Index of Rules and Interpretations

10-second Runoff from Game Clock -- Foul (Delays/Clock Tactics) 62 10-second Subtraction from Game Clock -- Common Procedures (Delays/Clock Tactics) 64

Administration and Enforcement (The Ball) 21 After the Ball is Snapped (Backward Pass and Fumble) 96 All Become Eligible (Scrimmage Kicks) 81 Approved Rulings and Official's Signals 29 At Rest (Backward Pass and Fumble) 96

Ball Dead in End Zone (Free Kicks) 78 Ball Declared Dead (Ball in Play - Dead Ball) 68 Ball Ready for Play (Ball in Play - Dead Ball) 69 Basic Spot (Spots) 41 Batting a Backward Pass in Flight (Batting and Kicking) 134 Batting a Loose Ball (Batting and Kicking) 133 Batting Ball in Possession (Batting and Kicking) 134 Batting (Fumble, Muff, Batting and Touching the Ball; Blocking a Kick) 34 Behind the Neutral Zone (Scrimmage Kicks) 80 Belongs To (Catch, Recovery, Possession) 31 Below Waist (Blocking) 30 Between Downs (Down, Between Downs and Loss of Down) 32 Beyond the Neutral Zone (Scrimmage Kicks) 81 Blocking a Scrimmage Kick (Fumble, Muff, Batting and Touching the Ball; Blocking a Kick) 35 Blocking Below the Waist (Personal Fouls) 118 Blocking (Blocking) 30 Blocking in the Back (Blocking, Use of Hands or Arms) 132 Block in the Back (Blocking) 30 Boundary Lines (Lines) 35

Catchable Forward Pass (Passes) 39 Catch, Interception, Recovery (Catch, Recovery, Possession) 31 Catch or Recovery by Kicking Team (Scrimmage Kicks) 82 Catch or Recovery by Receiving Team (Scrimmage Kicks) 82 Caught or Recovered (Backward Pass and Fumble) 95 Charged Team Timeouts (Timeouts: Starting and Stopping the Clock) 57 Chop Block (Blocking) 30 Chop Blocking (Personal Fouls) 121 Clipping 32 Clipping (Personal Fouls) 117 Coaches' Certification (Players and Playing Equipment) 27 Coaches' Phones (Players and Playing Equipment) 28 Complete Pass (Forward Pass) 99 Contact Against an Opponent Out of the Play (Personal Fouls) 122 Contact Against the Snapper (Personal Fouls) 122 Contacting an Official (Unsportsmanlike Conduct Fouls) 128 Contact Interference (Forward Pass) 103 Continued Participation Without Helmet (Personal Fouls) 124 Continuity of Downs Broken (A Series: Started, Broken, Renewed) 73 Criteria for reversing an on-field ruling (Procedures) 148 Crosses Neutral Zone (Passes) 39

Dead Ball Becomes Alive (Ball in Play - Dead Ball) 67 Dead-Ball Fouls (Penalties Completed) 137 Dead-Ball Spot (Spots) 40 Dead Ball (The Ball: Live, Dead, Loose, Ready For Play) 29 Dead Where Caught (Fair Catch) 87 Defenseless player (Team and Player Designations) 44 Defensive Linemen on Place Kicks (Scrimmage Kicks) 85 Defensive Team Requirements (The Scrimmage) 94 Definition of coach (Team and Player Designations) 44 Delaying the Start of a Half (Delays/Clock Tactics) 61 Determining the Enforcement Spot and the Basic Spot (Enforcement Procedures) 139 Dimensions and Markings (The Field) 16 Disqualified players and coaches (Unsportsmanlike Conduct Fouls) 129 Disqualified Player (Team and Player Designations) 43 Down (Down, Between Downs and Loss of Down) 32 Drop Kick (Kicks; Kicking the Ball) 36 During Live Ball (Backward Pass and Fumble) 95

Eligibility Gained or Regained (Forward Pass) 99 Eligibility Lost by Going Out of Bounds (Forward Pass) 98 Eligibility to Block (Free Kicks) 79 Eligibility to Touch Legal Forward Pass (Forward Pass) 98 Encroachment (Encroachment and Offside) 38 End Lines (Lines) 35 End Zones (Field Areas) 46 Enforcement Spots (Enforcement Procedures) 138 Enforcement Spot (Spots) 40 Equipment and personnel (Procedures) 148 Explictly reviewable fouls (Scope of the video judge) 147 Extension of Periods (Playing Time and Intermissions) 51 Extra Periods (Start of Each Period) 48

