Holding in football is a penalty for illegally grabbing, hooking, or restraining a player who does not have the ball. It can be committed by either side: an offensive blocker who grabs a defender, or a defender who grabs a blocker or receiver. Holding is one of the most common penalties in the sport because blocking is legal only within strict limits on how players may use their hands.
What counts as holding?
Blockers and defenders are allowed to make contact and even use their hands, but they cannot grab, hook, pull, or clamp onto an opponent in a way that restricts his movement. The penalty typically begins when a hand or arm restrains a player who is not in possession of the ball. On the offensive side, that often looks like a lineman grabbing a rusher’s jersey or wrapping an arm around him to stop him from getting past. On the defensive side, it often looks like a defender grabbing a receiver’s arm or jersey to keep him from running his route.
What is offensive holding?
Offensive holding is called when a blocker illegally restrains a defender. In the NFL it is a 10-yard penalty, and there is no loss of down, so the offense simply replays the same down from 10 yards back. If the offense is close to its own goal line, the penalty is capped at half the distance to the goal rather than the full 10 yards. Offensive holding is consistently one of the most frequently called penalties in a season because it can occur on every block on every play.
What is defensive holding?
Defensive holding is called when a defender grabs or restrains a blocker or an eligible receiver. In the NFL it is a 5-yard penalty and an automatic first down. The automatic first down is significant: even on third-and-long, a defensive holding call keeps the offense’s drive alive. A common example is a defensive back grabbing a receiver’s jersey to stop him from getting open downfield.
Offensive vs defensive holding
The two fouls share a name but carry very different consequences, as shown below (NFL enforcement).
| Type | Who commits it | Penalty | First down? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Offensive holding | A blocker grabbing a defender | 10 yards, replay the down | No |
| Defensive holding | A defender grabbing a blocker or receiver | 5 yards | Yes, automatic first down |
What is legal blocking instead of holding?
The line between a clean block and a hold comes down to hand placement and control. Blockers are taught to keep their hands inside the frame of the defender’s body, on the chest or shoulders, with an open grip they can release. Once the hands slide outside to the back or shoulder pads and clamp down, or an arm hooks and pulls, it becomes holding. Officials watch for a defender being visibly turned, jerked, or pulled to the ground away from the ball.
What is the difference between holding and illegal use of hands?
Holding involves grabbing and restraining a player. A related foul, sometimes called illegal use of the hands, covers hitting an opponent in the head or neck with an open hand or getting the hands to the face. They are separate penalties, but both exist to keep hand-fighting between blockers and defenders under control. In practice, holding is by far the more common of the two.
Where is offensive holding enforced from?
In the NFL, when offensive holding happens behind or at the line of scrimmage, the 10-yard penalty is marked off from the previous spot, which is why the offense simply moves back and replays the down. If the foul occurs while the offense is backed up near its own goal line, the ball cannot be moved a full 10 yards, so the penalty is limited to half the distance to the goal. In the rare case that an offensive player commits holding in his own end zone, the result is a safety and two points for the defense. Understanding the spot of enforcement explains why a holding call can feel more or less costly depending on where the offense is on the field.
What are common examples of holding?
On offense, the classic hold is a lineman who gets beaten by a pass rusher and grabs the rusher’s jersey or wraps an arm around him to stop the sack. Another is a blocker who hooks a defender and pulls him down away from the ball on a running play. On defense, a cornerback grabbing a receiver’s arm to disrupt a route, or a linebacker latching onto a blocker to shed him illegally, are typical fouls. Officials look for the telltale signs: a jersey stretched, an arm hooked, or a player clearly turned or dragged.
Does holding work the same in college football?
The concept of holding is the same across the NFL and NCAA college football: you cannot grab or restrain a player without the ball. Offensive holding is a 10-yard penalty in both. The finer points of enforcement can vary between rulebooks, but a fan who understands the basic idea will recognize the foul at any level.
Bottom line
Holding is the price of using your hands illegally. Offensive holding pushes the offense back 10 yards, while defensive holding gives the offense 5 yards and a fresh set of downs. Because grabbing happens on nearly every snap, holding remains one of the game’s most frequent and drive-changing penalties.
Frequently asked questions
How many yards is a holding penalty?
In the NFL, offensive holding costs 10 yards and the down is replayed. Defensive holding costs 5 yards and gives the offense an automatic first down. If the yardage would move the ball more than halfway to the goal line, the penalty is capped at half the distance to the goal.
What is the difference between offensive and defensive holding?
Offensive holding is committed by a blocker who illegally grabs a defender, and it sets the offense back 10 yards. Defensive holding is committed by a defender who grabs a receiver or blocker, and it gives the offense 5 yards plus an automatic first down.
Why is holding called so often?
Blockers and defenders are allowed to use their hands, but only within limits. Grabbing, hooking, or pulling a player who does not have the ball crosses the line, and because that contact happens on nearly every play, officials have many chances to flag it.
Can you hold the ball carrier?
No penalty applies to contact with the player who has the ball, because tackling him is the point of the play. Holding penalties only involve restraining players who are not carrying the ball, such as blockers, rushers, and receivers.
Does offensive holding cost a down?
No. Offensive holding does not carry a loss of down. The offense loses yardage and then replays the same down, so a holding call on first down leads to first down again from farther back.