2026 NFHS Soccer Exam - Part I
1. The referee observes Player B6 is wearing illegal equipment on the field while
the ball is in play. This is the first occurrence of illegal equipment being worn
by Team B and the referee determines there is no immediate danger. The
correct ruling is:
A. Stop play and caution (yellow card) Team B's head coach.
B. Stop play and caution (yellow card) B6.
C. At the next stoppage, caution (yellow card) Team B's head coach.
D. At the next stoppage, caution (yellow card) B6.
1. A10 is in an offside position. Defender B12, with time, space and clear sight of
the ball, extends their leg in an attempt to clear the ball. The ball then
inadvertently goes toward A10. The official shall:
A. Allow play to continue.
B. Penalize A10 for being offside and restart with an indirect free kick for Team B.
C. Penalize A10 for being offside and restart with a direct free kick for Team B.
D. Award a direct free kick to Team B.
2. Player A is part of a wall in a free kick. After the ball is kicked, Player A moves
their hands toward their face for protection. The ball then hits the hand of Player
A. The referee should:
A. Stop play and caution Player A for handling and award a new free kick from
the spot of the foul.
B. Stop play, and red card Player A for DOGSO.
C. Allow play to continue with no foul as this is a reflex action and not considered
to be deliberate handling.
D. Stop play and award a new direct kick from where Player A deliberately
handled the ball.
3. Both teams have a substitute waiting to enter the game. The referee stops play
for a foul committed by Team A and awards a direct free kick to Team B. No
player is injured and there was no misconduct. Which of the following
statements is true?
A. Only Team A's substitute is allowed to enter the game.
B. Only Team B's substitute is allowed to enter the game.
C. Both teams' substitutes are allowed to enter the game.
D. Neither teams' substitutes are allowed to enter the game.
,4. Player A spits at Player B during a verbal altercation.
A. Players A and B are both cautioned and shown the yellow card for the verbal
altercation.
B. Player A is ejected and shown the red card for spitting at Player B.
C. Player A is cautioned and shown the yellow card for spitting at Player B.
D. Players A and B are both ejected and shown the red card for violent conduct.
5. During play, Player A1 appears injured. The referee whistles to stop play. When is
the player required to leave the field?
A. The player must leave the field because play was stopped for an injury.
B. The player must leave the field once the referee stops the clock.
C. The player must leave the field once the referee beckons the coach or
appropriate health-care professional.
D. The player must leave the field once the player has been deemed injured by
the coach or appropriate health-care professional.
6. A goal may not be scored directly from a:
A. Kickoff.
B. Dropped Ball.
C. Goal Kick.
D. Penalty Kick.
7. When determining whether an obvious goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO) has
been denied, the following must be considered and present:
A. Direction of play and distance between the offense and the goal.
B. Likelihood of keeping or gaining control of the ball.
C. Location and number of defenders.
D. All of the above.
8. Coach A is observed using a vape pen on the sideline but 50 feet from a player.
A. This is permitted as long as the coach has approval from the athletic
administrator.
B. This is not allowed in any circumstance.
C. This is permitted with a doctor or trainer's permission for medical reason.
D. This is permitted.
,9. Team A is awarded a throw-in near the halfway line. Player A2 stands on the
touchline and starts to throw the ball in from behind and over their head. Before
releasing the ball, A2 stops, turns in a different direction, and throws the ball in
from behind and over their head. The referee:
A. Blows the whistle for an illegal throw and awards a throw-in to Team B.
B. Whistles for a foul and restarts with a direct free kick to Team B.
C. Allows play to continue as this is legal.
D. Issues a yellow card to A2 for delay of game.
10. Player A3 has hair beads at the end of a pony tail secured to their head with a
bun. During play, the bun comes undone allowing the pony tail with beads to
swing freely. At the next stoppage, what should the referee do?
A. Require A3 to immediately leave the field without a caution.
B. Ask A3 to correct the equipment, and if not immediately correctable, ask A3
to leave the field without a caution.
C. Require A3 to immediately leave the field and caution A3's head coach.
D. Ask A3 to correct the equipment, and if not immediately correctable, ask A3
to leave the field and caution A's head coach.
11. The ball goes out of play over the touchline. The referee signals to award
Team B the throw-in. Player B12 quickly picks up the ball and throws it in. After
the ball was legally put into play, the referee realizes that the throw-in should
have awarded to Team A. The referee must:
A. Allow play to continue.
B. Stop play and have Team A take the throw-in.
C. Caution B12 for delaying the restart and have Team A take the throw-in.
D. Stop play and restart with a drop ball for Team A.
12. After a goal by Team B, a player on Team A stands in the opponent's half of
the field and kicks the ball backward after the official blows the whistle to restart
the game. Before the ball is touched by another player, the same player kicks
the ball again to redirect it.
