Click "Next" below to begin the LHSAA Practice Test 2014 1. With the game clock running, A2 does not have his chinstrap snapped as the ball is about to become ‘live’. RULING: ‘Delay of game’. If the 5-yard penalty is accepted, the clock will start on the snap, unless the Referee invokes Rule 3-4-6. True False 2. After the officials charge themselves with a time-out because of an injured player, that player must remain out of the game for at least 1 down unless a halftime or overtime intermission occurs and even if his team takes a ‘charged timeout’. True False 3. All ‘backward’ passes and ‘backward’ handoffs are legal. True False 4. 2nd and 10 at A’s 5-yard line. A12 takes the snap and fades back 5 yards deep in A’s end zone. A12 throws a pass which is caught by A31 who is 3 yards deep in A’s end zone. From there, A31 throws a pass to A44 at A’s 20-yard line. A44 muffs the pass and B29 intercepts and returns for an apparent touchdown. RULING: B’s choice of a safety or a touchdown. True False 5. An airborne player who possesses a forward pass must land inbounds to establish a catch. The only exception would be if the airborne player is carried out of bounds by an opponent. Merely pushing, shoving or the momentary grasping of the airborne player by an opponent remains good play and would not cause a catch by the airborne player who lands out of bounds. True False 6. In attempting to tackle quarterback A12, B70 ‘grabs and pulls’ A12’s face mask just after the ball is released. RULING: An ‘illegal personal contact foul’ has occurred and will be ruled ‘roughing the passer’. B will be penalized 15 yards and A will be awarded a first down. True False 7. A defensive player is considered to be ‘on his ‘line of scrimmage’ when he is within 1 yard of his scrimmage line ‘at the snap’. True False 8. K’s ball, 4th and 12 on R’s 45-yard line. K9’s punt is rolling on R’s 16-yard line when an ‘inadvertent whistle’ sounds. R76 blocks K84 ‘in the back’ on R’s 22-yard line during the down and prior to the ‘inadvertent whistle’. RULING: ‘New series’ for R at R’s 8-yard line. True False 9. After a touchdown, the Try is one instance when the Referee should momentarily delay the ‘ready-for-play signal’ to allow the teams to make substitutions and decisions concerning their options. True False 10. The only fouls by A which include a ‘loss-of-down penalty’ are illegally handing the ball forward, illegal forward pass and illegal touching of a forward pass by an ineligible. True False 11. 3rd and 20 at A’s 10-yard line. A12 takes the snap and throws a ‘legal’ forward pass to A33 near the left sideline. After the pass is incomplete, B29 makes ‘helmet-to-helmet contact’ with A44. The covering official judges the foul to be ‘flagrant’. RULING: 1st and 10 for A at A’s 25-yard line because of the ‘targeting’ foul. B29 will be disqualified. True False 12. ‘Ineligible’ receivers are restricted from going downfield during a ‘legal’ forward pass until the untouched ‘legal’ forward pass crosses the ‘expanded neutral zone’. True False 13. R1 ‘muffs’ K's ‘kickoff’ at R's 3-yard line. R1 then ‘bats’ the bouncing ‘kick’ at R’s 2-yard line into R's end zone where K2 recovers. RULING: If K chooses to accept the penalty for R’s foul, K will re-kick from R’s 45-yard line since declining the penalty results in a touchback. No touchdown is possible. True False 14. K1’s kick-off is short and high and travels 20 yards. There are no R players anywhere near the descending ball which is caught by K2. RULING: ‘Kick-catching interference’ by K. R may choose to snap or free kick 15 yards from the ‘spot of the foul’. True False 15. Erroneously, the chains are set before enforcement of a ‘dead-ball foul’ instead of after. Up to what point can this be corrected? RULING: Once the ball is legally snapped, it is too late. True False 16. R1 is in the game to return a kickoff. He ‘muffs’ the kick at R’s 15-yard line. R1 then ‘bats’ the ‘bouncing’ ball at R's 8-yard line into and out of R's end zone. RULING: Safety. True False 17. Prior to the ‘ready-for-play signal’ as the teams line up for a kick-off late in a close game, the officials notice that all but 1 K player are bunched together to the left of the potential kicker. RULING: The officials should use ‘preventive officiating’ and advise K players to adjust to ‘legal’ positions and not allow the kick-off to proceed until then. True False 18. When the "clean-hands rule" applies, the captain of the team in possession at the end of the down shall be consulted by the Referee to give his choice of options. True False 19. A2's fumble is possessed by prone B3 near a sideline. B3 is lying across the sideline but B3 had recovered the ball while the ball was 3 feet inside the ‘field of play’. RULING: The ball belongs to Team A True False 20. 