What is Holding in Football
Holding is one of the most common penalties in football, called when a player illegally grabs or restrains an opponent who does not have the ball, resulting in a 10-yard penalty on offense or a 5-yard penalty on defense.
Holding is one of the most frequently called penalties in American football. It occurs when a player illegally grabs, tackles, or restrains an opponent who does not have the ball. Holding is most commonly committed by offensive linemen trying to block pass rushers, but it can also be called on defensive players trying to cover receivers.
Offensive Holding
Offensive holding is by far the more common and impactful holding call:
- Definition: An offensive player grabs a defender's body (other than the arms) beyond the frame of the defender's body, or hooks a defender with their arm(s)
- Penalty: 10-yard penalty from the spot of the foul; if in the end zone — a safety; loss of down
- Common situation: Offensive lineman wrapping their arms around a pass rusher's torso or grabbing a jersey while pass blocking
Offensive holding is one of the most subjective calls in football — blocking technique often skirts the edge of legality, and many borderline holds go uncalled.
Defensive Holding
Defensive holding is less common and less impactful:
- Definition: A defensive player grabs or tackles an eligible receiver past the line of scrimmage before the ball is thrown, preventing a fair chance to catch the ball
- Penalty: 5-yard penalty plus automatic first down
- Distinguished from pass interference: If the contact significantly affects the receiver's ability to catch the ball, it may be called as defensive pass interference (a much more severe penalty — spot of the foul)
How Holding Differs from Illegal Use of Hands
- Holding = grabbing and restricting movement of an opponent
- Illegal use of hands = striking or batting an opponent with an open or closed hand
Both are penalties, but they are technically distinct rules.
Impact on Game Strategy
Holding penalties are notorious for:
- Killing drives — A 10-yard holding call can wipe out a big gain and set the offense back significantly
- Affecting replay reviews — Touchdowns are sometimes nullified by holding penalties
- Strategic fouling — Offensive linemen sometimes strategically hold a dominant pass rusher, accepting the penalty rather than allowing a sack
- Inconsistent officiating — The "could call it on every play" phenomenon; officiating crews call holding at very different rates
The "Hold In the End Zone" Rule
If the offense is called for holding in its own end zone, the defense is awarded a safety (2 points) rather than backing the offense up 10 yards.