What are the consequences for blocking in the back during a return?

When a player is penalized for blocking in the back during a return, the rules dictate that the penalty yardage is assessed from the spot of the foul. This is significant because it recognizes the impact that the infraction had on the play. Blocking in the back can provide an unfair advantage in a return situation, and enforcing the penalty from the spot ensures that the team that committed the foul does not benefit from the illegal action.

This approach allows for greater fairness in the game by reducing the potential gain from the foul. The yardage lost by the offending team is directly correlated to where the illegal action took place, which is why the correct consequence includes a penalty of 10 yards from the spot of the foul. Other penalties for different infractions may have different enforcement rules, which is critical to understand in the context of maintaining the integrity of the game.