NFHS FOOTBALL RULES PRACTICE TEST
2026 PRACTICE SET QUESTIONS
COMPLETE ANSWERS GUARANTEED PASS
A+
⩥ 9.2.1 SITUATION A:
During a running play, blocker A1 has his hands cupped and together in
front of his body with his elbows outside his shoulders. As he
approaches his opponent, he raises his hands and forearms perpendicular
to the ground to contact his opponent. Answer: RULING: If the blocker's
palms are facing the opponent, or if his forearms are extended more than
45 degrees from his body, the hands must be open at and during contact.
(2-3-2)
⩥ 9.2.1 SITUATION B:
Blocker A1 has his hands and arms in legal position with the elbows
outside the body and:
(a) when B1 attempts to penetrate his block in an upright position, he
contacts B1 above the shoulders with his forearm; or(b) as B2 ducks or
submarines, A1 contacts him above the shoulder with his cupped hands.
Answer: RULING: In (a), it is an illegal blocking technique because
contact was made above the defensive player's shoulders while he was in
a normal upright position. In (b), the responsibility for the contact on the
head of B2 is that of B2, because he has taken evasive action to avoid
,the block. It is assumed contact by A1 in (b) does not violate the
provision of striking or contacting above the shoulders. (2-3-2)
⩥ 9.2.1 SITUATION C:
During a scrimmage down, blocker A1 contacts B1 with open hands: (a)
while his forearms are extended more than 45 degrees from his body and
the palms of his hands are toward the defender; or (b) in a pushing
action when extending his arms beyond 45 degrees from his body.
Answer: RULING: It is a legal blocking technique in both (a) or (b). (2-
3-2)
⩥ 9.2.1 SITUATION D:
Lineman A1 and B1 are both inside the free-blocking zone at the snap.
Before the zone disintegrates, A1 blocks B1 with open hands from
behind pushing B1 with his arms fully extended. Answer: RULING:
Legal block. (2-17-3)
⩥ 9.2.1 SITUATION E:
In blocking B1, A1's forearms are almost fully extended from his body
and he contacts B1 with the side of his closed hands. The palms of A1's
hands are not directly facing B1. Answer: RULING: An illegal blocking
technique by A1. The hands may not be closed or cupped when the arms
are extended more than 45 degrees from the blocker's body. (2-3-2)
⩥ 9.2.1 SITUATION F:
,A1 is blocking with open hands: (a) outside his own frame; or (b)
outside B1's frame, during contact. Answer: RULING: A1 is using an
illegal blocking technique in both (a) and (b). When the hands are
outside the frame, as described above and grasps the opponent or his
equipment, it is a holding foul instead of illegal use of hands.
⩥ 9.2.1 SITUATION G:
A1 makes legal contact on B1's chest using extended arms with open
hands. B1 spins in an effort to evade A1 and get to the passer. A1
effectively maintains contact while shifting his hands to B1's upper arm
and then directly on his back as B1 turns. A1 continues the contact and
finishes the block by forcing B1 beyond the passer. Answer: RULING:
The described blocking technique is legal.
COMMENT: In order to legally contact the back of the opponent in this
situation it must either be a continuation of contact that was legal
originally, or because the opponent turned so quickly the blocker could
not stop his charge in time to avoid contact on the back. When the
extended-arms technique is used, the hands must be open on contact and
remain open during the contact. The open-hand blocking technique may
be used in any situation where blocking is legal for A.
⩥ 9.2.1 SITUATION H:
A1 throws a forward pass beyond the neutral zone which is touched by
eligible A2 and is muffed high into the air. While the muffed ball is in
the air:
(a) ineligible A3 blocks B1 away from the ball, or(b) ineligible A3
touches the ball in an attempt to catch it. Answer: RULING: Legal
, action in (a), but illegal touching in (b). After A2 touches the ball,
eligible offensive team players may use hands or arms. Pass interference
restrictions for eligibles have ended. However, an ineligible Team A
player may not touch the pass until after a Team B player has touched it.
The ineligibles, however, may block an opponent to keep him from
getting to the ball or to help a teammate secure possession. (2-3-4c, 7-5-
9b, 7-5-13)
⩥ 9.2.1 SITUATION I:
K is attempting a try by kick. After the ball is snapped, the offensive
guards and tackles each grab the jersey of an adjacent teammate. The
kick by K1 is successful. Answer: RULING: Grabbing the jersey of an
offensive teammate is considered to be the same as grasping the
teammate and it is interlocked blocking, which is a form of illegal use of
hands and carries a 10-yard penalty. Any time offensive players grasp
teammates in this manner, it would have to be considered interlocked
blocking whether they grab each other at the shoulders, arms, legs,
ankles, etc.
⩥ 9.2.1 SITUATION J:
On a successful try for point by kick, the interior linemen of K all
reached across and grasped the teammate immediately to their inside
after the snap. Answer: RULING: Interlocked blocking, 10-yard penalty
from the spot of the foul since this spot is probably behind the basic
spot.
