Digest of Rules



This Digest of Rules of the National Football League has been prepared to aid
players, fans, and members of the press,                radio, and television
media in their understanding of the game.


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.          
Kicking after a 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.