What is illegal touching in football?

Illegal touching in football refers to a penalty that occurs when a player on the offensive team touches a forward pass before it has been touched by a defensive player or before it has crossed the line of scrimmage. This violation typically results in a 5-yard penalty and loss of down for the offensive team.

Illegal touching can also refer to a penalty that occurs when a player steps out of bounds and then is the first to touch the ball when re-entering the field of play. This violation results in a loss of down and the ball being placed at the spot of the foul.

Overall, illegal touching penalties are meant to prevent unfair advantages and ensure that the game is played according to the rules.