⩥ 9.2.3 SITUATION A:
2026 PRACTICE SET QUESTIONS
COMPLETE ANSWERS GUARANTEED PASS
A+
⩥ 9.2.1 SITUATION A:
During a running play, blocker A1 has his hands cupped and together in
front of his body with his elbows outside his shoulders. As he
approaches his opponent, he raises his hands and forearms perpendicular
to the ground to contact his opponent. Answer: RULING: If the blocker's
palms are facing the opponent, or if his forearms are extended more than
45 degrees from his body, the hands must be open at and during contact.
(2-3-2)
⩥ 9.2.1 SITUATION B:
Blocker A1 has his hands and arms in legal position with the elbows
outside the body and:
(a) when B1 attempts to penetrate his block in an upright position, he
contacts B1 above the shoulders with his forearm; or(b) as B2 ducks or
submarines, A1 contacts him above the shoulder with his cupped hands.
Answer: RULING: In (a), it is an illegal blocking technique because
contact was made above the defensive player's shoulders while he was in
a normal upright position. In (b), the responsibility for the contact on the
head of B2 is that of B2, because he has taken evasive action to avoid
,the block. It is assumed contact by A1 in (b) does not violate the
provision of striking or contacting above the shoulders. (2-3-2)
⩥ 9.2.1 SITUATION C:
During a scrimmage down, blocker A1 contacts B1 with open hands: (a)
while his forearms are extended more than 45 degrees from his body and
the palms of his hands are toward the defender; or (b) in a pushing
action when extending his arms beyond 45 degrees from his body.
Answer: RULING: It is a legal blocking technique in both (a) or (b). (2-
3-2)
⩥ 9.2.1 SITUATION D:
Lineman A1 and B1 are both inside the free-blocking zone at the snap.
Before the zone disintegrates, A1 blocks B1 with open hands from
behind pushing B1 with his arms fully extended. Answer: RULING:
Legal block. (2-17-3)
⩥ 9.2.1 SITUATION E:
In blocking B1, A1's forearms are almost fully extended from his body
and he contacts B1 with the side of his closed hands. The palms of A1's
hands are not directly facing B1. Answer: RULING: An illegal blocking
technique by A1. The hands may not be closed or cupped when the arms
are extended more than 45 degrees from the blocker's body. (2-3-2)
⩥ 9.2.1 SITUATION F:
,A1 is blocking with open hands: (a) outside his own frame; or (b)
outside B1's frame, during contact. Answer: RULING: A1 is using an
illegal blocking technique in both (a) and (b). When the hands are
outside the frame, as described above and grasps the opponent or his
equipment, it is a holding foul instead of illegal use of hands.
⩥ 9.2.1 SITUATION G:
A1 makes legal contact on B1's chest using extended arms with open
hands. B1 spins in an effort to evade A1 and get to the passer. A1
effectively maintains contact while shifting his hands to B1's upper arm
and then directly on his back as B1 turns. A1 continues the contact and
finishes the block by forcing B1 beyond the passer. Answer: RULING:
The described blocking technique is legal.
COMMENT: In order to legally contact the back of the opponent in this
situation it must either be a continuation of contact that was legal
originally, or because the opponent turned so quickly the blocker could
not stop his charge in time to avoid contact on the back. When the
extended-arms technique is used, the hands must be open on contact and
remain open during the contact. The open-hand blocking technique may
be used in any situation where blocking is legal for A.
⩥ 9.2.1 SITUATION H:
A1 throws a forward pass beyond the neutral zone which is touched by
eligible A2 and is muffed high into the air. While the muffed ball is in
the air:
(a) ineligible A3 blocks B1 away from the ball, or(b) ineligible A3
touches the ball in an attempt to catch it. Answer: RULING: Legal
, action in (a), but illegal touching in (b). After A2 touches the ball,
eligible offensive team players may use hands or arms. Pass interference
restrictions for eligibles have ended. However, an ineligible Team A
player may not touch the pass until after a Team B player has touched it.
The ineligibles, however, may block an opponent to keep him from
getting to the ball or to help a teammate secure possession. (2-3-4c, 7-5-
9b, 7-5-13)
⩥ 9.2.1 SITUATION I:
K is attempting a try by kick. After the ball is snapped, the offensive
guards and tackles each grab the jersey of an adjacent teammate. The
kick by K1 is successful. Answer: RULING: Grabbing the jersey of an
offensive teammate is considered to be the same as grasping the
teammate and it is interlocked blocking, which is a form of illegal use of
hands and carries a 10-yard penalty. Any time offensive players grasp
teammates in this manner, it would have to be considered interlocked
blocking whether they grab each other at the shoulders, arms, legs,
ankles, etc.
⩥ 9.2.1 SITUATION J:
On a successful try for point by kick, the interior linemen of K all
reached across and grasped the teammate immediately to their inside
after the snap. Answer: RULING: Interlocked blocking, 10-yard penalty
from the spot of the foul since this spot is probably behind the basic
spot.
⩥ 9.2.3 SITUATION A:
