Football Fundamentals
I. Possession 1. A live ball is always in possession of a team.
2. A live ball is in player possession or is loose.
3. A loose ball is in possession of the team whose player was
last in possession.
4. A player in possession of a live ball is a runner.
5. A player cannot fumble before gaining possession.
6. No foul causes loss of the ball.
7. After a distance penalty, the ball belongs to the team which
was in possession at the time of the foul according to
applicable rules. Team possession may then change if a new
series is awarded.
8. Possession of a live ball in the opponent's end zone is
always a touchdown.
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, Football Fundamentals
II. Downs 1. A down begins when the ball becomes live and ends when it
becomes dead.
2. Whether the next down will be first is determined at the time
the ball becomes dead and after considering the effect of any
act, except a nonplayer or unsportsmanlike foul, which
occurred during the down.
3. If R is first to touch a scrimmage kick beyond the neutral
zone, a new series will be awarded the team in possession at
end of the down, unless there was a foul before the kick and
the penalty was accepted, or there was a double foul or there
was an inadvertent whistle during the kick following the
touching by R.
4. The only defensive fouls which automatically cause a first
down are pass interference, roughing the kicker or place-kick
holder, roughing the passer and roughing the snapper.
5. If the penalty is accepted for any live ball foul by either
team during the last timed down of a period, the period must
be extended by an untimed down, except for unsportsmanlike
fouls, nonplayer fouls, fouls that specify a loss of down, or
fouls as specified in Rule 3-3-4.
6. No series can ever start on a down other than first.
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I. Possession 1. A live ball is always in possession of a team.
2. A live ball is in player possession or is loose.
3. A loose ball is in possession of the team whose player was
last in possession.
4. A player in possession of a live ball is a runner.
5. A player cannot fumble before gaining possession.
6. No foul causes loss of the ball.
7. After a distance penalty, the ball belongs to the team which
was in possession at the time of the foul according to
applicable rules. Team possession may then change if a new
series is awarded.
8. Possession of a live ball in the opponent's end zone is
always a touchdown.
1
, Football Fundamentals
II. Downs 1. A down begins when the ball becomes live and ends when it
becomes dead.
2. Whether the next down will be first is determined at the time
the ball becomes dead and after considering the effect of any
act, except a nonplayer or unsportsmanlike foul, which
occurred during the down.
3. If R is first to touch a scrimmage kick beyond the neutral
zone, a new series will be awarded the team in possession at
end of the down, unless there was a foul before the kick and
the penalty was accepted, or there was a double foul or there
was an inadvertent whistle during the kick following the
touching by R.
4. The only defensive fouls which automatically cause a first
down are pass interference, roughing the kicker or place-kick
holder, roughing the passer and roughing the snapper.
5. If the penalty is accepted for any live ball foul by either
team during the last timed down of a period, the period must
be extended by an untimed down, except for unsportsmanlike
fouls, nonplayer fouls, fouls that specify a loss of down, or
fouls as specified in Rule 3-3-4.
6. No series can ever start on a down other than first.
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