what is leverage penalty in football

A leverage penalty in football is a penalty against the defense that occurs when a player jumps or stands on another player in an attempt to block a field goal or punt. This penalty is part of the "unsportsmanlike conduct" category, and it is signaled by the referee holding their arms outstretched, palms face-down, and throwing their flag. The penalty carries a 15-yard penalty and an automatic first down, which can be especially costly since these penalties almost only occur on fourth downs. Leverage penalties are called whether the defensive player touches the offensive lineman or jumps straight over them, and players used to be able to jump over the line of scrimmage if they made their jump cleanly. However, this rule has been amended in the interest of player safety, so any attempt to jump over someone on a kick is a penalty.