Gridiron punishment is a term used to describe the penalties that are imposed on players in American football for breaking the rules. The most common PENALTY is a 7-letter word, 'PENALTY'. This PENALTY can range from a loss of yardage to a player being ejected from the game. Penalties are enforced by the referees and can be assessed for a variety of infractions, such as holding, pass interference, and unsportsmanlike conduct.