NHFS FOOTBALL SET QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
SURE A+
✔✔Momentum Exception - ✔✔Rule: 8-5-2a
A. If a defender intercepts a pass/fumble or catches a kick between their own 5-yard
line and goal line, and their original momentum carries them into the end zone.
B. The ball belongs to the defense at the spot where possession was gained if it
becomes dead or goes out of bounds in the end zone.
✔✔Force - ✔✔Rule: 2-13-1
A. Force is the responsibility attributed to a specific team for providing the initial energy
that moves a loose ball into an end zone.
B. Force is only a factor on a ball entering the end zone; a new force can be applied by
a player muffing, batting, or kicking a grounded ball.
✔✔Fumble out of Bounds - ✔✔Rule: 7-4-3
A. When a fumble goes out of bounds between the goal lines, the ball belongs to the
fumbling team.
B. The ball is put in play at the spot of the fumble if recovered by A. No advantage for
offense.
✔✔Touchback - ✔✔Rule: 8-5-3
A. A touchback occurs when any kick travels into the receiver's end zone, or a
fumble/pass enters the end zone due to the opponent's force and becomes dead there.
B. The ball is next snapped by the team awarded the touchback from their own 20-yard
line.
C. Even if a receiving player muffs (bobbles) the kickoff at the 2-yard line, and the ball
trickles into the end zone, it is still a touchback the moment it crosses the plane.
, ✔✔Safety - ✔✔Rule: 8-5-1
(2 points awarded)
A. A safety is scored when a live ball becomes dead in a team's own end zone and the
defending team is responsible for the force that put it there.
B. Also occurs when an offensive player commits a foul behind their own goal line and
the penalty is accepted.
✔✔First Touching - ✔✔Rule: 6-1-9 & 6-2-5
A. Occurs when a member of the kicking team touches a free kick before it travels 10
yards, or touches a scrimmage kick beyond the expanded neutral zone before a
receiver touches it.
B. The receiving team may choose to take the ball at the spot of first touching, unless
they accept a subsequent penalty.
✔✔Free Blocking Zone - ✔✔Rule: 2-17-1
A. A rectangular area extending 4 yards laterally on either side of the ball and 3 yards
behind each line of scrimmage. B. Only players who were on their line of scrimmage
and inside this zone at the snap may legally block below the waist or clip within it.
✔✔Beanbag Situations - ✔✔Rule: NFHS Manual / 2-10
A. Drop the beanbag to mark specific spots that are not a foul but require precision for
later enforcement.
B. Use for: fumbles, first touching of kicks, a backward pass/muff out of bounds, or
marking the end of a run before an inadvertent whistle
✔✔Dead Ball vs Live Ball Fouls - ✔✔Rule: 2-16-2
A. A live-ball foul occurs during a down while the ball is in play (e.g., holding).
B. A dead-ball foul occurs after a down has ended or before the snap/free kick can
legally start play (e.g., false start, delay of game, dead-ball personal fouls).
✔✔Basic Spot Principle - ✔✔Rule: 10-4
A. The starting point of penalty enforcement based on the type of play.
- Previous spot is the basic spot for loose-ball plays;
- The end of the run is the basic spot for running plays;
- The succeeding spot is the basic spot for dead-ball and non-player fouls.
✔✔Automatic first down fouls - ✔✔Rule: 9-4 & 10-1-7
SURE A+
✔✔Momentum Exception - ✔✔Rule: 8-5-2a
A. If a defender intercepts a pass/fumble or catches a kick between their own 5-yard
line and goal line, and their original momentum carries them into the end zone.
B. The ball belongs to the defense at the spot where possession was gained if it
becomes dead or goes out of bounds in the end zone.
✔✔Force - ✔✔Rule: 2-13-1
A. Force is the responsibility attributed to a specific team for providing the initial energy
that moves a loose ball into an end zone.
B. Force is only a factor on a ball entering the end zone; a new force can be applied by
a player muffing, batting, or kicking a grounded ball.
✔✔Fumble out of Bounds - ✔✔Rule: 7-4-3
A. When a fumble goes out of bounds between the goal lines, the ball belongs to the
fumbling team.
B. The ball is put in play at the spot of the fumble if recovered by A. No advantage for
offense.
✔✔Touchback - ✔✔Rule: 8-5-3
A. A touchback occurs when any kick travels into the receiver's end zone, or a
fumble/pass enters the end zone due to the opponent's force and becomes dead there.
B. The ball is next snapped by the team awarded the touchback from their own 20-yard
line.
C. Even if a receiving player muffs (bobbles) the kickoff at the 2-yard line, and the ball
trickles into the end zone, it is still a touchback the moment it crosses the plane.
, ✔✔Safety - ✔✔Rule: 8-5-1
(2 points awarded)
A. A safety is scored when a live ball becomes dead in a team's own end zone and the
defending team is responsible for the force that put it there.
B. Also occurs when an offensive player commits a foul behind their own goal line and
the penalty is accepted.
✔✔First Touching - ✔✔Rule: 6-1-9 & 6-2-5
A. Occurs when a member of the kicking team touches a free kick before it travels 10
yards, or touches a scrimmage kick beyond the expanded neutral zone before a
receiver touches it.
B. The receiving team may choose to take the ball at the spot of first touching, unless
they accept a subsequent penalty.
✔✔Free Blocking Zone - ✔✔Rule: 2-17-1
A. A rectangular area extending 4 yards laterally on either side of the ball and 3 yards
behind each line of scrimmage. B. Only players who were on their line of scrimmage
and inside this zone at the snap may legally block below the waist or clip within it.
✔✔Beanbag Situations - ✔✔Rule: NFHS Manual / 2-10
A. Drop the beanbag to mark specific spots that are not a foul but require precision for
later enforcement.
B. Use for: fumbles, first touching of kicks, a backward pass/muff out of bounds, or
marking the end of a run before an inadvertent whistle
✔✔Dead Ball vs Live Ball Fouls - ✔✔Rule: 2-16-2
A. A live-ball foul occurs during a down while the ball is in play (e.g., holding).
B. A dead-ball foul occurs after a down has ended or before the snap/free kick can
legally start play (e.g., false start, delay of game, dead-ball personal fouls).
✔✔Basic Spot Principle - ✔✔Rule: 10-4
A. The starting point of penalty enforcement based on the type of play.
- Previous spot is the basic spot for loose-ball plays;
- The end of the run is the basic spot for running plays;
- The succeeding spot is the basic spot for dead-ball and non-player fouls.
✔✔Automatic first down fouls - ✔✔Rule: 9-4 & 10-1-7
