Football Striking, Kicking, or Kneeing an Opponent Penalty
Striking, kicking, or kneeing an opponent in an unnecessarily rough way is a personal foul which can be called during or after a play. It results in a 15-yard penalty, potential player ejections, and an automatic first down if the foul is committed by the defense.
Definition
Striking, kicking, or kneeing an opponent is a personal foul that results in a 15-yard penalty, and an automatic first down when the foul is made by the defensive team. If the action is especially blatant, or if it is committed multiple times by the same player, that player may be ejected from the game. If both teams are guilty of the penalty, neither team is penalized in yards but players may still be ejected.
Although football is a contact sport, it is not a combat sport. Punching, kicking, or kneeing an opponent in an unnecessarily rough manner is illegal contact that results in a personal foul. Under this rule, players also may not strike intentionally at an opponent’s head or neck. The penalty for striking, kicking, or kneeing an opponent is meant to protect players from harm and to ensure the game doesn’t devolve from sportsmanlike conduct.
A referee can call a personal foul for striking, kicking, or kneeing an opponent during or after a play. Most often, it’s called after a play because it can be difficult to separate all but the most flagrant offenses from regular football contact. In practice, this penalty is normally meant to prevent heat of the moment fights after a play.
The penalty for striking, kicking, or kneeing an opponent affords some exceptions for the line of scrimmage and for recovering a loose ball. At the line of scrimmage, a defensive lineman is allowed to fend off an opponent by pushing or placing a palm against the opponent’s head and mask. However, players still cannot punch or strike opponents in a flagrant, unnecessarily rough manner. The same applies for recovering a loose ball, where space is also tight.
Result
| Penalty | NFL | NCAA | High School | CFL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Striking, Kicking, or Kneeing an Opponent | 15 Yards, Automatic 1st Down | 15 Yards, Automatic 1st Down | 15 Yards,Player Disqualified | 25 Yards,Player Disqualified |
Penalty Signal
A referee uses a personal foul signal for a striking, kicking, or kneeing an opponent penalty. To signal a personal foul, a referee will strike one wrist against another above his head.
Examples
- Punching an opponent after a play has been called.
- Striking or elbowing an opponent’s neck or head with arms.
- Kneeing an opponent in the midsection.
Similar Penalties To Striking, Kicking, or Kneeing an Opponent
FAQ
What is a striking, kicking, or kneeing an opponent penalty?
A striking, kicking, or kneeing an opponent penalty occurs when a player commits any of these actions against an opponent. While football is a high-contact sport, it is not a combat sport. Therefore, it is illegal for players to violently strike, kick, or knee an opponent.
What is the penalty for a striking, kicking, or kneeing an opponent penalty?
The penalty for a striking, kicking, or kneeing an opponent penalty is typically a 15 yard loss. If the penalty is on the defense, it will also result in an automatic first down for the offense. If the officials deem the actions to be flagrant, they may disqualify the offending player from the game.
Can you challenge a striking, kicking, or kneeing an opponent penalty?
Unless the striking, kicking, or kneeing penalty resulted in a disqualification, they are not able to be reviewed or challenged. This is because this type of personal foul is not listed under the “reviewable rulings” section of the NFL rulebook.