A. This is legal and play should continue.
B. This is illegal and the kick should be retaken.
C. This is illegal and Team B should be awarded a direct free kick.
D. This is illegal and Team B should be awarded an indirect free kick.
13. Which of the following would negate a player being penalized for being
offside?
, A. Interfering with play.
B. Interfering with an opponent.
C. Gaining an advantage by being in the position.
D. The defender deliberately playing the ball (and not a deliberate save).
14. Team A is in the lead during the last five minutes of the game. Team B has a
substitute who has reported to the official area and is ready to substitute. Team
A then sends a player to report to the official area and is ready to substitute. The
ball goes out of play and Team B is awarded a throw-in. The official shall:
A. Not stop the clock if both teams are substituting.
B. Allow the substitutions and the clock is not stopped.
C. Stop the clock for the substitutions.
D. Caution the Team A coach for unsporting conduct.
15. Team A is awarded a drop ball. The referee drops the ball to Player A10. After
the ball is in play, A10 kicks the ball directly into the opponent's goal. What is
the correct call?
A. Goal is awarded to Team A; play restarts with a kickoff for the opposing team.
B. No goal; the ball must touch another player before a goal can be scored from
a dropped ball. Play restarts with a goal kick for the opposing team.
C. No goal; Team A is awarded an indirect free kick from the spot where Player
A10 shot the ball.
D. Retake the dropped ball because the ball was not in play when the shot was
taken.
16. The referee beckons the coach or appropriate health-care provider onto the
field after the goalkeeper and a teammate collide. Both players remain on the
ground holding their heads. The referee shall:
A. Allow both players to remain in the game if requested by their coach.
B. Only allow both players to stay in the game if cleared by the athletic trainer.
C. Only allow the goalkeeper to remain in the game after being checked out.
D. Ensure that both players leave the field with the option to be substituted.
17. The referee observes Player A1 wearing socks with the foot cut off.
A. This is illegal. Cut socks cannot be worn.
B. This is illegal. The color of the foot of the sock must match the body of the
sock.
1. The referee observes Player B6 is wearing illegal equipment on the field while
the ball is in play. This is the first occurrence of illegal equipment being worn
by Team B and the referee determines there is no immediate danger. The
correct ruling is:
A. Stop play and caution (yellow card) Team B's head coach.
B. Stop play and caution (yellow card) B6.
C. At the next stoppage, caution (yellow card) Team B's head coach.
D. At the next stoppage, caution (yellow card) B6.
1. A10 is in an offside position. Defender B12, with time, space and clear sight of
the ball, extends their leg in an attempt to clear the ball. The ball then
inadvertently goes toward A10. The official shall:
A. Allow play to continue.
B. Penalize A10 for being offside and restart with an indirect free kick for Team B.
C. Penalize A10 for being offside and restart with a direct free kick for Team B.
D. Award a direct free kick to Team B.
2. Player A is part of a wall in a free kick. After the ball is kicked, Player A moves
their hands toward their face for protection. The ball then hits the hand of Player
A. The referee should:
A. Stop play and caution Player A for handling and award a new free kick from
the spot of the foul.
B. Stop play, and red card Player A for DOGSO.
C. Allow play to continue with no foul as this is a reflex action and not considered
to be deliberate handling.
D. Stop play and award a new direct kick from where Player A deliberately
handled the ball.
3. Both teams have a substitute waiting to enter the game. The referee stops play
for a foul committed by Team A and awards a direct free kick to Team B. No
player is injured and there was no misconduct. Which of the following
statements is true?
A. Only Team A's substitute is allowed to enter the game.
B. Only Team B's substitute is allowed to enter the game.
C. Both teams' substitutes are allowed to enter the game.
D. Neither teams' substitutes are allowed to enter the game.
,4. Player A spits at Player B during a verbal altercation.
A. Players A and B are both cautioned and shown the yellow card for the verbal
altercation.
B. Player A is ejected and shown the red card for spitting at Player B.
C. Player A is cautioned and shown the yellow card for spitting at Player B.
D. Players A and B are both ejected and shown the red card for violent conduct.
5. During play, Player A1 appears injured. The referee whistles to stop play. When is
the player required to leave the field?
