ARTICLE 1.
Hurdling is an attempt by a player to jump with one or both feet or knees foremost over an opponent who is still on his feet (Rule 9-1-13).
“On his feet’’ means that no part of the opponent’s body other than one or both feet is in contact with the ground.
»
Kicking the Ball; Legal and Illegal Kicks
ARTICLE 1.
Kicking the ball is intentionally striking the ball with the knee, lower leg or foot.
A legal kick is a punt, drop kick or place kick made according to the rules by a player of Team A before a change of team possession. Kicking the ball in any other manner is illegal (A.R. 6-1-2-I).
Any free kick or scrimmage kick continues to be a kick until it is caught or recovered by a player or becomes dead. »
ARTICLE 1.
The neutral zone is the space between the two scrimmage lines extended to the sidelines. Its width is equal to the length of the ball (Rule 2-21-2).
The neutral zone is established when the ball is ready for play and is resting on the ground with its long axis at right angles to the scrimmage line and parallel to the sidelines.
The neutral zone exists until there is a change of team possession, until a scrimmage kick crosses the neutral zone or until the ball is declared dead. »
Encroachment
ARTICLE 1.
After the ball is ready for play, encroachment occurs when an offensive player is in or beyond the neutral zone after the snapper touches or simulates (hand[s] at or below his knees) touching the ball before the snap (Exception: When the ball is put in play, the snapper is not encroaching when he is in the neutral zone).
Offside
ARTICLE 2.
After the ball is ready for play, offside occurs (Rule 7-1-5) when a defensive player: »
Passing
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 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. »
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, disqualification, subtraction from the game clock (Rule 10-1-1-b).
»
Scrimmage Down
ARTICLE 1.
A scrimmage down is the action between the two teams during a down that begins with a legal snap.
Scrimmage Line
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 shift is a simultaneous change of position or stance by two or more offensive players after the ball is ready for play before the snap for a scrimmage down (A.R. 7-1-3-I-II and A.R. 7-1-2-I-IV).
The shift ends when all players have been motionless for one full second.
The shift continues if one or more players are in motion before the end of the one second interval. »