What is holding in football?

In football, holding is a penalty that occurs when a player impedes the progress of an opponent by using their hands, arms, or body to restrict their movement. This penalty typically occurs when an offensive player grabs onto a defender to prevent them from getting to the quarterback or ball carrier.

Holding is one of the most common penalties in football and can result in a loss of yardage for the offending team. In the NFL, holding penalties are typically enforced with a 10-yard penalty from the spot of the foul, resulting in a first down and long yardage situation for the offense.

Holding can be called on both offensive and defensive players, but it is most commonly called on offensive linemen who are trying to block defenders. It is up to the officials on the field to determine if holding has occurred, and they will throw a penalty flag if they see a violation.

Players and coaches are taught to avoid holding penalties by using proper blocking techniques and staying within the rules of the game. Holding penalties can be costly for a team, as they can stall drives and prevent scoring opportunities.