Fair Catch (Fair Catch) 33 Field Areas (The Field) 20 Field Goal Attempt (Kicks; Kicking the Ball) 37 Field of Play (Field Areas) 46 Fighting 134, 135, 46 First and Third Periods (Start of Each Period) 48 Flagrant Fouls (Personal Fouls) 115 Flagrant Personal Foul (Foul and Violation) 34 Forced Touching Disregarded (Free Kicks) 78 Forced Touching Disregarded (Scrimmage Kicks) 81 Forfeited Games (Value of Scores) 106 Forward and Backward Pass (Passes) 38 Forward, Beyond (Forward, Beyond and Forward Progress) 33 Forward Passer (Team and Player Designations) 43 Forward Pass Play (Play Classification) 45 Forward Progress (A Series: Started, Broken, Renewed) 72 Forward Progress (Forward, Beyond and Forward Progress) 33 Foul After Change of Team Possession (Down and Possession After a Penalty) 74 Foul Against Kicker (Free Kicks) 78 Foul Before Change of Team Possession (Down and Possession After a Penalty) 74 Foul Between Downs (Down and Possession After a Penalty) 74 Foul Between Series (Down and Possession After a Penalty) 75 Foul During Free Kick Down (Down and Possession After a Penalty) 74 Foul (Foul and Violation) 33 Foul Not Called (Flagrant Personal Fouls) 135 Fouls After a Try (Try Down) 110 Fouls by Both Teams (Down and Possession After a Penalty) 75 Fouls By Kicking Team (Free Kicks) 78 Fouls By Kicking Team (Scrimmage Kicks) 84 Fouls by Team A During Kicks (Enforcement Procedures) 142 Fouls During a Try After a Change of Team Possession (Try Down) 110 Fouls During a Try Before a Change of Team Possession (Try Down) 109 Fouls During or After a Touchdown, Field Goal or Try (Enforcement Procedures) 142 Frame (of the Body) (Blocking) 30 Free-blocking zone (Blocking) 30 Free Kick at Rest (Free Kicks) 78 Free Kick Caught or Recovered (Free Kicks) 78 Free Kick Formation (Free Kicks) 76 Free Kick (Kicks; Kicking the Ball) 37 Free Kick Play (Play Classification) 45 Fumble (Fumble, Muff, Batting and Touching the Ball; Blocking a Kick) 34

Game Administration and Sideline Interference (Unsportsmanlike Conduct Fouls) 129 Game Clock (Timing Devices) 45 Game Officials (General Provisions) 15 Goal Lines (General Provisions) 15 Goal Lines (Lines) 35 Goals (The Field) 18

Half-Distance Enforcement Procedures (Enforcement Procedures) 144 Handing the Ball 36 Handing the Ball Forward (The Scrimmage) 95 Hash Marks (Lines) 35 Held Ball Out of Bounds (Out of Bounds) 70 Helmet and Face Mask Fouls (Personal Fouls) 120 Helmet Comes Off -- Timeout (Timeouts: Starting and Stopping the Clock) 60 Holding and Use of Hands or Arms: Defense (Blocking, Use of Hands or Arms) 131 Holding and Use of Hands or Arms: Offense (Blocking, Use of Hands or Arms) 130 Horse Collar Tackle (Personal Fouls) 123 How and When Completed (Penalties Completed) 136 How Scored (Field Goal) 110 How Scored (Safety) 111 How Scored (Touchdown) 106 How Scored (Try Down) 107 Huddle 36 Hurdling 36 Hurdling (Personal Fouls) 122

Illegal Block or Contact (Fair Catch) 88 Illegal Contact and Pass Interference (Forward Pass) 101 Illegal Delay of the Game (Delays/Clock Tactics) 61 Illegal equipment (Players and Playing Equipment) 25 Illegal Forward Pass (Forward Pass) 96 Illegally Kicking a Ball (Batting and Kicking) 134 Illegal Touching (Forward Pass) 104 Illegal Wedge Formation (Free Kicks) 79 Inbounds Spot (Spots) 41 Incomplete Pass (Forward Pass) 100 Ineligible Receiver Downfield (Forward Pass) 104 Information provision (Procedures) 149 Initial Impetus (Responsibility and Impetus) 114 Initiating review (Procedures) 148 Injured players (Scope of the video judge) 147 Injury Timeout (Timeouts: Starting and Stopping the Clock) 58 In Possession (Catch, Recovery, Possession) 30 Interference with Opportunity (Opportunity to Catch a Kick) 85 Interfering for or Helping the Ball Carrier or Passer (Blocking, Use of Hands or Arms) 130 Interval Fouls (Penalties Completed) 138 Invalid Signal (Fair Catch) 33 Invalid Signals: Catch or Recovery (Fair Catch) 88

