face mask penalty
Helmet-grabbing football foul
A face mask penalty is a foul in American football called when a player grabs and pulls an opponent's face mask—the protective metal cage on the helmet.
The penalty exists because twisting the head by the face mask risks serious neck injury.
The touchdown was called back due to a face mask penalty.
Contrary to athletic ethics
- foulOffensive or illegal
- violationBreaking of rules
- roughingUnnecessary physical contact foul
- illegalForbidden by statute
flagrant · personal foul · unnecessary roughness · ejection · disqualification · yellow flag · referee call · technical foul
unsportsmanlike
Contrary to athletic ethics
illegal · flagrant · personal foul · unnecessary roughness · ejection · disqualification · yellow flag · referee call · technical foul · suspension
grabbing
Taking hold suddenly
takedown · helmet · faceguard · grip · yank · wrench · force · whiplash · player safety · spinal
NFL
Pro football organization
- gridironBarred frame for broiling
- defensiveProtective or easily threatened
- offensiveCausing displeasure or attack-oriented
ball carrier · tackler · lineman · quarterback · rushing · blocking · scrimmage · downs · referee · official
face mask penaltyfalse start
Premature beginning violation
delay of game · illegal formation · intentional grounding · encroachment · offside
face mask penaltyholding
Maintaining physical possession
roughing the passer · unnecessary roughness · late hit · chop block · pass interference
face, mask, penalty, faces, faced, facing, facial, deface, defacement