4th and goal at B’s 8-yard line. B commits pass interference. The pass is incomplete. RULING: 1st and goal for A at B’s 4-yard line. True False 21. When a team commits 2 or more ‘live-ball’ fouls, including ‘unsportsmanlike’ fouls, it is a ‘multiple foul’. True False 22. A55 snaps the ball to quarterback A12. The ball touches A12’s hands but A55 simply holds the ball as A12 fakes having it. Running back A34 cuts in, grabs the ball from A55 and advances. RULING: Legal play as long as an interior offensive lineman is not the player who gets the ball. True False 23. On a Try from B’s 3-yard line, Team A completes a pass to B’s end zone but commits ‘offensive pass interference’. RULING: Replay the Try from B’s 18-yard line. True False 24. Team A plays 1st and 10 at B’s 33-yard line. Quarterback A19 is at B’s 30-yard line when he throws a ‘forward pass’. Eligible A85 is at the 10-yard line when B25 ‘pushes’ A85, preventing him from attempting to catch the pass. RULING: Legal play by B25. A19’s pass was ‘illegal’ so ‘pass interference’ is not possible. A will play 2nd down and 12 at the 35-yard line. True False 25. The ‘free-blocking zone’ is an area 3 yards behind each ‘line of scrimmage’ and 4 yards laterally on either side of the spot of the snap. True False 26. Team K is in field-goal formation with 12 seconds remaining in the half and the clock running. K ‘false starts’. After the penalty administration, the Referee starts the clock and time expires prior to any snap. RULING: The period is ended. Team K has lost the field-goal opportunity. True False 27. With only seconds remaining in the game and the clock running, Team A is trailing by 2 points and wants to ‘spike’ the ball to stop the clock. Quarterback A12 ‘muffs’ the hand-to-hand snap which rolls up his arm. He gains control of the ball, then throws it immediately to the ground in front of him. RULING: Flag A12 for ‘illegal forward pass’ and penalize A 5 yards from the ‘spot of the foul’ & loss of down. Since this was an illegal attempt to conserve time, the Referee should invoke 3-4-6 and start the clock on the ‘ready-for-play signal. True False 28. Runner A1 is advancing up the center of field when he is legally hit by B1 and B2 at which point his helmet comes off. Immediately after this he loses possession of the ball which is recovered by B3. RULING: Team B’s ball, 1st & 10. True False 29. 2nd and 5 at the 50-yard line. ‘Roughing the passer’ is called on B61. During the play, A12's pass was complete to A23 who advanced to B's 10-yard line where A23 ‘fumbled’ the ball. The ball then rolled out of bounds at B's 8-yard line. RULING: If accepted, Team A would play 1st & goal at B’s 4-yard line. True False 30. Receiver A85 leaps airborne to control a pass near the sideline. B17 hits A85 from behind so that his first contact with the ground is out of bounds. RULING: Incomplete pass – clock starts on the snap. True False 31. Only if B55 is in the ‘free-blocking zone’ and within 1 yard of the ‘neutral zone’ at the snap, may B55 possibly block ‘below the waist’ or be blocked ‘below the waist’ legally. True False 32. Team K kicks off from their 40-yard line. The high kick is ‘muffed’ in flight by K2 at K’s 46-yard line and recovered by K3 at R’s 40-yardline. RULING: Available options include Team R choosing to have Team K penalized 15 yards from the previous spot and a re-kick or they may choose to have the 15-yard penalty assessed from the spot of the foul and snap or free kick at K’s 31-yard line. True False 33. Once a player throws a ‘legal’ forward pass, he continues to be a ‘passer’ until he moves to participate in the play or until the pass is complete or incomplete. True False 34. A14’s pass is intercepted by B20 at his own 3-yard line. B20 voluntarily runs into his own end zone where he simulates going to one knee then puts on a burst of speed and advances to his 37-yard line. RULING: Legal play by B20. B will play 1st down and10 at their 37-yard line. True False 35. During a ‘scrimmage kick’ beyond the ‘expanded neutral zone’, R21 gives a ‘fair-catch signal’. He ‘muffs’ the kick into the air, where K43 tackles R21 following the ‘muff’, preventing R21 from catching the ‘kick’. RULING: It is a ‘holding’ foul for K43 to tackle R21 following the ‘muff’, thus preventing him from reaching the ball. True False 36. A25 is 3 yards deep in his own end zone when he receives a ‘backward pass’ from quarterback A15. B55 makes a ‘legal’ hit on A25 whose helmet flies off immediately. RULING: The play should be whistled ‘dead’ at that point B scores 2 points for the resulting ‘safety’. True False 37. 