NCAA College Football Rule 9 Review

This is a series of blog posts sharing a great resource that came to me by way of my crew-mate David Thomas. I’m sure you will find each rule concise and a valuable resource for your rules study, breakout sessions and pre-game conferences.


 RULE 9

1. All flagrant fouls require disqualification
2. Clipping:  A player in the blocking zone may not clock an opponent from behind, at or below the knees.  The zone exists until the ball is touched outside the zone or the ball is outside the zone after a fumble, backward pass or muff from inside the zone
3. Blocking below the waist is prohibited by:
   • Players on the LOS at the snap who are positioned more than 7 yards from the middle lineman of the formation or by
   • backs who are entirely outside the tackle box or are in motion at the snap, unless the block below the waist is made along a north-south line or toward the sideline adjacent to the blocker at the time of the snap;
   • Defensive players against an opponent if low block occurs after the ball has gone more than 5 yds beyond the NZ or is against an eligible receiver beyond the LOS until a pass is no longer possible or against a Team A player behind the NZ who’s in position to receive a backward pass
   • Any player during a free kick, or during a down in which there is an actual kick from a scrimmage kick formation or after a change of possession (returns after fumble recovery or interception )
4. No player shall tackle, run into or block an opponent obviously out of the play before or after the ball is dead nor initiate contact when clearly OB against an opponent who is also OB
5. Roughing the passer:  No defensive player may charge into a passer or throw him to the ground when it’s obvious the pass has been thrown, unless he is blocked by a Team A player into the QB with a force that prevents contact.  Penalty is 15 yds and automatic 1st down from the end of the last run if beyond NZ and there is no change of team possession.  If pass is incomplete, intercepted or completed, but receiver is tackled behind LOS, enforce from previous spot
6. Chop Block is a high-low or low-high (not low-low) combination block by any two players against an opponent anywhere on the field with or without a delay between blocks.  The “low” component is at an opponent’s thigh or below
7. During a try or field goal, it is a foul if a defensive player runs forward from beyond the NZ, leaps from beyond the NZ and lands on any player (15 yards, automatic 1st down).  Legal if leaping player was stationary and within a yard of the LOS when ball was snapped or contact initiated by Team A
8. When Team A is in a scrimmage kick formation, no defensive player may initiate contact with the snapper until one full second after the snap
9. Horse Collar:  No player may grab the inside back or side collar of the shoulder pads or jersey and immediately pull the runner down unless the QB or runner is inside the tackle box
10. No player shall twist, turn or pull the face mask, helmet opening or chin strap of an opponent
11. No player shall initiate contact against an opponent with the crown of his helmet or above the shoulders of a defenseless player with his helmet, forearm, elbow or shoulder
12. All personal & unsportsmanlike conduct fouls by the defense are 15 yards and carry an automatic 1st down provision
13. Roughing or running into the kicker or holder:
    • A kicker’s protection ends when he’s had a reasonable amount of time to gain his balance or he carries the ball outside the tackle box before kicking;
    • A defensive player who is blocked legally or illegally into a kicker or holder is exempt from these fouls;
    • It is still a foul if the kick is blocked and the kicker or holder is roughed by another Team B player;
    • Running into kicker is 5 yds; roughing is 15 yds and automatic 1st down; both enforced from previous spot
14. On a free kick, the kicker may not be blocked until he has advanced 5 yds beyond his restraining line or the ball has touched a player, an official or the ground (15 yds)
15. Unfair acts:  no coach, substitute or attendant may interfere with the ball or a player while the ball is in play (15 yds or the R may enforce any penalty he deems fair, including awarding a TD)
16. Game Administration Interference:  (replaced sideline warning)- when a coach or sub interferes with an official while the ball is in play -1st and 2nd infraction: delay of game (5 yds); 3rd or more: unsportsmanlike foul (15 yds); all enforced as dead ball foul because these are "non-players"
17. Unsportsmanlike fouls: 
    • no player may use gestures or postures that provoke ill will or commit acts that are delayed, prolonged or choreographed; 
    • no unopposed runner may alter his stride or dive into his opponent’s  EZ;
    • players may not remove their helmet before reaching their team area unless there is an official’s,team or media time out;
    • players may not spike, spin or throw the ball high into the air nor point it at an opponent while holding it;
    • all of these fouls by players are 15 yds and enforced as either live or dead ball fouls depending when they occur; if committed by a non-player, administer from succeeding spot (dead ball foul enforcement);
    • a player is disqualified if he commits two unsportsmanlike fouls in a game
18. Persons subject to the rules, including bands, may not create noise that prohibits a team from communicating on the field (15 yds succeeding spot after warning)
19. No simulated replacements or substitutions may be used to confuse opponents (15 yds previous spot & automatic 1st down if foul by a Team B player)
20. Block in the back:  10 yds; illegal unless a player is attempting to reach a runner or trying to recover a catch, fumble, muff, kick, backward pass or a touched forward pass; it is also legal for an eligible player to push an opponent in the back above the waist to get a forward pass that is behind the LOS
21. When a legal forward pass crosses the NZ and illegal contact is made against an eligible receiver who is beyond the LOS & that foul does not qualify as DPI, enforce penalty from previous spot and award an automatic 1st down
22. No defensive player in an attempt to block a kick may step, jump or stand on a teammate (15 yds previous spot); if he does this to an opponent, 15 yds and automatic 1st down
23. Batting:  While a pass is in flight, any player eligible to touch it may bat it in any direction, but he may not bat other loose balls (fumbles) forward in the field of play or any direction in the EZ (10 yds and loss of down)
24. A player shall not intentionally kick a loose ball, a forward pass or a ball being held by a place kick holder. (10 yds and loss of down)  Note: If illegal bat or kicking occurs beyond the NZ during a scrimmage kick, there is no loss of down provision
25. Fighting:  Before the game or during the 1st half, players are called for fighting, they will be DQ’ed for the remainder of that game.  If the fight occurs during half time or the 2nd half, players are DQ’ed for that game and the 1st half of their next game

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