NFHS FOOTBALL RULES EXAM
120 Multiple-Choice Questions | Answer Key with Rationales Included
1. What is the total length of an NFHS football field, including both end zones?
A. 100 yards
B. 110 yards
C. 120 yards
D. 130 yards
Correct Answer: C. 120 yards
Rationale: The field is 100 yards between goal lines, plus two 10-yard end zones, for
a total of 120 yards.
2. How wide is a regulation NFHS football field?
A. 50 yards
B. 53 1/3 yards
C. 55 yards
D. 60 yards
Correct Answer: B. 53 1/3 yards
Rationale: NFHS Rule 1 specifies the field is 160 feet, which equals 53 1/3 yards, in
width.
3. How far apart are the hash marks placed on an NFHS field?
A. 40 feet from each sideline
B. 53 feet, 4 inches apart (high school spacing)
C. Directly on the yard lines at the sideline
D. 20 yards apart
Correct Answer: B. 53 feet, 4 inches apart (high school spacing)
Rationale: NFHS hash marks are set 53 feet, 4 inches from each sideline, which is
narrower spacing than college or professional fields.
4. What is the height of the goal posts' crossbar above the ground?
A. 8 feet
B. 10 feet
C. 13 feet
D. 18 feet 6 inches
Correct Answer: B. 10 feet
Rationale: The crossbar of the goal post must be 10 feet above the ground, per NFHS
specifications.
,5. What is the required minimum distance between the uprights of a high
school goal post?
A. 18 feet, 6 inches
B. 23 feet, 4 inches
C. 20 feet
D. 24 feet
Correct Answer: A. 18 feet, 6 inches
Rationale: NFHS goal posts must have uprights a minimum of 18 feet, 6 inches apart,
measured on the inside.
6. Which of the following is illegal equipment under NFHS rules?
A. A properly fitted mouthpiece
B. Knee pads worn under the pants
C. Any hard, abrasive, or unyielding item not covered by material
D. A helmet with a certified NOCSAE seal
Correct Answer: C. Any hard, abrasive, or unyielding item not covered by
material
Rationale: Rule 1 prohibits hard, abrasive, or unyielding items that are exposed or not
covered with a required amount of padding material.
7. How often must a player's helmet display the current NOCSAE certification
standard to be legal for play?
A. It must be re-certified each season regardless of manufacture date
B. It must simply have the original manufacturer's NOCSAE seal intact and not
have been altered
C. It never needs a NOCSAE seal
D. Only varsity players need certified helmets
Correct Answer: B. It must simply have the original manufacturer's NOCSAE
seal intact and not have been altered
Rationale: A helmet is legal if it carries the manufacturer's NOCSAE certification seal
and has not been altered to void that certification.
8. What color must the ball's stripes be, if a team elects to use white or
light-colored balls in snow?
A. Any color the officials approve, typically a contrasting dark color
B. Only red is permitted
C. Stripes are never allowed
D. Green only
Correct Answer: A. Any color the officials approve, typically a contrasting dark
color
,Rationale: When field conditions (such as snow) warrant a lighter ball, contrasting
stripes approved by the officials help all participants track the ball.
9. Under NFHS rules, what is required of a player wearing an illegal jewelry
item?
A. Nothing, jewelry is always allowed
B. The player must remove it before being allowed to participate
C. Only team captains may wear jewelry
D. Jewelry is only illegal during the national anthem
Correct Answer: B. The player must remove it before being allowed to
participate
Rationale: NFHS rules prohibit wearing jewelry during the game; the player must
remove it before participating.
10. What is the required width of the border/boundary lines on the field?
A. They have no required width
B. 4 inches
C. 1 yard
D. 2 feet
Correct Answer: B. 4 inches
Rationale: All field lines, including boundary lines, must be a solid white 4 inches wide
under NFHS field specifications.
11. How many players make up a team on the field at the snap?
A. 10
B. 11
C. 12
D. 9
Correct Answer: B. 11
Rationale: NFHS football is played with 11 players per team on the field at the snap.