2nd and 10 for A at their 32-yard line. A10’s legal forward pass downfield strikes a dog inbounds at B’s 40-yard line where A35 catches the ball in flight and is subsequently downed inbounds. RULING: The ball is dead immediately and will be administered under the provisions of the ‘inadvertent-whistle rule’. A will replay the down from their 32-yard line. True False 38. Airborne receiver A85 grasps the ball inbounds at his own 38-yard line. Defender B44 grabs A85 and carries him out of bounds at A’s 40-yard line. RULING: The clock should continue to run since A85’s forward progress was stopped inbounds. True False 39. After 3rd down, the Referee should delay the ‘ready-for-play signal’ when 4th-down substitutes are entering or leaving the field to prepare for a punt or field-goal attempt. True False 40. A ‘muff’ is the touching or accidental kicking of a ‘loose ball’ by a player in an unsuccessful attempt to secure ‘possession’. True False 41. Nonplayers include coaches, team attendants, substitutes and replaced players who do not participate or hinder / influence the play. Fouls by nonplayers are penalized as ‘dead-ball fouls’ from the ‘succeeding spot’. True False 42. An otherwise successful kick Try scores no point in the 3RD or subsequent overtime periods of an LHSAA contest. True False 43. The line to gain is B's 20-yard line. Runner A2's knee hits the ground at B's 21-yard line while the ball in his possession is over B's 19½-yard line. RULING: 1st down for A. True False 44. A ‘post-scrimmage kick’ foul may involve fouls by either team on R’s side of the expanded neutral zone. True False 45. R1 gives a ‘valid’ fair-catch signal while K's punt is in flight. R1 catches the kick in a side zone at K’s 33-yard line. R's captain requests to put the ball in play by a ‘free kick’ in the center of the field following the ‘fair catch’ in order to attempt a field goal. RULING: Request granted. True False 46. When a 3rd-down ‘scrimmage kick’ is blocked by R and ‘recovered’ and downed by K1 ‘behind the neutral zone’, the clock should be stopped. True False 47. Tight end A84 is in the ‘neutral zone’ at the snap. The Line Judge drops his penalty flag and allows the play to go forward. B1 then intercepts A2’s pass and advances for a touchdown. RULING: ‘Dead ball’, no play, no score. . .penalize A 5 yards. True False 48. B1 intercepts. During B1's return, A2 grabs B1's face mask. B1 spins free and advances for a touchdown. RULING: Team B may elect to Try from A’s 1½-yard line or enforce the penalty on the kickoff. True False 49. A12 ‘fumbles’ at A's 3-yard line. The ball is ‘at rest or nearly at rest’ at A’s 1-yard line when B51 dives for it and ‘forces’ the ball into A's end zone by his ‘muff’. B51 attempts to recover it, but A30 falls on the ball in his own end zone. RULING: Since Team A had possession of the ball when it became ‘dead’ in their end zone, the result of the play is a safety - score 2 points for Team B. True False 50. The only times when a team will be allowed to have more than 4 captains present at the coin toss or team members lined up at the hash marks are ‘Homecoming’ and ‘Senior Night’. True False 51. Team A at B's 20-yard line. Quarterback A12 retreats to midfield where he is called for ‘intentional grounding’. A76 was also flagged by the Umpire at B's 22-yard line for ‘tripping’ an opponent. RULING: ‘Multiple’ fouls. B may choose 5 yards & ‘loss of down’ or B may choose 15 yards without ‘loss of down’, in either case to be enforced from midfield. True False 52. During an ‘onside’ kick from the 40-yard line, K1 and R1 initiate contact against each other in the neutral zone at approximately the same time prior to any touching of the ball. RULING: Game officials should rule that, when in doubt, R initiated