Author: Andy Bond

America likes great movies but loves bad movies.

Rule 1, Section 6, Article 1

Electronic communication devices including but not limited to audio recorder, Local Area Network (LAN) phones and/or headsets, mobile phones, still photograph(s), film, analog or digital video(s) and/or Internet depictions, shall not be used to communicate with a player except during an outside 9-yard mark conference (7-yard marks in nine-, eight- and six-player competition).

NOTE: Each state association may authorize the use of a drum by a team composed of deaf or partially deaf players, in order to establish a rhythmic cadence following the ready-for-play.

Rule 6, Section 5, Article 4

The captain my choose to free kick or snap anywhere between the hash marks:

a. on the yard line through the spot of the catch when a fair catch is made;

b. through the spot of interference, when a fair catch is awarded; or

c. at the succeeding spot when the distance penalty for kick-catch interference is accepted following an awarded fair catch and the down is not replayed.

These choices remain if a dead-ball foul occurs prior to the next down, or a foul or an inadvertent whistle occurs during the next down and the down is replayed.

Rule 8, Section 2, Article 5

If after a down in which a touchdown is scored, and prior to the initial ready-for-play signal for the try, either team commits any foul for which the basic spot is the succeeding spot, the offended team may accept the penalty and choose enforcement of the penalty:

a. On the try, or

b. On the subsequent kickoff.

Rule 8, Section 2, Article 4

If either team commits an unsportsmanlike conduct or a nonplayer foul during a down in which a touchdown is scored, the opponent may accept the results of the play and choose enforcement of the penalty:

a. On the try, or

b. On the subsequent kickoff.

Rule 10, Section 4, Article 2 EXCEPTION

EXCEPTION: The basic spot may, at the option of the offended team, be the succeeding spot for fouls by K during a free or scrimmage kick down (other than kick catch interference) prior to the end of the kick when K will not be next to put the ball in play.

Rule 9, Section 4, Article 5

Running into or roughing the kicker or holder. A defensive player shall neither run into the kicker nor holder, which is contact that displace the kicker or holder without roughing; nor block, tackle or charge into the kicker of a scrimmage kick, or the place-kick holder, other than when:

a. Contact is unavoidable because it is not reasonably certain that a kick will be made.

b. The defense touches the kick near the kicker and contact is unavoidable.

c. Contact is slight and is partially caused by movement of the kicker.

d. Contact is caused by R being blocked into the kicker or holder by K.

Rule 9, Section 4, Article 4

Roughing the passer. Defensive players must make a definite effort to avoid charging into a passer, who has thrown the ball from in or behind the neutral zone, after it is clear the ball has been thrown. No defensive player shall commit any illegal personal contact foul listed in 9-4-3 against the passer.

Rule 6, Section 5, Article 6

While any free kick is in flight in or beyond the neutral zone to the receiver’s goal line or any scrimmage kick is in flight beyond the neutral zone to the receivers’s goal line, K shall not:

a. Touch the ball or R, unless blocked into the ball or R, or to ward off a blocker; or

b . Obstruct R’s path to the ball.

This prohibition applies even when no fair-catch signal is given, but it does not apply after a free kick has been touched by a receiver, or after a scrimmage kick has been touched by a receiver who was clearly beyond the neutral zone at the time of touching.

EXCEPTION: K may catch, touch, muff or bat a scrimmage kick in flight beyond the neutral zone if no player of R is in position to catch the ball.

Rule 6, Section 1, Article 9

A free kick shall not be kicked out of bounds between the goal lines untouched inbounds by R. If it is kicked out of bounds and R does not accept a penalty for kick-catch interference on the same kick as in 6-5-4, R has the following choices:

a. Accept a 5-yard penalty from the previous spot and have k rekick;

b. Accept a 5-yard penalty from the succeeding spot;

c. Put the ball in play at the inbounds spot 25 yards beyond the previous spot; or

d.. Decline the penalty and put the ball in play at the inbounds spot.

Rule 8, Section 2, Article 3

If an opponent of the scoring team commits a foul (other than unsportsmanlike conduct or a nonplayer foul) during a down in which a touchdown is scored and there was a change of possession during the down, and such foul occurs after the change of possession, the scoring team may accept the results of the play and choose enforcement of the penalty:

a. On the try, or

b. On the subsequent kickoff.

Rule 8, Section 2, Article 2

If an opponent of the scoring team commits a foul (other than unsportsmanlike conduct or a nonplayer foul) during a down in which a touchdown is scored and there was not a change in possession during the down, A may accept the results of the play and choose enforcement of the penalty:

    1. On the try, or
    2. On the subsequent kickoff.

Rule 3, Section 3, Article 4

A period shall not be extended by an untimed down if one of the following occurred during a down in which time expires:

a. When the defense fouls during a successful try/field goal and the offended team accepts the results of the play with enforcement of the penalty from the succeeding spot.

b. There was a foul by either team and the penalty is accepted for:

        1. unsportsmanlike fouls,
        2. nonplayer fouls,
        3. fouls that specify a loss of down,
        4. fouls that are enforced on the subsequent kickoff as in Rule 8-2-2, 8-2-3, 8-2-4, 8-2-5; or
        5. fouls for which enforcement, by rule, result in a safety.

NOTE: The score is cancelled in the event of an accepted penalty that specifics a loss of down.