A. The player must leave the field because play was stopped for an injury.
B. The player must leave the field once the referee stops the clock.
C. The player must leave the field once the referee beckons the coach or
appropriate health-care professional.
D. The player must leave the field once the player has been deemed injured by
the coach or appropriate health-care professional.
6. A goal may not be scored directly from a:
A. Kickoff.
B. Dropped Ball.
C. Goal Kick.
D. Penalty Kick.
7. When determining whether an obvious goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO) has
been denied, the following must be considered and present:
A. Direction of play and distance between the offense and the goal.
B. Likelihood of keeping or gaining control of the ball.
C. Location and number of defenders.
D. All of the above.
8. Coach A is observed using a vape pen on the sideline but 50 feet from a player.
A. This is permitted as long as the coach has approval from the athletic
administrator.
B. This is not allowed in any circumstance.
C. This is permitted with a doctor or trainer's permission for medical reason.
D. This is permitted.
,9. Team A is awarded a throw-in near the halfway line. Player A2 stands on the
touchline and starts to throw the ball in from behind and over their head. Before
releasing the ball, A2 stops, turns in a different direction, and throws the ball in
from behind and over their head. The referee:
A. Blows the whistle for an illegal throw and awards a throw-in to Team B.
B. Whistles for a foul and restarts with a direct free kick to Team B.
C. Allows play to continue as this is legal.
D. Issues a yellow card to A2 for delay of game.
10. Player A3 has hair beads at the end of a pony tail secured to their head with a
bun. During play, the bun comes undone allowing the pony tail with beads to
swing freely. At the next stoppage, what should the referee do?
A. Require A3 to immediately leave the field without a caution.
B. Ask A3 to correct the equipment, and if not immediately correctable, ask A3
to leave the field without a caution.
C. Require A3 to immediately leave the field and caution A3's head coach.
D. Ask A3 to correct the equipment, and if not immediately correctable, ask A3
to leave the field and caution A's head coach.
11. The ball goes out of play over the touchline. The referee signals to award
Team B the throw-in. Player B12 quickly picks up the ball and throws it in. After
the ball was legally put into play, the referee realizes that the throw-in should
have awarded to Team A. The referee must:
A. Allow play to continue.
B. Stop play and have Team A take the throw-in.
C. Caution B12 for delaying the restart and have Team A take the throw-in.
D. Stop play and restart with a drop ball for Team A.
12. After a goal by Team B, a player on Team A stands in the opponent's half of
the field and kicks the ball backward after the official blows the whistle to restart
the game. Before the ball is touched by another player, the same player kicks
the ball again to redirect it.
A. This is legal and play should continue.
B. This is illegal and the kick should be retaken.
C. This is illegal and Team B should be awarded a direct free kick.
D. This is illegal and Team B should be awarded an indirect free kick.
13. Which of the following would negate a player being penalized for being
offside?
, A. Interfering with play.
B. Interfering with an opponent.
C. Gaining an advantage by being in the position.
D. The defender deliberately playing the ball (and not a deliberate save).
14. Team A is in the lead during the last five minutes of the game. Team B has a
substitute who has reported to the official area and is ready to substitute. Team
A then sends a player to report to the official area and is ready to substitute. The
ball goes out of play and Team B is awarded a throw-in. The official shall:
A. Not stop the clock if both teams are substituting.
B. Allow the substitutions and the clock is not stopped.
C. Stop the clock for the substitutions.
D. Caution the Team A coach for unsporting conduct.
15. Team A is awarded a drop ball. The referee drops the ball to Player A10. After
the ball is in play, A10 kicks the ball directly into the opponent's goal. What is
the correct call?
A. Goal is awarded to Team A; play restarts with a kickoff for the opposing team.
B. No goal; the ball must touch another player before a goal can be scored from
a dropped ball. Play restarts with a goal kick for the opposing team.
C. No goal; Team A is awarded an indirect free kick from the spot where Player
A10 shot the ball.
D. Retake the dropped ball because the ball was not in play when the shot was
taken.
16. The referee beckons the coach or appropriate health-care provider onto the
field after the goalkeeper and a teammate collide. Both players remain on the
ground holding their heads. The referee shall:
A. Allow both players to remain in the game if requested by their coach.
B. Only allow both players to stay in the game if cleared by the athletic trainer.
C. Only allow the goalkeeper to remain in the game after being checked out.
D. Ensure that both players leave the field with the option to be substituted.
17. The referee observes Player A1 wearing socks with the foot cut off.
A. This is illegal. Cut socks cannot be worn.
B. This is illegal. The color of the foot of the sock must match the body of the
sock.