the contact and , therefore, no foul occurred. True False 53. After a ‘new series’ is awarded, Team A gains nearly 10 yards on a first-down run. The Referee determines that it will be 2nd down and inches and that a measurement will not be needed considering the location of the line to gain. No measurement is requested. After the ‘ready-for-play signal’, as teams line up for 2nd down and inches, the snapper adjusts the ball and Team A requests, and is granted, a time-out. Team A then requests a measurement. RULING: The Referee should order officials to measure. True False 54. Guard A67’s helmet is pulled completely off during play as a result of B52’s pulling A67’s facemask. RULING: 15-yard penalty on B and A67 may play in the next down. True False 55. While running ‘parallel’ to his goal line at B’s 3-yard line, B29 intercepts a ‘legal’ forward pass and continues to run. B29 eventually ‘fumbles’ at B’s 3-yard line and the ball strikes a pylon. RULING: The ball is ‘dead’. Touchback - B’s ball at B’s 20-yard line. True False 56. On 4th down, in apparent punt formation, Team A lines up with tackle A88 in a three-point stance. End A89 is adjacent. Team A has 5 players numbered 50-79 on the line. Shortly prior to the snap, A89 shifts making A88 an ‘end’. Team A completes an ‘untouched’ pass to A88 beyond the ‘neutral zone’ for a first down. RULING: Legal play; 1st down for Team A. True False 57. If time for a period expires during a down which ends because of an ‘inadvertent whistle’, the period must be extended, regardless of any team choices taken. True False 58. Team A is ‘illegally in motion’ during a down in which B11 intercepts A’s ‘forward pass’. While B11 is returning the ball, B22 ‘clips’. B11 is tackled inbounds. RULING: Team B’s option. The down must either be replayed or B may keep possession by declining A’s penalty and having the penalty for its own enforced. True False 59. Runner A20 takes a handoff and advances for an apparent touchdown. During the run, A43 ‘held’ B29. RULING: After enforcement of the penalty, Team A retains possession and the clock will be started on the ‘ready-for-play’ signal. True False 60. Team B leads 14-8 with 00:12 remaining in the game. Runner A21 is downed inbounds by B36 who remains on top of A21, preventing him from getting up. RULING: Penalize Team B 5 yards for ‘delay of game’. The clock will start on the snap. True False Time's up
Click "Next" below to begin the LHSAA Practice Test 2014
With the game clock running, A2 does not have his chinstrap snapped as the ball is about to become ‘live’. RULING: ‘Delay of game’. If the 5-yard penalty is accepted, the clock will start on the snap, unless the Referee invokes Rule 3-4-6.
After the officials charge themselves with a time-out because of an injured player, that player must remain out of the game for at least 1 down unless a halftime or overtime intermission occurs and even if his team takes a ‘charged timeout’.
All ‘backward’ passes and ‘backward’ handoffs are legal.
2nd and 10 at A’s 5-yard line. A12 takes the snap and fades back 5 yards deep in A’s end zone. A12 throws a pass which is caught by A31 who is 3 yards deep in A’s end zone. From there, A31 throws a pass to A44 at A’s 20-yard line. A44 muffs the pass and B29 intercepts and returns for an apparent touchdown. RULING: B’s choice of a safety or a touchdown.
An airborne player who possesses a forward pass must land inbounds to establish a catch. The only exception would be if the airborne player is carried out of bounds by an opponent. Merely pushing, shoving or the momentary grasping of the airborne player by an opponent remains good play and would not cause a catch by the airborne player who lands out of bounds.
In attempting to tackle quarterback A12, B70 ‘grabs and pulls’ A12’s face mask just after the ball is released. RULING: An ‘illegal personal contact foul’ has occurred and will be ruled ‘roughing the passer’. B will be penalized 15 yards and A will be awarded a first down.
A defensive player is considered to be ‘on his ‘line of scrimmage’ when he is within 1 yard of his scrimmage line ‘at the snap’.
K’s ball, 4th and 12 on R’s 45-yard line. K9’s punt is rolling on R’s 16-yard line when an ‘inadvertent whistle’ sounds. R76 blocks K84 ‘in the back’ on R’s 22-yard line during the down and prior to the ‘inadvertent whistle’. RULING: ‘New series’ for R at R’s 8-yard line.
