1)  TRUE or FALSE?  Team A snaps the ball with 2:04 left in the half. With 1:56 remaining on the clock, quarterback A1 throws an illegal forward pass that falls incomplete. There is 1:54 showing on the clock after the down.  The foul for the illegal forward pass includes a 10-second subtraction from the game clock.

FALSE.  An incomplete illegal forward pass does require a ten second subtraction from the game clock if the foul happened during a down that started after the two-minute warning has occurred.  Since this down started with 2:04 remaining on the clock, there is no 10-second runoff.

2)  TRUE or FALSE?  B3, defending against a legal forward pass beyond the neutral zone, has their back to the ball and is waving their arms in the face of A8, but does not make contact.  This is a foul for defensive pass interference.

FALSE.  There is no foul for defensive pass interference if there is no contact.

3)  TRUE or FALSE?  3rd down & 5. Team A’s run is used/closed. Quarterback A5 throws a legal forward pass that is intercepted by B1. After the interception and during the return, B1 throws a backwards pass to B2.  The backwards pass is intercepted in the air by A8.  A8 is deflagged by B9.  It is now 1st & 10 for team A at the spot of B9's deflagging, and the run is now unused/open.

TRUE.  Because there has been a change of possession during the down, team A will now begin a new possession with the ball 1st & 10, and the scrimmage running play is available to them for use during the next possession.

4)  TRUE or FALSE?  At the time the ball is made ready for play receivers A3 and A4 are moving. A3 then comes to a stop and A4 continues in motion as the ball is snapped.  This is a dead ball foul and a false start.

TRUE.  This is a new editorial rule change for us this year.  Dead ball. False start. Team A players were not all stopped for a full second before the snap at any time after the ball was made ready for play. Officials should stop the action, and Team A is penalized five yards for a dead-ball foul. This is an illegal shift that converts to a false start and is eligible for a 10-second subtraction from the game clock if this foul occurs while the clock is running and after the two-minute warning has occurred.

5)  TRUE or FALSE?  After the ball is made ready for play, all seven Team A players come to a complete stop for a full second. Then receiver A5 goes laterally in motion.  While A5 is in motion, receiver A2 takes two steps backwards and resets.  A5 is still moving when the ball is snapped.  This is a dead ball foul and a false start.

FALSE.  This is a live ball foul for an illegal shift. The play should continue. When the ball is dead, the officials stop the clock to administer the penalty. This is an illegal shift that DOES NOT convert to a false start and is NOT eligible for a 10-second subtraction from the game clock in any scenario because all 7 A players were set for at least one second prior to the snap.

 

1)  TRUE or FALSE?  1st & 10 for A from the 40.  All 7 A players line up in a formation and back A5 goes in motion laterally.  While A5 is in motion, quarterback A1 takes two steps backward, sets, and receives the snap.  A5 remains in motion at the snap then turns downfield after the ball is snapped.  This is a penalty for an illegal shift.

TRUE.  According to rule 7.2.4., "after a huddle or shift, all Team A players shall come to an absolute stop and remain stationary, simultaneously, without pronounced movement of hands, feet, head or body for at least one second before the snap."  After that one second, only one player can be in motion, as long as that motion is not towards the line of scrimmage.  If player A5 had reset for one second after the QB A1 took their two steps backward, A5 could then go into motion again, and there would not be a foul for an illegal shift.

2)  TRUE or FALSE?  If a loose ball touches a game official who is straddling the sideline, the ball is not out of bounds.

FALSE.  According to rule 2.7.3., "a loose ball is out-of-bounds when it touches anything, including a player or game official, which is out of bounds."

3)  TRUE or FALSE?  Inside the last two minutes of either half, if a muffed snap touches the ground prior to the QB gaining possession, the clock should be stopped, the ball goes back to the previous spot, and the down counts.

FALSE.  Rule 3.1.3 says "an errant snap that touches the ground during the last two minutes of each half does not cause the clock to stop."  This is because an errant snap is treated like a fumble would be in tackle football, not an incomplete pass.  Team A should not be given the advantage of stopping the clock in the last two minutes of each half due to a muffed snap.

4)  TRUE or FALSE?  During overtime, if the defensive team gains possession of a live ball, the ball becomes dead immediately and the down and series has ended for the offensive team.

TRUE.  Rule 8.6.1.d

5)  TRUE or FALSE?  Once the snapper places both hands on the ball, they may not be removed until a legal snap occurs.

FALSE.  7.1.6. NOTE says, "The snapper may take their hand(s) off the ball, but only if this does not simulate the start of a play."

 

1)  In a Women's+ division game, a junior-sized football must be used.

FALSE.  A junior-sized football may be used, but it not required in the Women's+ division.  Also, youth-sized footballs are allowed in the Womens'+ division.

2)  During overtime, if the defense intercepts the ball and returns it for a touchdown, the game is over.

FALSE.  In overtime, if the defensive team gains possession of a live ball, the ball becomes dead immediately and the down and series has ended for the offensive team.  This rule mirrors high school football rules and is designed to give both teams' offenses and defenses a chance to compete in overtime.

3)  If a loss of down penalty by A on 4th down is accepted and after enforcement, the ball is short of the line-to-gain, it will be B’s ball with 1st down & 10.

TRUE.  All live ball fouls are enforced before checking/measuring for a first down for team A.  If after all live ball penalties are enforced after a foul is accepted that includes loss of down, then the ball belongs to the defense, 1st & 10

4)  A runner is moving downfield when they slip and begin to fall. In order to maintain balance, they place the ball on the ground to stabilize while maintaining possession. Ruling: Dead ball.

FALSE.  Rule 4.2.1.b says, "The ball becomes dead and the down is ended when the runner goes out-of-bounds or allows any part of their body except hand or foot to touch the ground (note: the down does not end if a ball touches the ground while still in control of a player)."  The ball is considered an extension of the hand.  This rule is the same across all levels of football.

5)  Inbounds runner bumps into a game official who has one foot on the sideline. Runner is out-of-bounds and the ball becomes dead.

FALSE.  Rule 2.7.2 says that "a ball in player possession is out-of-bounds when the runner or the ball touches anything, other than another player or game official, which is on or outside the sidelines or end line."  A player with possession of the ball simply touching an official who is standing out of bounds does not cause the player to be out of bounds, and therefore the ball remains live.  BONUS POINTS:  If a loose ball touches an official who is standing out of bounds, that does make the ball out of bounds.

6)  If A is guilty of offensive pass interference on 4th down and that penalty is accepted, it will be B’s ball with 1st down and 10.

FALSE.  Offensive pass interference is not a foul that carries a loss of down penalty, therefore the down would be replayed after enforcement of the 10-yard penalty from the previous spot.