Rules
Changes, Editorial Changes or Points of Emphasis for 2008:
1.
White is the recommended color for lines. True 1-2-3a
2.
If
a MRSA infection has occurred in a team member, the coach or certified
athletic trainer should check other athletes daily before
practice. True POE (MRSA)
3.
Hiding the ball under the jersey will now be
enforced as a basic spot foul using the all-but-one principle. True 9-9-3 Penalty
4.
An inadvertent whistle does not end the
down. False 4-2-4
5.
A
hand pad is now defined as a covering for the hand that may have
separate openings for each finger and thumb, is absent of any web-like
material between the fingers and/or thumb, and not covering each finger
and thumb. True 1-5-2b Note
6.
Shinguards, if worn, do not need to meet NOCSAE
specifications. False 1-5-1h
7.
Offensive
football allignments have become so diversified that more emphasis has
to be placed upon legally starting a free-kick down and a scrimmage
down. True POE (False Starts, Shifts and
Motion)
8.
Hip pads, tailbone protector, knee pads and thigh
guards must not be altered from the manufacturer's original
design/production. True 1-5-1b, d, h
Dead Ball:
9.
A foul automatically causes the ball to become
dead. False 2-16-4; 4-2
The previous spot is where the ball was last
snapped or free kicked. True 2-41-7
15.
An interception is securing posession of a live
ball after it strikes the ground. False
2-44
16.
The snap is considered to be a backward pass and
part of a loose-ball play. True 2-33-1c
17.
If
a forward pass touches an official who is in the field of play, the
pass is ruled incomplete even if it is subsequently caught by a player
of either team. False 2-44
If A1 commits a false start that caused B1 to
enter the neutral zone, B1 has not encroached. True 7-1-8
20.
Encroachment may not occur until the snapper has
placed his hand(s) on the ball. False
7-1-5
Equipment:
Field:
21.
The goal-line pylons may be any color as lone as
they are the same color. False 1-2-4
22.
The ball must have the NFHS Authenticating
Mark. True 1-3-1g
Equipment:
Player:
23.
It is mandatory that knee pads be worn over the
knees and the pants cover the knee pads. True
1-5-1d, e
24.
If the helmet of the tackler comes off in making
contact with the runner, the ball becomes dead immediately. False 4-2-2k
25.
Players are not required to wear thigh
guards. False 1-5-1h
26.
A mouth protector must be worn and must be
completely white or clear. False 1-5-1i
27.
The umpire has the authority to declare equipment
illegal if he determines it is inappropriate equipment. True 1-5-4
28.
The numbers 0 and 00 are legal numbers on a
players jersey. False 1-4-3
Extending a
Period:
29.
A period must be extended by an untimed down if,
during the last timed down of the period, there was a double
foul. True 3-3-3b
30.
If
during the last timed down of the first period the Team A coach commits
an unsportsmanlike foul, the period must be extended. False 3-3-3a; 3-3-4b1
31.
If
during the last timed down of a period a non-player foul occurs and the
penalty is accepted, the period is entended with an untimed down.
False 3-3-3a; 3-3-5b2
32.
If
any dead-ball foul by either team occurs after the last timed down of
either half, it is enforced from the succeeding spot on the kickoff or
overtime. True 3-3-6
Fair Catch:
33.
If
a low scrimmage kick is touched by R1 in the neutral zone,
kick-catching interference restrictions have ended and no fair catch
can be made. False 6-5-6
34.
Only one receiver may give a signal for a fair
catch while any legal kick is in flight. False
6-5-1
35.
Two arms raised full lenght above the head and
waved is an invalid catch signal. True
2-9-3
36.
If R1 signals for a fair catch, he may not block
until the kick ends. True 6-5-1
37.
Any receiver may signal for a fair catch while
any legal kick is in flight. True 6-5-1
Field Goal:
38.
If K1 kicks the ball between the uprights and
above the crossbar on a kickoff, it is a field goal. False 8-4-1a
39.
A field goal may not be scored if the kick
touches the ground before passing through the goal. True 8-4-1b
40.
After a field goal, the opponent of the scoring
team shall designate which team will kick off. True 8-4-2
Passing:
41.
A backward pass out of bounds is an illegal
pass. False 7-4-3
42.
A passer is a player who throws a legal forward
pass. True 2-32-11
43.
A backward pass ends when it is caught, recovered
or is out of bounds. True 2-31-6
44.
Prior
to releasing the ball on a pass, the potential passer is contacted, and
the ball is released, it is not a forward pass if his arm was moving
forward on contact. False 2-31-2 Note
Fouls:
45.
A
player in the free-blocking zone at the snap may block from behind,
within the free-blocking zone, at any time during the down. False 2-17-3
46.
Illegal motion, illegal shifts and false starts
are all fouls simultaneous with the snap. False
7-1-7; 7-2-6, 7
47.
Contacting the opponent's face mask with the hand
is not a face mask foul unless the mask is grasped. True 9-4-3h
48.
If B1 tackles A1, who is obviously not the
runner, it is defensive holding. True
9-2-3c
49.
