NFHS FOOTBALL RULES EXAM
QUESTION BANK 2026/2027 PRACTICE
QUESTIONS AND STUDY GUIDE
COMPLETE 300 REAL EXAM
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED CORRECT
ANSWERS ALREADY GRADED A+
GURANTEED SUCCESS
PART 1: FIELD & EQUIPMENT STANDARDS
1. What are the official dimensions of a high school football field,
excluding the end zones?
CORRECT ANSWER: 100 yards long by 53 yards, 3 inches wide
2. How long is each end zone in high school football?
CORRECT ANSWER: 10 yards
3. Are the hash marks in high school football the same distance from
the sidelines as in college football?
CORRECT ANSWER: No. NFHS hash marks are 53 feet, 4 inches from each
sideline (collegiate hash marks are 40 feet)
4. What is the required width of the goal posts (inside to inside)?
CORRECT ANSWER: 23 feet, 4 inches
5. What is the required thickness of the goal posts above the crossbar?
, CORRECT ANSWER: At least 4 inches
6. How many players from one team are allowed on the field during a
live ball?
CORRECT ANSWER: 11 players
7. What is the maximum number of players a team can have in the
huddle or at the line of scrimmage before a penalty is called?
CORRECT ANSWER: 11. A 12th player results in an Illegal Substitution
penalty if they remain for more than 3 seconds or if the ball is snapped
8. What is the mandatory mouthguard requirement in NFHS rules?
CORRECT ANSWER: All players must wear an intra-oral mouthpiece that
covers all upper teeth. It must be a visible color (not white or clear)
9. What is the maximum legal length of cleats on a player's shoes?
CORRECT ANSWER: 1/2 inch
10. Are "toe cleats" (a single cleat at the front tip of the shoe) legal in
NFHS football?
CORRECT ANSWER: No, toe cleats are illegal
11. What is the required size of the numbers on player jerseys?
CORRECT ANSWER: At least 8 inches high on the back and at least 10
inches high on the front
12. (True/False) Players are not required to wear knee pads.
CORRECT ANSWER: False
13. (True/False) Effective 2026, arm sleeves manufactured to enhance
contact with the football or opponent must meet SFIA specification at
the time of manufacture.
, CORRECT ANSWER: False
14. (True/False) Ball-colored exterior arm covers and undershirts are
legal equipment.
CORRECT ANSWER: False
PART 2: GAME ADMINISTRATION & TIMING
15. How long is a standard NFHS high school football quarter?
CORRECT ANSWER: 12 minutes
16. How long is the halftime intermission?
CORRECT ANSWER: 15 minutes (unless mutually agreed upon by both
teams to shorten it, but not less than 10 minutes)
17. When does the clock start on a free kick (kickoff)?
CORRECT ANSWER: When the ball is legally touched in the field of play
18. When does the clock start on a scrimmage down following a dead
ball?
CORRECT ANSWER: When the ball is legally snapped
19. (True/False) On all free kicks, the game clock will start when the
ball is marked ready-for-play.
CORRECT ANSWER: False. The clock starts when the ball is touched
20. Does the clock stop to move the chains after a first down?
CORRECT ANSWER: Yes, the clock stops briefly. It restarts when the ball is
marked ready for play, unless during the last 2 minutes of the half
, 21. When is a mandatory 10-second runoff applied?
CORRECT ANSWER: In the final two minutes of a half when a team
commits a foul that causes the clock to stop (e.g., false start, intentional
grounding)
22. What is the "Mercy Rule" or "Running Clock" point differential in
NFHS?
CORRECT ANSWER: 35 points. When the point differential reaches 35, the
clock runs continuously for the remainder of the game
23. During a running clock (mercy rule) situation, when does the clock
stop?
CORRECT ANSWER: Only for timeouts, injuries, or scores
24. Can a team use consecutive charged timeouts to stop the clock?
CORRECT ANSWER: No, a team may not use consecutive charged
timeouts during the same dead ball period
25. What is the NFHS overtime procedure?
CORRECT ANSWER: The ball is placed at the 10-yard line. Each team gets
one series of downs to score. If still tied, the process repeats
26. (True/False) After a team has used its permissible charged time-
outs for the half, any subsequent request shall be denied unless it is
for an apparently injured player, necessary repair to player equipment,
or review of a possible misapplication of a rule.
