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Offsides is when a defensive player jumps across the line of scrimmage too early. Usually when this happens the play keeps going and is considered a 'free play' for the offense.

Encroachment is when the defensive player makes contact with an offensive player. Play is stopped.

Neutral Zone Infraction is when a defensive player jumps offsides and causes an offensive player to commit a false start. The penalty goes against the defense rather than the false start against the offense.

All are 5 yard penalties.

The clock doesn't stop for out of bounds in the NFL until the last few minutes of either half.

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Broncosfan247 is mostly right, however, a defensive player can jump offsides before the snap all he wants, as long as: he's back on his side before the ball is snapped, he doesn't startle an offensive lineman and make them jump, and he doesn't touch anyone or have a clear path to the quarterback. Here's more precise definitions: Offsides: A member of the defense is on the offensive side of the line of scrimmage during the snap Neutral Zone Infraction: Before the snap, a member of the defense jumps into the neutral zone, causing an offensive player to false start. (Neutral zone is the length of the football when spotted on the ground). Encroachment: Before the snap, a member of the defense crosses the line of scrimmage and touches an offensive player, or has a clear path to the quarterback.

Neutral Zone Infraction

The difference is that offsides is the defensive player being across the neutral zone when the ball is hiked, encroachment is when the defensive player hits the offensive lineman which causes a false start (or not, it's encroachment either way), and neutral zone infraction is when a defensive player crosses into the neutral zone and causes the offensive player to false start (but he doesn't touch the offensive player, just causes him to move by entering the neutral zone). I think that stopping the clock when a player runs out of bounds occurs only at certain levels and maybe at only certain times of the game(?).

Neutral Zone Football

Offsides happens when the defensive player crosses the line of scrimmage before the ball is snapped, but doesn't touch an offensive player. Encroachment is when a defensive player crosses the line of scrimmage before the ball is snapped and touches an offensive player of causes a player to move. Neutral zone infraction is when a player is simply lined up in the neutral zone, or accross the line of scrimmage. They don't move to cross it before the ball is snapped.

When players go out of bounds, the clock doesn't necessarily stop. If it is determined that the players progress was stopped prior to him going out, he is deemed to have been stopped in bounds.

Offsides is lining up on the opponent's side of the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped

Encroachment is a player's movement enticing the opposing player to move to protect himself, anticipating contact or the start of the play. This most often occurs when an offensive lineman twitches/moves ahead of the snap

Neutral zone is same as the first - you can't be in the neutral zone (past the nearest tip of the football) at the moment of the snap.

offsides is that you are in front of the line of scrimmage BEFORE the snap and encroachment is when your past the line of scrimmage WHEN the ball is snapped(slightly before the snap). neutral zone infraction is WHEN you jump OFFSIDES and make a offensive player have to false start.

You left out unabated to the quarterback.

About half a yard