assessed.
difference between offside, neutral zone violation & invasion
How do I distinguish between offside, neutral zone violations and trespassing? We have created this brief description of each penalty to help you determine each penalty:
offsides: line up on the line of scrimmage, beyond the soccer ball.
neutral zone infraction: Similar to offsides, but occurs on the interior defensive line, with a clear path to the quarterback or kicker.
invasion: making contact with an offensive player or the ball before the ball is successfully served.
how to avoid pre-snap penalties in defense
As a defensive lineman, we recommend this pre-snap checklist to make sure you’re lined up correctly.
- Before you get into position, see what yard line the ball is on
- place your hand 1 yard behind the soccer ball
- make sure your head is not on your hand
During practice, have a teammate or coach check your stance in relation to the ball and make sure everything is okay.
Get a “feel” of being in the game, as you’ll be doing it over 40 times in one game.
here’s a great quote from massachusetts high school coach dana olson on twitter regarding the lineup:
what is the neutral zone?
The neutral zone is the imaginary line that extends 1 yard from the ball and separates the offensive and defensive lines.
how to teach offsides in football
Using a fire hose, pool floats, or any long cloth will help players understand the space needed between the offensive and defensive linemen. Finding that middle ground is crucial.
too far, and the offense can take a big leap, not far enough, and the defense will be called for offside.
keep learning
Below are articles to help you learn more about the rules of soccer.
American football rules – beginners guide
difference between legal & illegal blocks in soccer
explanation of illegal contact with wide receivers
what is a flag in football? explanation of penalty flags
Can a football match end in a penalty?
American football overtime rules: nfl vs. college/high school
understanding the 5 yard contact rule in the nfl
complete guide to referee signals in american football
what is a safety in football? explained
The three penalties are often confused as they all result in the same result of 5 yards.
For the best practice, it is important to practice lining up behind the neutral zone at practice. this way the play can get an idea of ​​how to line up correctly without taking a penalty.
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if you are looking for more detailed breakdowns & training resources, visit our training resources page here.