Neutral Zone (American Football)

In gridiron football, the neutral zone is an area in which no member of either team may be, other than the person holding the ball. The neutral zone only exists in dead ball situations (i.e. when play is not ongoing).

In American football, the neutral zone can be described as the length of the football from one tip to the other when it is spotted (i.e. placed on a certain spot) on the field prior to the snap of the ball during a scrimmage down. In Canadian football, the neutral zone is a full one yard in front of the tip of the ball during a scrimmage down. The snapper (usually the center) is exempt, as he must place his hand on the ball (thus entering the neutral zone) to execute the snap.

The neutral zone is much longer for kickoffs and safety kicks, where ten yards separates the kicking team from the receiving team. The kicker and, if used, a holder are allowed to enter this neutral zone. In addition to not being allowed to enter the neutral zone before the kick, the kicking team may not recover their own kick in the neutral zone.

Knowing whether the ball has passed beyond the neutral zone or remained in or behind the neutral zone is important during forward pass plays and during scrimmage kicks.

"Behind the neutral zone" refers to the "offensive" side of the neutral zone.
"In the neutral zone" refers to the actual neutral zone.
"Beyond the neutral zone" refers to the "defensive" side of the neutral zone.

An additional definition of the neutral zone came into effect after a September 12, 2005, fight between the Philadelphia Eagles' Jeremiah Trotter and the Atlanta Falcons' Kevin Mathis that occurred prior to the opening kickoff. The NFL then instituted a rule that each end of the field from the end zone to the 45-yard line is reserved for one team, and that no player other than a kicker may be between the 45-yard lines prior to the game.

Gridiron football concepts

Codes

American
Canadian (US–Canadian comparison)
Arena
Indoor
9-man
8-man
6-man
Flag
Touch
Street/Backyard

Levels of play

High school
College
Sprint
Women's
Professional

Field

End zone
Goal line
Red zone
Line of scrimmage
Neutral zone
Field goal range
Out of bounds
Sidelines

Equipment

Football (ball)
Helmet
Shoulder pads
Uniform number

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 Game manager

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 Tackle-eligible 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 Conversion

Scoring

Touchdown
Point after touchdown
Two-point conversion
Field goal
Safety
Single (rouge)

Penalties

Blocking below the waist
Block in the back
Chop block
Clipping
Delay of game
Encroachment
Equipment violations
Face mask
False start
Helmet-to-helmet collision
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

Turnovers

Fumble
Interception
Muffed punt
Turnover on downs

Downs

First down
Three-and-out
Fourth down conversion

Play clock

Timeout
One-minute warning
Two-minute warning
Three-minute warning
Running out the clock
Untimed play
Garbage time

Statistics

Carry
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passer rating
Reception
Receiving yards
Return yards
Total offense
Yards from scrimmage
All-purpose yardage
Touchdown pass

Celebrations

Touchdown celebration
Gatorade shower

Officiating

Officials
Penalty flag
Chain crew

Miscellaneous

Snap
Dead ball
Touchback
Instant replay
Coffin corner
Resting the starters
Glossary of American football
Glossary of Canadian football
Rules
Rules in American football
California playoff
Concussions in American football

Famous quotes containing the words neutral and/or zone:

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—Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924)

“Just like those other black holes from outer space, Hollywood is postmodern to this extent: it has no center, only a spreading dead zone of exhaustion, inertia, and brilliant decay.”
—Arthur Kroker (b. 1945)