Jersey Design, Colour and Numerals (Players and Playing Equipment) 23 Jurisdiction 145

Kick After Safety (Safety) 113 Kicker and Holder (Team and Player Designations) 42 Kicking Team (Free Kick Out of Bounds) 79 Kicking the Ball; Legal and Illegal Kicks (Kicks; Kicking the Ball) 36 Kickoff (Kicks; Kicking the Ball) 37

Late Hit, Action Out of Bounds (Personal Fouls) 120 Legal and Illegal Kicks (Scrimmage Kicks) 83 Legal Forward Pass (Forward Pass) 96 Legal Substitutions (Substitutions) 64 Length of Periods and Intermissions (Playing Time and Intermissions) 50 Length of Timeouts (Timeouts: Starting and Stopping the Clock) 59 Leverage, Leaping and Landing (Personal Fouls) 121 Limit Lines (The Field) 17 Lineman and Back (Team and Player Designations) 42 Line-to-Gain and Down Indicators (The Field) 19 Line to Gain (A Series: Started, Broken, Renewed) 72 Live Ball Becomes Dead (Ball in Play - Dead Ball) 67 Live-Ball - Dead-Ball Fouls (Penalties Completed) 137 Live-Ball Fouls by the Same Team (Penalties Completed) 136 Live Ball (The Ball: Live, Dead, Loose, Ready For Play) 29 Loose Ball Out of Bounds (Out of Bounds) 70 Loose Ball (The Ball: Live, Dead, Loose, Ready For Play) 29 Loose Behind the Goal Line (Scrimmage Kicks) 83 Loss of down (Down, Between Downs and Loss of Down) 32

Mandatory and Illegal Equipment Enforcement (Players and Playing Equipment) 26 Mandatory equipment (Players and Playing Equipment) 22 Markers or Obstructions (The Field) 19 Marking Balls (The Ball) 21 Marking Boundary Areas (The Field) 17 More than eleven players on the field (Substitutions) 66 Muff (Fumble, Muff, Batting and Touching the Ball; Blocking a Kick) 34

Next Play (Field Goal) 111 Next Play (Try Down) 110 Nine-Yard Marks (Lines) 36 No Advance (Fair Catch) 87 No Tackling (Fair Catch) 89

Offensive and Defensive Teams (Team and Player Designations) 42 Offensive Team Requirements -- At the Snap (The Scrimmage) 92 Offensive Team Requirements -- Prior to the Snap (The Scrimmage) 91 Offsetting Fouls (Penalties Completed) 136 Offside (Encroachment and Offside) 38 Opportunity to Score (Try Down) 108 Optional equipment (Players and Playing Equipment) 25 Out of Bounds at Forward Point (Out of Bounds) 70 Out of Bounds (Backward Pass and Fumble) 96 Out of Bounds Behind Goal Line (Scrimmage Kicks) 82 Out of Bounds Between Goal Lines or at Rest Inbounds (Scrimmage Kicks) 82 Out of Bounds Player (Scrimmage Kicks) 84 Out-of-Bounds Spot (Spots) 41

Passing (Passes) 38 Penalty Declined (Down and Possession After a Penalty) 74 Penalty Resulting in New Series (Down and Possession After a Penalty) 74 Personal Foul (Foul and Violation) 34 Persons Subject to the Rules (General Provisions) 15 Philosophy (Philosophy and rationale) 146 Place Kick (Kicks; Kicking the Ball) 36 Planned Loose Ball (The Scrimmage) 95 Play-Clock Count (Ball in Play - Dead Ball) 70 Play Clock (Timing Devices) 45 Player Ejection (Flagrant Personal Fouls) 135 Player Out of Bounds and In Bounds (Team and Player Designations) 44 Player Out of Bounds (Free Kicks) 79 Player Out of Bounds (Out of Bounds) 70 Players' Numbering (Players and Playing Equipment) 22 Player (Team and Player Designations) 43 Player Vacancy (Team and Player Designations) 43 Playing Enclosure (Field Areas) 46 Playing Surface (Field Areas) 46 Possession Series (Series and Possession Series) 40 Postscrimmage Kick Enforcement (Enforcement Procedures) 141 Postscrimmage Kick Spot (Spots) 41 Previous Spot (Spots) 40 Prohibited Field Equipment (Players and Playing Equipment) 27 Prohibited Signal Devices (Players and Playing Equipment) 27 Punt (Kicks; Kicking the Ball) 36 Pylons (The Field) 19

