Section 1: Definitions — Rule 8: Application of Penalties

Article 1

Penalties shall fall into the following categories:

a) Loss of Down
b) Loss of distance
c) Option Penalties
d) Penalties after legal gains
e) Restricted Penalties
f) Penalties in end zone
g) Disqualification
h) Unnecessary Roughness and Rough Play Penalties
i) Dual and Double Penalties

Article 2 – Loss of a Down

In any penalty, loss of a down (LD) means that the down upon which the foul occurred has used up one of the series of 3 consecutive downs permitted.

Article 3 – Loss of Distance

Distance penalties of varying lengths may be assessed for various infractions. For any foul calling for a distance penalty, there shall be no loss of down. Exception – Unnecessary Roughness, Rough Play, Objectionable Conduct, Playing without a mouthguard.

Article 4 – Option Provided

a) When a foul has been committed on any play, the non-offending team shall be entitled to the penalty, or the option of declining the penalty to take any advantage of field position, score, down, time, etc. The non-offending team may decline a score to accept a penalty, or may decline a penalty to allow a score in order to gain an advantage from field position, or may allow a score to gain an advantage from a better point of application of a penalty such as UR.
b) In certain cases, where so stated, a penalty shall be applied without the necessity of choosing an option. This gives the non-offending team the advantage of the play in addition to the penalty. These cases include fouls such as Unnecessary Roughness, Rough Play, Objectionable Conduct, and No Mouthguard, etc.
c) A team may decline the distance for any penalty, including those covered in 4 (b) above, if they feel the application of the distance would not be advantageous to them. The non-offending team may decline the penalty for any foul which occurs after the ball has been snapped, during the final play of a period, in order to terminate the period.
d) Once the captain entitled to the option has made the choice of accepting or declining the penalty, the choice may not be revoked.
e) When dual fouls occur, one or both penalties may be refused. Exception Unnecessary Roughness, Rough Play, Objectionable Conduct, No Mouthguard. The first option shall be given to the team against whom the first foul occurred.
f) The disqualification penalty cannot be declined by the non-offending team, but immediate legal substitution is permitted. The disqualification shall be entered in the Referee's report to the appropriate league authority.

Article 1

Penalties shall fall into the following categories:

a) Loss of Down
b) Loss of distance
c) Option Penalties
d) Penalties after legal gains
e) Restricted Penalties
f) Penalties in end zone
g) Disqualification
h) Unnecessary Roughness and Rough Play Penalties
i) Dual and Double Penalties

Article 2 – Loss of a Down

In any penalty, loss of a down (LD) means that the down upon which the foul occurred has used up one of the series of 3 consecutive downs permitted.

Article 3 – Loss of Distance

Article 4 – Option Provided

a) When a foul has been committed on any play, the non-offending team shall be entitled to the penalty, or the option of declining the penalty to take any advantage of field position, score, down, time, etc. The non-offending team may decline a score to accept a penalty, or may decline a penalty to allow a score in order to gain an advantage from field position, or may allow a score to gain an advantage from a better point of application of a penalty such as UR.
b) In certain cases, where so stated, a penalty shall be applied without the necessity of choosing an option. This gives the non-offending team the advantage of the play in addition to the penalty. These cases include fouls such as Unnecessary Roughness, Rough Play, Objectionable Conduct, and No Mouthguard, etc.
c) A team may decline the distance for any penalty, including those covered in 4 (b) above, if they feel the application of the distance would not be advantageous to them. The non-offending team may decline the penalty for any foul which occurs after the ball has been snapped, during the final play of a period, in order to terminate the period.
d) Once the captain entitled to the option has made the choice of accepting or declining the penalty, the choice may not be revoked.
e) When dual fouls occur, one or both penalties may be refused. Exception Unnecessary Roughness, Rough Play, Objectionable Conduct, No Mouthguard. The first option shall be given to the team against whom the first foul occurred.
f) The disqualification penalty cannot be declined by the non-offending team, but immediate legal substitution is permitted. The disqualification shall be entered in the Referee's report to the appropriate league authority.