Spike (Gridiron Football) Information
In gridiron football, a spike of the ball is a play in which the quarterback intentionally throws the ball at the ground immediately after the snap. A spike is technically an incomplete pass, and therefore, it has the effect of stopping the clock and exhausting a down.
A spike is not considered intentional grounding if it is done with the quarterback under center and immediately after the snap. No penalty is assessed. The only loss is that one down is sacrificed.
Running a spike play presumes there will be at least one play by the same team immediately afterward, so it would not be done on 4th down or when it would run the clock out. If a quarterback's first choice is to spike the ball and this would run the clock out, he would have to run a regular play instead. There is at least one case of a quarterback in the NFL doing just that, although that quarterback's regular play failed.
In the January 1998 Rose Bowl, Ryan Leaf spiked the ball and inadvertently ran the clock out on that play.
Spiking after scoring
After scoring a touchdown, players often celebrate by spiking the football, though this action is not legal in NCAA football, as the scoring player is immediately obligated to either leave the ball or return the ball to an official.[1] Spiking the ball remains legal in the NFL, where it is not interpreted as excessive celebration.
Such action is not considered a "spike play." It has no official status.
References
- ^ 2008 NCAA FOOTBALL RULES AND INTERPRETATIONS, National Collegiate Athletic Association, Page 112, Accessed August 4, 2008.
See also
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Gridiron football concepts |
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| Codes |
American • Canadian (US-Canadian comparison) • Arena • Indoor • 9-man • 8-man • 6-man • Flag • Touch • Street/Backyard
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| Levels of play |
High school • College • Sprint • Women's • Professional
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| Field |
End zone • Goal line • Line of scrimmage • Neutral zone • Field goal range • Out of bounds • Sidelines
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| Equipment |
Football (ball) • Helmet • Shoulder pads • Uniform number • Penalty flag
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| Positions |
Offense: Quarterback • Running backs (Halfback, Fullback, H-back) • Receivers (Wide receiver, Tight end, Slotback) • Linemen (Center, Guard, Tackle)
Defense: Linemen (Defensive tackle, Defensive end, Nose tackle) • Linebacker • Defensive back (Cornerback, Safety, Nickelback, Dimeback, Halfback)
Special Teams: Placekicker • Punter • Kickoff specialist • Long snapper • Holder • Punt returner • Kickoff returner • Return specialist • Gunner
Other: Utility player • Triple threat man • Skill position
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| Play types |
Offense: Rush • Pass • Incomplete pass • Lateral • Bootleg play • Draw play • End-around • Flea flicker • Flexbone formation • Fourth down conversion • Hail Mary pass • Halfback option play • Hook and lateral • Kneel • Motion • Hurry-up offense • Option run • Option offense • Play-action pass • Quarterback keeper • Quarterback sneak • Quick kick • Reverse • Scramble • Screen pass • Spike • Statue of Liberty • Sweep • Trick play • Wildcat formation
Defense: Tackle • Blitz • Rush • Sack • Shooting the gap • Stunt • Zone blitz
Special Teams: Kickoff • Kickoff return • Punt • Punt return • Drop kick • Fair catch • Fair catch kick • Icing the kicker • Onside kick • Squib kick • Try
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| Scoring |
Touchdown • Extra point • Two-point conversion • Field goal • Safety • Single (rouge)
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| Penalties |
Blocking below the waist • Block in the back • Chop block • Clipping • Delay of game • Encroachment • Equipment violations • Face mask • False start • Horse-collar tackle • Illegal contact • Illegal formation • Illegal forward kick • Illegal forward pass • Illegal hands to the face • Illegal motion • Illegal participation • Illegal shift • Illegal substitution • Illegal touching • Illegal touching of a free kick • Illegal use of hands • Ineligible receiver downfield • Intentional grounding • Holding • Leaping • Neutral Zone Infraction • Offside • Palpably unfair act • Pass interference • Personal Foul • Roughing the kicker • Roughing the passer • Roughing the snapper • Sideline infraction • Spearing • Time count • Tripping • Unsportsmanlike conduct
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| Turnovers |
Fumble • Interception • Muffed punt • Turnover on downs
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| Downs |
First down • Three-and-out • Fourth down conversion
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| Play clock |
Timeout • Two-minute warning • Running out the clock
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| Statistics |
Passer rating • Reception • Return yards • Total offense • Yards from scrimmage • All-purpose yardage • Touchdown pass
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| Celebrations |
Touchdown celebration • Gatorade shower
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| Miscellaneous |
Snap • Dead ball • Touchback • Instant replay • Coffin corner • Glossary of American football • Glossary of Canadian football • Rules • Rules in American football
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