Enforcement Spot
ARTICLE 1.
An enforcement spot is the point at which the penalty for a foul or the result of a violation is enforced.
Previous Spot
ARTICLE 2.
The previous spot is the point at which the ball was last put in play.
Succeeding Spot
ARTICLE 3.
The succeeding spot is the point at which the ball is next to be put in play.
Dead-Ball Spot
ARTICLE 4.
The dead-ball spot is the point at which the ball became dead.
Spot of the Foul
ARTICLE 5.
The spot of the foul is the point at which that foul occurs. If out of bounds between the goal lines, it shall be the intersection of the nearer hash mark and the yard line extended through the spot of the foul. If out of bounds between the goal line and the end line or behind the end line, the foul is in the end zone.
Out-of-Bounds Spot
ARTICLE 6.
The out-of-bounds spot is the point at which, according to the rule, the ball becomes dead because of going or being declared out of bounds.
Inbounds Spot
ARTICLE 7.
The inbounds spot is the intersection of the nearer hash mark line and the yard line passing through either the dead-ball spot or the spot where a penalty leaves the ball in a side zone.
Spot Where Run Ends
ARTICLE 8.
The spot where the run ends is the point:
Where the ball is declared dead in player possession.
Where player possession is lost on a fumble.
Where handing of the ball occurs.
Where an illegal forward pass is thrown.
Where a backward pass is thrown.
Where an illegal scrimmage kick is made beyond the line of scrimmage.
Where a return kick occurs.
Where player possession is gained under provisions of the “momentum rule” (Rule 8-5-1-a Exceptions).
Spot Where Kick Ends
ARTICLE 9.
A scrimmage kick that crosses the neutral zone ends at the spot where it is caught or recovered or where the ball is declared dead by rule (Rule 2-16-1-c).
Basic Spot
ARTICLE 10.
The basic spot is a benchmark for locating the enforcement spot for penalties governed by the Three-and-One Principle (Rule 2-33). Basic spots for the various categories of plays are given in Rule 10-2-2-d.
Postscrimmage Kick Spot
ARTICLE 11.
The postscrimmage kick spot serves as the basic spot when postscrimmage kick enforcement applies (Rule 10-2-3).
When the kick ends in the field of play, other than in the special cases given below, the postscrimmage kick spot is the spot where the kick ends.
When the kick ends in Team B’s end zone, the postscrimmage kick spot
is Team B’s 20-yard line.
Special cases:
On an unsuccessful field goal attempt, if the ball is untouched by Team B after crossing the neutral zone and is declared dead beyond the neutral zone, the postscrimmage kick spot is: (a) The previous spot, if the previous spot is on or outside Team B’s 20-yard line; (A.R. 10-2-3-V) (b) Team B’s 20-yard line, if the previous spot is between Team B’s 20-yard line and its goal line.
When Rule 6-3-11 is in effect, the postscrimmage kick spot is Team B’s 20-yard line.
When Rule 6-5-1-b is in effect, the postscrimmage kick spot is the spot where the receiver first touched the kick.