Facemask penalties..?

Question

Does the facemask penalty include the entire helmet or just the cage part on the fron? Are you allowed to stiffarm the helmet?

Answer 1

a facemask penalty for tacklers means that you cannot bring the runner down by any part of the helmet. and you can stiff arm the helmet, as long as you dont grab their facemask. you can put your hand on their facemask when you stiff arm, but just dont grab it

Answer 2

it is the full helmet but only if you tackle him by his helmet. you can stiff arm him by it but do not grab the cage. If you even look like your grabing his cage the ref will call a penalty.

Answer 3

The facemask penalty also applies to any helmet opening.  So it applies to the earhole and the entire rim of the opening (around the neck and face).  

In HS, the there has to be a grasp, fingers curled around something, to get a 5 yard penalty.

In HS, NCAA, and NFL, there has to be some movement of the head caused by the grasping to get a 15 yard penalty.  Yes, NCAA and NFL got rid of the 5 yard penalty.

The runner can stiff arm the helmet and, in turn, his helmet can be contacted in a similar fasion.  So long as there is no grasping involved.  If other players do this, it's a personal foul for illegal helmet contact.

Answer 4

dont grab it..