NFHS Football Rules (2026)
The jerseys of the home team shall all be the True
same dark color(s) that clearly contrast with 1-5-1b(3)
white.
The ball can have commercial advertising False
added to the surface of one of the panels. 1-3-1h
A player or nonplayer can trip an opponent. False
9-4-3o
A player is no longer defenseless once the True
player's physical position and focus of 2-32-16
concentration no longer makes the player
especially vulnerable to injury.
A team B player may use locked hands to False
ward off an opponent who is blocking him 2-3-3, 2-3-5a, 9-2-3a
or attempting to block him.
A punt may be used as a free kick following False
a fair catch. 2-24-3, 2-24-8, 6-1-2
Page 1 of 9
, NFHS Football Rules (2026)
A foul is a rule infraction for which a penalty True
is prescribed. 2-16-1
Items that are attached to the tooth and True
mouth protector that do not serve a 1-5-1d(5)a-4
purpose and function in protecting the
teeth or mouth will not be allowed staring in
2026.
A down ends when the ball next becomes True
dead. 2-7-1, 4-2-2
An invalid fair-catch signal may be given by False
a member of the kicking team. 2-9-4, 6-5-1
A fair catch can be made in or behind K's False
neutral zone. 2-9-1, 6-5-2
A simultaneous catch or recovery is a catch True
or recovery in which there is joint 2-4-3
possession of a live ball by opposing
players who are inbounds.
Page 2 of 9
The jerseys of the home team shall all be the True
same dark color(s) that clearly contrast with 1-5-1b(3)
white.
The ball can have commercial advertising False
added to the surface of one of the panels. 1-3-1h
A player or nonplayer can trip an opponent. False
9-4-3o
A player is no longer defenseless once the True
player's physical position and focus of 2-32-16
concentration no longer makes the player
especially vulnerable to injury.
A team B player may use locked hands to False
ward off an opponent who is blocking him 2-3-3, 2-3-5a, 9-2-3a
or attempting to block him.
A punt may be used as a free kick following False
a fair catch. 2-24-3, 2-24-8, 6-1-2
Page 1 of 9
, NFHS Football Rules (2026)
A foul is a rule infraction for which a penalty True
is prescribed. 2-16-1
Items that are attached to the tooth and True
mouth protector that do not serve a 1-5-1d(5)a-4
purpose and function in protecting the
teeth or mouth will not be allowed staring in
2026.
A down ends when the ball next becomes True
dead. 2-7-1, 4-2-2
An invalid fair-catch signal may be given by False
a member of the kicking team. 2-9-4, 6-5-1
A fair catch can be made in or behind K's False
neutral zone. 2-9-1, 6-5-2
A simultaneous catch or recovery is a catch True
or recovery in which there is joint 2-4-3
possession of a live ball by opposing
players who are inbounds.
Page 2 of 9
