Rule 2 Definitions
2-10-1 - ANS-The field is the area within the boundary lines and the end lines.
2-10-2 - ANS-The field of play is the area within the boundary lines and the goal lines.
2-10-3 - ANS-The side zones are the areas bounded by the sidelines, the hash marks and the
goal lines.
2-10-4 - ANS-The end zones are 10 yards in depth and are located at each end of the field
between the goal line and the end line. The goal line is in the end zone and a team's end zone
is the one it is defending.
2-26-1 - ANS-The boundary lines are the end lines and sidelines and are out of bounds.
2-26-2 - ANS-The end line is the outer limit of each end zone.
2-26-3 - ANS-The goal line is the vertical plane which separates the field of play from the end
zone. When related to a live ball in a runner's possession (touching inbounds) while the ball is
over the out-of-bounds area, the goal line includes the extension beyond the sidelines. A team's
own goal line is the one it is defending.
2-26-4 - ANS-The hash marks are a series of marks parallel with the sidelines which divide the
field of play longitudinally into thirds. The hash marks shall be marked so that they are bisected
by the yard lines.
2-26-6 - ANS-The sideline is the lateral limit of the field of play and the end zones. It extends
from one end line to the other.
2-26-7 - ANS-A yard line is any line and its vertical plane parallel to the end lines. The yard
lines, marked or unmarked, in the field of play are numbered in yards from a team's own goal
line to the middle of the field.
2-26-8 - ANS-A restraining line is a line placed around the outside of the field. No person,
including but not limited to, spectators, game administrators or members of the media, shall be
allowed within the restraining line. A maximum of three coaches as well as permitted nonplayers
are allowed within the restraining line in front of the team box, as provided for in Rule 9-8-3.
2-6-1 - ANS-The referee confers with the coach at the sideline in front of his team box in the
field of play.
, 2-6-2 - ANS-Authorized Team Conference - There are two types of authorized team
conferences: a. Outside 9-Yard Mark Conference - One or more team members and one or
more coaches directly in front of the team box within 9 yards of the sideline, or b. Between
9-Yard Mark Conference - One coach on the field to confer with no more than 11 players at his
team's huddle between the hash marks.
2-32-1 - ANS-A player is one of the 22 team members who is designated to start either half of
the game or who subsequently replaces another player. A player continues to be a player until a
substitute enters the field and indicates to the player that he is replaced, or when the substitute
otherwise becomes a player.
2-32-2 - ANS-A player of A is A1 and teammates are A2 and A3. Other abbreviations are B1 for
a player of B, K1 for a player of the kickers and R1 for one of the receivers.
2-32-5 - ANS-A captain of a team is a player designated to represent his team during: a. The
pregame and overtime coin toss. (Limit of four captains in game uniform.) b. Penalty decisions
following a foul. c. Ball placement on a try, a kickoff, after a safety, after a fair catch or awarded
fair catch, after a touchback and to start an overtime.
2-32-6 - ANS-A disqualified player is a player barred from further participation in a game.
2-32-10 - ANS-A non-player is a coach, athletic trainer, other attendant, a substitute or a
replaced player who does not participate by touching the ball, hindering an opponent or
influencing the play. See 9-6 for illegal participation.
2-32-12 - ANS-A replaced player is one who has been notified by a substitute that he is to leave
the field. A player is also replaced when the entering substitute becomes a player.
2-32-15 - ANS-A substitute is a team member who may replace a player or fill a player vacancy.
A substitute becomes a player when he enters the field and communicates with a teammate or
a game official, enters the huddle, is positioned in a formation or participates in the play. An
entering substitute is not considered to be a player for encroachment restrictions until he is on
his team's side of the neutral zone. A team member entering the field to fill a player vacancy
remains a substitute until he is on his team's side of the neutral zone.
2-35 - ANS-Ready-for-play signifies that the ball may be put in play by a snap or a free kick with
25 seconds or 40 seconds on the play clock.
2-1-1 - ANS-A dead ball is a ball not in play. The ball is dead during the interval between downs.
2-1-2 - ANS-A live ball is a ball in play. A ball becomes live when the ball has been legally
snapped or free kicked and a down is in progress.
