A closer look at what is and isn't intentional grounding, plus how spiking the ball, or clocking, is exempted from the penalty
Intentional grounding is one of the more misunderstood rules in football today. From the idea of what we think constitutes the penalty to what we see actually get called on the field, it has become very unclear to the fans when we can expect to see it. Additionally, the rules vary from the NFL to the NCAA, and there is the tactic of spiking the ball (clocking) to preserve time, which seems to qualify as intentional grounding.