| Rules Changes or Emphasis for 2006 |
| 1. |
Spearing involves an attempt to punish an opponent by contacting the player with the helmet.
True |
| 2. |
A player in punt formation becomes a kicker as soon as he catches or recovers the snap from center.
False |
| 3. |
It Is Illegal substitution if a replaced player unsuccessfully attempts to leave the field prior to the snap, whether or not the player participates in or affects the play.
False |
| 4. |
The runner cannot commit a spearing foul.
False |
| 5. |
If substitute B12 enters the field during a down but does not participate or influence the play, it is a nonplayer foul.
True |
| 6. |
After the ball is ready-for-play, each Team A player must momentarily be within the 9-yard marks before the snap.
True |
| 7. |
Phones and headsets may be used by coaches, other nonplayers and players, but only during authorized sideline conferences.
True |
| 8. |
A mouth guard must be worn and must be of any readily, visible color other than completely white or clear.
True |
| Authorized Conferences |
| 9. |
Holding an unauthorized conference is considered unsportsmanlike conduct and carries a 15-yard penalty.
True |
| 10. |
There is no limit to the number of coaches who may take part in a conference on the field at the team huddle between the inbound marks.
False |
| 11. |
Any coach may request a time-out.
False |
| 12. |
When a head coach chooses to coach from a box, the assigned field coach may request a time-out.
False |
| Batting |
| 13. |
A player of the team In possession may bat a ball in player possession forward.
False |
| 14. |
It is legal for R to bat K's scrimmage kick in an effort to block it in or behind the neutral zone.
True |
| 15. |
Batting is an intentional act.
True |
| 16. |
Any pass in flight may be batted in any direction by an eligible receiver unless it is a backward pass batted forward by the passing team.
True |
| Blocking |
| 17. |
The kicker or place-kick holder may be blocked as soon as the kick has touched the ground or any other player.
True |
| 18. |
A chop block is a delayed block of an opponent at the knees or below while the opponent is in contact with a teammate of the blocker in the free-blocking zone.
True |
| 19. |
During a free kick, the kicker may not be blocked until after the kicker has advanced seven yards beyond the free-kick line.
False |
| 20. |
A receiver who has given a fair-catch signal shall not block until the kick has ended.
True |
| Dead Ball |
| 21. |
A foul automatically causes the ball to become dead.
False |
| 22. |
When a backward pass strikes the ground the ball becomes dead.
False |
| 23. |
The dead-ball spot is the spot under the foremost point of the ball when it becomes dead by rule.
True |
| 24. |
Encroachment Is a dead-ball foul.
True |
| Definitions |
| 25. |
Dead ball is a term used to indicate a ball not in play during the interval between downs.
True |
| 26. |
The expanded neutral zone may extend partially or completely into the end zone.
False |
| 27. |
A loose ball is out of bounds if it touches anything, including a player or game official, who is out of bounds.
True |
| 28. |
A substitute becomes a player upon entering the huddle or when positioned In a formation.
True |
| Downs-New Series |
| 29. |
The down Is ended when a live ball goes out of bounds.
True |
| 30. |
It is a new series for R at the spot of first touching by K on a free kick if the spot of first touching is chosen.
True |
| 31. |
The line-to-gain is the yard line established when a new series (first down) occurs.
True |
| 32. |
The down does not end when an illegal forward pass is simultaneously caught by opponents.
False |
| Equipment: Game-Field |
| 33. |
If the field is wet, the referee may allow use of a mat or towel on the ground to improve the kicker's footing on a place-kick.
False |
| 34. |
Relative to ball choice, when there has been no change of possession, the try is not considered to be part of the previous series in which the touchdown was scored.
False |
| 35. |
An unofficial auxiliary down indicator is required.
False |
| 36. |
It is recommended that goal lines be marked in a color that contrasts with other field markings.
True |
| Equipment: Player |
| 37. |
A tinted eye shield is illegal.
True |
| 38. |
The foul for not properly wearing the required equipment during a down carries a penalty of 15 yards.
False |
| 39. |
The pants must cover the knee pads.
True |
| 40. |
If observed, an entering substitute with a number identical to a teammate who is on the field should not be permitted to enter the game.
True |
| 41. |
Failure to properly wear required equipment during a down is a foul that carries a 5-yard penalty.
True |
| 42. |
If the helmet of the tackler comes off in making contact with the runner, the ball becomes dead immediately.
False |
| 43. |
Jerseys may not be altered to produce a knot-like protrusion or a tear-away type jersey.
True |
| 44. |
Players are not permitted to wear jewelry, even if the jewelry poses no danger to opponents and is made of soft material.
True |
| Force |
| 45. |
A new force can be given to a fumble after it has touched the ground.
True |
| 46. |
A new force can be added to a kick in flight.
False |
| Fouls |
| 47. |
Pass interference cannot occur when the pass is clearly thrown away from the spot of the potential foul.
True |
| 48. |
Butt blocking Is a personal contact foul.
True |
| 49. |
A disqualified player shall be removed even if the penalty for the foul is declined.
True |
| 50. |
Illegal motion, illegal shifts and false starts are all fouls simultaneous with the snap.
False |
| 51. |
When a team commits two or more live-ball fouls, including unsportsmanlike fouls, it is a multiple foul.
