NFHS Football Case Plays - Rule 10 (Enforcement of
Penalties) Graded A+ Already.
10.1.1 SITUATION A:
Where is the ball spotted following penalty acceptance when it is snapped from the right-side
hash mark and the run ends in the left-side zone and the foul is:
(a) illegal motion by A1; or(b) holding by A1 in the middle of the field behind the end of the run;
or(c) grasping the face mask/helmet opening by B1 in making the tackle? correct answers
RULING: In (a), it is spotted at the right-side hash mark. In (b), it is spotted in the middle of the
field since the enforcement spot was the spot of the foul. In (c), it is spotted at the left hash mark.
10.1.1 SITUATION B:
B1 holds A1 during an unsuccessful try. A's designated representative wants to accept the
penalty and replay of the down, but wishes to decline the distance penalty because A's kicker is
more comfortable kicking from the previous distance. correct answers RULING: This is a legal
request. The distance penalty for any foul may be declined.
*10.1.3 SITUATION:
With fourth and 10 at the 50-yard line, K2 illegally uses his hands at R's 45-yard line during a
scrimmage kick by K1. R1 signals for a fair catch at the R30. The ball is caught by R2 who
advances following the whistle. correct answers RULING: R may accept the distance penalty for
K's illegal use of hands and have the yardage assessed from the previous spot or the succeeding
spot. At this point, K is given the options related to R's foul and will likely accept the distance
penalty for R's delay of game foul. (3-6-2b, 10-2-3, 10-4-2 EXCEPTION)
10.2.1 SITUATION A:
During a run by A1, A2 is holding B1. Thereafter, a fumble by A1 is recovered by B2 who
advances for a touchdown. While the ball was loose during the fumble, B3 clipped A3. correct
answers RULING: Double foul. Both fouls occurred before the change of team possession and
the action thus constitutes a double foul. The penalties cancel and the down shall be replayed.
(10-2-2)
10.2.1 SITUATION B:
K1 is in an illegal position and the scrimmage kick by K2 is caught by R1. During the return by
R1, there is clipping by R2 and a subsequent fumble by R1 is recovered by K3. correct answers
RULING: Double foul. Even though there was a change of team possession during the down, the
team gaining final possession had fouled before gaining possession. Both fouls occurred during
the down and the result is a double foul. The penalties cancel and the down shall be replayed.
(10-2-2)
10.2.1 SITUATION C:
With fourth and 15 from midfield, K is called for illegal formation. R1 catches K1's punt, but is
tackled by the face mask/helmet opening by K2. R2 strikes K3 prior to the end of the run. correct
answers RULING: If R accepts the penalty for either foul by K, it is a double foul. R may
, decline the penalties and retain possession following enforcement of the penalty for R2's foul. In
either case, R2 shall be disqualified. (9-4-3h, 10-2-3)
10.2.1 SITUATION D:
Fourth and five from K's 20-yard line, K is in an illegal formation at the snap. While K1's punt is
in flight, beyond the expanded neutral zone, R2 blocks K8 in the back at the 50-yard line. R4
catches the kick at R's 36-yard line and returns it for a touchdown. correct answers RULING:
This is a post-scrimmage kick foul by R. Therefore, R may decline the penalty for K's foul and
keep the ball after enforcement of the 10-yard penalty for the block in the back, or it may accept
the penalty against K, thereby creating a double foul in which case the down shall be replayed.
(10-2-1b)
10.2.2 SITUATION A:
During a legal forward pass which crosses the neutral zone, A1 is illegally in motion at the snap.
B1 intercepts and during his return, B2 clips A2. correct answers RULING: The illegal motion
by A1 and the clipping by B2 are both live-ball fouls, but because the foul by B2 followed a
change of team possession, they do not automatically constitute a double foul. The designated
representative of B (last team in possession) may accept or decline the penalty for A's foul. If
accepted, this creates a double foul and the down is replayed. If declined, then the penalty for B's
foul is enforced if accepted by A. (10-1-3, 10-2-1b)
10.2.2 SITUATION B:
A1's pass is intercepted by B1 at B's 40-yard line. During B1's return, A1 and B2 begin fighting
at A's 40-yard line. B1 returns the ball to A's 2-yard line. correct answers RULING: The
designated representative of B (last team in possession) may accept or decline the penalty for A's
foul. If B accepts the penalty for A1's foul, it creates a double foul. B may retain possession by
declining the penalty for A1's foul, in which case, it would be B's ball at its own 45-yard line
following enforcement of B's penalty (if accepted by A). Both A1 and B2 will be disqualified for
fighting.
COMMENT: Whenever both teams foul during a change of possession down and the team in
final possession gets the ball free of a foul (with "CLEAN HANDS") they have the opportunity
to retain possession. The fact that their opponent's foul occurred after the change of possession
has no bearing on the enforcement. However, when B, the "clean hands" team, retains possession
by declining the opponent's foul, the penalty for B's foul may be enforced. (9-4-1 PENALTY,
10-2-1b)
10.2.2 SITUATION C:
A leads 21-20 with three seconds remaining in the fourth period. It is A's ball fourth and 1 yard
to go on A's 45-yard line. A1 muffs the snap, and A2 holds while the ball is loose. B1 recovers
and advances to A's 1-yard line where he is downed. During B1's advance, B2 clips at A's 10-
yard line and time expires during the down. In an effort to prevent a double foul, Team B
declines the penalty for A2's foul. The designated representative of A then wishes to decline the
penalty for B2's foul. correct answers RULING: The game is over as there is no accepted penalty
on the play. (3-3-3a)
10.2.2 SITUATION D:
Penalties) Graded A+ Already.
