NFHS FOOTBALL RULES BOARD
EVALUATION 2026 GUARANTEED PASS
ANSWERS GRADED A+
● 8th grade and below inflation pressure. Answer: 12 1/2 to 13 1/2 psi
● Dead ball is. Answer: is a ball not in play. The ball is dead during the
interval between downs.
● Live ball. Answer: 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.
● Loose ball is. Answer: is a pass, fumble or a kick. The terms "pass,"
"fumble" and "kick" are sometimes used as abbreviations when the ball
is loose following the acts of passing, fumbling or kicking the ball. A
loose ball which has not yet touched the ground is in flight. A grounded
loose ball is one which has touched the ground. Any loose ball continues
to be a loose ball until a player secures possession of it or until it
becomes dead by rule, whichever comes first.
● Batting is. Answer: is intentionally slapping or striking the ball with
the arm or hand.
,● Blocking. Answer: obstructing an opponent by contacting him with
any part of the blocker's body. ART. 2 . . . In blocking, a player may
contact opponents with the arms or hands provided the technique is
legal. The legal techniques are as follows: a. Closed or cupped hand
technique: 1. The elbows may be inside or outside the shoulders. 2. The
hands must be closed or cupped with the palms not facing the opponent.
3. The forearms are extended no more than 45 degrees from the body. b.
Open hand technique. The hand(s) shall be: 1. In advance of the elbow.
2. Inside the frame of the blocker's body; the frame of the blocker's body
is the front of the body at or below the shoulders. 3. Inside the frame of
the opponent's body, except when the opponent turns his back to the
blocker during the block or after the blocker is committed to his charge.
The frame of the opponent's body is at the shoulders or below other than
the back. 4. At or below the shoulders of the blocker and the opponent,
except when the opponent squats, ducks or submarines during the block
or after the blocker is committed to his charge. 5. Open, when the
palm(s) are facing the frame of the opponent or when the forearms are
extended beyond the 45 degree angle from the body.
● Blockers hands. Answer: The blocker's hand(s) may not be locked nor
may he swing, throw or flip the elbow or forearm so that it is moving
faster than the blocker's shoulders at the time the elbow, forearm or
shoulder contacts the opponent. The blocker may not initiate contact
with his arm or hand against an opponent above the opponent's shoulder,
but he may use his hand or arm to break a fall or maintain his balance.
● Offensive players blocking hands. Answer: may also use his hands or
arms: a. When he is a runner, to ward off or push any player. b. During a
kick, to ward off an opponent who is attempting to block him. c. To
,push, pull or ward off an opponent when the ball is loose if he may
legally touch or possess the ball if such contact is not pass interference, a
personal foul or illegal use of hands.
● Defensive blocking. Answer: Use unlocked hands, hand or arm to
ward off an opponent who is blocking him or is attempting to block him.
b. Push, pull or ward off an opponent in an actual attempt to get at the
runner or a loose ball if such contact is not pass interference, a personal
foul or illegal use of hands.
● Blocking article 6. Answer: When a player on defense uses a hand or
arm, the hand must be in advance of the elbow at the time of the contact
and at the shoulder or below unless the opponent squats, ducks or
submarines.
● Blocking below the waist article 7. Answer: is making initial contact
below the waist from the front or side against an opponent other than a
runner. Contact with an opponent's hand(s) below the waist that
continues into the body below the waist is considered blocking below
the waist. Blocking below the waist applies only when the opponent has
one or both feet on the ground.
● Chop block article 8. Answer: is a combination block by two or more
teammates against an opponent other than the runner, with or without
delay, where one of the blocks is low (at the knee or below) and one of
the blocks is high (above the knee) ( Table 9-3-6 ).
, ● Interlock block article 9. Answer: occurs when one player grasps or
encircles a teammate just prior to or while blocking an opponent.
● Blindside block article 10. Answer: is a block against an opponent
other than the runner, who does not see the blocker approaching.
● Section 4 article 1 Catch. Answer: is the act of establishing player
possession of a live ball which is in flight, and first contacting the
ground inbounds while maintaining possession of the ball or having the
forward progress of the player in possession stopped while the opponent
is carrying the player who is in possession and inbounds.
● Catching article 2 and article 3. Answer: Catching is always preceded
by touching the ball; thus, if touching causes the ball to become dead,
securing possession of the ball has no significance. ART. 3 . . . A
simultaneous catch or recovery is a catch or recovery in which there is
joint possession of a live ball by opposing players who are inbounds.
● Section 5 article 1 clipping / blocking. Answer: a block against an
opponent when the initial contact is from behind, at or below the waist,
and not against a player who is a runner or pretending to be a runner.
● section 5 article 2 blocking in the back. Answer: is a block against an
opponent when the initial contact is in the opponent's back, inside the
shoulders and below the helmet and above the waist, and not against a
player who is a runner or pretending to be a runner.