False |
| 52. |
Generally, if each team commits a live-ball foul (other than unsportsmanlike) during the down, it is a double foul.
True |
| 53. |
If B1 intercepts and is downed; and then A1 and A2 both pile on, it is a multiple foul.
False |
| 54. |
Any foul that occurs after an inadvertent whistle is a dead-ball foul.
True |
| 55. |
It is legal for an opponent to throw himself against the back of the runner's legs.
True |
| 56. |
It Is an unsportsmanlike foul if any player attempts to focus attention upon himself with any delayed, excessive or prolonged act.
True |
| Fundamentals - Fundamental Statements |
| 57. |
A kick ends as soon as any player secures possession.
True |
| 58. |
A player cannot fumble before gaining possession.
True |
| 59. |
A handed ball beyond the neutral tone is considered to be a pass.
False |
| 60. |
No live-ball foul causes the ball to become dead.
True |
| Illegal Participation |
| 61. |
The re-entry of a disqualified player is an illegal participation foul.
True |
| 62. |
It is Illegal participation if a team member, who is entering to fill a player vacancy, is on the opponent's side of the neutral zone at the snap and touches the ball.
True |
| Illegal Position |
| 63. |
When the numbering exception is in effect and a pass is thrown from a scrimmage-kick formation, it is an illegal forward pass.
False |
| 64. |
Illegal motion is a foul at the snap.
True |
| 65. |
A Team A player is a back if the player's head or foot does not break the plane of an imaginary line drawn parallel to the line of scrimmage through the waistline of the nearest teammate who is on the line.
True |
| 66. |
If at the snap, A does not have at least five players on the line numbered 50-79, it is illegal numbering, unless A sets or shifts into a scrimmage kick formation.
True |
| Passing |
| 67. |
Team A is limited to one legal forward pass per down.
True |
| 68. |
One of the requirements for an offensive player being on his line of scrimmage is that he must face B's goal line.
True |
| 69. |
Prior to the change of possession, any player of Team A may throw a legal forward pass, provided both feet of the passer are in or behind the neutral zone when the ball is released.
True |
| 70. |
After the pass is thrown, provided the passer is standing still or fading back, defensive players shall make an effort to avoid charging into him.
True |
| 71. |
A forward underhand pitch, behind the neutral zone from A1 to A2, is an incomplete pass if not caught.
True |
| 72. |
A pass thrown forward after change of possession during the down is an illegal forward pass.
True |
| Penalty Enforcement |
| 73. |
A period shall not be extended when a foul occurs that specifies a loss of down.
True |
| 74. |
Only fouls by B are enforced from the spot of the foul.
False |
| 75. |
If both teams foul during a change of possession down and the team in final possession did not foul prior to gaining possession, it may keep the ball provided it declines the penalty for the opponent's foul.
True |
| 76. |
If a foul occurs during a loose ball play, the basic spot is the spot of the foul.
False |
| 77. |
If R1 gives an invalid fair-catch signal and R2 catches the scrimmage kick, R may retain possession if the penalty is accepted.
True |
| 78. |
A coach who has been ejected may not have further direct or indirect contact with his team during the remainder of the game.
True |
| Possession |
| 79. |
A catch Is the act of establishing player possession of a live ball in flight.
True |
| 80. |
A catch of an opponent's pass or fumble is an interception.
True |
| Safety |
| 81. |
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 |
| 82. |
On kicks entering R's end zone, the determination of force dictates whether it is a touchback or a safety.
False |
| 83. |
It is a touchback if A1's fumble on B's 5-yard line is recovered by B1 in B's end zone.
True |
| 84. |
It is a safety if A1's backward pass enters the end zone and touches the ground out of bounds behind A's goal line.
True |
| Scrimmage Kicks |
| 85. |
The neutral zone may not be expanded into the end zone during a scrimmage kick.
True |
| 86. |
All roughing-the-kicker fouls are penalized from the spot of the foul.
False |
| 87. |
R may recover any scrimmage kick anywhere between the goal lines and advance the ball.
True |
| 88. |
Post-scrimmage kick enforcement procedure applies to all kicking situations.
False |
| Snap |
| 89. |
After a snap, the ball remains live until the down ends.
True |
| 90. |
The snap begins when the snapper moves the ball by tilting it on end during adjustment.
False |
| 91. |
It Is an illegal snap if the ball does not leave the hand(s) of the snapper.
True |
| 92. |
If snapper A1 removes both hands from the ball following the ready-for-play and B1 dives on the ball, it is an illegal snap by A1 and encroachment by B1.
False |
| Time-outs |
| 93. |
Unless the clock is already stopped, an official's time-out shall be taken as soon as the ball becomes dead following a change of team possession.
True |
| 94. |
Successive charged time-outs may be granted during the same dead-ball period.
True |
| 95. |
A conference may not be held during a television time-out.
False |
| 96. |
An official's time-out may follow a charged time-out if it is for the continuance of a coach-referee conference.
True |
| Timing |
| 97. |
The referee may correct an obvious timing error after a period has officially ended, if discovery is prior to the second live ball following the error.
False |
| 98. |
After the ball becomes dead and it appears that the ball has reached the line-to-gain, the covering official shall stop the clock.
True |
| 99. |
The clock will start with the snap on a scrimmage down following a fair catch.
True |
| 100. |
The clock does not start during a free kick at the time of first touching by K.
True |