12. What happens if a team has 12 players on the field at the snap?
A. The play is automatically replayed with no penalty
B. It is an illegal substitution/too many players foul, a 5-yard penalty
C. It results in a first down for the offense automatically
D. The game is forfeited
Correct Answer: B. It is an illegal substitution/too many players foul, a 5-yard
penalty
Rationale: Having more than 11 players on the field at the snap is a foul (illegal
number of players), penalized 5 yards.
, 13. When may an injured player who was removed from the game for an
apparent injury return to play?
A. Immediately after the next play
B. Not before the next legal opportunity to substitute; commonly after being
cleared and missing at least one down
C. At the coach's sole discretion with no other requirement
D. Only at halftime
Correct Answer: B. Not before the next legal opportunity to substitute;
commonly after being cleared and missing at least one down
Rationale: An injured player must leave for at least one down and cannot return until
the next opportunity for substitution, and typically must be assessed before returning.
14. Substitutions in NFHS football may enter the game:
A. Only during a team timeout
B. At any time the ball is dead and until it is ready for play, subject to rules
preventing unfair repeated communication
C. Only between quarters
D. Never during a possession change
Correct Answer: B. At any time the ball is dead and until it is ready for play,
subject to rules preventing unfair repeated communication
Rationale: Substitutes may enter during any dead-ball period before the ball is
marked ready for play, as long as rules against conveying information via repeated
substitution are not violated.
15. What is a 'shuttling' substitution violation?
A. Sending in the same player twice in a row legally
B. Using substitutes to relay signals/information from the sideline in a way that
simulates a huddle exchange improperly
C. A legal timeout procedure
D. An automatic touchdown
Correct Answer: B. Using substitutes to relay signals/information from the
sideline in a way that simulates a huddle exchange improperly
Rationale: Shuttling substitutes to communicate strategy in a disallowed manner
between snaps can be penalized as an unfair act or illegal substitution.
16. Which individual is responsible for reporting a legal substitution to the
referee before the snap if requested?
A. Any player entering or leaving the game, upon request of an official
B. Only the head coach
C. Only the team captain
D. No reporting is ever required
120 Multiple-Choice Questions | Answer Key with Rationales Included
1. What is the total length of an NFHS football field, including both end zones?
A. 100 yards
B. 110 yards
C. 120 yards
D. 130 yards
Correct Answer: C. 120 yards
Rationale: The field is 100 yards between goal lines, plus two 10-yard end zones, for
a total of 120 yards.
2. How wide is a regulation NFHS football field?
A. 50 yards
B. 53 1/3 yards
C. 55 yards
D. 60 yards
Correct Answer: B. 53 1/3 yards
Rationale: NFHS Rule 1 specifies the field is 160 feet, which equals 53 1/3 yards, in
width.
3. How far apart are the hash marks placed on an NFHS field?
A. 40 feet from each sideline
B. 53 feet, 4 inches apart (high school spacing)
C. Directly on the yard lines at the sideline
D. 20 yards apart
Correct Answer: B. 53 feet, 4 inches apart (high school spacing)
Rationale: NFHS hash marks are set 53 feet, 4 inches from each sideline, which is
narrower spacing than college or professional fields.
4. What is the height of the goal posts' crossbar above the ground?
A. 8 feet
B. 10 feet
C. 13 feet
D. 18 feet 6 inches
Correct Answer: B. 10 feet
Rationale: The crossbar of the goal post must be 10 feet above the ground, per NFHS
specifications.
,5. What is the required minimum distance between the uprights of a high
school goal post?
A. 18 feet, 6 inches
B. 23 feet, 4 inches
C. 20 feet
D. 24 feet
Correct Answer: A. 18 feet, 6 inches
Rationale: NFHS goal posts must have uprights a minimum of 18 feet, 6 inches apart,
measured on the inside.
6. Which of the following is illegal equipment under NFHS rules?
A. A properly fitted mouthpiece
B. Knee pads worn under the pants
C. Any hard, abrasive, or unyielding item not covered by material
D. A helmet with a certified NOCSAE seal
Correct Answer: C. Any hard, abrasive, or unyielding item not covered by
material
Rationale: Rule 1 prohibits hard, abrasive, or unyielding items that are exposed or not
covered with a required amount of padding material.
