penalty decline?

Question

what is the purpose of declining a penalty?

Answer 1

If you want to keep the results of the play, rather than doing it over. For example, if you just had a great pass reception and got a first down but the defense gets called for holding, you get to choose if you want to replay the down from 5 yards closer, or if you are happy with the outcome of the play, you can decline the penalty and continue from where your play ended.

Answer 2

You might decline a penalty if:

On offense, the opponent jumped offsides and you got a free play since an interception, a fumble, or an incomplete pass will be nullified since you already have 5 yards from the penalty. But, if you get a big completion of 10 yards and a 1st down, the result of the play would be better than the penalty so you would decline the penalty.

On defense, if your opponent just had an incomplete pass on third down and they had a holding in the process, you would decline the penalty to make it fourth down rather than to give the other team another chance on third down.

Basically, you would decline a penalty if the result of the play is better than what the penalty gives you.

Answer 3

some times its in your best interest to decline a penalty because u would rather they lost the down, or made more yards without the penalty. if u take the penalty they go from the line of scrimmage and the penalty yards are all u get if u except it.