After a touchdown, the Try is one instance when the Referee should momentarily delay the ‘ready-for-play signal’ to allow the teams to make substitutions and decisions concerning their options.
The only fouls by A which include a ‘loss-of-down penalty’ are illegally handing the ball forward, illegal forward pass and illegal touching of a forward pass by an ineligible.
3rd and 20 at A’s 10-yard line. A12 takes the snap and throws a ‘legal’ forward pass to A33 near the left sideline. After the pass is incomplete, B29 makes ‘helmet-to-helmet contact’ with A44. The covering official judges the foul to be ‘flagrant’. RULING: 1st and 10 for A at A’s 25-yard line because of the ‘targeting’ foul. B29 will be disqualified.
‘Ineligible’ receivers are restricted from going downfield during a ‘legal’ forward pass until the untouched ‘legal’ forward pass crosses the ‘expanded neutral zone’.
R1 ‘muffs’ K's ‘kickoff’ at R's 3-yard line. R1 then ‘bats’ the bouncing ‘kick’ at R’s 2-yard line into R's end zone where K2 recovers. RULING: If K chooses to accept the penalty for R’s foul, K will re-kick from R’s 45-yard line since declining the penalty results in a touchback. No touchdown is possible.
K1’s kick-off is short and high and travels 20 yards. There are no R players anywhere near the descending ball which is caught by K2. RULING: ‘Kick-catching interference’ by K. R may choose to snap or free kick 15 yards from the ‘spot of the foul’.
Erroneously, the chains are set before enforcement of a ‘dead-ball foul’ instead of after. Up to what point can this be corrected? RULING: Once the ball is legally snapped, it is too late.
R1 is in the game to return a kickoff. He ‘muffs’ the kick at R’s 15-yard line. R1 then ‘bats’ the ‘bouncing’ ball at R's 8-yard line into and out of R's end zone. RULING: Safety.
Prior to the ‘ready-for-play signal’ as the teams line up for a kick-off late in a close game, the officials notice that all but 1 K player are bunched together to the left of the potential kicker. RULING: The officials should use ‘preventive officiating’ and advise K players to adjust to ‘legal’ positions and not allow the kick-off to proceed until then.
When the "clean-hands rule" applies, the captain of the team in possession at the end of the down shall be consulted by the Referee to give his choice of options.
A2's fumble is possessed by prone B3 near a sideline. B3 is lying across the sideline but B3 had recovered the ball while the ball was 3 feet inside the ‘field of play’. RULING: The ball belongs to Team A
4th and goal at B’s 8-yard line. B commits pass interference. The pass is incomplete. RULING: 1st and goal for A at B’s 4-yard line.
When a team commits 2 or more ‘live-ball’ fouls, including ‘unsportsmanlike’ fouls, it is a ‘multiple foul’.
A55 snaps the ball to quarterback A12. The ball touches A12’s hands but A55 simply holds the ball as A12 fakes having it. Running back A34 cuts in, grabs the ball from A55 and advances. RULING: Legal play as long as an interior offensive lineman is not the player who gets the ball.
On a Try from B’s 3-yard line, Team A completes a pass to B’s end zone but commits ‘offensive pass interference’. RULING: Replay the Try from B’s 18-yard line.
Team A plays 1st and 10 at B’s 33-yard line. Quarterback A19 is at B’s 30-yard line when he throws a ‘forward pass’. Eligible A85 is at the 10-yard line when B25 ‘pushes’ A85, preventing him from attempting to catch the pass. RULING: Legal play by B25. A19’s pass was ‘illegal’ so ‘pass interference’ is not possible. A will play 2nd down and 12 at the 35-yard line.
The ‘free-blocking zone’ is an area 3 yards behind each ‘line of scrimmage’ and 4 yards laterally on either side of the spot of the snap.
Team K is in field-goal formation with 12 seconds remaining in the half and the clock running. K ‘false starts’. After the penalty administration, the Referee starts the clock and time expires prior to any snap. RULING: The period is ended. Team K has lost the field-goal opportunity.
