NFHS FOOTBALL RULES PRACTICE TEST
2026 CERTIFICATION EVALUATION
QUESTIONS SOLUTIONS VERIFIED
UPDATED A+
⩥ 7.1.5 SITUATION:
Following the ready-for-play signal, but before A has taken any positions
on the line of scrimmage, B1 is either in or beyond the neutral zone
facing his teammates while giving defensive signals. Answer: RULING:
Encroachment by B1. (2-8)
⩥ 7.1.6 SITUATION A:
When A comes to the line of scrimmage, the linemen assume their final
positions such that: (a) five linemen penetrate the vertical plane through
the waistline of the snapper while the head of the sixth penetrates the
plane drawn through the waistline of the nearest teammate who is on his
line of scrimmage; or (b) one interior lineman has his head penetrating
the neutral zone while the other linemen are all penetrating the vertical
plane of the snapper's waistline. Answer: RULING: In (a), it is illegal
formation which is a foul simultaneously with the snap. The offended
team will be given the option of taking the result of the play or accepting
the penalty and replaying the down. In (b), it is encroachment for a
player to have any part of his body penetrating the plane of the neutral
zone after the ready and the snapper has placed his hand(s) on the ball.
This is a dead-ball foul and the ball will not be permitted to become live.
(2-8, 2-25-2, 2-32-9, 7-1-5, 7-2-3)
,⩥ 7.1.6 SITUATION B:
Snapper A1 is positioned over the ball following the ready signal, but
has not yet placed his hand(s) on it. Either: (a) A2; or (b) B1, breaks the
plane of the neutral zone. Both players adjust their position and get
behind the neutral zone; or (c) A1 has a hand on the ground and then
stands erect to call out a blocking assignment. Answer: RULING: No
infraction in either (a), (b) or (c). In (c), the snapper is not restricted as
are other linemen after placing a hand on or near the ground. (7-1-7c)
⩥ 7.1.6 SITUATION C:
A1 takes his position over the ball and B1 breaks the plane of the neutral
zone: (a) after A1 has placed his hands on the ball following a change of
possession with A having a new series and following the referee's ready-
for-play signal; (b) after A1 has placed his hands on the ball on first,
second, third or fourth down when no change of possession has occurred
and the covering official on the previous play has given the dead ball
signal following the previous play; or (c) after A1 has placed his hands
on the ball following a change of possession with A having a new series,
but the referee has not yet given the ready-for-play signal. Answer:
RULING: In both (a) and (b), the ball has been declared ready for play
and encroachment foul has occurred. In (c), no foul has occurred as
encroachment restrictions are not in effect.
⩥ 7.1.6 SITUATION D:
Following the ready signal, snapper A1 positions over the ball and
immediately places his hands on the ball and adjusts it. The rest of the
, team then take presnap positions. The coach of B realizes his team has
only 10 players on the field and he sends B1 into the game. The ball is
located at one end of the field so that B1 is on A's side of the neutral
zone when he enters the field. He crosses through the neutral zone, but is
onside prior to the snap. Answer: RULING: It is not encroachment for
the substitute to cross through the neutral zone. An entering substitute
cannot encroach until after he has established himself as a player on his
team's side of the neutral zone. If B1 is unable to get onside prior to the
snap, it will be a foul for illegal substitution. This foul occurs
simultaneously with the snap and if penalized would be administered
from the previous spot. Similarly, it is not encroachment when a
replaced player crosses the neutral zone in leaving the field. (2-32-15; 3-
7-2, 6; 7-1-2; 10-4-2a)
⩥ 7.1.6 SITUATION E:
Snapper A1 takes his position over the ball and places one or both hands
on the ball. The ready-for-play signal is given and as A1 begins the
motion to snap the ball, B1 swipes at the ball attempting to dislodge it
from the snapper, touching the snapper's hand or the ball: (a) prior to the
snapper releasing the ball for the snap; or (b) after the snapper has
released the ball on the snap. Answer: RULING: In (a), this is a foul for
encroachment. Repeated attempts at this act could be considered
unsportsmanlike conduct by the game officials. In (b), there is no foul.
