NCAA Flag Rule 2
Definitions
SECTION 1. THE BALL: LIVE, DEAD, LOOSE, READY FOR PLAY
ARTICLE 1. A live-ball is a ball in play. A pass, kick, or fumble that has not yet touched the ground is a live-ball in flight.
ARTICLE 2. A dead-ball is a ball not in play.
ARTICLE 3.
a. A loose ball is a pass, fumble, or a kick. A loose ball that has not yet touched the ground is in flight. A grounded loose ball is one that has touched the ground. Any loose ball continues to be a loose ball until a player secures possession of it or until it becomes dead by Rule, whichever comes first.
b. All players are eligible to touch, catch, or recover a fumble or a backward pass in flight.
c. Eligibility to touch a kick is governed by kick rules (Rule 6).
d. All players are eligible to touch a forward pass (Rule 7).
When Ball Is Ready for Play
ARTICLE 4. A dead-ball is ready for play when:
a. With the 30 second play clock running, an official places the ball at a hash mark or between the inbounds marks and steps away to their position.
b. With the play clock set at 30 seconds after an injury to a defensive player, the referee sounds their whistle and either signals to start the game clock or signals that the ball is ready for play.
SECTION 2. SCREEN BLOCKING
ARTICLE 1. Screen blocking is legally obstructing an opponent without using any part of the body to initiate contact and while remaining within the frame of the body.
ARTICLE 2. The frame of a player’s body is at the shoulders or below other than the back. It does not include extended limbs.
SECTION 3. CATCH, RECOVERY, POSSESSION
ARTICLE 1. Possession refers to custody of (a) a live-ball as previously defined and (b) a dead ball to be snapped. It may refer either to player possession or team possession.
a. Player Possession. The ball is in player possession when a player has the ball firmly in their grasp by holding or controlling it with hand(s) or arm(s) while contacting the ground inbounds.
b. Team Possession.
The ball is in team possession:
1. When one of its players has player possession, including when they are attempting a kick; or
2. While a forward pass thrown by a player of that team is in flight; or
3. During a loose ball if a player of that team last had player possession; or
4. When the team is next to snap the ball.
c. A team is in legal possession if it has team possession when its players are eligible to catch
or recover the ball.
ARTICLE 2. “Belongs to,’’ as contrasted with “in possession”, denotes custody of a dead-ball. Such custody may be temporary, because the ball must next be put in play in accordance with rules governing the existing situation.
Catch, Interception, Recovery
ARTICLE 3.
a. To catch a ball means that a player:
1. Secures firm control with the hand(s) or arm(s) of a live-ball in flight before the ball touches the ground, and
2. Touches the ground inbounds with any part of the body, and then
3. Maintains control of the ball long enough to enable that player to perform an act common to the game, i.e., long enough to pitch or hand the ball, advance it, avoid an opponent, etc., and
4. Satisfies paragraphs b., c., and d. (below).
b. If a player goes to the ground in the act of catching a pass (with or without contact by an opponent) the player must maintain complete and continuous control of the ball throughout the process of contacting the ground, whether in the field of play or in the end zone. This is also required for a player attempting to make a catch at the sideline and going to the ground out-of-bounds. If the player loses control of the ball which then touches the
ground before they regain control, it is not a catch. If the player regains control inbounds prior to the ball touching the ground it is a catch.
c. If the player loses control of the ball while simultaneously touching the ground with any part of their body, or if there is doubt that the acts were simultaneous, it is not a catch. If a player has control of the ball, a slight movement of the ball, even if it touches the ground, will not be considered loss of possession; the player must lose control of the ball for there to be a loss of possession.
d. If the ball touches the ground after the player secures control and continues to maintain control, and the elements above are satisfied, it is a catch.
e. An interception is a catch of an opponent’s pass or fumble.
f. A catch by any kneeling or prone inbounds player is a completion or interception.
g. A player recovers a ball if they fulfill the criteria in paragraphs a., b., c., and, d. (above) for
catching a ball that is still alive after hitting the ground.
h. When in question, the catch, recovery or interception is not completed.