Rationale (Philosophy and rationale) 146 Receiving Team (Free Kick Out of Bounds) 80 Recommended Numbering (Players and Playing Equipment) 22 Referee microphone (Players and Playing Equipment) 28 Referee's Notification (Timeouts: Starting and Stopping the Clock) 59 Removing persons from the playing enclosure (Unsportsmanlike Conduct Fouls) 129 Replaced Player (Team and Player Designations) 43 Requesting a review (Scope of the video judge) 146 Responsibilities 145 Responsibility (Responsibility and Impetus) 114 Restraining Lines (Free Kicks) 76 Restraining Lines (Lines) 35 Result of the Play (Play Classification) 46 Return Kick (Kicks; Kicking the Ball) 37 Reviewable plays (Scope of the video judge) 147 Roughing or Running into Kicker or Holder (Personal Fouls) 123 Roughing the Passer (Personal Fouls) 120 Rules Decisions Final (Down and Possession After a Penalty) 75 Runner and Ball Carrier (Team and Player Designations) 43 Running Play and Run (Play Classification) 45

Scoring Plays (Value of Scores) 106 Scrimmage Down (Scrimmage) 39 Scrimmage Kick Formation (Kicks; Kicking the Ball) 37 Scrimmage Kick (Kicks; Kicking the Ball) 37 Scrimmage Kick Play (Play Classification) 45 Scrimmage Line (Scrimmage) 39 Second and Fourth Periods (Start of Each Period) 48 Series (Series and Possession Series) 40 Shift 39 Shift and False Start (The Scrimmage) 90 Sidelines (Lines) 35 Side Zone (Field Areas) 46 Simultaneous Catch or Recovery (Catch, Recovery, Possession) 32 Simultaneous with Snap (Penalties Completed) 136 Snap After a Touchback (Touchback) 113 Snapper (Team and Player Designations) 43 Snapping the Ball 40 Special Enforcement of Post-Possession Fouls (Enforcement Procedures) 144 Specifications: Mandatory Equipment (Players and Playing Equipment) 23 Specifications (The Ball) 20 Spot of the Foul (Spots) 41 Spot Where Kick Ends (Spots) 41 Spot Where Run Ends (Spots) 41 Squad Member (Team and Player Designations) 43 Starting and Stopping the Clock (Timeouts: Starting and Stopping the Clock) 54 Starting with a Snap (The Scrimmage) 90 Striking Fouls and Tripping (Personal Fouls) 115 Substitute (Team and Player Designations) 43 Substitution Procedures (Substitutions) 64 Succeeding Spot (Spots) 40 Suspending the game (Timeouts: Starting and Stopping the Clock) 56

Tackle Box 47 Targeting 47 Targeting and Making Forcible Contact to Head or Neck Area of a Defenseless Player (Personal Fouls) 116 Targeting and Making Forcible Contact With the Crown of the Helmet (Personal Fouls) 116 Team Area and Coaching Box (The Field) 17 Team B personal foul during legal forward pass play (Forward Pass) 105 Team Captains (General Provisions) 15 Teams A and B (Team and Player Designations) 42 Teams Subject to the Rules (General Provisions) 16 The Field (Field Areas) 46 The Game (General Provisions) 15 The Neutral Zone 38 Timeout (Timeouts: Starting and Stopping the Clock) 54 Timing Adjustments (Playing Time and Intermissions) 51 Timing Devices (Playing Time and Intermissions) 52 Touching and Recovery of a Free Kick (Free Kicks) 77 Touching (Fumble, Muff, Batting and Touching the Ball; Blocking a Kick) 34 Touching Ground On or Behind Goal Line (Scrimmage Kicks) 83

Unfair Acts (Unsportsmanlike Conduct Fouls) 128 Unfair Clock Tactics (Delays/Clock Tactics) 62 Unfair Tactics (Unsportsmanlike Conduct Fouls) 127 Unsportsmanlike Acts (Unsportsmanlike Conduct Fouls) 124 Use of Hands or Arms by Defense: Passing Downs (Blocking, Use of Hands or Arms) 132

Valid Signal (Fair Catch) 33 Violation (Foul and Violation) 34 Violation Timeouts (Timeouts: Starting and Stopping the Clock) 59

When Ball is Loose (Blocking, Use of Hands or Arms) 132 When Ball is Ready for Play (The Ball: Live, Dead, Loose, Ready For Play) 29 When Declared (Touchback) 113 When to Award Series (A Series: Started, Broken, Renewed) 72 Who May Block (Blocking, Use of Hands or Arms) 130 Winning Team and Final Score (General Provisions) 15

Yard Lines (Lines) 35


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Editor: Jim Briggs, BAFA/BAFRA Rules Committee
rules@bafra.org