FOOTBALL EXAM STUDY QUESTIONS
AND ALL CORRECT ANSWERS 100%
SOLVED AND GUARANTEED
SUCCESS!!
NFHS Football Rules Examination — Answers & Rationales
Part I: True / False Questions
1. Targeting is an act by any player who takes aim and initiates contact against an opponent
above the shoulders with the helmet, forearm, hand, fist, elbow or shoulders.
• Answer: True
• Rationale: Rule 2-20-2 / Rule 9-4-3m — Targeting specifically involves taking aim and
initiating illegal contact above the shoulders to an opponent using any part of the body
or helmet.
2. No defensive player shall commit any illegal personal contact foul listed in Rule 9-4-3
against the passer.
• Answer: True
• Rationale: Rule 9-4-4 — Passers receive special protection; defensive players are
prohibited from making illegal personal contact against a passer after it is obvious the
ball has been thrown.
3. The game officials shall assume authority for the contest, including penalizing
unsportsmanlike acts, 15 minutes prior to the scheduled game time — an earlier time if
required by the state association.
• Answer: False
• Rationale: Rule 1-1-7 — Officials assume authority 30 minutes prior to the scheduled
kickoff time (or earlier if dictated by state association rules), not 15 minutes.
4. Face tackling is an act by any player who initiates contact against an opponent at the
shoulders or below with the crown (top portion) of his helmet.
• Answer: False
, • Rationale: Rule 2-20-1c — Driving the crown (top portion) of the helmet into an
opponent is spearing. Face tackling is driving the face mask directly into an opponent.
5. The referee shall have the authority to correct the number of the next down prior to the
ball becoming live after a new series of downs is awarded.
• Answer: True
• Rationale: Rule 5-1-1b — The referee has authority to correct an error in the number of
the next down at any time before the ball becomes live again.
6. Illegal helmet contact may not be judged a flagrant act by the game official.
• Answer: False
• Rationale: Rule 9-4-3 Penalty — Any illegal helmet contact (butt blocking, face tackling,
spearing, targeting) can be judged flagrant by officials, resulting in immediate
disqualification.
7. No player or nonplayer shall make any other contact with an opponent, including a
defenseless player, which is deemed unnecessary or excessive and which incites roughness.
• Answer: True
• Rationale: Rule 9-4-3g — Excessively rough, unnecessary, or unsafe contact against any
opponent (especially defenseless players) is strictly prohibited.
8. The accidental touching of a loose ball by a player who was blocked into the ball is ignored
and does not constitute a new force.
• Answer: True
• Rationale: Rule 2-13-4 & Rule 6-1-6 — When a player is pushed/blocked into a loose ball
by an opponent, the contact is considered accidental and is not treated as touching or a
force applied by that player.
9. A defenseless player is a player who, because of his physical position and focus of
concentration, is especially vulnerable to injury.
• Answer: True
• Rationale: Rule 2-32-16 — Defines a defenseless player (e.g., a receiver attempting a
catch, a passer, a kicker during a kick, or a player on the ground).
10. When the ball is loose following an illegal kick, it does not retain the same status as prior
to the illegal kick.
AND ALL CORRECT ANSWERS 100%
SOLVED AND GUARANTEED
SUCCESS!!
NFHS Football Rules Examination — Answers & Rationales
Part I: True / False Questions
1. Targeting is an act by any player who takes aim and initiates contact against an opponent
above the shoulders with the helmet, forearm, hand, fist, elbow or shoulders.
• Answer: True
• Rationale: Rule 2-20-2 / Rule 9-4-3m — Targeting specifically involves taking aim and
initiating illegal contact above the shoulders to an opponent using any part of the body
or helmet.
2. No defensive player shall commit any illegal personal contact foul listed in Rule 9-4-3
against the passer.
• Answer: True
• Rationale: Rule 9-4-4 — Passers receive special protection; defensive players are
prohibited from making illegal personal contact against a passer after it is obvious the
ball has been thrown.
3. The game officials shall assume authority for the contest, including penalizing
unsportsmanlike acts, 15 minutes prior to the scheduled game time — an earlier time if
required by the state association.
• Answer: False
• Rationale: Rule 1-1-7 — Officials assume authority 30 minutes prior to the scheduled
kickoff time (or earlier if dictated by state association rules), not 15 minutes.
4. Face tackling is an act by any player who initiates contact against an opponent at the
shoulders or below with the crown (top portion) of his helmet.
• Answer: False
, • Rationale: Rule 2-20-1c — Driving the crown (top portion) of the helmet into an
opponent is spearing. Face tackling is driving the face mask directly into an opponent.
5. The referee shall have the authority to correct the number of the next down prior to the
ball becoming live after a new series of downs is awarded.
• Answer: True
• Rationale: Rule 5-1-1b — The referee has authority to correct an error in the number of
the next down at any time before the ball becomes live again.
6. Illegal helmet contact may not be judged a flagrant act by the game official.
• Answer: False
• Rationale: Rule 9-4-3 Penalty — Any illegal helmet contact (butt blocking, face tackling,
spearing, targeting) can be judged flagrant by officials, resulting in immediate
disqualification.
7. No player or nonplayer shall make any other contact with an opponent, including a
defenseless player, which is deemed unnecessary or excessive and which incites roughness.
• Answer: True
• Rationale: Rule 9-4-3g — Excessively rough, unnecessary, or unsafe contact against any
opponent (especially defenseless players) is strictly prohibited.
8. The accidental touching of a loose ball by a player who was blocked into the ball is ignored
and does not constitute a new force.
• Answer: True
• Rationale: Rule 2-13-4 & Rule 6-1-6 — When a player is pushed/blocked into a loose ball
by an opponent, the contact is considered accidental and is not treated as touching or a
force applied by that player.
9. A defenseless player is a player who, because of his physical position and focus of
concentration, is especially vulnerable to injury.
• Answer: True
• Rationale: Rule 2-32-16 — Defines a defenseless player (e.g., a receiver attempting a
catch, a passer, a kicker during a kick, or a player on the ground).
10. When the ball is loose following an illegal kick, it does not retain the same status as prior
to the illegal kick.
