Expert: Thom Brooks - 11/1/2008

Question
why do teams sometimes decline penalties?

Answer
Caroline, hello!

The coach makes thoses decisions based on strategy and percentages.  Declining a penalty may be when the coach wants them to count the down rather than giving them a 5 yard penalty.  It depends on both teams ability to move the ball or stop the ball.  If your defense was facing a powerful passing team, putting them back 5-10 yards may not be as effective as taking a down away from them (because the down is repeated if the yards are marked off as a penalty).  

If you knew a team was penalty prone, you may want to accept the penalty and keep moving them back (to keep them out of field goal range, etc.).  

So, each penalty where the coach has the option, they look at the particular game moment before making that decision.

Have a great day!

Thom Brooks