Simultaneous Catch or Recovery
ARTICLE 4. A simultaneous catch or recovery is a catch or recovery in which there is joint possession of a live-ball by opposing players inbounds.
SECTION 4. DOWN, BETWEEN DOWNS AND LOSS OF DOWN
ARTICLE 1. A down is a unit of the game that starts after the ball is ready for play with a legal snap and ends when the ball becomes dead.
ARTICLE 2. Between downs is the interval during which the ball is dead.
ARTICLE 3. “Loss of down” is an abbreviation meaning “loss of the right to repeat a down”.
ARTICLE 1. The Flag is considered “removed” and the play is dead in the following situations:
a. When either flag is clearly removed from its belt coupling.
b. If a flag or belt apparatus inadvertently comes off a ball carrier during a down, the play is ruled dead at that spot.
c. If a flag or belt apparatus inadvertently comes off a non-ball carrier during a down, the play shall be ruled dead once that player possesses the ball.
d. If a flag is legally removed or inadvertently comes off a non-ball carrier during a down, the player may reattach the flag prior to gaining possession and continue to participate throughout the down.
e. If a flag is torn into more than one piece or a flag belt is torn off.
ARTICLE 2. A defensive player may not intentionally remove the flags of a player who is clearly
not in possession of the ball.
ARTICLE 3. Flag Guarding is the act of physically preventing a defensive player from removing an opponent’s flags.
SECTION 6. FORWARD, BEYOND AND FORWARD PROGRESS
ARTICLE 1. Forward, beyond or in advance of, as related to either team, denotes direction toward the opponent’s end line. Converse terms are backward or behind.
ARTICLE 2. Forward progress is a term indicating the end of advancement by the ball carrier or airborne pass receiver of either team and applies to the position of the ball when it becomes dead by rule.
SECTION 7. FOUL AND VIOLATION
ARTICLE 1. A foul is a rule infraction for which a penalty is prescribed.
ARTICLE 2. A personal foul is a foul involving illegal physical contact that endangers the safety of another player.
ARTICLE 3. A flagrant personal foul is illegal physical contact so extreme or deliberate that it places an opponent in danger of catastrophic injury.
ARTICLE 4. A violation is a rule infraction for which no penalty is prescribed. Since it is not a foul, it does not offset a foul.
SECTION 8. FUMBLE AND MUFF; BATTING AND TOUCHING; BLOCKING A PUNT
ARTICLE 1. To fumble the ball is to lose player possession by any act other than passing, kicking, or successful handing. The status of the ball is a fumble.
ARTICLE 2. To muff the ball is to touch the ball in an unsuccessful attempt to catch or recover it. Muffing the ball does not change its status.
ARTICLE 3. Batting the ball is intentionally striking it or intentionally changing its direction with the hand(s) or arm(s). When in question, the ball is accidentally touched rather than batted. Batting the ball does not change its status.
ARTICLE 4.
a. Touching a ball not in player possession denotes any contact with the ball. It may be intentional or unintentional, and it always precedes possession and control.
b. Intentional touching is deliberate or intended touching.
c. Forced touching results when a player’s contact with the ball is due to (i) an opponent illegally blocking a player into it, or (ii) the ball being batted or illegally kicked into that player by an opponent. If the touching is forced, the player in question by rule has not touched the ball.
d. When in question, a ball has not been touched on a kick or forward pass.
ARTICLE 5. Blocking a punt is touching the kicked ball by an opponent of the kicking team in an attempt to prevent the ball from crossing the neutral zone (Rule 6-2-5b).
ARTICLE 1. A sideline runs from end line to end line on each side of the field and is part of the vertical plane that separates the field of play from the area that is out-of-bounds. The entire sideline is out-of-bounds.
ARTICLE 2. The goal line at each end of the field of play runs between the sidelines and is part of the vertical plane that separates the end zone from the field of play. The two goal lines are 80 yards apart. The plane of the goal line extends between and includes the pylons, which are out-of-bounds. The entire goal line is in the end zone. A team’s goal line is that which it is defending.
ARTICLE 3. An end line runs between the sidelines 10 yards behind each goal line and separates the end zone from the area that is out-of-bounds. The entire end line is out-of-bounds.
