NFHS Football Case Plays - Rule 7 (Snapping, Handing, and
Passing the Ball) 100% Accurate Answers.
7.1.3 SITUATION:
A's linemen take their positions and snapper A1 has made preliminary adjustments. Prior to the
snap A1:
(a) tilts the ball to an angle of 90 degrees; or(b) lifts the ball and pushes it forward in order to
make a deep snap or;(c) rotates the ball end for end; or(d) removes both hands. correct answers
RULING: Legal in (a). It is a snap infraction in (b), (c) and (d). The covering official will sound
his whistle immediately, signifying the ball remains dead. A snap infraction is a dead-ball foul
and the penalty of 5 yards is administered from the succeeding spot. (2-40-2, 4-1-6, 7-1-2, 7-1-3,
10-4-4b)
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. correct answers 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. correct answers
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. correct answers 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. correct answers 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. correct answers
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. correct answers 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:
(a) A1 steps backward from the line of scrimmage and while so doing he fakes throwing a
forward pass. B1 then charges across the neutral zone and contacts A2; or(b) A1 quickly
withdraws his hands from under the snapper and goes in motion. Reaction on the part of B2
causes him to charge across the neutral zone and contact A3; or(c) A1 lifts the heel of one foot as
a signal to start A2 in motion. correct answers RULING: False start by A1 in both (a) and (b).
These are acts interpreted to cause an opponent to encroach and, therefore, are infractions. It is
the intent of the rules to prohibit such acts. Whether or not the action by A1 draws B into the
neutral zone should not be the determining factor in ruling a false-start foul. The action by A1 in
(c) is legal. (7-1-7b)
7.1.7 SITUATION B:
On fourth and four from A's 35-yard line, K comes to the line in a scrimmage formation. After
calling a few signals, A1 says "shift." All 11 players then make a movement. Some players move
to a new position for a scrimmage-kick formation, while four interior linemen remain in place
and move from a hands-on-thighs position to an upright position and finally to a three-point
stance. correct answers RULING: This could be ruled a false start if the covering official(s)
determine that it was designed to cause B to encroach. In judging the offensive team's intent, the
Passing the Ball) 100% Accurate Answers.
7.1.3 SITUATION:
A's linemen take their positions and snapper A1 has made preliminary adjustments. Prior to the
snap A1:
(a) tilts the ball to an angle of 90 degrees; or(b) lifts the ball and pushes it forward in order to
make a deep snap or;(c) rotates the ball end for end; or(d) removes both hands. correct answers
RULING: Legal in (a). It is a snap infraction in (b), (c) and (d). The covering official will sound
his whistle immediately, signifying the ball remains dead. A snap infraction is a dead-ball foul
and the penalty of 5 yards is administered from the succeeding spot. (2-40-2, 4-1-6, 7-1-2, 7-1-3,
10-4-4b)
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. correct answers 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. correct answers
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. correct answers 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. correct answers 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. correct answers
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. correct answers 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:
(a) A1 steps backward from the line of scrimmage and while so doing he fakes throwing a
forward pass. B1 then charges across the neutral zone and contacts A2; or(b) A1 quickly
withdraws his hands from under the snapper and goes in motion. Reaction on the part of B2
causes him to charge across the neutral zone and contact A3; or(c) A1 lifts the heel of one foot as
a signal to start A2 in motion. correct answers RULING: False start by A1 in both (a) and (b).
These are acts interpreted to cause an opponent to encroach and, therefore, are infractions. It is
the intent of the rules to prohibit such acts. Whether or not the action by A1 draws B into the
neutral zone should not be the determining factor in ruling a false-start foul. The action by A1 in
(c) is legal. (7-1-7b)
7.1.7 SITUATION B:
On fourth and four from A's 35-yard line, K comes to the line in a scrimmage formation. After
calling a few signals, A1 says "shift." All 11 players then make a movement. Some players move
to a new position for a scrimmage-kick formation, while four interior linemen remain in place
and move from a hands-on-thighs position to an upright position and finally to a three-point
stance. correct answers RULING: This could be ruled a false start if the covering official(s)
determine that it was designed to cause B to encroach. In judging the offensive team's intent, the