EVALUATION 2026 GUARANTEED PASS
ANSWERS GRADED A+
● 8th grade and below inflation pressure. Answer: 12 1/2 to 13 1/2 psi
● Dead ball is. Answer: is a ball not in play. The ball is dead during the
interval between downs.
● Live ball. Answer: 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.
● Loose ball is. Answer: is a pass, fumble or a kick. The terms "pass,"
"fumble" and "kick" are sometimes used as abbreviations when the ball
is loose following the acts of passing, fumbling or kicking the ball. A
loose ball which has not yet touched the ground is in flight. A grounded
loose ball is one which has touched the ground. Any loose ball continues
to be a loose ball until a player secures possession of it or until it
becomes dead by rule, whichever comes first.
● Batting is. Answer: is intentionally slapping or striking the ball with
the arm or hand.
,● Blocking. Answer: obstructing an opponent by contacting him with
any part of the blocker's body. ART. 2 . . . In blocking, a player may
contact opponents with the arms or hands provided the technique is
legal. The legal techniques are as follows: a. Closed or cupped hand
technique: 1. The elbows may be inside or outside the shoulders. 2. The
hands must be closed or cupped with the palms not facing the opponent.
3. The forearms are extended no more than 45 degrees from the body. b.
Open hand technique. The hand(s) shall be: 1. In advance of the elbow.
2. Inside the frame of the blocker's body; the frame of the blocker's body
is the front of the body at or below the shoulders. 3. Inside the frame of
the opponent's body, except when the opponent turns his back to the
blocker during the block or after the blocker is committed to his charge.
The frame of the opponent's body is at the shoulders or below other than
the back. 4. At or below the shoulders of the blocker and the opponent,
except when the opponent squats, ducks or submarines during the block
or after the blocker is committed to his charge. 5. Open, when the
palm(s) are facing the frame of the opponent or when the forearms are
extended beyond the 45 degree angle from the body.
● Blockers hands. Answer: The blocker's hand(s) may not be locked nor
may he swing, throw or flip the elbow or forearm so that it is moving
faster than the blocker's shoulders at the time the elbow, forearm or
shoulder contacts the opponent. The blocker may not initiate contact
with his arm or hand against an opponent above the opponent's shoulder,
but he may use his hand or arm to break a fall or maintain his balance.
● Offensive players blocking hands. Answer: may also use his hands or
arms: a. When he is a runner, to ward off or push any player. b. During a
kick, to ward off an opponent who is attempting to block him. c. To
,push, pull or ward off an opponent when the ball is loose if he may
legally touch or possess the ball if such contact is not pass interference, a
personal foul or illegal use of hands.
● Defensive blocking. Answer: Use unlocked hands, hand or arm to
ward off an opponent who is blocking him or is attempting to block him.
b. Push, pull or ward off an opponent in an actual attempt to get at the
runner or a loose ball if such contact is not pass interference, a personal
foul or illegal use of hands.
● Blocking article 6. Answer: When a player on defense uses a hand or
arm, the hand must be in advance of the elbow at the time of the contact
and at the shoulder or below unless the opponent squats, ducks or
submarines.
● Blocking below the waist article 7. Answer: is making initial contact
below the waist from the front or side against an opponent other than a
runner. Contact with an opponent's hand(s) below the waist that
continues into the body below the waist is considered blocking below
the waist. Blocking below the waist applies only when the opponent has
one or both feet on the ground.
● Chop block article 8. Answer: is a combination block by two or more
teammates against an opponent other than the runner, with or without
delay, where one of the blocks is low (at the knee or below) and one of
the blocks is high (above the knee) ( Table 9-3-6 ).
, ● Interlock block article 9. Answer: occurs when one player grasps or
encircles a teammate just prior to or while blocking an opponent.
● Blindside block article 10. Answer: is a block against an opponent
other than the runner, who does not see the blocker approaching.
● Section 4 article 1 Catch. Answer: is the act of establishing player
possession of a live ball which is in flight, and first contacting the
ground inbounds while maintaining possession of the ball or having the
forward progress of the player in possession stopped while the opponent
is carrying the player who is in possession and inbounds.
● Catching article 2 and article 3. Answer: Catching is always preceded
by touching the ball; thus, if touching causes the ball to become dead,
securing possession of the ball has no significance. ART. 3 . . . A
simultaneous catch or recovery is a catch or recovery in which there is
joint possession of a live ball by opposing players who are inbounds.
● Section 5 article 1 clipping / blocking. Answer: a block against an
opponent when the initial contact is from behind, at or below the waist,
and not against a player who is a runner or pretending to be a runner.
● section 5 article 2 blocking in the back. Answer: is a block against an
opponent when the initial contact is in the opponent's back, inside the
shoulders and below the helmet and above the waist, and not against a
player who is a runner or pretending to be a runner.
