NFHS Football Test Actual Exam 100% Correct
Answers | Complete Questions & Rationales |
Football Rules Certification | Pass Guaranteed - A+
Graded
Player Safety & Equipment Regulations
Q1: During pregame warmups, the head coach informs you that his starting quarterback
will wear jersey number 0. As the referee, your ruling is:
A. Number 0 is permitted only for kickers and punters
B. Number 0 is illegal; all players must wear numbers 1–99 with no leading zero
C. Number 0 is legal for any player [CORRECT]
D. Number 0 requires written permission from the state association
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The NFHS rules allow any player to wear number 0, so there is no restriction
based on position. You simply note it on the lineup card and move on.
Q2: Late in the second quarter, the umpire notices the left tackle wearing a hard cast on
his forearm with no padding covering the exterior. The cast is exposed and has a rough
edge. Proper enforcement is:
A. Allow the player to continue since the cast is part of his body
B. Require the player to leave the game until the cast is covered with a minimum of
½-inch padding [CORRECT]
C. Assess a 5-yard penalty for illegal equipment and allow him to play with a warning
D. Assess a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the head coach
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: Any hard cast or brace must be covered with a closed-cell, slow-recovery
foam padding or similar material to protect other players. He can return once it is
properly covered.
Q3: The quarterback drops back to pass and throws a slant route to the slot receiver.
Just as the ball arrives, a safety launches himself and initiates contact with the crown of
his helmet to the receiver's helmet. The receiver is in a defenseless posture. The correct
ruling is:
A. 15-yard penalty for unnecessary roughness; the safety remains in the game
B. 15-yard penalty for targeting and the safety is disqualified [CORRECT]
C. No foul; the receiver was in the act of catching and contact is incidental
D. 10-yard penalty for pass interference on the defense
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: When a player initiates contact with the crown of his helmet against a
defenseless opponent, that is targeting by rule, and the player must be disqualified for
the remainder of the game.
Q4: Regarding eye shade applied under the eyes, which of the following is legal under
NFHS rules?
A. Eye shade may include the school logo or team name
B. Eye shade may extend no more than one inch below the eye socket
C. Eye shade must be a solid color with no words, numbers, or logos, and may not
extend below the eyelids [CORRECT]
D. Eye shade is permitted only for players wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Eye shade has to be a solid color without any writing or logos, and it cannot
extend below the eyelids. Anything else is illegal equipment.
Q5: During a timeout, the trainer reports to the referee that the starting running back
showed signs of disorientation after the last play and is complaining of a headache. The
athlete wants to stay in the game. The proper procedure is:
A. Allow the player to remain in the game since he was not diagnosed with a concussion
B. Remove the player from the game and permit return only after clearance by an
appropriate health-care professional [CORRECT]
, C. Warn the coach that the player must be removed if he shows another symptom
D. Assess an unsportsmanlike penalty if the coach refuses to remove the player
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: If an athlete exhibits any signs or symptoms of a concussion, he is removed
immediately and cannot return until cleared by the proper medical personnel. Player
safety comes first, no exceptions.
Q6: On a pass over the middle, the receiver leaps to catch the ball. A safety launches
and initiates contact with the crown of his helmet to the receiver's helmet, causing the
pass to fall incomplete. The receiver is in a defenseless posture. The ruling is:
A. No foul; the contact was with the shoulder, not the helmet
B. 15-yard penalty for targeting and the safety is disqualified [CORRECT]
C. 15-yard penalty for pass interference; automatic first down
D. 5-yard penalty for illegal contact
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Initiating contact with the crown of the helmet against a defenseless player is
targeting, and that carries an automatic disqualification. The foul is enforced from the
previous spot.
Q7: A player may wear a knee brace made of unyielding material during competition
provided:
A. The brace is worn on the outside of the pants and is visible to opponents
B. All hard surfaces are covered with a material such as a closed-cell slow-recovery
foam or similar padding [CORRECT]
C. The brace is approved in writing by the opposing head coach before the game
D. The brace is permitted only for players with a documented season-ending injury
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Knee braces are fine, but every hard surface has to be covered with proper
padding so nobody gets cut or injured by the brace itself.
Q8: It is the third week of August and the heat index at kickoff is 102°F. By state
association policy, the referee crew must:
A. Cancel the game immediately
Answers | Complete Questions & Rationales |
Football Rules Certification | Pass Guaranteed - A+
Graded
Player Safety & Equipment Regulations
Q1: During pregame warmups, the head coach informs you that his starting quarterback
will wear jersey number 0. As the referee, your ruling is:
A. Number 0 is permitted only for kickers and punters
B. Number 0 is illegal; all players must wear numbers 1–99 with no leading zero
C. Number 0 is legal for any player [CORRECT]
D. Number 0 requires written permission from the state association
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The NFHS rules allow any player to wear number 0, so there is no restriction
based on position. You simply note it on the lineup card and move on.
Q2: Late in the second quarter, the umpire notices the left tackle wearing a hard cast on
his forearm with no padding covering the exterior. The cast is exposed and has a rough
edge. Proper enforcement is:
A. Allow the player to continue since the cast is part of his body
B. Require the player to leave the game until the cast is covered with a minimum of
½-inch padding [CORRECT]
C. Assess a 5-yard penalty for illegal equipment and allow him to play with a warning
D. Assess a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the head coach
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: Any hard cast or brace must be covered with a closed-cell, slow-recovery
foam padding or similar material to protect other players. He can return once it is
properly covered.
Q3: The quarterback drops back to pass and throws a slant route to the slot receiver.
Just as the ball arrives, a safety launches himself and initiates contact with the crown of
his helmet to the receiver's helmet. The receiver is in a defenseless posture. The correct
ruling is:
A. 15-yard penalty for unnecessary roughness; the safety remains in the game
B. 15-yard penalty for targeting and the safety is disqualified [CORRECT]
C. No foul; the receiver was in the act of catching and contact is incidental
D. 10-yard penalty for pass interference on the defense
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: When a player initiates contact with the crown of his helmet against a
defenseless opponent, that is targeting by rule, and the player must be disqualified for
the remainder of the game.
Q4: Regarding eye shade applied under the eyes, which of the following is legal under
NFHS rules?
A. Eye shade may include the school logo or team name
B. Eye shade may extend no more than one inch below the eye socket
C. Eye shade must be a solid color with no words, numbers, or logos, and may not
extend below the eyelids [CORRECT]
D. Eye shade is permitted only for players wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Eye shade has to be a solid color without any writing or logos, and it cannot
extend below the eyelids. Anything else is illegal equipment.
Q5: During a timeout, the trainer reports to the referee that the starting running back
showed signs of disorientation after the last play and is complaining of a headache. The
athlete wants to stay in the game. The proper procedure is:
A. Allow the player to remain in the game since he was not diagnosed with a concussion
B. Remove the player from the game and permit return only after clearance by an
appropriate health-care professional [CORRECT]
, C. Warn the coach that the player must be removed if he shows another symptom
D. Assess an unsportsmanlike penalty if the coach refuses to remove the player
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: If an athlete exhibits any signs or symptoms of a concussion, he is removed
immediately and cannot return until cleared by the proper medical personnel. Player
safety comes first, no exceptions.
Q6: On a pass over the middle, the receiver leaps to catch the ball. A safety launches
and initiates contact with the crown of his helmet to the receiver's helmet, causing the
pass to fall incomplete. The receiver is in a defenseless posture. The ruling is:
A. No foul; the contact was with the shoulder, not the helmet
B. 15-yard penalty for targeting and the safety is disqualified [CORRECT]
C. 15-yard penalty for pass interference; automatic first down
D. 5-yard penalty for illegal contact
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Initiating contact with the crown of the helmet against a defenseless player is
targeting, and that carries an automatic disqualification. The foul is enforced from the
previous spot.
Q7: A player may wear a knee brace made of unyielding material during competition
provided:
A. The brace is worn on the outside of the pants and is visible to opponents
B. All hard surfaces are covered with a material such as a closed-cell slow-recovery
foam or similar padding [CORRECT]
C. The brace is approved in writing by the opposing head coach before the game
D. The brace is permitted only for players with a documented season-ending injury
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Knee braces are fine, but every hard surface has to be covered with proper
padding so nobody gets cut or injured by the brace itself.
Q8: It is the third week of August and the heat index at kickoff is 102°F. By state
association policy, the referee crew must:
A. Cancel the game immediately
