23

I understand that spiking the football is a time management technique in American football, but I don't understand why there is no penalty (e.g. intentional grounding) associated with it?

Improve this question
2
  • There is a penalty associated with it - the team loses a down.
    – ZeekLTK
    Commented Oct 22, 2013 at 20:36
  • Incidentally, this actually happened in 2011 to the Bears. Caleb Hanne was trying to spike the ball, but he took a few steps back first. He got called for intentional grounding, and then ensuing ten second runoff ended the game. nfl.com/gamecenter/2011112708/2011/REG12/…
    – PopularIsn'tRight
    Commented Nov 24, 2014 at 15:11

6 Answers 6

Reset to default
26

This is actually a special rule case.

Section 2 Intentional Grounding

Item 3: Stopping Clock A player under center is permitted to stop the game clock legally to save time if, immediately upon receiving the snap, he begins a continuous throwing motion and throws the ball directly into the ground.

So you may spike the ball to stop the clock if you do so immediately after receiving the ball. However:

Item 4: Delayed Spike A passer, after delaying his passing action for strategic purposes, is prohibited from throwing the ball to the ground in front of him, even though he is under no pressure from defensive rusher(s).

Thus waiting to do so is considered intentional grounding.

Improve this answer
1
  • 9
    Originally, it was legal because a tight end would line up closer than normal, making him an eligible receiver, and thus an incomplete pass.
    – corsiKa
    Commented Feb 9, 2012 at 21:44
8

Because it's specifically permitted by the intentional grounding rule.

Rule 8, section 2, article 1 of the NFL Rules:

Item 3: Stopping Clock. A player under center is permitted to stop the game clock legally to save time if, immediately upon receiving the snap, he begins a continuous throwing motion and throws the ball directly into the ground.

The NCAA has a similar rule (rule 7, section 3, article 2 of the NCAA rules):

ARTICLE 2. A forward pass is illegal if:

(snip)

e. The passer to conserve time throws the ball directly to the ground (1) after the ball has already touched the ground; or (2) not immediately after controlling the ball.

So spiking is legal only if the snap was not fumbled, unlike the NFL.

Improve this answer
2

Many years ago in the NFL, no one spiked the football because it was illegal to do so. If a team used up all of their time outs, the only way they could advance the ball AND stop the clock was to run out of bounds. This caused offenses to abandon using the middle of the field, for if they did (and they had no time outs), they ran the danger of running out of time. The defense knew this, so they focused their attention to protecting the sidelines, making it even more challenging for the offense to advance and stop the clock.

So what changed? The desire for more close games. When spiking the ball to stop the clock was made legal, it allowed teams unlimited amounts of short "timeouts". Now a team could use all of the field (instead of just the sidelines), knowing that they could stop the clock once they spiked the ball. The clock might still run after a catch is made, but once the ball is spiked, the clock is stopped, and time is saved. College football has the added benefit of the clock stopping when first downs are made late in either half, then the offense must spike the ball when the clock is restarted.

Improve this answer
1

A forward pass that does not pass the line of scrimmage will be considered intentional grounding UNLESS it is "a pass that lands in the direction and the vicinity of an originally eligible receiver," and therefore has a realistic chance of completion.

A "pass" thrown directly in front of the passer immediately after the snap meets this definition of "a realistic chance of completion," based on the placement of the tight end and two running backs prior to the snap. The fact that the quarterback has intentionally "spoiled" his chances of completion by "fast-passing" or "spiking" the ball, does not affect this.

After these (and other pass receivers move), the question of intentional grounding will be considered on a case-by-case basis based on where the players actually are.

Improve this answer
1
  • Adding some references to your quotations would make this a better answer. Thanks for responding!
    – Raystafarian
    Commented Dec 25, 2013 at 13:08
-2

None of these answers explain why, just that its allowed. Yes, we understand that. The reason that its allowed is because everyone was trying to get the offenses to score more and this allowed clock management and first downs but penalized simply throwing the ball away (not scoring...). In the end its a ridiculous rule differential and only promotes offense and holds defenses. This is why Peyton can throw 55 TDs and we broke scoring records weekly in the NFL in 2013. Gone are the days of the Iron Curtain and The Monsters of the Midway. Unfortunately its too risky to make a tackle or touch the QB. So just let them score and hope we can score more. That's the new era of the NFL. Remember when passing was rare? Neither do I but ask your father...

Improve this answer
-2

here is my interpretation. it looks like an OR situation, not an AND. (as I originally thought) passer must have eligible receiver nearby (i.e. "realistic chance of completion") OR (not AND) be out of the pocket and throw the ball at least to line of scrimmage. (lengthy throw) so this is what I will go with. BUT, I feel like, in last night's game, with 0:08 sec left in 4th quarter, pass was thrown out of bounds to stop the clock. yes the pass was far enough, but I recall the passer just took a couple steps back. I would argue he was still in the pocket, so this "in the pocket" aspect is kinda hazy, or was it not required?

Improve this answer
2
  • the BEST answer at top, last line, states "Thus waiting to do so is considered intentional grounding." this pertains to spiking only. as I have explained, it is OK to delay your intentional grounding. (if passer is out of the pocket and throws the ball far enough, or receiever nearby) so, you can never delay a spike, must spike immediately. lastly, I thought the fumble aspect was interesting to note, and as this differs from NCAA rules.
    – Ryan Laurence Vick
    Commented Oct 17, 2014 at 21:37
  • This doesn't have anything to do with the question, which was asking about spiking the ball to stop the clock (ie, snapping the ball and immediately throwing it to the ground). The answer above is unrelated to that question, and as far as I can tell solely refers to the other intentional grounding meanings. [Spiking is a special exception, as the answer above states; it's not an interpretation of one of the two things mentioned above.]
    – Joe
    Commented Oct 18, 2014 at 1:15

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.