Illegal contact

The defender releases the illegal contact after the snap when it jams up the opponent. It aims to slow the receiver after initial five yards from the line of scrimmage. Other cases are when the defender tries to continue the contact with the receiver after the latter passed the 5-yard window after the complete pass or attempts to rebuild the contact after the receiver of offensive linemen breaks it.

However, the regulations on the football levels vary. The HFHS doesn’t have the determined penalty for illegal contact like the window after a pass, but the defender will get the penalty for defensive holding. The NCAA has a similar policy, while professional leagues consider it the reason for the 5-yard penalty.