While I'm at it, why are some penalties only half the distance to the goal?

[HollySpringsDawg]

Offense is on their own 20, commits a 15 yard penalty, but its only marked off half the distance to the goal. Why is that? Or on the 14, same penalty, why not mark it as far back as possible to the 1 yard line? Instead ball placed at the 7. 
Just another rule I don't know why its that way.

[McDonoughDawg]

Been that way as long as I can remember…

[HollySpringsDawg]

Me too, just not sure why it is that way. Push them back the whole penalty yards are at least to the 1 yard line. Just one of those odd rules in football.

[DawgNatty]

As long as the length of the penalty is more than half the distance to the goal, it’s what will be used. For clarification:

all penalties that are worth 15 yards will be half the distance to the goal starting inside 30 yards of the goal line

penalties worth 10 yards will be half the distance to the goal starting inside 20 yards of the goal line

and those worth 5 will half the distance to the goal from within 10 yards of the goal line

The prevailing thought is that the penalty is "too harsh" as you get near the actual goal line.

[HollySpringsDawg]

Thanks for the clarifications. I say penalize them as far as possible.