2-10-1 - ANS-The field is the area within the boundary lines and the end lines.
2-10-2 - ANS-The field of play is the area within the boundary lines and the goal lines.
2-10-3 - ANS-The side zones are the areas bounded by the sidelines, the hash marks and the
goal lines.
2-10-4 - ANS-The end zones are 10 yards in depth and are located at each end of the field
between the goal line and the end line. The goal line is in the end zone and a team's end zone
is the one it is defending.
2-26-1 - ANS-The boundary lines are the end lines and sidelines and are out of bounds.
2-26-2 - ANS-The end line is the outer limit of each end zone.
2-26-3 - ANS-The goal line is the vertical plane which separates the field of play from the end
zone. When related to a live ball in a runner's possession (touching inbounds) while the ball is
over the out-of-bounds area, the goal line includes the extension beyond the sidelines. A team's
own goal line is the one it is defending.
2-26-4 - ANS-The hash marks are a series of marks parallel with the sidelines which divide the
field of play longitudinally into thirds. The hash marks shall be marked so that they are bisected
by the yard lines.
2-26-6 - ANS-The sideline is the lateral limit of the field of play and the end zones. It extends
from one end line to the other.
2-26-7 - ANS-A yard line is any line and its vertical plane parallel to the end lines. The yard
lines, marked or unmarked, in the field of play are numbered in yards from a team's own goal
line to the middle of the field.
2-26-8 - ANS-A restraining line is a line placed around the outside of the field. No person,
including but not limited to, spectators, game administrators or members of the media, shall be
allowed within the restraining line. A maximum of three coaches as well as permitted nonplayers
are allowed within the restraining line in front of the team box, as provided for in Rule 9-8-3.
2-6-1 - ANS-The referee confers with the coach at the sideline in front of his team box in the
field of play.
, 2-6-2 - ANS-Authorized Team Conference - There are two types of authorized team
conferences: a. Outside 9-Yard Mark Conference - One or more team members and one or
more coaches directly in front of the team box within 9 yards of the sideline, or b. Between
9-Yard Mark Conference - One coach on the field to confer with no more than 11 players at his
team's huddle between the hash marks.
2-32-1 - ANS-A player is one of the 22 team members who is designated to start either half of
the game or who subsequently replaces another player. A player continues to be a player until a
substitute enters the field and indicates to the player that he is replaced, or when the substitute
otherwise becomes a player.
2-32-2 - ANS-A player of A is A1 and teammates are A2 and A3. Other abbreviations are B1 for
a player of B, K1 for a player of the kickers and R1 for one of the receivers.
2-32-5 - ANS-A captain of a team is a player designated to represent his team during: a. The
pregame and overtime coin toss. (Limit of four captains in game uniform.) b. Penalty decisions
following a foul. c. Ball placement on a try, a kickoff, after a safety, after a fair catch or awarded
fair catch, after a touchback and to start an overtime.
2-32-6 - ANS-A disqualified player is a player barred from further participation in a game.
2-32-10 - ANS-A non-player is a coach, athletic trainer, other attendant, a substitute or a
replaced player who does not participate by touching the ball, hindering an opponent or
influencing the play. See 9-6 for illegal participation.
2-32-12 - ANS-A replaced player is one who has been notified by a substitute that he is to leave
the field. A player is also replaced when the entering substitute becomes a player.
2-32-15 - ANS-A substitute is a team member who may replace a player or fill a player vacancy.
A substitute becomes a player when he enters the field and communicates with a teammate or
a game official, enters the huddle, is positioned in a formation or participates in the play. An
entering substitute is not considered to be a player for encroachment restrictions until he is on
his team's side of the neutral zone. A team member entering the field to fill a player vacancy
remains a substitute until he is on his team's side of the neutral zone.
2-35 - ANS-Ready-for-play signifies that the ball may be put in play by a snap or a free kick with
25 seconds or 40 seconds on the play clock.
2-1-1 - ANS-A dead ball is a ball not in play. The ball is dead during the interval between downs.
2-1-2 - ANS-A live ball is a ball in play. A ball becomes live when the ball has been legally
snapped or free kicked and a down is in progress.
