NFHS Rules football Question and
Answers
What is the object of the game? - Ans One team to carry or pass the ball across the
opponents goal line or to kick the ball through the opponents goal by place kick or drop
kick. Game is won by team that accumulates the most points (1-1-1)
What are the dimensions of the playing field? - Ans 360 by 160 feet (1-1-2)
How many players are needed to start a game? - Ans 11 for each team
(however the team may continue with fewer) Forfeit if not enough players 1-0 is the
score, offended team wins. (1-1-3)
When must officials take authority for the contests? - Ans 30 minutes prior to the
scheduled game time. (or as soon as they are able to be present (1-1-7)
Who's decisions are final in all matters pertaining to the game? - Ans referee (1-1-6)
When does a game offiicials' authority end? - Ans Through the duration of the 4th
period and any overtimes, as well as up to completion of any reports. (states may
intercede as well) (1-1-8)
Can Officials use instant replay or other monitoring equipment? - Ans NO. (1-1-9)
Can a forfeit be declared by the Umpire? - Ans NO. Referee only, and it is final (1-1-
10)
Can a team protest NFHS rules? - Ans NO. They are not recognized (1-1-11)
Where can sideline markers be placed (soft pliable on the ground) ? - Ans No closer
than 5 yards to from the sidelines (1-2-2)
How often is a CONTINUOUS yard line marking be used on the field? - Ans Every 5
yards (however it will end 4 inches from the sideline, except the goal line and end line)
(1-2-3a and b)
How wide are Line markings, hash marks, sidelines and restraining lines (minimum)? -
Ans 4 inches (1-2-3a,b,c,d,e)
How long are hash marks? - Ans 24 inches (1-2-3e)
What are "9-yard" marks? - Ans The markings on the field 9 yards from the sideline. If
numbers are used as the 9 yard mark, the TOP of the number is measured to 9 yards
(1-2-3f)
,Where is the team box? - Ans Between the 25 yard lines on the teams sidelines,
BEHIND the 2 yard belt, however it may be 20-45 yard lines if both teams are using the
same sideline. (1-2-3g)
Can decorative markings be placed in the end-zone? - Ans yes, as long as they are no
closer than 2 feet from the boundary or goal lines (1-2-3h)
Is the goal line considered part of the field or the endzone? - Ans End-zone to that the
vertical plane of the edge of the line toward the field of play is the actual goal (1-2-3j)
What is the distance of the centered line, on each end of the field used typically for the
try, from the goal line? - Ans 3 yards. Also it is 4 inches wide and 24 inches long (1-2-
3k)
What are the dimensions of the pylon? - Ans 4 inch x 4 inch and 18 inches tall (1-2-4)
What color can the pylon be? - Ans Red, Orange or Yellow (ROY) 1-2-4
Pylons placed at the goal line when properly placed are - in or out of bounds? - Ans
OUT of bounds (1-2-4)
What is the distance from the base of the upright to the top vertical crossbar? - Ans 10
feet (1-2-5b)
What is the width of the Cross bar (and the width of the goal posts)? - Ans 23 feet 4
inches (1-2-5c,d
What is the MINIMUM height of the goal posts? - Ans 10 feet (1-2-5e)
The goal post must be covered in a padded resilient, shock absorbing material. What is
the height of the material on the post? - Ans 6 feet (1-2-5f)
Wind Directional streamers maybe placed on the goal posts. What colors can be used?
- Ans Red, Orange or yellow (ROY) (1-2-5g)
What color can the goal posts be painted? - Ans Silver, White or yellow (1-2-5g)
What color must a football be to be legal? - Ans Tan (1-3-1a)
How many laces on a legal football? - Ans 8 or 12 (1-3-1b)
What is the approved weight of a football? - Ans 14-15 ounces (1-3-1e)
What is the approved PSI of a Football? - Ans 12 1/2 to 13 1/2 PSI (1-3-1f)
, How many game balls must a team provide to the referee as the officials assume
authority of the contest? - Ans 1 minimum (1-3-2)
Who approves footballs for play in the game? - Ans referee only (1-3-3)
How tall may a legal kicking tee be? - Ans no more than 2 inches (1-3-4)
What is the length of the chain used for the line-to-gain equipment? - Ans 10 yards to
the inner edge of the forward rod (1-3-5)
Where should the official line-to-gain equipment be kept during play? (where should the
crew work?) - Ans On the visitor sideline, 2 yards from the sideline. (1-3-5b)
Who approves the clock operators? - Ans Referee. (1-3-6)
Which players can communicate with game officials during the contest? - Ans
Captains only. (1-4-1)
What are the legal numbers for football? - Ans 1-99 Inclusive (1-4-3)
What is the label all helmets must have to be legal? - Ans NOCSAE (1-5-1a)
How many fasteners must a legal helmet have for the chin strap? - Ans 4 (1-5-1a2)
What color jersey is the visiting team supposed to wear? - Ans White (1-5-2)
Which pad is NOT required to be worn?
