NFHS - Penalties & Yardage
What is the penalty and yardage for an offensive player committing holding in the backfield?
Answer: 10 yards from the spot of the foul.
How many players must be on the line of scrimmage at the snap?
Answer: Seven players
After a penalty that does not include an automatic clock stop, when does the game clock restart?
Answer: On the referee’s signal, if it was running before the penalty.
When a foul is called, which official is responsible for reporting the foul to the referee?
The official who threw the flag reports the foul to the referee.
In NCAA rules, when is a player considered down if they fall to the ground without being contacted by an opponent?
A player is considered down as soon as any body part other than the hand or foot touches the ground, regardless of contact by an opponent.
When a player grabs and twists another player’s facemask, what is the yardage and the type of foul?
Answer: 15 yards; it is a personal foul.
Can an offensive player with an ineligible number (50-79) legally be in the backfield at the snap?
No, an offensive player with an ineligible number (50-79) cannot be legally positioned in the backfield at the snap. Ineligible numbered players must be positioned on the line of scrimmage and between the end players to be considered eligible under NFHS rules.
If the game clock is stopped for an incomplete pass, at what point does it restart?
Answer: On the snap of the next play.
During a goal-line play, where should the line judge position themselves?
The line judge should position themselves on the goal line to rule on the ball crossing the plane.
According to NCAA rules, what is the penalty if an offensive lineman is more than three yards downfield during a forward pass play?
The penalty is an ineligible receiver downfield, resulting in a five-yard penalty from the previous spot.
How many yards is assessed for unsportsmanlike conduct, and does it include an automatic first down?
Answer: 15 yards, no automatic first down.
In a legal formation, can an offensive lineman wear an eligible receiver's number (1-49 or 80-99) and still be considered ineligible?
Yes, an offensive lineman wearing an eligible receiver's number can still be considered ineligible if they are positioned on the line of scrimmage between the ends and do not meet the requirements for an eligible receiver.
How long does a team have to snap the ball after the ready-for-play signal?
Answer: 25 seconds, unless it’s following a delay where it’s reset to 40 seconds.
In a five-official crew, which officials are primarily responsible for counting the offensive players?
Answer: Head Referee & Umpire
Under NCAA rules, when is a 10-second runoff applied to the game clock as part of the penalty for certain fouls?
A 10-second runoff is applied to the game clock for fouls that stop the clock with less than two minutes remaining in either half, including fouls such as false start, encroachment, defensive offside by contact in the neutral zone, intentional grounding to stop the clock, and certain other fouls committed with the intent of stopping the clock.
What is the penalty if a defensive player makes early contact with an eligible receiver without attempting to play the ball?
Answer: 15 yards for defensive pass interference.
Can a player in a scrimmage kick formation line up more than seven yards behind the line of scrimmage?
Yes, there is no rule in NFHS specifying a maximum distance for a player lining up in a scrimmage kick formation, though typically the punter aligns about 10-15 yards behind the line.
What happens to the clock if the offensive team commits a foul that results in a loss of down?
Answer: The game clock starts on the snap if it was stopped to administer the penalty.
In a 5-official crew during a punt play, where should the back judge position themselves, and what are their primary responsibilities?
The back judge should position themselves 10 to 12 yards behind the deepest receiver on the return team, near one sideline to have a wide view of the play. Their primary responsibilities include observing the catch, ensuring fair catch signals are followed, watching for interference with the opportunity to catch the kick, and identifying any blocks or fouls committed by the receiving team downfield. The back judge should also be ready to assist with spotting the ball if the punt is downed or rolls out of bounds.
Under NCAA rules, what is the consequence for targeting and making forcible contact with the crown of the helmet?
Targeting with the crown of the helmet results in a 15-yard penalty and the disqualification of the offending player. The play is subject to review, and if confirmed, the player must leave the game.
How is the penalty enforced when a player on the offense commits intentional grounding from his own end zone?
Answer: Safety; no yardage is enforced, but it results in two points for the defense.
In a scrimmage kick formation, are all offensive players required to be set for one second before the snap?
Yes, all offensive players must be motionless and set for at least one second before the snap, or it results in an illegal shift penalty.
When a runner goes out of bounds with less than 2 minutes left in either half, when does the game clock restart?
Answer: On the snap of the next play.
In a 5-official crew during a field goal attempt, where should each official position themselves on the field?
The head linesman and back judge should position themselves under the goal posts to judge the success of the kick. The referee should be positioned behind and to the side of the kicker to observe any potential fouls on the kicker. The umpire should remain in their normal scrimmage play position, focusing on any roughing or fouls against the center. The line judge should be positioned on the line of scrimmage to monitor line play and watch for early movement or other infractions.
In NCAA overtime, where does each team start its offensive possession, and what changes in the third overtime period?
In NCAA overtime, each team begins its possession at the opponent's 25-yard line. Starting in the third overtime, teams run alternating two-point conversion plays instead of full possessions.