PIAA FOOTBALL REFEREE EXAM QUESTIONS ANSWERED CORRECTLY LATEST UPDATE 2026
How long is each quarter in NFHS football? - Answers 12 minutes (with state-specific modifications
allowed)
When does the clock start on a kickoff? - Answers When the ball is legally touched in the field of play.
What happens if time expires during a down where a defensive foul occurs? - Answers The offense
gets an untimed down.
How many players must be on the line of scrimmage at the snap? - Answers At least seven.
Can a player in motion move toward the line of scrimmage at the snap? - Answers No, they must be
moving parallel or backward.
Is blocking below the waist legal anywhere on the field? - Answers Only in the free-blocking zone at
the snap, and only when certain conditions are met.
What constitutes a chop block? - Answers A combination block where one player blocks low while
another engages high.
Can a kicking team player recover a kickoff that travels 10 yards and is untouched by the receiving
team? - Answers Yes, they can recover but not advance.
What is a fair catch signal? - Answers A valid signal is one hand above the head, waving side to side.
What is the penalty for defensive pass interference? - Answers 15 yards from the previous spot,
automatic first down.
How are live-ball and dead-ball fouls enforced? - Answers Live-ball fouls are enforced first; dead-ball
fouls are enforced in order of occurrence after the down.
Can the defense score on a try? - Answers No, in NFHS rules the ball becomes dead when the defense
gains possession on a try.
What happens on a simultaneous catch by offense and defense? - Answers The ball is awarded to the
offense.
What is required on a legal football? - Answers NFHS-approved stamp, leather or approved synthetic,
proper size and inflation.
Are tinted visors allowed? - Answers No, only clear visors attached to the helmet.
What penalty is assessed for illegal equipment? - Answers 5 yards and the player must leave for at
least one down.
Can players wear jewelry? - Answers No, except for religious/medical items properly secured.
When is a substitution considered complete? - Answers When the substitute enters the field and
communicates with a teammate or is within the huddle.
What is the penalty for illegal substitution? - Answers 5 yards.
Is it illegal for a replaced player to linger on the field to deceive the defense? - Answers Yes, that is
unsportsmanlike conduct (15 yards).
When does the ball become dead on a runner? - Answers When any part of their body other than a
hand or foot touches the ground.
What is the result of an inadvertent whistle? - Answers Replay the down or take the result of the play
where the whistle occurred.
Can a fumble be advanced by the offense on 4th down? - Answers Only by the player who fumbled.
Who gets the ball if a fumble goes out of bounds? - Answers The team last in possession retains the
ball at the spot where it went out.
What is required for a legal forward pass? - Answers Must be thrown from behind the line of
scrimmage and be the first forward pass of the down.
Can a lineman catch a pass? - Answers Only if they have reported as an eligible receiver and wear an
eligible number.
What’s the penalty for an ineligible downfield on a pass? - Answers 5 yards from the previous spot.
What is a muff? - Answers An unsuccessful attempt to catch or recover a ball that is loose.
What happens if a kick is touched by the receiving team beyond the neutral zone? - Answers The ball
is live and can be recovered by either team.
Is leaping over the line to block a field goal legal? - Answers No, it is a personal foul.
How is a personal foul enforced? - Answers 15 yards from the end of the run or previous spot.
What fouls carry automatic first down? - Answers Defensive pass interference, roughing the passer,
roughing the kicker/holder/snapper.
Can penalties be declined? - Answers Yes, except for disqualifications and some safety-related fouls.
What is the penalty for taunting? - Answers 15 yards, may include disqualification for flagrant acts.
How long is each quarter in NFHS football? - Answers 12 minutes (with state-specific modifications
allowed)
When does the clock start on a kickoff? - Answers When the ball is legally touched in the field of play.
What happens if time expires during a down where a defensive foul occurs? - Answers The offense
gets an untimed down.
How many players must be on the line of scrimmage at the snap? - Answers At least seven.
Can a player in motion move toward the line of scrimmage at the snap? - Answers No, they must be
moving parallel or backward.
Is blocking below the waist legal anywhere on the field? - Answers Only in the free-blocking zone at
the snap, and only when certain conditions are met.
What constitutes a chop block? - Answers A combination block where one player blocks low while
another engages high.
Can a kicking team player recover a kickoff that travels 10 yards and is untouched by the receiving
team? - Answers Yes, they can recover but not advance.
What is a fair catch signal? - Answers A valid signal is one hand above the head, waving side to side.
What is the penalty for defensive pass interference? - Answers 15 yards from the previous spot,
automatic first down.
How are live-ball and dead-ball fouls enforced? - Answers Live-ball fouls are enforced first; dead-ball
fouls are enforced in order of occurrence after the down.
Can the defense score on a try? - Answers No, in NFHS rules the ball becomes dead when the defense
gains possession on a try.
What happens on a simultaneous catch by offense and defense? - Answers The ball is awarded to the
offense.
What is required on a legal football? - Answers NFHS-approved stamp, leather or approved synthetic,
proper size and inflation.
Are tinted visors allowed? - Answers No, only clear visors attached to the helmet.
What penalty is assessed for illegal equipment? - Answers 5 yards and the player must leave for at
least one down.
Can players wear jewelry? - Answers No, except for religious/medical items properly secured.
When is a substitution considered complete? - Answers When the substitute enters the field and
communicates with a teammate or is within the huddle.
What is the penalty for illegal substitution? - Answers 5 yards.
Is it illegal for a replaced player to linger on the field to deceive the defense? - Answers Yes, that is
unsportsmanlike conduct (15 yards).
When does the ball become dead on a runner? - Answers When any part of their body other than a
hand or foot touches the ground.
What is the result of an inadvertent whistle? - Answers Replay the down or take the result of the play
where the whistle occurred.
Can a fumble be advanced by the offense on 4th down? - Answers Only by the player who fumbled.
Who gets the ball if a fumble goes out of bounds? - Answers The team last in possession retains the
ball at the spot where it went out.
What is required for a legal forward pass? - Answers Must be thrown from behind the line of
scrimmage and be the first forward pass of the down.
Can a lineman catch a pass? - Answers Only if they have reported as an eligible receiver and wear an
eligible number.
What’s the penalty for an ineligible downfield on a pass? - Answers 5 yards from the previous spot.
What is a muff? - Answers An unsuccessful attempt to catch or recover a ball that is loose.
What happens if a kick is touched by the receiving team beyond the neutral zone? - Answers The ball
is live and can be recovered by either team.
Is leaping over the line to block a field goal legal? - Answers No, it is a personal foul.
How is a personal foul enforced? - Answers 15 yards from the end of the run or previous spot.
What fouls carry automatic first down? - Answers Defensive pass interference, roughing the passer,
roughing the kicker/holder/snapper.
Can penalties be declined? - Answers Yes, except for disqualifications and some safety-related fouls.
What is the penalty for taunting? - Answers 15 yards, may include disqualification for flagrant acts.
