Rules

One of the easiest ways to become confused about forward progress and the momentum exception is to think they are closely related. In reality, they are almost opposites. The key is recognizing…

In our previous Ready for Play article, we used an airline trip from New York to Denver to explain Rule 2-33-1, the loose-ball play. We imagined a transportation company hired to escort…

One of the first concepts we learn in penalty enforcement is that there are only two types of plays: a loose-ball play and a running play. That sounds simple enough until we…

When reading the Rules Book, it is often helpful to understand the philosophy behind a rule rather than simply memorizing its language. Knowing the “why” behind a rule not only makes it…

One of the more common misconceptions amongst coaches and spectators is that an eligible receiver loses his eligibility after stepping out of bounds. That is not what the NFHS rules say. Rule…

(Rule 2-17-1) The free-blocking zone is a rectangular area established at the snap and is defined as: (Rule 2-17-4) The free-blocking zone disintegrates immediately when the ball leaves the zone. Three fouls…

One of the most misunderstood rules in the NFHS code is kick catching interference. Many officials know they are supposed to protect the receiver, but they sometimes focus only on whether the…

As a referee, I’ve trained my eyes to identify illegal helmet contact: spearing, butt blocking, and face tackling. But for me, the emphasis on how a player uses his helmet has created…