Hip, Knee, Shoulder, Thigh, Tailbone or forearm - Ans Forearm is not required, all
others are required to be worn under the pants. (1-5-3d)
What color can the mouth protector NOT be? - Ans Completely white or clear (1-5-3d)
Do the pants have to cover the knees? - Ans YES! And the knee pad must cover the
knee as well (1-5-3e)
What colors are limited for gloves? - Ans Ball colored
What is the limit of the number of rounds of tape that can be used when securing an
injury without approval? - Ans 3 (1-5-2c exception)
Who is in charge of inspecting equipment before and during the game for approval? -
Ans Umpire (1-5-2)
Can knee Braces be worn OVER the pant? - Ans No. (1-5-3 b3)
What color can a towel be? - Ans Any solid color other than flag or ball colored (1-5-3)
Answers
What is the object of the game? - Ans One team to carry or pass the ball across the
opponents goal line or to kick the ball through the opponents goal by place kick or drop
kick. Game is won by team that accumulates the most points (1-1-1)
What are the dimensions of the playing field? - Ans 360 by 160 feet (1-1-2)
How many players are needed to start a game? - Ans 11 for each team
(however the team may continue with fewer) Forfeit if not enough players 1-0 is the
score, offended team wins. (1-1-3)
When must officials take authority for the contests? - Ans 30 minutes prior to the
scheduled game time. (or as soon as they are able to be present (1-1-7)
Who's decisions are final in all matters pertaining to the game? - Ans referee (1-1-6)
When does a game offiicials' authority end? - Ans Through the duration of the 4th
period and any overtimes, as well as up to completion of any reports. (states may
intercede as well) (1-1-8)
Can Officials use instant replay or other monitoring equipment? - Ans NO. (1-1-9)
Can a forfeit be declared by the Umpire? - Ans NO. Referee only, and it is final (1-1-
10)
Can a team protest NFHS rules? - Ans NO. They are not recognized (1-1-11)
Where can sideline markers be placed (soft pliable on the ground) ? - Ans No closer
than 5 yards to from the sidelines (1-2-2)
How often is a CONTINUOUS yard line marking be used on the field? - Ans Every 5
yards (however it will end 4 inches from the sideline, except the goal line and end line)
(1-2-3a and b)
How wide are Line markings, hash marks, sidelines and restraining lines (minimum)? -
Ans 4 inches (1-2-3a,b,c,d,e)
How long are hash marks? - Ans 24 inches (1-2-3e)
What are "9-yard" marks? - Ans The markings on the field 9 yards from the sideline. If
numbers are used as the 9 yard mark, the TOP of the number is measured to 9 yards
(1-2-3f)
,Where is the team box? - Ans Between the 25 yard lines on the teams sidelines,
BEHIND the 2 yard belt, however it may be 20-45 yard lines if both teams are using the
same sideline. (1-2-3g)
Can decorative markings be placed in the end-zone? - Ans yes, as long as they are no
closer than 2 feet from the boundary or goal lines (1-2-3h)
Is the goal line considered part of the field or the endzone? - Ans End-zone to that the
vertical plane of the edge of the line toward the field of play is the actual goal (1-2-3j)
What is the distance of the centered line, on each end of the field used typically for the
try, from the goal line? - Ans 3 yards. Also it is 4 inches wide and 24 inches long (1-2-
3k)
What are the dimensions of the pylon? - Ans 4 inch x 4 inch and 18 inches tall (1-2-4)
What color can the pylon be? - Ans Red, Orange or Yellow (ROY) 1-2-4
Pylons placed at the goal line when properly placed are - in or out of bounds? - Ans
OUT of bounds (1-2-4)
What is the distance from the base of the upright to the top vertical crossbar? - Ans 10
feet (1-2-5b)
What is the width of the Cross bar (and the width of the goal posts)? - Ans 23 feet 4
inches (1-2-5c,d
What is the MINIMUM height of the goal posts? - Ans 10 feet (1-2-5e)
The goal post must be covered in a padded resilient, shock absorbing material. What is
the height of the material on the post? - Ans 6 feet (1-2-5f)
Wind Directional streamers maybe placed on the goal posts. What colors can be used?
- Ans Red, Orange or yellow (ROY) (1-2-5g)
What color can the goal posts be painted? - Ans Silver, White or yellow (1-2-5g)
What color must a football be to be legal? - Ans Tan (1-3-1a)
How many laces on a legal football? - Ans 8 or 12 (1-3-1b)
What is the approved weight of a football? - Ans 14-15 ounces (1-3-1e)
What is the approved PSI of a Football? - Ans 12 1/2 to 13 1/2 PSI (1-3-1f)
, How many game balls must a team provide to the referee as the officials assume
authority of the contest? - Ans 1 minimum (1-3-2)
Who approves footballs for play in the game? - Ans referee only (1-3-3)
How tall may a legal kicking tee be? - Ans no more than 2 inches (1-3-4)
What is the length of the chain used for the line-to-gain equipment? - Ans 10 yards to
the inner edge of the forward rod (1-3-5)
Where should the official line-to-gain equipment be kept during play? (where should the
crew work?) - Ans On the visitor sideline, 2 yards from the sideline. (1-3-5b)
Who approves the clock operators? - Ans Referee. (1-3-6)
Which players can communicate with game officials during the contest? - Ans
Captains only. (1-4-1)
What are the legal numbers for football? - Ans 1-99 Inclusive (1-4-3)
What is the label all helmets must have to be legal? - Ans NOCSAE (1-5-1a)
How many fasteners must a legal helmet have for the chin strap? - Ans 4 (1-5-1a2)
What color jersey is the visiting team supposed to wear? - Ans White (1-5-2)
Which pad is NOT required to be worn?
Hip, Knee, Shoulder, Thigh, Tailbone or forearm - Ans Forearm is not required, all
others are required to be worn under the pants. (1-5-3d)
What color can the mouth protector NOT be? - Ans Completely white or clear (1-5-3d)
Do the pants have to cover the knees? - Ans YES! And the knee pad must cover the
knee as well (1-5-3e)
What colors are limited for gloves? - Ans Ball colored
What is the limit of the number of rounds of tape that can be used when securing an
injury without approval? - Ans 3 (1-5-2c exception)
Who is in charge of inspecting equipment before and during the game for approval? -
Ans Umpire (1-5-2)
Can knee Braces be worn OVER the pant? - Ans No. (1-5-3 b3)
What color can a towel be? - Ans Any solid color other than flag or ball colored (1-5-3)
