NFHS FOOTBALL RULES STUDY GUIDE
2026 ACTUAL QUESTIONS WITH
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
● 6.1.3 SITUATION B:
After the ready for play and prior to the ball being kicked, Team K has
five players to the left of the kicker and five players to the right of the
kicker with the ball spotted at the K40. Prior to the ball being kicked,
player K2: (a) has both feet just beyond the K35 (toward midfield); (b)
has a foot touching the K35; (c) has one foot touching beyond the K35
toward the K36 and one foot behind the K35; or (d) K has both feet
clearly beyond the K35 (toward midfield) but his hand is touching
behind the K35 (toward K's goal line). Answer: RULING: Legal in (a)
and (d). Free kick infraction in (b) and (c).
● 6.1.4 SITUATION:
After the ready for play and as the ball is being kicked, Team K has three
players to the left of the kicker and seven players to the right of the
kicker. Answer: RULING: It is a free kick infraction by K. The ball shall
be blown dead immediately and R given the option to accept the
distance penalty of 5 yards for the dead-ball foul.
COMMENT: Communication between the game officials and both
teams is critical and the referee should ensure that all opportunities for
assembling in a proper formation have been given before sounding the
ready-for-play signal.
,● 6.1.6 SITUATION A:
A kickoff by K1 from K's 40 is muffed by R1 near his 20-yard line. The
muff is caught by K2 at the 18 and he advances into R's end zone.
Answer: RULING: It will be K's ball first and 10 from R's 18. K2 may
catch or recover the muffed kick, but may not advance. The ball is dead
when K gains possession. The covering official should sound his whistle
to stop play immediately when the ball becomes dead.
● 6.1.6 SITUATION B:
K's free kick is bouncing on the ground in the neutral zone where R1 and
K1 are engaged in blocking one another. K2 muffs the ball and the ball
touches R1 on the leg and K3 recovers the ball. Answer: RULING: The
touching by R is ignored and R will be awarded possession of the ball at
the spot of first touching or at the dead-ball spot.
● *6.1.7 SITUATION A:
A free kick from K's 40 is high and comes down over K's 45 where it is
muffed in flight by K2 after which it is recovered by K3 on R's 40.
Answer: RULING: This is first touching and also kick-catching
interference by K2. R may choose to take the ball at the spot of first
touching, take the results of the play or accept the 15-yard penalty for
kick-catching interference. If the distance penalty is accepted, it is R's
choice to have the penalty enforced from the spot of the foul or to have it
enforced from the previous spot and require K to rekick.
COMMENT: The game clock will not be started when there is first
touching of a free kick. The purpose is to prevent the kickers from
taking advantage by touching the ball to start the game clock and
, thereby deny the receivers the opportunity of putting the ball in play.
The exception "the game clock not starting with first touching," is
protection for the receiving team and is consistent with the philosophy
that the receiving team be given an opportunity of putting the ball in
play following a free kick. (3-4-1, 6-5-4, 6-5-6)
● 6.1.7 SITUATION B:
The ball is free kicked from K's 40-yard line and in flight, it crosses the
50-yard line before a strong wind blows it back to K's 45 where it:
(a) is touched in flight by K1, or(b) touches the ground and is recovered
by K2. Answer: RULING: Kick-catching interference in (a), first and 10
for K in (b).
COMMENT: The free-kick lines marking the neutral zone for K and R
are vertical planes. When the free kick penetrates R's free-kick line in
flight, it is considered to have gone the required 10 yards. If it also has
touched the ground, before or after going 10 yards, it can be recovered,
but not advanced by K. (6-1-6)
● 6.1.9 SITUATION A:
The free kick by K1 is possessed by R1 who:
(a) is airborne and alights with one foot in contact with the sideline at his
26, or(b) contacts the sideline on the 26 after completing the catch.