With only seconds remaining in the game and the clock running, Team A is trailing by 2 points and wants to ‘spike’ the ball to stop the clock. Quarterback A12 ‘muffs’ the hand-to-hand snap which rolls up his arm. He gains control of the ball, then throws it immediately to the ground in front of him. RULING: Flag A12 for ‘illegal forward pass’ and penalize A 5 yards from the ‘spot of the foul’ & loss of down. Since this was an illegal attempt to conserve time, the Referee should invoke 3-4-6 and start the clock on the ‘ready-for-play signal.
Runner A1 is advancing up the center of field when he is legally hit by B1 and B2 at which point his helmet comes off. Immediately after this he loses possession of the ball which is recovered by B3. RULING: Team B’s ball, 1st & 10.
2nd and 5 at the 50-yard line. ‘Roughing the passer’ is called on B61. During the play, A12's pass was complete to A23 who advanced to B's 10-yard line where A23 ‘fumbled’ the ball. The ball then rolled out of bounds at B's 8-yard line. RULING: If accepted, Team A would play 1st & goal at B’s 4-yard line.
Receiver A85 leaps airborne to control a pass near the sideline. B17 hits A85 from behind so that his first contact with the ground is out of bounds. RULING: Incomplete pass – clock starts on the snap.
Only if B55 is in the ‘free-blocking zone’ and within 1 yard of the ‘neutral zone’ at the snap, may B55 possibly block ‘below the waist’ or be blocked ‘below the waist’ legally.
Team K kicks off from their 40-yard line. The high kick is ‘muffed’ in flight by K2 at K’s 46-yard line and recovered by K3 at R’s 40-yardline. RULING: Available options include Team R choosing to have Team K penalized 15 yards from the previous spot and a re-kick or they may choose to have the 15-yard penalty assessed from the spot of the foul and snap or free kick at K’s 31-yard line.
Once a player throws a ‘legal’ forward pass, he continues to be a ‘passer’ until he moves to participate in the play or until the pass is complete or incomplete.
A14’s pass is intercepted by B20 at his own 3-yard line. B20 voluntarily runs into his own end zone where he simulates going to one knee then puts on a burst of speed and advances to his 37-yard line. RULING: Legal play by B20. B will play 1st down and10 at their 37-yard line.
During a ‘scrimmage kick’ beyond the ‘expanded neutral zone’, R21 gives a ‘fair-catch signal’. He ‘muffs’ the kick into the air, where K43 tackles R21 following the ‘muff’, preventing R21 from catching the ‘kick’. RULING: It is a ‘holding’ foul for K43 to tackle R21 following the ‘muff’, thus preventing him from reaching the ball.
A25 is 3 yards deep in his own end zone when he receives a ‘backward pass’ from quarterback A15. B55 makes a ‘legal’ hit on A25 whose helmet flies off immediately. RULING: The play should be whistled ‘dead’ at that point B scores 2 points for the resulting ‘safety’.
2nd and 10 for A at their 32-yard line. A10’s legal forward pass downfield strikes a dog inbounds at B’s 40-yard line where A35 catches the ball in flight and is subsequently downed inbounds. RULING: The ball is dead immediately and will be administered under the provisions of the ‘inadvertent-whistle rule’. A will replay the down from their 32-yard line.
Airborne receiver A85 grasps the ball inbounds at his own 38-yard line. Defender B44 grabs A85 and carries him out of bounds at A’s 40-yard line. RULING: The clock should continue to run since A85’s forward progress was stopped inbounds.
After 3rd down, the Referee should delay the ‘ready-for-play signal’ when 4th-down substitutes are entering or leaving the field to prepare for a punt or field-goal attempt.
A ‘muff’ is the touching or accidental kicking of a ‘loose ball’ by a player in an unsuccessful attempt to secure ‘possession’.
Nonplayers include coaches, team attendants, substitutes and replaced players who do not participate or hinder / influence the play. Fouls by nonplayers are penalized as ‘dead-ball fouls’ from the ‘succeeding spot’.
An otherwise successful kick Try scores no point in the 3RD or subsequent overtime periods of an LHSAA contest.
The line to gain is B's 20-yard line. Runner A2's knee hits the ground at B's 21-yard line while the ball in his possession is over B's 19½-yard line. RULING: 1st down for A.
A ‘post-scrimmage kick’ foul may involve fouls by either team on R’s side of the expanded neutral zone.
