Quiz 007 — Rookie Definitions, Part 2

Source: 2025 NFHS Football Rules Book (Rules 2, 6, 7)
Level: Rookie
Questions: 15
Scope: 11-player football, no state adoptions in effect unless stated.

Questions

The second first-year take-home quiz. As in Part 1, answer with the definition and the rule-section-article citation.

1. Lineman

What is a lineman?

2. Back

What is a back?

3. Legal formation

On first through third down, what defines a legal formation?

4. Forward and backward passes

What is the difference between a forward pass and a backward pass? What decides it when the passer is hit as he throws?

5. Eligible receivers

Who is an eligible pass receiver?

6. Catch

What is a catch?

7. Illegal touching

What is illegal touching on a forward pass, and what does it cost?

8. Legal forward pass

What is a legal forward pass?

9. Illegal forward pass

What is an illegal forward pass? List the four kinds.

10. Free kick

What is a free kick, and when is one used?

11. Free-kick formation

What are the formation requirements for a free kick?

12. Scrimmage kick

What is a scrimmage kick?

13. Scrimmage-kick formation

What are the formation requirements for a scrimmage kick?

14. Advancing a kick

Who may advance a kick?

15. Fair catch

What is a legal fair catch, and who is protected?

Answer Key

1. A lineman is any A player who is facing his opponent's goal line with the line of his shoulders approximately parallel thereto, and with his head or foot breaking an imaginary plane drawn parallel to the line of scrimmage through the waist of the snapper when the ball is snapped. Rule 2-32-9

2. A back is any A player who has no part of his body breaking the plane of an imaginary line drawn parallel to the line of scrimmage through the waist of the nearest teammate who is legally on the line — except for the player under the snapper, who is also considered a back. Rule 2-32-3

3. At least five A players legally on their line at the snap (2-14-1), no more than four backs, and at least five of the players on the line numbered 50-79 (7-2-5a, 7-2-5b). Of the players not on the line, only one may penetrate the vertical plane through the waistline of his nearest teammate who is on the line — he must have his hands in position to receive a hand-to-hand snap, though he is not required to receive it. Everyone else must be in legal position as a back. Why the down matters: on first, second or third down, if A sets or shifts into a scrimmage-kick formation, the snapper may wear 0-49 or 80-99, in which case A needs only four players numbered 50-79 on the line — and that snapper is an ineligible receiver for the down unless B touches the pass. Rules 7-2-3; 2-14-1; 7-2-5a, 7-2-5b and EXCEPTION 1

4. A forward pass is a pass thrown with its initial direction toward the opponent's end line. A backward pass is a pass thrown with its initial direction parallel with or toward the runner's end line. It is the initial direction that decides it, not where the ball comes down. If the potential passer is contacted before he releases the ball and the ball is released, it is a forward pass if his arm was moving forward on contact. A forward pass ends when it is caught, touches the ground or goes out of bounds; a backward pass ends when it is caught or recovered or goes out of bounds. Rules 2-31-2 and NOTE, 2-31-5, 2-31-4, 2-31-6

5. Eligibility rules apply only to a legal forward pass. Eligible receivers are (a) all A players eligible by position and number — those who at the time of the snap are on the ends of their scrimmage line or legally behind the line (a possible total of six) and are numbered 0-49 or 80-99; (b) all A players, once B touches a legal forward pass; and (c) all B players. Rule 7-5-6

6. A catch is the act of establishing player possession of a live ball which is in flight, and first contacting the ground inbounds while maintaining possession — or having the forward progress of the player in possession stopped while the opponent is carrying the player who is in possession and inbounds. Catching is always preceded by touching, so if the touching causes the ball to become dead, securing possession has no significance. A simultaneous catch is one in which opposing inbounds players have joint possession. Rules 2-4-1, 2-4-2, 2-4-3

7. An ineligible A player has illegally touched a forward pass if he bats, muffs or catches a legal forward pass, unless the pass has first been touched by B. The penalty is 5 yards plus loss of down. Rule 7-5-13 and PENALTY

8. It is a legal forward pass if, during a scrimmage down and before team possession has changed, a player of A throws the ball with both feet of the passer in or behind the neutral zone when the ball is released. Only one forward pass may be thrown during the down. Rule 7-5-1

9. An illegal forward pass is a foul. The four kinds are (a) a pass after team possession has changed during the down — 5 yards; (b) a pass from beyond the neutral zone — 5 yards plus loss of down; (c) a second or subsequent forward pass thrown during a down — 5 yards plus loss of down; and (d) a pass intentionally thrown into an area not occupied by an eligible offensive receiver, or thrown incomplete to save loss of yardage or to conserve time — intentional grounding, 5 yards plus loss of down. Two exceptions to (d): the spike, where a player directly behind the snapper throws the ball forward to the ground immediately after receiving a snap that was neither muffed nor touched the ground; and the throwaway, where the passer has possessed the ball beyond the lateral boundary of the free-blocking zone as established at the snap, the pass reaches the neutral zone including its extension beyond the sideline, and the passer is the only player to possess the ball after the snap ends. Rule 7-5-2 with EXCEPTIONS 1 and 2, and PENALTY; Table 7-5-2

10. A free kick is any kick which puts the ball in play to start a free-kick down. After the ready-for-play and before the kick, each player other than the kicker and the holder for a place kick must be behind his free-kick line. A free kick is used for a kickoff, for a kick following a safety, and if a free kick is chosen following a fair catch or awarded fair catch. A punt may not be used for a free kick other than after a safety. Rules 2-24-3; 6-1-2

11. After the ball is marked ready for play and until the ball is kicked: (a) no player other than the kicker and the holder for a place kick may be beyond his free-kick line; and (b) no K player other than the kicker may be more than 5 yards behind K's free-kick line. In addition, at the time the ball is kicked, at least four K players must be on each side of the kicker, and all R players must be behind their free-kick line. Violating the free-kick restrictions is encroachment — 5 yards. Rules 6-1-3a, 6-1-3b, 6-1-4; 2-14-3; 2-8-2

12. A scrimmage kick is any kick from in or behind the neutral zone during a scrimmage down. A place kick, punt or drop kick may be used; for a place kick the ball must be controlled on the ground or on a legal kicking tee by a teammate. K may kick only from in or behind the neutral zone and only before team possession has changed; R may not punt, drop kick or place kick. Rules 2-24-4; 6-2-1

13. Careful — this is the definition of the formation, not a requirement for kicking. A scrimmage-kick formation is one in which no player is in position to receive a hand-to-hand snap from between the snapper's legs, and at the snap either (a) a player is in position with a knee on the ground 7 yards or more behind the line of scrimmage, in position to be the holder and receive the long snap, with another player 3 yards or less behind him in position to attempt a place kick; or (b) a player is 10 yards or more behind the line of scrimmage and in position to receive the long snap. Being in this formation is what unlocks the numbering exceptions — it is not necessary to be in a scrimmage-kick formation to execute a legal scrimmage kick. Rules 2-14-2a, 2-14-2b; 6-2-1; 7-2-5b EXCEPTIONS

14. Any receiver may catch or recover a kick in the field of play and advance — a free kick unless any R player has given a valid or invalid fair-catch signal, and a scrimmage kick unless it is during a try or any R player has given such a signal. R may catch or recover in K's end zone. For the kicking team it depends on where the ball is: any K player may catch or recover a scrimmage kick while it is in or behind the neutral zone and advance, unless it is during a try. Beyond the neutral zone, K may catch or recover only if the kick was first touched by a receiver clearly beyond the neutral zone — and that catch or recovery causes the ball to become dead. If any K player recovers or catches a free kick, the ball becomes dead. Rules 6-2-2, 6-2-3, 6-2-4; 6-1-5, 6-1-6

15. A fair catch is a catch by a receiver of a free kick in or beyond the neutral zone to the receiver's goal line, or of a scrimmage kick beyond the neutral zone to the receiver's goal line, after a valid signal, under conditions in which the receiver forfeits the right to advance the ball in return for protection from being blocked or tackled by an opponent. A valid fair-catch signal is the extending and lateral waving of one arm, at full arm's length above the head, by any R player. Only the receiver who gives a valid signal is afforded protection — if a teammate makes the catch instead it is not a fair catch, but the ball is dead. No receiver may advance the ball after a valid or invalid signal has been given by any R player. Rules 2-9-1, 2-9-3; 6-5-2, 6-5-3, 6-5-5