Answer: RULING: In (a) and (b), R will put the ball in play, first and 10,
from its 26-yard line because R1 caused the ball to go out of bounds at
the 26. (2-4-1)
2026 ACTUAL QUESTIONS WITH
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
● 6.1.3 SITUATION B:
After the ready for play and prior to the ball being kicked, Team K has
five players to the left of the kicker and five players to the right of the
kicker with the ball spotted at the K40. Prior to the ball being kicked,
player K2: (a) has both feet just beyond the K35 (toward midfield); (b)
has a foot touching the K35; (c) has one foot touching beyond the K35
toward the K36 and one foot behind the K35; or (d) K has both feet
clearly beyond the K35 (toward midfield) but his hand is touching
behind the K35 (toward K's goal line). Answer: RULING: Legal in (a)
and (d). Free kick infraction in (b) and (c).
● 6.1.4 SITUATION:
After the ready for play and as the ball is being kicked, Team K has three
players to the left of the kicker and seven players to the right of the
kicker. Answer: RULING: It is a free kick infraction by K. The ball shall
be blown dead immediately and R given the option to accept the
distance penalty of 5 yards for the dead-ball foul.
COMMENT: Communication between the game officials and both
teams is critical and the referee should ensure that all opportunities for
assembling in a proper formation have been given before sounding the
ready-for-play signal.
,● 6.1.6 SITUATION A:
A kickoff by K1 from K's 40 is muffed by R1 near his 20-yard line. The
muff is caught by K2 at the 18 and he advances into R's end zone.
Answer: RULING: It will be K's ball first and 10 from R's 18. K2 may
catch or recover the muffed kick, but may not advance. The ball is dead
when K gains possession. The covering official should sound his whistle
to stop play immediately when the ball becomes dead.
● 6.1.6 SITUATION B:
K's free kick is bouncing on the ground in the neutral zone where R1 and
K1 are engaged in blocking one another. K2 muffs the ball and the ball
touches R1 on the leg and K3 recovers the ball. Answer: RULING: The
touching by R is ignored and R will be awarded possession of the ball at
the spot of first touching or at the dead-ball spot.
● *6.1.7 SITUATION A:
A free kick from K's 40 is high and comes down over K's 45 where it is
muffed in flight by K2 after which it is recovered by K3 on R's 40.
Answer: RULING: This is first touching and also kick-catching
interference by K2. R may choose to take the ball at the spot of first
touching, take the results of the play or accept the 15-yard penalty for
kick-catching interference. If the distance penalty is accepted, it is R's
choice to have the penalty enforced from the spot of the foul or to have it
enforced from the previous spot and require K to rekick.
COMMENT: The game clock will not be started when there is first
touching of a free kick. The purpose is to prevent the kickers from
taking advantage by touching the ball to start the game clock and
, thereby deny the receivers the opportunity of putting the ball in play.
The exception "the game clock not starting with first touching," is
protection for the receiving team and is consistent with the philosophy
that the receiving team be given an opportunity of putting the ball in
play following a free kick. (3-4-1, 6-5-4, 6-5-6)
● 6.1.7 SITUATION B:
The ball is free kicked from K's 40-yard line and in flight, it crosses the
50-yard line before a strong wind blows it back to K's 45 where it:
(a) is touched in flight by K1, or(b) touches the ground and is recovered
by K2. Answer: RULING: Kick-catching interference in (a), first and 10
for K in (b).
COMMENT: The free-kick lines marking the neutral zone for K and R
are vertical planes. When the free kick penetrates R's free-kick line in
flight, it is considered to have gone the required 10 yards. If it also has
touched the ground, before or after going 10 yards, it can be recovered,
but not advanced by K. (6-1-6)
● 6.1.9 SITUATION A:
The free kick by K1 is possessed by R1 who:
(a) is airborne and alights with one foot in contact with the sideline at his
26, or(b) contacts the sideline on the 26 after completing the catch.
Answer: RULING: In (a) and (b), R will put the ball in play, first and 10,
from its 26-yard line because R1 caused the ball to go out of bounds at
the 26. (2-4-1)