⩥ 7.1.7 SITUATION A:
A is on its line of scrimmage with A1 directly and immediately behind
the snapper in a position to receive the ball. As the count is started, but
before the ball is snapped:
2026 CERTIFICATION EVALUATION
QUESTIONS SOLUTIONS VERIFIED
UPDATED A+
⩥ 7.1.5 SITUATION:
Following the ready-for-play signal, but before A has taken any positions
on the line of scrimmage, B1 is either in or beyond the neutral zone
facing his teammates while giving defensive signals. Answer: RULING:
Encroachment by B1. (2-8)
⩥ 7.1.6 SITUATION A:
When A comes to the line of scrimmage, the linemen assume their final
positions such that: (a) five linemen penetrate the vertical plane through
the waistline of the snapper while the head of the sixth penetrates the
plane drawn through the waistline of the nearest teammate who is on his
line of scrimmage; or (b) one interior lineman has his head penetrating
the neutral zone while the other linemen are all penetrating the vertical
plane of the snapper's waistline. Answer: RULING: In (a), it is illegal
formation which is a foul simultaneously with the snap. The offended
team will be given the option of taking the result of the play or accepting
the penalty and replaying the down. In (b), it is encroachment for a
player to have any part of his body penetrating the plane of the neutral
zone after the ready and the snapper has placed his hand(s) on the ball.
This is a dead-ball foul and the ball will not be permitted to become live.
(2-8, 2-25-2, 2-32-9, 7-1-5, 7-2-3)
,⩥ 7.1.6 SITUATION B:
Snapper A1 is positioned over the ball following the ready signal, but
has not yet placed his hand(s) on it. Either: (a) A2; or (b) B1, breaks the
plane of the neutral zone. Both players adjust their position and get
behind the neutral zone; or (c) A1 has a hand on the ground and then
stands erect to call out a blocking assignment. Answer: RULING: No
infraction in either (a), (b) or (c). In (c), the snapper is not restricted as
are other linemen after placing a hand on or near the ground. (7-1-7c)
⩥ 7.1.6 SITUATION C:
A1 takes his position over the ball and B1 breaks the plane of the neutral
zone: (a) after A1 has placed his hands on the ball following a change of
possession with A having a new series and following the referee's ready-
for-play signal; (b) after A1 has placed his hands on the ball on first,
second, third or fourth down when no change of possession has occurred
and the covering official on the previous play has given the dead ball
signal following the previous play; or (c) after A1 has placed his hands
on the ball following a change of possession with A having a new series,
but the referee has not yet given the ready-for-play signal. Answer:
RULING: In both (a) and (b), the ball has been declared ready for play
and encroachment foul has occurred. In (c), no foul has occurred as
encroachment restrictions are not in effect.
⩥ 7.1.6 SITUATION D:
Following the ready signal, snapper A1 positions over the ball and
immediately places his hands on the ball and adjusts it. The rest of the
, team then take presnap positions. The coach of B realizes his team has
only 10 players on the field and he sends B1 into the game. The ball is
located at one end of the field so that B1 is on A's side of the neutral
zone when he enters the field. He crosses through the neutral zone, but is
onside prior to the snap. Answer: RULING: It is not encroachment for
the substitute to cross through the neutral zone. An entering substitute
cannot encroach until after he has established himself as a player on his
team's side of the neutral zone. If B1 is unable to get onside prior to the
snap, it will be a foul for illegal substitution. This foul occurs
simultaneously with the snap and if penalized would be administered
from the previous spot. Similarly, it is not encroachment when a
replaced player crosses the neutral zone in leaving the field. (2-32-15; 3-
7-2, 6; 7-1-2; 10-4-2a)
⩥ 7.1.6 SITUATION E:
Snapper A1 takes his position over the ball and places one or both hands
on the ball. The ready-for-play signal is given and as A1 begins the
motion to snap the ball, B1 swipes at the ball attempting to dislodge it
from the snapper, touching the snapper's hand or the ball: (a) prior to the
snapper releasing the ball for the snap; or (b) after the snapper has
released the ball on the snap. Answer: RULING: In (a), this is a foul for
encroachment. Repeated attempts at this act could be considered
unsportsmanlike conduct by the game officials. In (b), there is no foul.
⩥ 7.1.7 SITUATION A:
A is on its line of scrimmage with A1 directly and immediately behind
the snapper in a position to receive the ball. As the count is started, but
before the ball is snapped:
