It is not meant to be a substitute for the official rule book. In any case of conflict between these explanations and the official rules, the rules always have precedence.
In order to make it easier to coordinate the information in this digest, the topics discussed generally follow the order of the rule book.
- Officials'
Jurisdictions, Positions and Duties
Responsibilities and positioning
of each game official.
- Definitions
Explanations of football terminology.
- Summary
of Penalties
Descriptions and categories of infractions.
- Field
Descriptions of the field and the
rules regarding it.
- Ball
Descriptions of the footballs required
for each game.
- Coin
Toss
Descriptions of the method of conducting
the pre-game coin toss and the choices involved.
- Timing
The parameters and responsibilities
of rules and monitoring of game timing.
- Sudden
Death
The parameters for deciding tied
games in sudden-death overtime.
- Timing
in Final Two Minutes of Each Half
Descriptions of time-keeping for
the final minutes.
- Try
Explanations of extra-point procedures.
- Players-Substitutions
Parameters for player participation
and substitutions.
- Kickoff
Descriptions of kickoff regulations.
- Safety
Explanations for kicks after safeties.
- Fair
Catch Kick
Explanations for kicks after safeties.
- Field
Goal
Field placement of kicks after field-goal
attempts.
- Safety
The specifications for calling a
safety.
- Measuring
The ball spot used for measurements.
- Position
Of Players At Snap
Requirements for player positioning
at scrimmage.
- Use
Of Hands, Arms And Body
Rules and exceptions.
- Forward
Pass
Explanations applying to the passing
game.
- Intentional
Grounding Of Forward Pass
Conditions and parameters of this
penalty.
- Protection
Of Passer
Rules regarding quarterbacks.
- Pass Interference
The rights and restrictions of offensive
and defensive players in pass coverage.
- Backward
Pass
The conditions and restrictions
of laterals.
- Fumble
Restrictions, spots and advancements
of fumbles.
- Kicks
from Scrimmage
Regulations regarding scrimmage
kicks.
- Fair
Catch
Parameters for fair catches on punts
or kickoffs.
- Foul
on Last Play of Half or Game
Specifics for the final-play situation.
- Spot
of Enforcement of Foul
Four basic spots from where penalties
are marked off.
- Double
Foul
The contingencies of double fouls.
- Penalty
Enforced on Following Kickoff
The conditions for penalties being
tacked onto the following kickoff.
- Emergencies
and Unfair Acts
Outlining the authority of the commissioner's
office and the referee.
- Unfair
Acts
Describes the commissioner's sole
authority in dealing with instances outside the accepted boundaries of
conduct.
- Removing
Team from Field
The penalties related to teams being
removed from the field by any game personnel other than the referee.