CORRECT ANSWER: True
PART 3: KEY DEFINITIONS
QUESTION BANK 2026/2027 PRACTICE
QUESTIONS AND STUDY GUIDE
COMPLETE 300 REAL EXAM
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED CORRECT
ANSWERS ALREADY GRADED A+
GURANTEED SUCCESS
PART 1: FIELD & EQUIPMENT STANDARDS
1. What are the official dimensions of a high school football field,
excluding the end zones?
CORRECT ANSWER: 100 yards long by 53 yards, 3 inches wide
2. How long is each end zone in high school football?
CORRECT ANSWER: 10 yards
3. Are the hash marks in high school football the same distance from
the sidelines as in college football?
CORRECT ANSWER: No. NFHS hash marks are 53 feet, 4 inches from each
sideline (collegiate hash marks are 40 feet)
4. What is the required width of the goal posts (inside to inside)?
CORRECT ANSWER: 23 feet, 4 inches
5. What is the required thickness of the goal posts above the crossbar?
, CORRECT ANSWER: At least 4 inches
6. How many players from one team are allowed on the field during a
live ball?
CORRECT ANSWER: 11 players
7. What is the maximum number of players a team can have in the
huddle or at the line of scrimmage before a penalty is called?
CORRECT ANSWER: 11. A 12th player results in an Illegal Substitution
penalty if they remain for more than 3 seconds or if the ball is snapped
8. What is the mandatory mouthguard requirement in NFHS rules?
CORRECT ANSWER: All players must wear an intra-oral mouthpiece that
covers all upper teeth. It must be a visible color (not white or clear)
9. What is the maximum legal length of cleats on a player's shoes?
CORRECT ANSWER: 1/2 inch
10. Are "toe cleats" (a single cleat at the front tip of the shoe) legal in
NFHS football?
CORRECT ANSWER: No, toe cleats are illegal
11. What is the required size of the numbers on player jerseys?
CORRECT ANSWER: At least 8 inches high on the back and at least 10
inches high on the front
12. (True/False) Players are not required to wear knee pads.
CORRECT ANSWER: False
13. (True/False) Effective 2026, arm sleeves manufactured to enhance
contact with the football or opponent must meet SFIA specification at
the time of manufacture.
, CORRECT ANSWER: False
14. (True/False) Ball-colored exterior arm covers and undershirts are
legal equipment.
CORRECT ANSWER: False
PART 2: GAME ADMINISTRATION & TIMING
15. How long is a standard NFHS high school football quarter?
CORRECT ANSWER: 12 minutes
16. How long is the halftime intermission?
CORRECT ANSWER: 15 minutes (unless mutually agreed upon by both
teams to shorten it, but not less than 10 minutes)
17. When does the clock start on a free kick (kickoff)?
CORRECT ANSWER: When the ball is legally touched in the field of play
18. When does the clock start on a scrimmage down following a dead
ball?
CORRECT ANSWER: When the ball is legally snapped
19. (True/False) On all free kicks, the game clock will start when the
ball is marked ready-for-play.
CORRECT ANSWER: False. The clock starts when the ball is touched
20. Does the clock stop to move the chains after a first down?
CORRECT ANSWER: Yes, the clock stops briefly. It restarts when the ball is
marked ready for play, unless during the last 2 minutes of the half
, 21. When is a mandatory 10-second runoff applied?
CORRECT ANSWER: In the final two minutes of a half when a team
commits a foul that causes the clock to stop (e.g., false start, intentional
grounding)
22. What is the "Mercy Rule" or "Running Clock" point differential in
NFHS?
CORRECT ANSWER: 35 points. When the point differential reaches 35, the
clock runs continuously for the remainder of the game
23. During a running clock (mercy rule) situation, when does the clock
stop?
CORRECT ANSWER: Only for timeouts, injuries, or scores
24. Can a team use consecutive charged timeouts to stop the clock?
CORRECT ANSWER: No, a team may not use consecutive charged
timeouts during the same dead ball period
25. What is the NFHS overtime procedure?
CORRECT ANSWER: The ball is placed at the 10-yard line. Each team gets
one series of downs to score. If still tied, the process repeats
26. (True/False) After a team has used its permissible charged time-
outs for the half, any subsequent request shall be denied unless it is
for an apparently injured player, necessary repair to player equipment,
or review of a possible misapplication of a rule.
CORRECT ANSWER: True
PART 3: KEY DEFINITIONS
