Universal Rules Football Penalties:
Types of Fouls:
- General Fouls: Most minor class of illegal action, when a player mishandles the ball or makes an illegal move.
- Personal Fouls: All physical contact fouls.
- Intentional Foul: A foul committed on purpose, usually by a defensive player, to stop the clock or prevent a score.
- Shooting Foul: When a defender makes contact with an offensive player with either a hand or foot who is in the act of shooting the ball.
- Technical Foul: Violations and misconduct that are detrimental to the game.
- Flagrant Foul: Any violent action against the referee or other players.
- Travelling: when a player takes 3 or more steps without dribbling or passing the ball.
- Picking the ball directly off the ground if on knees.
- Lifting the ball off the ground with the knees.
- Lying on the ball.
- Double Dribbling twice per possession: When a player dribbles the ball, stops, then begins to dribble again after doing it once to either 1) switch dribbling methods or 2) make an attempt to pass or shoot the ball).
- Five in the Goal: When more than 5 offensive and/or defensive players (excluding the goalkeeper) remain in the goal area for more than 5 seconds at a time (Outdoor version).
- Three in the Goal: When more than 3 offensive and/or defensive players (excluding the goalkeeper) remain in the goal area for more than 5 seconds at a time (Indoor version)
- Five-second Throw-in Violation: When a player fails to pass the ball to another player within 5 seconds of starting a throw-in).
- Ten-second Back to the Goal Violation: When a player outside of the penalty area dribbles the ball with his back or side to the basket for more than 10 seconds.
- Ten-second Penalty Shot Violation: When a player doesn't take a penalty shot awarded to him within 10 seconds after either 1) placing the ball on the ground or 2) raising the ball over their head; Even if the penalty shot is successful, it will not count).
- Backfield Violation: The offensive team has failed to get the ball over the center line within 15 seconds after a over/behind/wide) (Outdoor version only).
- Backcourt Violation: The offensive team has failed to get the ball over the center line within 10 seconds after a score) (Indoor version only).
- Closely Guarded Violation: When an offensive player with the ball is being guarded closely for 5 seconds or more and does not pass, shoot, or dribble within that time.
- Out-on-the-full: When the ball is kicked and travels over the boundary line before bouncing or being touched by another player.
- Offsides: When a team has either 1) more than 6 players are allowed in each team's attacking half or 2) more than 7 players in the defending half) (Outdoor version only).
- Shot Clock Violation: When the team in possession of the ball is not attempting a shot within 45 (Outdoor) or 35 (Indoor) seconds.
- Running over the mark: The man standing on the mark cannot move forward, and must respond if called to recede by the referee (Outdoor version only).
- Running through the mark: When other defensive players who are not standing on the mark run across the imaginary line between the man standing the mark and the man taking the kick, unless following his direct opponent (Outdoor version only).
- Entering the protected zone: When defensive players impede an opponent by entering or remaining within the corridor of space extending 5.5yd / 5m either side of the imaginary line between the man standing the mark and the man taking the kick, and extending backwards, unless following his direct opponent (Outdoor version only).
- Failing to return the ball quickly and on the full to a player who has been awarded a free kick.
- Held ball: When two or more opposing players will gain possession of the ball at the same time. In order to avoid a prolonged and/or violent tussle, the referee stops the action and awards the ball in the form of a free kick to one team or the other on a rotating basis.
- Interfering with the Goalkeeper during a shot attempt.
- Shoulder-to-shoulder contact with a player that is either 1) not in possession of the ball or 2) not making a play on a loose ball.
- Tripping an opponent: When a player uses their foot or leg to cause their opponent to fall or loose their balance.
- Jumping into an opponent without making an attempt to gain possession of the ball (like when you are going for a header).
- Over-and-Back: When a player jumps on and over the back of an opposing player who is attempting to gain possession of the ball.
- Charging into an opponent: When an player runs into a opposition player who has an established position.
- Slide tackling either 1) from behind or 2) making contact with the player prior to making contact with the ball from the front.
- Pulling the ball out of the ball-carrier's hands
- Holding an opponent: When a player uses their hands to interfere with or limit an opponent's freedom of movement.
- Blocking an opponent: When a player uses their body position to prevent their opponent from advancing except for boxing and/or shielding.
- Elbowing an opponent: When a player swings their elbows in an excessive manner and makes contact with their opponent.
- Hand Checking an opponent: When a player intermittently or continuously uses one or both hands on 1) any opposing player not in possession of the ball or 2) on the ball handler from any direction besides the front.
- Reaching In: When attempting to steal the ball, the defender extends their arm+hand (basketball dribbling) or leg+foot (soccer dribbling) and makes contact with the ball-handler.
- Arm Interference: When a player deliberately takes, hacks or chops the arms of an opposition player while he is attempting to catch a mark.
- Scragging the player who has taken a mark: When a player touches the player or impeding him from taking the kick as quickly as he would like) (Outdoor version only).
- Refusing to leave the field of play when ordered off (Yellow or Red Card) or rejoin the game after being ordered off.
- Refusing to leave the field of play, on the instruction of the referee, for attention, after an injury involving bleeding.
- Dissent: Arguing with, disputing the decision of, or using abusive language towards a referee).
- Failing to return the ball quickly and on the full to a player who has been awarded either 1) a free kick or 2) a penalty shot.
- Wasting time, deliberately or inadvertently, by either kicking or throwing the ball forward after one's team has conceded either 1) a free kick or 2) a penalty shot.
- Entering or leaving the game without informing the referee.
- Any substitution that doesn't follow the substitution requirements.
- A team or player(s) leaving the field without the Referee's permission or refusing to continue playing.
- Flagrant Foul: Opposition awarded 1 penalty shot, possession of the ball out of bounds, and the offender is disqualified by being awarded a red card after a second occurrence.
- General Foul: Offender awarded a card (not for shot clock or throw-in violations), opposition awarded possession of the ball out of bounds (backfield violations and offsides are automatic free kicks at the spot of the foul).
- Intentional Foul: Offender awarded a card, opposition awarded 1 penalty shot and possession of the ball out of bounds.
- Personal Foul: Offender awarded a card, opposition awarded possession of the ball out of bounds or free kick (#1-8 = possession / #9 & more = free kick at the spot of the foul.
- Shooting Foul: Offender awarded a card, opposition awarded 1 penalty shot.
- Technical Foul: Offender awarded a card, opposition awarded 1 penalty shot and possession of the ball out of bounds.
- Referees are required to use blue cards to signal a warning for the first foul, yellow cards to signal subsequent fouls, and red cards to signal the removal of players; A player who receives a red card is to be sent off and no replacement is allowed for the rest of the period.
- All players have a max of 6 fouls for any combination of general, personal, shooting, and intentional fouls; The 6th foul for all players is an automatic ejection from the game.
- All players also have a max of 2 technical fouls, and are automatically thrown out of the game for flagrant fouls.
- Penalty Card System: 1) Yellow Card #1 = warning, 2) Yellow Cards #2-3 = 2-minute sin bin with no replacement (unless there is 2+ people in the sin bin), 3) Yellow Card #4-5 = 5-minute sin-bin with no replacement (unless there is 2+ people in the sin bin), 4) Yellow Card #6/Red Card = Ejected from the game with no replacement until the end of the current period.