7. How often must a player's helmet display the current NOCSAE certification
standard to be legal for play?
A. It must be re-certified each season regardless of manufacture date
B. It must simply have the original manufacturer's NOCSAE seal intact and not
have been altered
C. It never needs a NOCSAE seal
D. Only varsity players need certified helmets
Correct Answer: B. It must simply have the original manufacturer's NOCSAE
seal intact and not have been altered
Rationale: A helmet is legal if it carries the manufacturer's NOCSAE certification seal
and has not been altered to void that certification.
8. What color must the ball's stripes be, if a team elects to use white or
light-colored balls in snow?
A. Any color the officials approve, typically a contrasting dark color
B. Only red is permitted
C. Stripes are never allowed
D. Green only
Correct Answer: A. Any color the officials approve, typically a contrasting dark
color
,Rationale: When field conditions (such as snow) warrant a lighter ball, contrasting
stripes approved by the officials help all participants track the ball.
9. Under NFHS rules, what is required of a player wearing an illegal jewelry
item?
A. Nothing, jewelry is always allowed
B. The player must remove it before being allowed to participate
C. Only team captains may wear jewelry
D. Jewelry is only illegal during the national anthem
Correct Answer: B. The player must remove it before being allowed to
participate
Rationale: NFHS rules prohibit wearing jewelry during the game; the player must
remove it before participating.
10. What is the required width of the border/boundary lines on the field?
A. They have no required width
B. 4 inches
C. 1 yard
D. 2 feet
Correct Answer: B. 4 inches
Rationale: All field lines, including boundary lines, must be a solid white 4 inches wide
under NFHS field specifications.
11. How many players make up a team on the field at the snap?
A. 10
B. 11
C. 12
D. 9
Correct Answer: B. 11
Rationale: NFHS football is played with 11 players per team on the field at the snap.
12. What happens if a team has 12 players on the field at the snap?
A. The play is automatically replayed with no penalty
B. It is an illegal substitution/too many players foul, a 5-yard penalty
C. It results in a first down for the offense automatically
D. The game is forfeited
Correct Answer: B. It is an illegal substitution/too many players foul, a 5-yard
penalty
Rationale: Having more than 11 players on the field at the snap is a foul (illegal
number of players), penalized 5 yards.
, 13. When may an injured player who was removed from the game for an
apparent injury return to play?
A. Immediately after the next play
B. Not before the next legal opportunity to substitute; commonly after being
cleared and missing at least one down
C. At the coach's sole discretion with no other requirement
D. Only at halftime
Correct Answer: B. Not before the next legal opportunity to substitute;
commonly after being cleared and missing at least one down
Rationale: An injured player must leave for at least one down and cannot return until
the next opportunity for substitution, and typically must be assessed before returning.
14. Substitutions in NFHS football may enter the game:
A. Only during a team timeout
B. At any time the ball is dead and until it is ready for play, subject to rules
preventing unfair repeated communication
C. Only between quarters
D. Never during a possession change
Correct Answer: B. At any time the ball is dead and until it is ready for play,
subject to rules preventing unfair repeated communication
Rationale: Substitutes may enter during any dead-ball period before the ball is
marked ready for play, as long as rules against conveying information via repeated
substitution are not violated.
15. What is a 'shuttling' substitution violation?
A. Sending in the same player twice in a row legally
B. Using substitutes to relay signals/information from the sideline in a way that
simulates a huddle exchange improperly
C. A legal timeout procedure
D. An automatic touchdown
Correct Answer: B. Using substitutes to relay signals/information from the
sideline in a way that simulates a huddle exchange improperly
Rationale: Shuttling substitutes to communicate strategy in a disallowed manner
between snaps can be penalized as an unfair act or illegal substitution.
16. Which individual is responsible for reporting a legal substitution to the
referee before the snap if requested?
A. Any player entering or leaving the game, upon request of an official
B. Only the head coach
C. Only the team captain
D. No reporting is ever required
