Cancelling and Offsetting fouls

[dammitbobby]

Searched through here, didn't find what I was looking for, exactly... 

Can someone explain to me cancelling and offsetting, in layman's terms? 

Offsetting foul, 10-1-4:  If live-ball fouls by both teams are reported to the referee, the fouls offset and the down is repeated (A.R. 10-1-4-I and VII).  Somewhat common, and makes sense to me.

What I am missing, however, is where cancellation comes into the discussion, and how it relates to offsetting.  I can't seem to find a definition or reference for the difference between the two.

As I understand it, cancelling can occur only under limited situations, such as during a try, or a foul by B before a COP under PSK, and during a try, when both A and B foul and B fouls before COP (with some exceptions, outlined in the rulebook)

Is that somewhat accurate?  What am I missing?

[Legacy Zebra]

There is no definition for canceling, but there are three times in the rules that term "cancel" is used in this context. Fouls after a change of team possession in OT or on a try may be canceled and penalties for dead ball personal fouls or unsportsmanlike conduct fouls are canceled if they all occur before any of them are completed. While there is a difference between a foul and a penalty, all three cases have the same principle. The basic concept is that when two (or more) fouls or penalties cancel, rather than repeating the down, the next down is unaffected. So let's look at a couple situations to illustrate the point.

On a try from the B-3, Team A is in an illegal formation at the snap. B1 intercepts a pass and is tackled at the 50. B99 held during the return at the B-5. Because B got the ball prior to fouling, the fouls CANCEL and the down is not replayed. The try is over and the next down will be the kickoff (or the start of the next OT possession series).

On a try from the B-3, Team B is offside at the snap. B1 intercepts a pass and is tackled by the facemask by B99. Because Team B fouled prior to gaining possession, these fouls OFFSET and the down is repeated. We will replay the try from the B-3.


You could make those same scenarios scrimmage downs in OT and the results are exactly the same. Now a couple plays to look at for penalties for dead ball fouls canceling.

1/10 @ A-20. Team A runs for a 5 yard gain. After the ball is dead, B99 hits ball carrier A11 out of bounds. A11 responds by shoving B99 to the ground. The penalties for B99's UNR and A11's UNS will CANCEL and it will be 2nd and 5 at the A-25. Dead ball fouls can never offset.

1/10 @ A-20. Team A runs for a 5 yard gain. After the ball is dead, B99 hits ball carrier A11 out of bounds. A11 responds by shoving B99 to the ground. B88 then retaliates by shoving A11. Even though Team B has two fouls and Team A only has one, they will all cancel because they are all either PF or UNS and they all happened before any of them were completed. It will still be 2nd and 5 at the A-25.

So basically offsetting --> both teams foul and the down is repeated, cancelling --> both teams foul, but the next down is not affected.

[ElvisLives]

Legacy's explanation is right on.
One thing to keep in mind is that "offset" can only apply to live-ball fouls. When fouls "offset," the penalties associated them are neither accepted, nor declined. By rule, the fouls themselves - not their penalties (regardless of different distances, loss of down, etc.) simply offset each other, and the down is to be repeated. And, yes, a single live-ball foul by one team can offset multiple live-ball fouls by the other team.
Example: B59 is offside, A77 holds B66, and A11 intentionally grounds the ball. The FOULS offset, and the down is repeated.

In the cases of dead-ball fouls by opponents, the fouls are "accepted," but, when all fouls are reported to the R before any of them are 'completed' (as defined), the distance penalties cancel each other; the ball remains at the dead-ball spot/succeeding spot, and the down number that has already been established is not affected.
Example: 2/25, A-20. A88 catches a pass at the A-25 and 'taunts' B55, who then immediately flips off A88. Both fouls occurred before either had been completed. Those fouls are, officially, accepted, but, by rule, the distance penalties cancel each other, so the location of the succeeding spot AND the number of the next down, established by the natural result of the down, are unaffected, for 3/20, A-25. The significance here is that, had there only been a single UNS foul by Team B, Team A would get an automatic first down, even though the distance penalty would leave the ball short of the line-to-gain. In this case(DBFs by both teams) the penalties cancel, including the first down component of Team B's penalty. 
(But, both players get one foul on their UNS counters.)

In the cases of dead-ball fouls that occur in different time frames, i.e., one is reported and completed before the other is reported to the R, then each of those penalties is enforced in the order of their occurrence.
Example: 2/10, A-30. A88 catches a pass and is 'down' at the A-35, then 'taunts' B55. The foul is reported to the R, who acknowledges to the U that this penalty will be accepted at the succeeding spot, and the next down will be 3rd down.  At that point the A88's penalty is completed. Then B55 makes a 'throat slash' action toward A88. The penalty for this UNS foul is enforced from the point that A88's penalty left the ball (A-20), to the A-35, and a first down is awarded to Team A. (And, both players get one foul on their UNS counters.)

Fouls offset (when prescribed by rule). Penalties cancel (when prescribed by rule).

[dammitbobby]

Thanks guys, this has been extremely helpful.  Much, much appreciated.