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Quiz about Welcome to NFL Officiating 101
Quiz about Welcome to NFL Officiating 101

Welcome to NFL Officiating 101 Quiz


Football fans love second-guessing the officials on Sundays. Now here's your chance to see how much they have to know, just to make the calls. Welcome to NFL Officiating 101!

A multiple-choice quiz by cag1970. Estimated time: 6 mins.
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Author
cag1970
Time
6 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
83,016
Updated
Feb 02 22
# Qns
15
Difficulty
Tough
Avg Score
9 / 15
Plays
19110
Awards
Top 10% Quiz
Last 3 plays: Guest 174 (10/15), Guest 107 (13/15), Guest 166 (7/15).
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Question 1 of 15
1. The Reds start the game by kicking off from the 35-yard line to the Falcons. The Reds' kicker kicks the ball out of bounds at the Falcons' 32-yard line. The official throws his flag, indicating an illegal procedure. Where could the Falcons elect to have the ball spotted to begin their offensive possession? Hint


Question 2 of 15
2. The Dolphins punt to the Bengals. The Bengals return man muffs the punt at his own 28-yard line. The ball bounces to the 31-yard line, where it is picked up by a Dolphins coverage man. He then runs the ball into the end zone. Is this a touchdown?


Question 3 of 15
3. A Jets defensive lineman, trying to entice a Patriots offensive lineman to false start, snarls and growls at the man before feigning motion. The Patriots lineman, paying more attention to the Jets lineman than to the snap count, raises out of his stance. None of the officials closest to the player--the head linesman, line judge, umpire or referee--hear the growling Jet. What does the referee call? Hint


Question 4 of 15
4. On a 2nd-and-6 play from their own 29-yard line, a Bills receiver goes out for a pass. The pass is tipped by a Steelers defensive lineman as it crosses the line of scrimmage. A Steelers defensive back pushes the Bills receiver to the turf, intercepting the pass at the Bills 38-yard line and returning it to the end zone. What does the referee call? Hint


Question 5 of 15
5. The home team is required to provide how many footballs for game play (not including kicking situations)? Hint


Question 6 of 15
6. Which official functions as the backup timekeeper? Hint


Question 7 of 15
7. Early in the first quarter, the Browns are forced to punt from their own end zone. The Bears return man gives a valid fair-catch signal and catches the ball at the 50-yard line. He is hit and fumbles the ball, which the Browns recover at the Bears' 46-yard line. Where does the referee spot the ball? Hint


Question 8 of 15
8. The Vikings quarterback tries to elude a Buccaneers defender. He throws the football, only to have it batted back to him. He catches the ball and then, after finally shaking his pursuer, throws the ball again, completing a spectacular 37-yard pass to his tight end. Does this play count?


Question 9 of 15
9. With five seconds remaining in the first half, the 49ers punt the ball from deep in their own end of the field. The Cardinals return man signals for and makes a valid fair catch at the 49ers 43-yard line as time expires. Is the first half over?


Question 10 of 15
10. Which member of the offensive team can request a playable ball during inclement weather conditions? Hint


Question 11 of 15
11. The Eagles send one of their three wide receivers in motion on a 3rd-and-5 play from the Colts 42-yard line. Before the ball is snapped, the wide receiver turns upfield, moving forward toward the line of scrimmage. By the time the play is over, he has caught a 13-yard pass and keeps the Eagles drive alive. Or does he?


Question 12 of 15
12. The Panthers punter lines up in formation at the Saints 42-yard line. But instead of punting the ball, he performs a drop kick, which sails between the uprights with room to spare. Is this a legal play?


Question 13 of 15
13. A Cowboys running back breaks into the Raiders secondary on a big running play. While making the tackle, a Raiders defender grasps the back's facemask and twists it to help force the runner down. How much yardage would be tacked on to the end of the play? Hint


Question 14 of 15
14. A Chiefs receiver takes off downfield on a pass play. Ten yards beyond the line of scrimmage, he is hit by a Ravens linebacker and knocked to the ground. The quarterback, scrambling to elude the rush, hasn't thrown the ball yet. The back judge sees the play and throws a flag. What penalty should he call? Hint


Question 15 of 15
15. Which two officials are responsible for ruling on the success of a field goal attempt? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. The Reds start the game by kicking off from the 35-yard line to the Falcons. The Reds' kicker kicks the ball out of bounds at the Falcons' 32-yard line. The official throws his flag, indicating an illegal procedure. Where could the Falcons elect to have the ball spotted to begin their offensive possession?

