NFHS Football Exam
Loose ball is is a pass, fumble or a kick. The terms "pass," "fumble" and "kick" are sometimes
used as abbreviations when the ball is loose following the acts of passing,
fumbling or kicking the ball. A loose ball which has not yet touched the ground
is in flight. A grounded loose ball is one which has touched the ground. Any
loose ball continues to be a loose ball until a player secures possession of it or
until it becomes dead by rule, whichever comes first.
Batting is is intentionally slapping or striking the ball with the arm or hand.
Blocking obstructing an opponent by contacting him with any part of the blocker's body.
ART. 2 . . . In blocking, a player may contact opponents with the arms or hands
provided the technique is legal. The legal techniques are as follows: a. Closed
or cupped hand technique: 1. The elbows may be inside or outside the
shoulders. 2. The hands must be closed or cupped with the palms not facing
the opponent. 3. The forearms are extended no more than 45 degrees from the
body. b. Open hand technique. The hand(s) shall be: 1. In advance of the elbow.
2. Inside the frame of the blocker's body; the frame of the blocker's body is the
front of the body at or below the shoulders. 3. Inside the frame of the
opponent's body, except when the opponent turns his back to the blocker
during the block or after the blocker is committed to his charge. The frame of
the opponent's body is at the shoulders or below other than the back. 4. At or
below the shoulders of the blocker and the opponent, except when the
opponent squats, ducks or submarines during the block or after the blocker is
committed to his charge. 5. Open, when the palm(s) are facing the frame of the
opponent or when the forearms are extended beyond the 45 degree angle
from the body.
Blockers hands The blocker's hand(s) may not be locked nor may he swing, throw or flip the
elbow or forearm so that it is moving faster than the blocker's shoulders at the
time the elbow, forearm or shoulder contacts the opponent. The blocker may
not initiate contact with his arm or hand against an opponent above the
opponent's shoulder, but he may use his hand or arm to break a fall or maintain
his balance.
Offensive players blocking hands may also use his hands or arms: a. When he is a runner, to ward off or push any
player. b. During a kick, to ward off an opponent who is attempting to block
him. c. To push, pull or ward off an opponent when the ball is loose if he may
legally touch or possess the ball if such contact is not pass interference, a
personal foul or illegal use of hands.
Defensive blocking Use unlocked hands, hand or arm to ward off an opponent who is blocking him
or is attempting to block him. b. Push, pull or ward off an opponent in an actual
attempt to get at the runner or a loose ball if such contact is not pass
interference, a personal foul or illegal use of hands.
Blocking article 6 When a player on defense uses a hand or arm, the hand must be in advance of
the elbow at the time of the contact and at the shoulder or below unless the
opponent squats, ducks or submarines.
Blocking below the waist article 7 is making initial contact below the waist from the front or side against an
opponent other than a runner. Contact with an opponent's hand(s) below the
waist that continues into the body below the waist is considered blocking
below the waist. Blocking below the waist applies only when the opponent has
one or both feet on the ground.
, NFHS Football Exam
Chop block article 8 is a combination block by two or more teammates against an opponent other
than the runner, with or without delay, where one of the blocks is low (at the
knee or below) and one of the blocks is high (above the knee) ( Table 9-3-6 ).
Interlock block article 9 occurs when one player grasps or encircles a teammate just prior to or while
blocking an opponent.
Blindside block article 10 is a block against an opponent other than the runner, who does not see the
blocker approaching.
Section 4 article 1 Catch is the act of establishing player possession of a live ball which is in flight, and
first contacting the ground inbounds while maintaining possession of the ball
or having the forward progress of the player in possession stopped while the
opponent is carrying the player who is in possession and inbounds.
Catching article 2 and article 3 Catching is always preceded by touching the ball; thus, if touching causes the
ball to become dead, securing possession of the ball has no significance. ART.
3 . . . A simultaneous catch or recovery is a catch or recovery in which there is
joint possession of a live ball by opposing players who are inbounds.
Section 5 article 1 clipping / blocking a block against an opponent when the initial contact is from behind, at or
below the waist, and not against a player who is a runner or pretending to be a
runner.
section 5 article 2 blocking in the back is a block against an opponent when the initial contact is in the opponent's
back, inside the shoulders and below the helmet and above the waist, and not
against a player who is a runner or pretending to be a runner.
Section 7 article 1 loss of down and article 2 action which starts with a legal snap (beginning a scrimmage down) or when
the ball is kicked on a free kick (beginning a free-kick down). A down ends
when the ball next becomes dead.
ART. 2 . . . Loss of a down is the loss of the right to replay a down.
Section 8 Encroachment occurs when a player is illegally in the neutral zone during the time interval
starting when the ball is marked ready for play and until the ball is snapped or
free kicked as in 6-1-3a or 6-1-3b . For the purposes of enforcing encroachment
restrictions, an entering substitute is not considered to be a player until he is on
his team's side of the neutral zone. Encroachment also occurs when a player
violates the free kick restrictions as in 6-1-4 .