ARTICLE 4. The boundary lines are the sidelines and the end lines. The area enclosed by the boundary lines is “inbounds”, and the area surrounding and including the boundary lines is “out-of-bounds”.
ARTICLE 5. A yard line is any line in the field of play parallel to the end lines. A team’s own yard lines, marked or unmarked, are numbered consecutively from its own goal line to the 40-yard line.
ARTICLE 6. The two hash marks are 15 yards from the sidelines. Hash marks and short yard-line extensions shall measure 24 inches in length.
SECTION 10. HANDING THE BALL
ARTICLE 1.
a. Handing the ball is transferring player possession from one teammate to another without throwing, fumbling, or kicking it.
b. Except when permitted by rule, handing the ball forward to a teammate is illegal.
c. Loss of player possession by unsuccessful execution of attempted handing is a fumble by the last player in possession (Exception: The snap).
d. A backward handoff occurs when the ball carrier releases the ball before it is beyond the yard line where the ball carrier is positioned.
A huddle is two or more players grouped together after the ball is ready for play and before a snap.
ARTICLE 1.
a. Hurdling is an attempt by a player to jump with one or both feet or knees foremost over an opponent while that opponent is still on their feet.
b. “On their feet’’ means that no part of the opponent’s body other than one or both feet is in contact with the ground.
SECTION 13. PUNT AND PUNTING THE BALL
ARTICLE 1.
a. A punt is by Team A under restrictions that prohibit either team from advancing beyond their scrimmage line until the ball is punted.
b. Punting the ball is intentionally striking the ball with the knee, lower leg, or foot.
c. A legal punt is a kick by a player who drops the ball and kicks it before it touches the ground.
d. Kicking the ball in any other manner is illegal.
e. When in question, a ball is accidentally touched rather than kicked.
SECTION 14. FAIR CATCH AND SIGNALS
ARTICLE 1.
a. A fair catch of a punt is a catch beyond the neutral zone by a Team B player who has made a valid signal during a punt that is untouched beyond the neutral zone.
b. A valid or invalid fair catch signal deprives the receiving team of the opportunity to advance the ball. The ball is declared dead at the spot of the catch or recovery. If the catch precedes the signal, the ball is dead when the signal is first given.
c. If the receiver shades their eyes from the sun without waving their hand(s), the ball is live and may be advanced.
ARTICLE 2. A valid signal is a signal given by a player of Team B who has obviously signaled their intention by extending one hand only clearly above their head and waving that hand from side to side of their body more than once.
ARTICLE 3. An invalid signal is any waving signal by a player of Team B:
a. That does not meet the requirements of Article 2 (above); or
b. That is given after a punt is caught beyond the neutral zone, strikes the ground or touches another player beyond the neutral zone.
SECTION 15. THE NEUTRAL ZONE
ARTICLE 1.
a. The neutral zone is the space between the two scrimmage lines extended to the sidelines. Its width is one yard from the forward most point of the football. The neutral zone is established when the ball is ready for play.
b. The neutral zone exists until there is a change of team possession, until a kick crosses the neutral zone or until the ball is declared dead.
c. The utilization of any neutral zone markers (i.e., cones, discs, etc.) is optional and shall be on the sideline and not be in the field of play.
SECTION 16. ENCROACHMENT AND OFFSIDE
ARTICLE 1. After the ball is ready for play, encroachment occurs when an offensive player is in or beyond the neutral zone when the snap is imminent.
ARTICLE 2. After the ball is ready for play, offside occurs when a defensive player:
a. Is in or beyond the neutral zone when the ball is legally snapped; or
b. Contacts an opponent beyond the neutral zone before the ball is snapped; or
c. Contacts the ball before it is snapped; or
d. Threatens an offensive player positioned on the line, causing an immediate reaction, before the ball is snapped; or
e. Crosses the neutral zone and charges toward a Team A back.
ARTICLE 1. Passing the ball is throwing it. A pass continues to be a pass until it is caught or intercepted by a player or the ball becomes dead.