10.1.1 SITUATION A:
Where is the ball spotted following penalty acceptance when it is snapped from the right-side
hash mark and the run ends in the left-side zone and the foul is:
(a) illegal motion by A1; or(b) holding by A1 in the middle of the field behind the end of the run;
or(c) grasping the face mask/helmet opening by B1 in making the tackle? correct answers
RULING: In (a), it is spotted at the right-side hash mark. In (b), it is spotted in the middle of the
field since the enforcement spot was the spot of the foul. In (c), it is spotted at the left hash mark.
10.1.1 SITUATION B:
B1 holds A1 during an unsuccessful try. A's designated representative wants to accept the
penalty and replay of the down, but wishes to decline the distance penalty because A's kicker is
more comfortable kicking from the previous distance. correct answers RULING: This is a legal
request. The distance penalty for any foul may be declined.
*10.1.3 SITUATION:
With fourth and 10 at the 50-yard line, K2 illegally uses his hands at R's 45-yard line during a
scrimmage kick by K1. R1 signals for a fair catch at the R30. The ball is caught by R2 who
advances following the whistle. correct answers RULING: R may accept the distance penalty for
K's illegal use of hands and have the yardage assessed from the previous spot or the succeeding
spot. At this point, K is given the options related to R's foul and will likely accept the distance
penalty for R's delay of game foul. (3-6-2b, 10-2-3, 10-4-2 EXCEPTION)
10.2.1 SITUATION A:
During a run by A1, A2 is holding B1. Thereafter, a fumble by A1 is recovered by B2 who
advances for a touchdown. While the ball was loose during the fumble, B3 clipped A3. correct
answers RULING: Double foul. Both fouls occurred before the change of team possession and
the action thus constitutes a double foul. The penalties cancel and the down shall be replayed.
(10-2-2)
10.2.1 SITUATION B:
K1 is in an illegal position and the scrimmage kick by K2 is caught by R1. During the return by
R1, there is clipping by R2 and a subsequent fumble by R1 is recovered by K3. correct answers
RULING: Double foul. Even though there was a change of team possession during the down, the
team gaining final possession had fouled before gaining possession. Both fouls occurred during
the down and the result is a double foul. The penalties cancel and the down shall be replayed.
(10-2-2)
10.2.1 SITUATION C:
With fourth and 15 from midfield, K is called for illegal formation. R1 catches K1's punt, but is
tackled by the face mask/helmet opening by K2. R2 strikes K3 prior to the end of the run. correct
answers RULING: If R accepts the penalty for either foul by K, it is a double foul. R may
, decline the penalties and retain possession following enforcement of the penalty for R2's foul. In
either case, R2 shall be disqualified. (9-4-3h, 10-2-3)
10.2.1 SITUATION D:
Fourth and five from K's 20-yard line, K is in an illegal formation at the snap. While K1's punt is
in flight, beyond the expanded neutral zone, R2 blocks K8 in the back at the 50-yard line. R4
catches the kick at R's 36-yard line and returns it for a touchdown. correct answers RULING:
This is a post-scrimmage kick foul by R. Therefore, R may decline the penalty for K's foul and
keep the ball after enforcement of the 10-yard penalty for the block in the back, or it may accept
the penalty against K, thereby creating a double foul in which case the down shall be replayed.
(10-2-1b)
10.2.2 SITUATION A:
During a legal forward pass which crosses the neutral zone, A1 is illegally in motion at the snap.
B1 intercepts and during his return, B2 clips A2. correct answers RULING: The illegal motion
by A1 and the clipping by B2 are both live-ball fouls, but because the foul by B2 followed a
change of team possession, they do not automatically constitute a double foul. The designated
representative of B (last team in possession) may accept or decline the penalty for A's foul. If
accepted, this creates a double foul and the down is replayed. If declined, then the penalty for B's
foul is enforced if accepted by A. (10-1-3, 10-2-1b)
10.2.2 SITUATION B:
A1's pass is intercepted by B1 at B's 40-yard line. During B1's return, A1 and B2 begin fighting
at A's 40-yard line. B1 returns the ball to A's 2-yard line. correct answers RULING: The
designated representative of B (last team in possession) may accept or decline the penalty for A's
foul. If B accepts the penalty for A1's foul, it creates a double foul. B may retain possession by
declining the penalty for A1's foul, in which case, it would be B's ball at its own 45-yard line
following enforcement of B's penalty (if accepted by A). Both A1 and B2 will be disqualified for
fighting.
COMMENT: Whenever both teams foul during a change of possession down and the team in
final possession gets the ball free of a foul (with "CLEAN HANDS") they have the opportunity
to retain possession. The fact that their opponent's foul occurred after the change of possession
has no bearing on the enforcement. However, when B, the "clean hands" team, retains possession
by declining the opponent's foul, the penalty for B's foul may be enforced. (9-4-1 PENALTY,
10-2-1b)
10.2.2 SITUATION C:
A leads 21-20 with three seconds remaining in the fourth period. It is A's ball fourth and 1 yard
to go on A's 45-yard line. A1 muffs the snap, and A2 holds while the ball is loose. B1 recovers
and advances to A's 1-yard line where he is downed. During B1's advance, B2 clips at A's 10-
yard line and time expires during the down. In an effort to prevent a double foul, Team B
declines the penalty for A2's foul. The designated representative of A then wishes to decline the
penalty for B2's foul. correct answers RULING: The game is over as there is no accepted penalty
on the play. (3-3-3a)
10.2.2 SITUATION D:
