Playing Rules
Can players play while wearing shorts with pockets that are turned inside out?
No
Which official blows the ready-for-play whistle each play?
Referee/head referee
In a Co-Rec game, when can a male runner legally advance the ball through the Team A scrimmage line?
If the ball was touched beyond the scrimmage line by any player first
A backward pass or fumble by Team A hits the ground in the field of play. What is the status of the ball?
It is dead immediately at the spot where it hits the ground
What is the standard initial position for the Referee (R) in a 3-person crew?
7 yards behind and 7 yards wide of the deepest offensive back
Can players jump to avoid a flag pull?
Yes, so long as they do not make contact with the defender.
Which hand should the line judge use when spotting the ball?
The down field hand (if the team is going left to right, use the right hand)
The current down is "closed." Male passer A-1 completes a legal forward pass to female receiver A-2. A-2 is deflagged for a 1-yard loss behind the scrimmage line. What is the status of the next down?
Closed; the play did not result in positive yardage
During a 2nd down play, the Referee inadvertently blows their whistle while a legal forward pass is in flight. What is the correct procedure?
The ball is returned to the previous spot and the down is replayed
Which official(s) are primarily responsible for counting the players on the defensive team?
Line judge and back judge
True or false: players can play while wearing a baseball hat
False (no hard billed hats; beanies are okay)
In a 3-person crew, which official is responsible for keeping time on the field?
Back judge
During a Co-Rec game, a legal forward pass is caught jointly by male player A-1 and female teammate A-2. What is the ruling and what is the status of the next play?
The catch is credited to the female; the next play is open
SCENARIO: 3rd and 16 from the Team A 4-yard line. Quarterback A-1 receives the snap and drops back into their own end zone to avoid a rusher. A-1 then scrambles forward toward the field of play. As A-1 is crossing the goal line, they are deflagged. At the moment the flag is pulled, the ball is held in A-1's outstretched hand and the foremost point of the ball is approximately one foot into the field of play, but A-1's feet and the rest of their body are still entirely behind the goal line in the end zone and only part of the ball is past the goal line. What is the ruling?
Safety; two points are awarded to Team B because the entire ball did not reach the field of play
In the final 2 minutes of each half, what is the specific communication responsibility of the Back Judge (BJ)?
To loudly verbalize the status of the game clock to both teams
How far back must the QB stand behind the center?
2 yards
Who is responsible for counting how many players are on the field?
ALL officials
If a male passer completes a legal forward pass to a male receiver on an "open" play, what must happen on the next play to make it "open" again?
A legal forward pass completion involving a woman passer or receiver for positive yardage
A-1 is running toward the opponent's goal line and fumbles the ball at the Team B 2-yard line. The ball hits the ground in Team B’s end zone. What is the result?
Touchback; Team B snaps at their own 14-yard line
On 3rd or 4th down, if the ball is snapped 10 yards or less from the zone line-to-gain, what is the Line Judge's (LJ) primary mechanic?
Hustle to the line-to-gain immediately after the snap and hold that position
How many players must be on the line of scrimmage for the offense?
1 (the center)
During a punt that goes out of bounds, who chops in the official whose sideline the ball went out from?
Referee/head referee
A play is "open," but a change of team possession occurs and is subsequently nullified by a penalty. The last run prior to the change of possession ended beyond the scrimmage line. What is the status of the next down?
Open
B-1 intercepts a pass at their own 4-yard line. Their original momentum carries them into their own end zone, where they are deflagged. What is the ruling?
Momentum Rule; Team B’s ball at the 4-yard line
SCENARIO: Team A is snapping the ball from their own 8-yard line (Reverse Goal Line). In 3-person mechanics, what are the specific positional adjustments and responsibilities for the Referee (R) and Line Judge (LJ)?
The R starts on the end line to rule on both the end line and goal line; the LJ hustles to the goal line immediately after the snap to rule on a potential safety.