Alright, I never venture over to the football boards and view them like the Gyn board (apparently Puryear agrees)...and since football is usually played outdoors, I feel you guys can give me a decent answer...

What is the real difference between encroachment, offsides, and a neutral zone infraction??

To me, offsides is when a defensive lineman jumps the gun too quickly and crosses the line of scrimmage before the ball is snapped. Neutral zone infractions occur when players (offense or defense?) are not lined up on the line of scrimmage properly and may be too close to the other team's side. Encroachment seems like it is getting too close to the QB. Is any of that right?

TIA. (By the way, my fantasy team has been doing well so far.)

Very close.

Encroachment is when a defensive player makes contact with an offensive lineman before the ball is snapped. Neutral zone infraction is when a player is lined up in or flinches in to the neutral zone (i.e. the length of the ball) which is neither the offensive side nor the defensive side, and makes an offensive player move. Offsides is when the ball is snapped and the defensive player is beyond the neutral zone.

Encroachment requires contact with an opposing player. Offsides means you're in the neutral zone when the ball is snapped.

Offsides is when the ball is snapped while a defensive player is on the wrong side of the line of scrimmage. No contact was made. Not a dead ball foul.

A neutral zone infraction is when the defender lines up in the area that is the width of the football. Not a dead ball foul.

Encroachment is when a defender jumps offsides and makes contact with another player. Dead ball foul.

[This message has been edited by Gigemags05 (edited 10/6/2009 10:09a).]

Encroachment and Nuetral Zone Infraction are only rules in the NFL. In NCAA and (TX) HS football, you only can have offsides, whether there is contact or not.

Also, there is no "Illegal Procedure." There is a specific violation, such as False Start, Illegal Snap, Illegal Formation, Kick Out of Bounds, etc... it really eats me up when an announcer says "Illegal Procedure."

This is when I'm so glad my husband is a football official. If he thinks it's a stupid question and tells me so, I can choose to not make him dinner or other things. So basically he explains things to me.

In the NFL, encroachment can also be called if the defender has a straight line to the QB (ie, if he jumps way, way off sides).

Dead ball offsides can be called in UIL and NCAA for straight line to QB as well.

^
^
Better known as "unabated to the quarterback"

Unfortunately, many of these statements here are clearly incorrect, at least according to NCAA rules. Keep in mind that NCAA rules may differ, especially in terminology from NFL rules. Also keep in mind that announcers at both levels use words that they have no idea of the meaning and often incorrectly.

Under NCAA rules:

"After the ball is ready for play, encroachment occurs when an offensive player is in or beyond the neutral zone after the snapper touches
or simulates (hand[s] at or below his knees) touching the ball before the snap (Exception: When the ball is put in play, the snapper is not encroaching when he is in the neutral zone)."

"After the ball is ready for play, offside occurs (Rule 7-1-5) when a defensive player:
a. Is in or beyond the neutral zone when the ball is legally snapped;
b. Contacts an opponent beyond the neutral zone before the ball is snapped;
c. Contacts the ball before it is snapped;
d. Threatens an offensive lineman, causing an immediate reaction, before the ball is snapped (A.R. 7-1-3-VIII Note);
e. Crosses the neutral zone and charges toward a Team A back (A.R. 7-1-5-III); or
f. Is not behind his restraining line when the ball is legally free kicked. Offside occurs when players of the kicking team are not behind their
restraining line when the ball is legally free-kicked (Exception: The kicker and holder are not offside when they are beyond their restraining line)"

Encroachment = offense and Offsides = defense (except for free kicks).

The term "neutral zone infraction" does not appear in the NCAA rulebook. It is likely, as stated, an NFL rule and it is almost certainly one of the listed examples above broken out for its own term, for whatever reason.

Supporting definitions include:

"The neutral zone is the space between the two lines of scrimmage extended to the sidelines and is the length of the ball."

Under the NCAA code, the Line of Scrimmage is never expressly defined, but it is described in a diagram under Rule 1. I encourage everyone to read the NCAA rule book -- it is freely available in PDF online. I can assure you that you will find things you didn't know and many things announcers don't know.

>>it really eats me up when an announcer says "Illegal Procedure."<<

What's worse is when a game referee (NCAA) says it on his mic! I do think, however, this IS a high school (i.e. National Federation) rule. 48 states, not including Texas, play Fed rules for HS football.

#1 rule of football is that no one knows all the rules.

91AggieLawyer, seeing as she asked on a tuesday, I gave her the NFL rules.

Thanks, all, for the answers! I was primarily asking about NFL rules, but collegiate apply as well...we don't discriminate when the games are on TV for our viewing pleasure.

** Disclaimer - I have been swamped at work today and will have to go back later and interpret the attorney-speak from the lawyer, but it makes sense so far.

From the NFL Digest of Rules:

DEFINITIONS
Encroachment: When a player enters the neutral zone and makes contact with an opponent before the ball is snapped.

Neutral Zone: The space the length of a ball between the two scrimmage lines. The offensive team and defensive team must remain behind their end of the ball.
Exception: The offensive player who snaps the ball.

Offside: A player is offside when any part of his body is beyond his scrimmage or free kick line when the ball is snapped or kicked.

I don't know if these are actual rules or a paraphrase of them.

I am pretty sure that everyone on this thread has been correct.

Most people were referring to NFL (that is the only time the word encroachment is used, and she specifically used it, so that is why we went with NFL).

simple....

Encroachment is when I roll over and tap my wife on her left shoulder.

That let's her know she's been "encroached".

Depending on reaction.....it could be discerned as a "neutral zone infraction".

[This message has been edited by BULL (edited 10/7/2009 9:06a).]