Loose ball is is a pass, fumble or a kick. The terms "pass," "fumble" and "kick" are sometimes
used as abbreviations when the ball is loose following the acts of passing,
fumbling or kicking the ball. A loose ball which has not yet touched the ground
is in flight. A grounded loose ball is one which has touched the ground. Any
loose ball continues to be a loose ball until a player secures possession of it or
until it becomes dead by rule, whichever comes first.
Batting is is intentionally slapping or striking the ball with the arm or hand.
Blocking obstructing an opponent by contacting him with any part of the blocker's body.
ART. 2 . . . In blocking, a player may contact opponents with the arms or hands
provided the technique is legal. The legal techniques are as follows: a. Closed
or cupped hand technique: 1. The elbows may be inside or outside the
shoulders. 2. The hands must be closed or cupped with the palms not facing
the opponent. 3. The forearms are extended no more than 45 degrees from the
body. b. Open hand technique. The hand(s) shall be: 1. In advance of the elbow.
2. Inside the frame of the blocker's body; the frame of the blocker's body is the
front of the body at or below the shoulders. 3. Inside the frame of the
opponent's body, except when the opponent turns his back to the blocker
during the block or after the blocker is committed to his charge. The frame of
the opponent's body is at the shoulders or below other than the back. 4. At or
below the shoulders of the blocker and the opponent, except when the
opponent squats, ducks or submarines during the block or after the blocker is
committed to his charge. 5. Open, when the palm(s) are facing the frame of the
opponent or when the forearms are extended beyond the 45 degree angle
from the body.
Blockers hands The blocker's hand(s) may not be locked nor may he swing, throw or flip the
elbow or forearm so that it is moving faster than the blocker's shoulders at the
time the elbow, forearm or shoulder contacts the opponent. The blocker may
not initiate contact with his arm or hand against an opponent above the
opponent's shoulder, but he may use his hand or arm to break a fall or maintain
his balance.
Offensive players blocking hands may also use his hands or arms: a. When he is a runner, to ward off or push any
player. b. During a kick, to ward off an opponent who is attempting to block
him. c. To push, pull or ward off an opponent when the ball is loose if he may
legally touch or possess the ball if such contact is not pass interference, a
personal foul or illegal use of hands.
Defensive blocking Use unlocked hands, hand or arm to ward off an opponent who is blocking him
or is attempting to block him. b. Push, pull or ward off an opponent in an actual
attempt to get at the runner or a loose ball if such contact is not pass
interference, a personal foul or illegal use of hands.
Blocking article 6 When a player on defense uses a hand or arm, the hand must be in advance of
the elbow at the time of the contact and at the shoulder or below unless the
opponent squats, ducks or submarines.
Blocking below the waist article 7 is making initial contact below the waist from the front or side against an
opponent other than a runner. Contact with an opponent's hand(s) below the
waist that continues into the body below the waist is considered blocking
below the waist. Blocking below the waist applies only when the opponent has
one or both feet on the ground.
, NFHS Football Exam
Chop block article 8 is a combination block by two or more teammates against an opponent other
than the runner, with or without delay, where one of the blocks is low (at the
knee or below) and one of the blocks is high (above the knee) ( Table 9-3-6 ).
Interlock block article 9 occurs when one player grasps or encircles a teammate just prior to or while
blocking an opponent.
Blindside block article 10 is a block against an opponent other than the runner, who does not see the
blocker approaching.
Section 4 article 1 Catch is the act of establishing player possession of a live ball which is in flight, and
first contacting the ground inbounds while maintaining possession of the ball
or having the forward progress of the player in possession stopped while the
opponent is carrying the player who is in possession and inbounds.
Catching article 2 and article 3 Catching is always preceded by touching the ball; thus, if touching causes the
ball to become dead, securing possession of the ball has no significance. ART.
3 . . . A simultaneous catch or recovery is a catch or recovery in which there is
joint possession of a live ball by opposing players who are inbounds.
Section 5 article 1 clipping / blocking a block against an opponent when the initial contact is from behind, at or
below the waist, and not against a player who is a runner or pretending to be a
runner.
section 5 article 2 blocking in the back is a block against an opponent when the initial contact is in the opponent's
back, inside the shoulders and below the helmet and above the waist, and not
against a player who is a runner or pretending to be a runner.
Section 7 article 1 loss of down and article 2 action which starts with a legal snap (beginning a scrimmage down) or when
the ball is kicked on a free kick (beginning a free-kick down). A down ends
when the ball next becomes dead.
ART. 2 . . . Loss of a down is the loss of the right to replay a down.
Section 8 Encroachment occurs when a player is illegally in the neutral zone during the time interval
starting when the ball is marked ready for play and until the ball is snapped or
free kicked as in 6-1-3a or 6-1-3b . For the purposes of enforcing encroachment
restrictions, an entering substitute is not considered to be a player until he is on
his team's side of the neutral zone. Encroachment also occurs when a player
violates the free kick restrictions as in 6-1-4 .