Answer: At the Falcons' 40-yard line.

If a kickoff goes out of bounds, the ball may be spotted for play by the receiving team 25 yards from the kickoff spot OR at the spot where the ball went out of bounds. In this scenario, the Falcons could elect to have the ball spotted at their 32-yard line (where the ball went out of bounds) or at their 40-yard line (which is 25 yards beyond the kickoff spot).
(Thanks to FunTrivia player gwbertsch for the updated information on this rule.)
2. The Dolphins punt to the Bengals. The Bengals return man muffs the punt at his own 28-yard line. The ball bounces to the 31-yard line, where it is picked up by a Dolphins coverage man. He then runs the ball into the end zone. Is this a touchdown?

Answer: No

NFL Rule 3, Section 2, Article 5 defines a "muff" as "the touching of the ball by a player in an unsuccessful attempt to obtain possession of a loose ball." Rule 6, Section 2, Article 2(b)goes one step further: "If a free kick (legal or illegal) is recovered by the kicking team, the ball is dead. If the recovery is legal, the kicking team next puts the ball in play at the spot of the recovery."

Since the receiving team in this case did not gain possession of the muffed football AND because the kicking team made a legal recovery of the muffed football, the spot of the recovery is the spot for the kicking team's new possession. Remember that the receiving team can advance a muffed football, if it gains possession of it, but the kicking team cannot. The Dolphins, then, would take possession at the spot of the recovery, which is the Bengals 31-yard line.
3. A Jets defensive lineman, trying to entice a Patriots offensive lineman to false start, snarls and growls at the man before feigning motion. The Patriots lineman, paying more attention to the Jets lineman than to the snap count, raises out of his stance. None of the officials closest to the player--the head linesman, line judge, umpire or referee--hear the growling Jet. What does the referee call?

Answer: False start on the offense

In recent years, the NFL has cracked down on defensive players who breach the neutral zone before the snap or simulate the start of plays prior to the snap. If an official had heard the Jets player growling in an attempt to draw the Patriot lineman into false-starting, the defense could have been called for delay of game.

However, In this example, the Jets lineman never crosses into the neutral zone, nor do the officials hear him. The Patriots lineman, then, is whistled for a false start. (Thanks to FunTrivia player dprs1 for the updated information on this rule.)
4. On a 2nd-and-6 play from their own 29-yard line, a Bills receiver goes out for a pass. The pass is tipped by a Steelers defensive lineman as it crosses the line of scrimmage. A Steelers defensive back pushes the Bills receiver to the turf, intercepting the pass at the Bills 38-yard line and returning it to the end zone. What does the referee call?

Answer: A touchdown for the Steelers.

If the pass had not been tipped at the line of scrimmage, the Steelers defensive back would have been whistled for pass interference, which is a spot foul. As it is, once a pass is tipped, there is no such thing as pass interference. The ball is fair game for whomever can get to it. Give the Steelers six points!
5. The home team is required to provide how many footballs for game play (not including kicking situations)?

Answer: 24

Prior to 1999, the home team was required to provide 36 footballs for scrimmage play (or 24 balls if the team played in an indoor facility). But because kickers doctored the footballs to make them go higher and farther--thus leading to more field goals and touchbacks, at the expense of the quarterbacks and receivers who handle the ball the most--the NFL changed that rule. Beginning with the 1999 season, all teams must supply 24 balls for game play; the NFL supplies each game site an additional 12 balls, separate from the scrimmage play supply, specifically for kicking situations.

These K-balls, as they are called, are guarded specifically against doctoring prior to their use in game situations. (Thanks to NFL.com for additional information on this question. And thanks to ravensfan52 for reminding me of the old 36/24 rule!)
6. Which official functions as the backup timekeeper?

Answer: Line Judge

The line judge keeps track of the official game time, and is responsible for making various line calls (eg, false starts and offsides) on his side of the field.
7. Early in the first quarter, the Browns are forced to punt from their own end zone. The Bears return man gives a valid fair-catch signal and catches the ball at the 50-yard line. He is hit and fumbles the ball, which the Browns recover at the Bears' 46-yard line. Where does the referee spot the ball?