Forward and Backward Pass
ARTICLE 2.
a. A pass is forward if the ball first strikes the ground, a player, an official, or anything else beyond the spot where the ball is released. All other passes are backward passes.
b. When in question, the ball is passed and not fumbled during an attempted forward pass.
c. A snap becomes a backward pass when the snapper releases the ball, other than via a hand to-hand exchange.
ARTICLE 3.
a. A legal forward pass has crossed the neutral zone when it first strikes the ground, a player, an official, or anything beyond the neutral zone inbounds. It has not crossed the neutral zone when it first strikes the ground, a player, an official or anything in or behind the neutral zone inbounds.
b. A player has crossed the neutral zone if that player’s entire body has been beyond the neutral zone.
c. A legal forward pass is beyond or behind the neutral zone where it crosses the sideline.
ARTICLE 4. A catchable forward pass is an untouched legal forward pass beyond the neutral zone to an eligible player who has a reasonable opportunity to catch the ball. When in question, a legal forward pass is catchable.
A penalty is a result imposed by rule against a team that has committed a foul and may include one or more of the following: loss of yardage, loss of down, automatic first down, ejection, subtraction from the game clock.
ARTICLE 1. A scrimmage down is the action between the two teams during a down that begins with a legal snap. A Try down is a scrimmage down that begins when the referee declares the ball ready for play.
ARTICLE 2. The scrimmage line for each team is established when the ball is ready for play. It is the yard line that defines the vertical plane passing through the point of the ball nearest a team’s own goal line.
ARTICLE 1.
a. A shift is a simultaneous change of position or stance by two or more offensive players after the ball is ready for play but before a legal snap.
b. A shift ends when all players have been motionless for one full second.
c. A shift continues if one or more players are in motion before the end of the one second interval.
SECTION 21. SNAPPING THE BALL
ARTICLE 1.
a. A legal snap is handing or passing the ball backward from its position on the ground with a quick and continuous motion of the hand or hands, with the ball actually leaving the hand or hands in this motion.
b. The snap starts when the ball is moved legally and ends when the ball leaves the snapper’s hands; the ball then becomes alive.
c. Unless moved in a backward direction, the movement of the ball doesn’t start a legal snap. It is not a legal snap if the ball is first moved forward or lifted.
d. The snap need not go between the snapper’s legs; but to be legal, it must be a quick and continuous backward motion.
e. The ball must be snapped on or between the hash marks.
SECTION 22. SERIES AND POSSESSION SERIES
ARTICLE 1. A series comprises up to four consecutive downs that each begins with a snap.
ARTICLE 2. A possession series is a team’s continuous possession of the ball in an extra period. It may consist of one or more series.
ARTICLE 1. Benchmark for locating the enforcement spot for penalties.
ARTICLE 2. The point at which the ball became dead.
ARTICLE 3. The point at which the penalty for a foul or the result of a violation is enforced.
ARTICLE 4. The intersection of the nearer hash mark line and the yard line passing through either the dead-ball spot or the spot where a penalty leaves the ball in a side zone.
ARTICLE 5. The point at which the ball becomes dead by rule because of going or being declared out-of-bounds.
ARTICLE 6.
a. The spot where a kick ends.
b. When a punt ends in Team B’s end zone, the post punt spot is the 14-yard line.
ARTICLE 7. The point at which the ball was last put in play.
ARTICLE 8. The point at which a foul occurs. If out-of-bounds between the goal lines, the foul is at the intersection of the nearer hash mark and the yard line extended through the spot of the foul. If out-of-bounds between the goal line and the end line or behind the end line, the foul is in the end zone.
ARTICLE 9. When a kick is caught or recovered or where it is declared dead by rule.
ARTICLE 10. The spot where the run ends is the point:
a. Where the ball is declared dead in player possession.
b. Where player possession is lost on a fumble.
c. Where handing of the ball occurs.
d. Where an illegal forward pass is thrown.
e. Where a backward pass is thrown.
f. Where an illegal kick is made beyond the line of scrimmage.
g. Where a return kick occurs.
h. Where player possession is gained under provisions of the “momentum rule” (Rule 8-4-1 Exceptions).
ARTICLE 11. The point where the ball is next to be put in play.
