2026 Football Rules Study Guide
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
2026 Rules Study Guide
Original Q&A Review — Equipment, Field Markings, Kicks, Fouls & Timing
Section 1 — Player Equipment
Q1. True or False: A player may wear a knee brace with exposed metal hinges as long as the metal is not
sharp.
Answer: False
Rationale: Exposed hard/unyielding materials — including metal — are illegal regardless of padding on the edges unless
the entire brace is properly covered.
Q2. True or False: A tooth and mouth protector may include a decorative attachment that serves no protective
function, as long as it is securely fastened.
Answer: False
Rationale: Beginning with the 2026 season, attachments on tooth and mouth protectors are illegal unless they serve a
genuine protective purpose.
Q3. True or False: Beginning in 2026, a quarterback's play card may be worn on the belt in addition to the
wrist or arm.
Answer: True
Rationale: The NFHS Football Rules Committee expanded legal play-card locations to include the belt for the 2026
season.
Q4. True or False: Any visible torn or ragged jersey must be corrected before the player may re-enter the
game.
Answer: True
Rationale: Ragged, damaged jerseys that create a safety hazard or are inappropriate must be replaced or repaired
before the player returns.
Q5. True or False: A player may use his or her hands to slap an opponent's head in 2026, provided the
opponent is on offense.
Answer: False
Rationale: The 2026 rule change to the head-slap prohibition removed the offense/defense distinction, so it now applies
to all players regardless of side of the ball.
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, 2026 Football Rules Study Guide
Q6. True or False: Arm sleeves manufactured to enhance grip on the ball must display an SFIA compliance
seal beginning with the 2026 season.
Answer: False
Rationale: That requirement takes effect with the 2027 season, not 2026.
Section 2 — Field Markings & Equipment of the Field
Q7. True or False: Numerals must be placed on the field at each 10-yard line.
Answer: True
Rationale: Yard-line numerals are required at each 10-yard line to aid participants and officials in spotting the ball.
Q8. True or False: The team box must be located between the 25-yard lines on each side of the field.
Answer: False
Rationale: Team boxes extend from the 25-yard line to the opposite 25-yard line only in some configurations; the
standard rule sets the boundary relative to the required restraining line markers, and NFHS rule specifies the box shall
not extend beyond the two 9-yard marks from each end line unless otherwise noted by state adoption — always verify
locally-adopted boundaries.
Q9. True or False: A pylon must be placed at the intersection of each goal line and each sideline.
Answer: True
Rationale: Four goal-line pylons are required, one at each inside corner where the goal line meets the sideline.
Q10. True or False: Hash marks are used to spot the ball for the next snap when the previous play ends
between the hash marks and the sideline.
Answer: True
Rationale: If a run or pass ends outside the hash marks, the ball is next put in play on the nearer hash mark.
Section 3 — Free Kicks & Scrimmage Kicks
Q11. True or False: On a free kick, the kicking team's players must be behind the free-kick line at the time of
the kick.
Answer: True
Rationale: All members of the kicking team must be behind the free-kick line (the kicker's restraining line) when the ball
is kicked.
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HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
2026 Rules Study Guide
Original Q&A Review — Equipment, Field Markings, Kicks, Fouls & Timing
Section 1 — Player Equipment
Q1. True or False: A player may wear a knee brace with exposed metal hinges as long as the metal is not
sharp.
Answer: False
Rationale: Exposed hard/unyielding materials — including metal — are illegal regardless of padding on the edges unless
the entire brace is properly covered.
Q2. True or False: A tooth and mouth protector may include a decorative attachment that serves no protective
function, as long as it is securely fastened.
Answer: False
Rationale: Beginning with the 2026 season, attachments on tooth and mouth protectors are illegal unless they serve a
genuine protective purpose.
Q3. True or False: Beginning in 2026, a quarterback's play card may be worn on the belt in addition to the
wrist or arm.
Answer: True
Rationale: The NFHS Football Rules Committee expanded legal play-card locations to include the belt for the 2026
season.
Q4. True or False: Any visible torn or ragged jersey must be corrected before the player may re-enter the
game.
Answer: True
Rationale: Ragged, damaged jerseys that create a safety hazard or are inappropriate must be replaced or repaired
before the player returns.
Q5. True or False: A player may use his or her hands to slap an opponent's head in 2026, provided the
opponent is on offense.
Answer: False
Rationale: The 2026 rule change to the head-slap prohibition removed the offense/defense distinction, so it now applies
to all players regardless of side of the ball.
Page 1
, 2026 Football Rules Study Guide
Q6. True or False: Arm sleeves manufactured to enhance grip on the ball must display an SFIA compliance
seal beginning with the 2026 season.
Answer: False
Rationale: That requirement takes effect with the 2027 season, not 2026.
Section 2 — Field Markings & Equipment of the Field
Q7. True or False: Numerals must be placed on the field at each 10-yard line.
Answer: True
Rationale: Yard-line numerals are required at each 10-yard line to aid participants and officials in spotting the ball.
Q8. True or False: The team box must be located between the 25-yard lines on each side of the field.
Answer: False
Rationale: Team boxes extend from the 25-yard line to the opposite 25-yard line only in some configurations; the
standard rule sets the boundary relative to the required restraining line markers, and NFHS rule specifies the box shall
not extend beyond the two 9-yard marks from each end line unless otherwise noted by state adoption — always verify
locally-adopted boundaries.
Q9. True or False: A pylon must be placed at the intersection of each goal line and each sideline.
Answer: True
Rationale: Four goal-line pylons are required, one at each inside corner where the goal line meets the sideline.
Q10. True or False: Hash marks are used to spot the ball for the next snap when the previous play ends
between the hash marks and the sideline.
Answer: True
Rationale: If a run or pass ends outside the hash marks, the ball is next put in play on the nearer hash mark.
Section 3 — Free Kicks & Scrimmage Kicks
Q11. True or False: On a free kick, the kicking team's players must be behind the free-kick line at the time of
the kick.
Answer: True
Rationale: All members of the kicking team must be behind the free-kick line (the kicker's restraining line) when the ball
is kicked.
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