This is part 3 of a multi-part series that will discuss the rule and case references used to arrive at the correct answers on the multiple choice IHSA Football Exam (PI). The series will run through the final testing day (September 5, 2011) and be comprised of 10 separate articles that will ultimately address all 50 questions in the IHSA test bank. The 5 questions appearing in each individual post will be selected at random. While many of the questions will have a single rule or case reference that can be used to discern the correct answer, some will require the ability to combine and apply multiple rules to arrive at the correct answer.

When page numbers are given after rule references, you can refer to the corresponding pages in the 2011 NFHS Football Rule Book. When page numbers are given after case plays, please refer to the corresponding pages in the 2011 NFHS Football Case Book. When unsure if a rule or case play is being referenced, please keep in mind that rules are referenced with dashes (e.g. 1-5-1) and case plays are referenced with dots (e.g. 10.1.2).

Without further ado, let’s get started on the exam questions:

Q28

Any questions regarding legality of a player’s equipment shall be resolved by:

A. the Head Coach
B. the Referee
C. the Umpire
D. all officials on the crew are equally responsible

Rule 1-5-4 (p. 22) discusses the procedure for verifying that players are properly equipped and in compliance with the rules and addresses the procedure for resolving questions of legality by the officiating crew.  The rule says “any questions regarding legality of a player’s equipment shall be resolved by the umpire”.

Answer C. the Umpire

Q46

The score for a forfeited game ending in a tie is

A. 1-0
B. 3-0
C. 6-0
D. 7-0

Scoring is addressed in the chart in Rule 8-1 (p 64). Unless the offended team is ahead, A forfeited game is scored as follows: offended team 1, opponent 0. If the offended team is ahead the existing score stands.  In this case the game is tied so the final score will be 1-0.

Answer A. 1-0

Q9

1st and 10 for Team A at their own 20-yard line and Team A drops back to pass and throws. Offensive lineman A65 is flagged for holding 8 yards behind the line of scrimmage at the 12-yard line while the ball is in the air. If the penalty is accepted, what is the correct enforcement?

A. penalize 10 yards from the 20-yard line; 1st and 20 from the 10-yard line
B. penalize half the distance from the 12-yard line; 1st and 24 from the 6-yard line
C. the defense gets the option of having the penalty enforced from the previous spot or the spot of the foul
D. none of the above

According to the all-but-0ne principle detailed in Rule 10-6 (p. 77), fouls by the offensive team behind the basic spot during a loose ball or running play will be enforced from the spot of the foul.  Since the foul occurred at the 12-yard line, the penalty will be enforced from that spot.

Since penalty enforcement cannot take the ball more than half the distance from the enforcement spot to the offending team’s goal line [Rule 10-1-5 (p. 74)], the ball will be moved 6 yards to the 6-yard line.  The down will be replayed and the line to gain will remain the 30, so we have 1st and 24 from the 6-yard line.

Answer B. penalize half the distance from the 12-yard line; 1st and 24 from the 6-yard line

Q12

The helmet must be secured by a properly fastened chin strap with at least how many attachment points?

A. 2
B. 3
C. 4
D. 5

Rule 1-5-1 (a) [2] (p. 19) discusses the securing of the helmet.  It states that the helmet shall be secured by a properly fastened chin strap with at least four attachment points.

Answer C. 4

Q32

The spot where a run ends is:

A. where the ball becomes dead in the runner’s possession
B. where the runner loses player possession if his run is followed by a loose ball
C. the spot of the catch or recovery when the momentum rule is in effect
D. all of the above

Rule 10-3-3 (p. 76) discusses when a run ends.  There are three criteria for determining the end of a run: where the ball becomes dead in the runner’s possession,  where the runner loses possession if his run is followed by a loose ball and the spot of the catch or recovery when the momentum rule is in effect.

Answer D. all of the above

This takes us through 45 of the 50 questions in the IHSA sample bank.  As always if you have any comments or questions regarding the questions covered or simply think I’ve go something wrong, please let me know either via comment or email.