SECTION 24. TEAM AND PLAYER DESIGNATIONS
ARTICLE 1. Team A is the team designated to put the ball in play. Team B is their opponent. The teams retain these designations until the ball is next ready for play.
Offensive and Defensive Teams
ARTICLE 2. The offensive team is the team in possession. The defensive team is their opponent.
ARTICLE 3. The punter is any player who legally punts. A player becomes a punter when their knee, lower leg, or foot makes contact with the ball before it strikes the ground. The punter is considered a runner until they kick the ball.
ARTICLE 4. The passer is the player who throws a forward pass. The passer is considered a runner until they throw the ball.
ARTICLE 5. A player is any participant in the game who is not a substitute or replaced player.
ARTICLE 6.
a. The runner is a player in possession of a live-ball or simulating possession of a live-ball.
b. A ball carrier is a runner in possession of a live-ball.
ARTICLE 7. The snapper is the player who snaps the ball.
ARTICLE 8.
a. A legal substitute is a replacement for a player or a player vacancy during the interval between downs.
b. A legal incoming substitute becomes a player when they enter the field of play or end zones and communicate with a teammate or an official, enters the huddle, is positioned in an offensive or a defensive formation, or participates in the play.
ARTICLE 9.
a. An ejected player is one who is declared ineligible for further participation and is not allowed to remain in the team area. This player must leave the playing enclosure under the escort of team personnel before the next play after their ejection. They must remain out of view of the field of play under team supervision for the duration of the game.
Player Inbounds and Out-of-Bounds
ARTICLE 10.
a. A player is out-of-bounds when any part of their body touches anything other than another player or game official on or outside a boundary. An out-of-bounds player who becomes airborne remains out-of-bounds until they touch the ground inbounds.
b. An inbounds player is a player who is not out-of-bounds. An inbounds player who becomes airborne remains inbounds until they are out-of-bounds.
SECTION 25. TIMING DEVICES
ARTICLE 1. The game clock is any device under the direction of the appropriate official used to time the 48 minutes of the game.
ARTICLE 2. Each stadium shall have a visual play clock at each end of the playing enclosure. The play clock must be capable of counting down from 30 seconds. It should automatically default to 30 seconds and start immediately upon being reset by the play-clock operator when any official signals that the ball is dead after a play.
SECTION 26. PLAY CLASSIFICATION
ARTICLE 1. A legal forward pass play is the interval between the snap and when a legal forward pass is complete, incomplete, or intercepted.
ARTICLE 2.
a. A running play is any live-ball action other than a forward pass play or punt play.
b. A run is that segment of a running play during which a ball carrier has possession.
c. If a ball carrier loses possession by a fumble, backwards pass or illegal forward pass, the spot where the run ends is the yard line where the ball carrier loses possession. The running play includes the run and the loose-ball action before a player gains or regains possession or the ball is declared dead.
ARTICLE 3. A punt play is the action during the interval between the snap and when a punt comes into player possession or the ball is declared dead by rule.
ARTICLE 1. The area within the limit lines and includes the limit lines and team areas.
ARTICLE 2. The area enclosed by the sidelines and goal lines.
ARTICLE 3. The rectangle at each end of the field is defined by the goal lines, sidelines and end line. The goal line and goal line pylons are in the end zone. A team’s end zone is the one it is defending.
ARTICLE 4. The area is bounded by the stadium, dome, stands, fences, or other structures. Scoreboards are not considered within the playing enclosure.
ARTICLE 5. The area between the hash marks and the near sideline.
ARTICLE 1. Any attempt by a player, coach, or team member in uniform to strike an opponent in a combative manner unrelated to football.
a. An attempt to strike an opponent with the arm(s), hand(s), leg(s), or foot (feet), whether or not there is contact.
b. An unsportsmanlike act toward an opponent that causes any opponent to retaliate by fighting.
SECTION 29. THREE-AND-ONE PRINCIPLE
ARTICLE 1. The Three-and-One Principle of penalty enforcement applies when the penalty statement for a foul does not specify the enforcement spot. Application of this principle is described in Rule 10-2-3.