An illegal snap or other snap infraction causes
the ball to remain dead. True 7-1-4;
10-1-2
It is illegal participation if a replaced player
attempts but fails to leave the field prior to the snap. False 3-7-4
60.
It
is illegal participation if a player is lying on the ground to deceive
the opponents immediately before the snap of free kick. True 9-6-4e
61.
It is illegal substitution to have 12 or more
players participating at the snap of free kick. False 9-6-4c
62.
It is illegal participation for a disqualified
player to re-enter the game. True 9-6-4f
Inadvertent
Whistle:
63.
Following a change of posession, if an
inadvertent whistle is sounded, the down must be replayed. False 4-2-3b
64.
If an inadvertent whistle sounds during the last
timed down of a period, the period must be extended by an untimed
down. True 3-3-3c
Miscellaneous:
65.
Protests of NFHS rules are not recognized. True 1-1-11
66.
The head coach will decide if an unconscious
player may return to the game and participate after regaining
consciousness. False 3-5-10b
Penalty
Enforcement:
67.
In
a scrimmage kick formation, should B1 charge directly into snapper A1
the foul carried a penalty of 15 yards and an automatic first
down. True 9-4-6 Penalty
68.
If a foul occurs during a loose-ball play, the
basic spot is the spot of the foul. False
10-4-2b
69.
A
coach who has been ejected may not have further direct or indirect
contact with his team during the remainder of the game. True 9-8 Penalty
70.
If two teammates participate while wearing
identical numbers, the foul occurs simultaniously with the snap. True 7-2-5c Penalty
71.
The field captain may delay his decision to
accept or decline a penalty until after a charged time-out. False 1-4-1; 10-1-1
72.
Illegal participation is enforced as a live-ball
foul. True 9-6-1 Penalty
73.
All dead-ball fouls are enforced in the order in
which they occurred and always from the spot of the foul. False 10-2-5; 10-4-5
74.
Kick-catching interference carries a 15-yard
penalty plus a loss of down. False 6-5-6
Penalty
75.
After a double foul, the down is replayed and no
yardage penalty is enforced. True 10-2-1
76.
A foul during a try is not paired with a
dead-ball foul to create a double or multiple foul. True 10-2-6
Periods:
77.
A period may be shortened in any emergency by
agreement of the opposing coaches and the referee. True 3-1-3
78.
Between the first and second and between the
third and fourth periods, the teams may or may not change goals. False 3-2-4
79.
The clock running time for a game shall be 60
minutes for high schools with periods and intermission. False 3-1-1
80.
If
time for any period expires during a down (clock indicated 0:00), a
signal shall be sounded even though the ball is live. False 3-3-2
If B1 intercepts a forward pass in B's end zone
and begins to return, but is tackled in the end zone, it is a
touchback. True 8-5-3d
83.
If B1 intercepts A's forward pass in B's end
zone, it is a safety if he is tackled there. False 8-5-3d
84.
A
safety will be scored when an offensive player commits any foul for
which the penalty is accepted and enforcement is from a spot in his end
zone. True 8-5-2c
Time-outs:
85.
Regular time-out privilages are permitted during
a television/radio time-out. True 3-5-7l
86.
The clock shall be stopped when an illegal
forward pass is incomplete. True 3-4-4f
87.
Any team time-out not used during the first half
can be saved and used during the second half. False 3-5-1
88.
Only four time-outs may be charged to a team
during each half of a regulation of a game. False 3-5-1
Timing:
89.
When the ball becomes dead following a fourth
down, the clock must be stopped. True
3-5-9
90.
The clock will start with the snap on a scrimmage
down following a fair catch. True
3-4-3b, c
91.
There is a two-minute intermission following a
try, successful field goal or safety and prior to a free kick. False 3-5-7m
92.
On a free kick to start a period, the clock will
start when the ball is touched other than first touching by K. True 3-4-1a
Touchback:
93.
It is a touchback if A1's fumble on B's 5-yard
line is recovered by B1 in B's end zone. True
8-5-3c
94.
If
K's blocked punt strikes the ground and is then forced into K's end
zone by R2 and recovered there by R3, it is a touchback. False 2-13-2; 8-2-1b; Fund I-8
95.
It
is a touchback if A1 fumbles on B's 5-yard line and B1's muff forcec
the loose ball into B's end zone and out of bounds beyond the end
line. False 8-5-2b
96.
It
is a touchback when a grounded three-point field-goal attempt breaks
the plane of R's goal line unless R chooses spot of first touching by
K. True 6-3-1a; 8-5-3a1
Touchdowns:
97.
It is impossible for A1 to fumble in B's end zone
as the ball is already dead because of the touchdown. True 4-2-2h; 8-2-1a
98.
It is a touchdown for A when a ball in A1's
posession breaks the plane of B's goal line. True 8-2-1a
99.
It
is a touchdown for A if A1 fumbles into B's end zone and A2 is the last
to touch the ball prior to its going out of bounds beyond the end
line. False 8-5-3c
