# NFL - Neutral Zone Infraction ?!

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-neutral-zone-infraction/563232>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Created:** [December 7, 2010, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-neutral-zone-infraction/563232 "2010-12-07T02:58:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\
**Post date:** [December 7, 2010, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-neutral-zone-infraction/563232/1 "2010-12-07T02:58:56Z")

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Why are Refs calling “Neutral Zone Infractions” this year, and why the change? Apparently someone somewhere had an issue with Off Sides? 😕

How can the less than casual Football spectator know all the changes of rules?

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**Author:** ![Blaster\_Master](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cab0a1/32.png) [@Blaster\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blaster_Master)\
**Post date:** [December 7, 2010, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-neutral-zone-infraction/563232/2 "2010-12-07T03:09:12Z")

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They’re different things. As I understand, a defensive player being off-side is when he is in the neutral zone when the ball is snapped and a neutral zone infraction is where his movement makes the offensive player move.  
Edit: Quote is from 1994 rule change.

> [@](#):
>
> A neutral zone infraction has been clarified. Officials are to immediately blow their whistles whenever a defender enters the neutral zone causing the offensive player(s) directly opposite to move. This is considered a penalty on the defense. If there is no immediate reactional movement by the offensive player(s), there is no foul. (The neutral zone is defined as the space the length of the ball between the offense and defense line of scrimmage.)

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**Author:** ![President\_Johnny\_Gentle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@President\_Johnny\_Gentle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/President_Johnny_Gentle)\
**Post date:** [December 7, 2010, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-neutral-zone-infraction/563232/3 "2010-12-07T03:20:06Z")

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It doesn’t help the casual fan that Offside, Neutral Zone Infractions, and Encroachment penalties are all signaled in the same way, and I think some announcers use them interchangeably. In any event, since the penalty for each is the same, there is little functional difference between them.

In case anyone doesn’t know, the defense is allowed to be enter the neutral zone, but they can’t be there when the ball is snapped (offside), they can’t use entering the neutral zone to cause the offense to false start (NZI) and they can’t make contact with the offense (encroachment).

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**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\
**Post date:** [December 7, 2010, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-neutral-zone-infraction/563232/4 "2010-12-07T05:05:16Z")

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Yeah, no. I was, and still remain, somewhat, thrown by hearing the term. It is a new for this season term, correct?

Neutral Zone to me belongs in Capture the Flag or possibly Dodge ball.

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**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\
**Post date:** [December 7, 2010, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-neutral-zone-infraction/563232/5 "2010-12-07T05:12:50Z")

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It’s not new this season, no.