R1 gives a ‘valid’ fair-catch signal while K's punt is in flight. R1 catches the kick in a side zone at K’s 33-yard line. R's captain requests to put the ball in play by a ‘free kick’ in the center of the field following the ‘fair catch’ in order to attempt a field goal. RULING: Request granted.
When a 3rd-down ‘scrimmage kick’ is blocked by R and ‘recovered’ and downed by K1 ‘behind the neutral zone’, the clock should be stopped.
Tight end A84 is in the ‘neutral zone’ at the snap. The Line Judge drops his penalty flag and allows the play to go forward. B1 then intercepts A2’s pass and advances for a touchdown. RULING: ‘Dead ball’, no play, no score. . .penalize A 5 yards.
B1 intercepts. During B1's return, A2 grabs B1's face mask. B1 spins free and advances for a touchdown. RULING: Team B may elect to Try from A’s 1½-yard line or enforce the penalty on the kickoff.
A12 ‘fumbles’ at A's 3-yard line. The ball is ‘at rest or nearly at rest’ at A’s 1-yard line when B51 dives for it and ‘forces’ the ball into A's end zone by his ‘muff’. B51 attempts to recover it, but A30 falls on the ball in his own end zone. RULING: Since Team A had possession of the ball when it became ‘dead’ in their end zone, the result of the play is a safety - score 2 points for Team B.
The only times when a team will be allowed to have more than 4 captains present at the coin toss or team members lined up at the hash marks are ‘Homecoming’ and ‘Senior Night’.
Team A at B's 20-yard line. Quarterback A12 retreats to midfield where he is called for ‘intentional grounding’. A76 was also flagged by the Umpire at B's 22-yard line for ‘tripping’ an opponent. RULING: ‘Multiple’ fouls. B may choose 5 yards & ‘loss of down’ or B may choose 15 yards without ‘loss of down’, in either case to be enforced from midfield.
During an ‘onside’ kick from the 40-yard line, K1 and R1 initiate contact against each other in the neutral zone at approximately the same time prior to any touching of the ball. RULING: Game officials should rule that, when in doubt, R initiated the contact and , therefore, no foul occurred.
After a ‘new series’ is awarded, Team A gains nearly 10 yards on a first-down run. The Referee determines that it will be 2nd down and inches and that a measurement will not be needed considering the location of the line to gain. No measurement is requested. After the ‘ready-for-play signal’, as teams line up for 2nd down and inches, the snapper adjusts the ball and Team A requests, and is granted, a time-out. Team A then requests a measurement. RULING: The Referee should order officials to measure.
Guard A67’s helmet is pulled completely off during play as a result of B52’s pulling A67’s facemask. RULING: 15-yard penalty on B and A67 may play in the next down.
While running ‘parallel’ to his goal line at B’s 3-yard line, B29 intercepts a ‘legal’ forward pass and continues to run. B29 eventually ‘fumbles’ at B’s 3-yard line and the ball strikes a pylon. RULING: The ball is ‘dead’. Touchback - B’s ball at B’s 20-yard line.
On 4th down, in apparent punt formation, Team A lines up with tackle A88 in a three-point stance. End A89 is adjacent. Team A has 5 players numbered 50-79 on the line. Shortly prior to the snap, A89 shifts making A88 an ‘end’. Team A completes an ‘untouched’ pass to A88 beyond the ‘neutral zone’ for a first down. RULING: Legal play; 1st down for Team A.
If time for a period expires during a down which ends because of an ‘inadvertent whistle’, the period must be extended, regardless of any team choices taken.
Team A is ‘illegally in motion’ during a down in which B11 intercepts A’s ‘forward pass’. While B11 is returning the ball, B22 ‘clips’. B11 is tackled inbounds. RULING: Team B’s option. The down must either be replayed or B may keep possession by declining A’s penalty and having the penalty for its own enforced.
Runner A20 takes a handoff and advances for an apparent touchdown. During the run, A43 ‘held’ B29. RULING: After enforcement of the penalty, Team A retains possession and the clock will be started on the ‘ready-for-play’ signal.
Team B leads 14-8 with 00:12 remaining in the game. Runner A21 is downed inbounds by B36 who remains on top of A21, preventing him from getting up. RULING: Penalize Team B 5 yards for ‘delay of game’. The clock will start on the snap.
Time's up