Football Zebras video

The spike that wasn’t a spike, but still a foul

Published

9 years ago

October 5, 2015

Bears receiver Eddie Royal tossed the ball after the play and was assessed a 5-yard penalty for spiking the ball. Was this correct?

Related Topics:

Up Next

Did the Ravens have an illegal formation?

Don't Miss

Rule changes and points of emphasis highlighted in NFL training camp video

Ben Austro

Ben Austro is the editor and founder of Football Zebras and the author of So You Think You Know Football?: The Armchair Ref's Guide to the Official Rules (on sale now)

Football Zebras

The spike that wasn’t a spike, but still a foul

You may like

Football Zebras network

Football Zebras network

Trailblazing official Maia Chaka is out of the NFL

Officiating shakeup continues as VP of replay is out after only 1 season

Former NFL side judge and Cedar Rapids civic leader Bill Quinby dies at 92

Former NFL deep official Ron Spitler, involved in controversial 2003 layoff reversal, dies at 86

UFL Week 4 officiating assignments

NFL hires 5 officials and announces Walt Anderson’s new role in officiating

Walt Anderson stepping down as senior VP of officiating

UFL Week 3 officiating assignments

Rogers Redding, former SEC referee and national coordinator of officials, dies at 81

UFL Week 2 officiating assignments

UFL Week 1 officiating assignments

United Football League has rules that depart from traditional football

Rules review video: Kick catch interference, invalid fair catch signal, and penalty enforcements

Jaire Alexander suspended one game by Packers for not knowing coin flip rules

Rules review video: Roughing the kicker, forced touching, and kick catch interference

2023-24 bowl officiating assignments

Week 7 referee assignments

Week 8 referee assignments

Week 17 referee assignments

Week 6 referee assignments

Week 12 referee assignments

Week 11 referee assignments

Week 15 referee assignments

Week 16 referee assignments

Rules review video: Touching the pylon, ball carrier down, and targeting with the lights out

Rules review video: Unconventional handoffs, unnecessary roughness, and roughing the passer

Rules review video: Scrimmage kick advancement, targeting, and blocking below the waist

Rules School: Officiating mechanics at the end of the half

Rules review video: Kick catch interference, invalid fair catch signal, and penalty enforcements

Rules review video: Roughing the kicker, forced touching, and kick catch interference

Rules review video: Targeting, replay tools, and an experiment with the kickoff line

Rules review video: Illegal forward pass, illegal touching, and simulated kneeldowns

Rules review video: Defensive pass interference, coaches on the field, and defense re-establishing in bounds

Rules review video: Safeties, replay calling penalties, and kicks over the uprights

‘Exceptional situational awareness’ highlights the Call of the Week

Rules review video: Intentional grounding, targeting, and horse-collar tackles

Trailblazing official Maia Chaka is out of the NFL

Officiating shakeup continues as VP of replay is out after only 1 season

Former NFL side judge and Cedar Rapids civic leader Bill Quinby dies at 92

Former NFL deep official Ron Spitler, involved in controversial 2003 layoff reversal, dies at 86

UFL Week 4 officiating assignments

NFL hires 5 officials and announces Walt Anderson’s new role in officiating

Walt Anderson stepping down as senior VP of officiating

UFL Week 3 officiating assignments

Rogers Redding, former SEC referee and national coordinator of officials, dies at 81

UFL Week 2 officiating assignments

UFL Week 1 officiating assignments

United Football League has rules that depart from traditional football

Rules review video: Kick catch interference, invalid fair catch signal, and penalty enforcements

Jaire Alexander suspended one game by Packers for not knowing coin flip rules

Rules review video: Roughing the kicker, forced touching, and kick catch interference

2023-24 bowl officiating assignments

Week 7 referee assignments

Week 8 referee assignments

Week 17 referee assignments

Week 6 referee assignments

Week 12 referee assignments

Week 11 referee assignments

Week 15 referee assignments

Week 16 referee assignments

Rules review video: Touching the pylon, ball carrier down, and targeting with the lights out

Rules review video: Unconventional handoffs, unnecessary roughness, and roughing the passer

Rules review video: Scrimmage kick advancement, targeting, and blocking below the waist

Rules School: Officiating mechanics at the end of the half

Rules review video: Kick catch interference, invalid fair catch signal, and penalty enforcements

Rules review video: Roughing the kicker, forced touching, and kick catch interference

Rules review video: Targeting, replay tools, and an experiment with the kickoff line

Rules review video: Illegal forward pass, illegal touching, and simulated kneeldowns

Rules review video: Defensive pass interference, coaches on the field, and defense re-establishing in bounds

Rules review video: Safeties, replay calling penalties, and kicks over the uprights

‘Exceptional situational awareness’ highlights the Call of the Week

Rules review video: Intentional grounding, targeting, and horse-collar tackles