Answer: At the Browns 35-yard line

Since the Browns interfered with the Bears' returner's ability to fair-catch the football, the ball is spotted 15 yards from the spot of the penalty.
8. The Vikings quarterback tries to elude a Buccaneers defender. He throws the football, only to have it batted back to him. He catches the ball and then, after finally shaking his pursuer, throws the ball again, completing a spectacular 37-yard pass to his tight end. Does this play count?

Answer: No

Only one forward pass may be attempted per down. The quarterback catching the ball is considered a self-pass, meaning that he could run with the ball or lateral it, but he cannot throw it again. The Vikings lose five yards from the spot of this illegal forward pass.
9. With five seconds remaining in the first half, the 49ers punt the ball from deep in their own end of the field. The Cardinals return man signals for and makes a valid fair catch at the 49ers 43-yard line as time expires. Is the first half over?

Answer: No

After a valid fair catch, the receiving team has the option of making what is called a fair catch kick (Rule 11, Section 5, Article 3). The kicker can attempt a field goal without having to worry about a defensive rush. Once the kick is attempted, the half is over.
10. Which member of the offensive team can request a playable ball during inclement weather conditions?

Answer: Center

The game clock does not stop when a request for a playable ball is made, unless the delay is such that the referee deems the clock should be stopped.
11. The Eagles send one of their three wide receivers in motion on a 3rd-and-5 play from the Colts 42-yard line. Before the ball is snapped, the wide receiver turns upfield, moving forward toward the line of scrimmage. By the time the play is over, he has caught a 13-yard pass and keeps the Eagles drive alive. Or does he?

Answer: No

It is okay for one player to be motion before the snap, so long as he has not gone into a set stance prior to going in motion. Once he is in motion, he must continue moving parallel to or away from the line of scrimmage. If he turns toward the line of scrimmage, he's guilty of illegal motion.

The Colts would be wise to accept the penalty and make it 3rd down and 11, because the completion would have been enough for a first down.
12. The Panthers punter lines up in formation at the Saints 42-yard line. But instead of punting the ball, he performs a drop kick, which sails between the uprights with room to spare. Is this a legal play?

Answer: Yes

NFL Rule 9, Section 1, Article 1 specifies three types of legal kicks from scrimmage--a punt, a placekick, and a dropkick. On January 1, 2006, New England Patriots quarterback Doug Flutie successfully drop-kicked a point-after-touchdown conversion in a 28-26 loss to the Miami Dolphins.
13. A Cowboys running back breaks into the Raiders secondary on a big running play. While making the tackle, a Raiders defender grasps the back's facemask and twists it to help force the runner down. How much yardage would be tacked on to the end of the play?

Answer: 15 yards

For many years, the NFL had two different facemask penalties - incidental facemask (an accidental grapsing of the mask without twisting it), which was a five-yard penalty and flagrant facemask (intentional grasping and twisting of the facemask), a personal foul that carried a 15-yard penalty and an automatic first down. Later that rule was changed so that an accidental grasp of the facemask was not a penalty, so long as the mask is not twisted or used to help force the runner to the ground. (Thanks to FunTrivia player gwbertsch for the updated information on this rule.)
14. A Chiefs receiver takes off downfield on a pass play. Ten yards beyond the line of scrimmage, he is hit by a Ravens linebacker and knocked to the ground. The quarterback, scrambling to elude the rush, hasn't thrown the ball yet. The back judge sees the play and throws a flag. What penalty should he call?

Answer: Illegal contact

A defender may initiate contact with a receiver within five yards of the line of scrimmage. After that five-yard boundary is breached, the defender cannot bump the receiver again without drawing a penalty. Since the ball had not been thrown, illegal contact would be the correct call. The Chiefs gain five yards and a fresh set of downs with this penalty.
15. Which two officials are responsible for ruling on the success of a field goal attempt?

Answer: Back Judge and Field Judge

A successful field goal try must stay between uprights 30 feet tall and 18 feet apart, and clear a crossbar 10 feet above the end line. The goalposts in all NFL venues are bright gold in color and have ribbons at the tops to indicate wind direction.
Source: Author cag1970

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ozzz2002 before going online.
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