The Rules of High School Football
Some high school principals believe that football is the most important extracurricular activity on campus. Every state in the U.S. has its own high school federation or association that governs high school football and other sports. These federations oversee all-state awards, name district all-stars, and compile records of achievement.
This table shows how the rules governing high school football differ from NFL rules.
Comparing High School Rules to NFL Rules
| High School Rule |
NFL Rule |
| Any ball carrier who touches the ground with any part of his
body except his hands or feet is ruled down; the ball is dead at
that spot. |
A ball carrier is considered down when he’s touched by an
opponent while on the ground. For example, if an NFL runner slips
and inadvertently touches the ground, he can get up and keep moving
forward. |
| The defense can’t advance a fumble. The ball is ruled
dead where the defensive player recovers it. |
The offense and defense can return fumbles. |
| A player is considered inbounds on a pass reception if he
catches the ball with one foot down inside the sideline. |
A player must catch the ball with both feet down inside the
sideline to be considered inbounds. |
| The goalposts are 23’4” wide, and they rise to
20’. |
The goalpost width is 18’6”, and rise to 30’
high. |
| The hash marks are 53’4” from each sideline. Because
the hash marks are close to each sideline, high school offenses can
attempt more running plays to the wide side of the field. |
Hash marks are 70’ 9” from each sideline. |
| Games are 48 minutes long. |
Games are 60 minutes long. |
Unlike college and the NFL, no mandatory testing system for steroids is in effect at the high school level. (Some schools do test for marijuana and other drugs, though.)
You find more two-way players at the high school level because most high school teams don’t have enough quality players. A two-way player is one who plays both an offensive position and a defensive position. Here are some examples of the different combinations of positions:
Receivers may also play defensive back.
Quarterbacks may lead the offense and spark the defense at safety.
Blocking backs are also linebackers.
Football Glossary
ACC
The Atlantic Coast Conference of college football teams.
Football Glossary
AFC
An acronym for the American Football Conference.
Football Glossary
AFL
An acronym for the American Football League.
Football Glossary
BCS
An acronym for the Bowl Championship Series.
Football Glossary
Big Ten
A college athletic conference whose eleven-member institutions are located mainly in the Midwestern United States.
Football Glossary
bye week
A week during which an NFL team doesn’t play; every NFL team has one week of the season off.
Football Glossary
center
The player who snaps the ball to the quarterback. A center handles the ball on every play.
Football Glossary
DEF
An acronym for Team Defense.
Football Glossary
fullback
A player who’s responsible for blocking for the running back and also for pass-blocking to protect the quarterback. Fullbacks, who are generally bigger than running backs, are short-yardage runners.
Football Glossary
kicker; placekicker
The member of the special team who is responsible for field goal and extra point attempts.
Football Glossary
NCAA
An acronym for the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
Football Glossary
NFC
An acronym for the National Football Conference.
Football Glossary
NFL
An acronym for the National Football League.
Football Glossary
Pac-10
The Pacific-10 Conference is a college athletic conference that operates in the western United States.
Football Glossary
Punt
A kick to the opponent without the use of a tee.
Football Glossary
quarterback
The leader of the team. The quarterback calls the plays in the huddle, yells the signals at the line of scrimmage, and then receives the ball from the center. Then he hands off the ball to a running back, throws it to a receiver, or runs with it.
Football Glossary
running back; tailback; halfback; wingback
A player who runs with the football.
Football Glossary
SEC
The Southeastern Conference of college football teams.
Football Glossary
snake draft
A draft in which each fantasy coach has one pick in each round. Each team makes its first-round pick based on a predetermined order.
Football Glossary
ST
An acronym for Special Teams.
Football Glossary
stud
A top-rated fantasy football starter.
Football Glossary
tight end
A player who serves as a receiver and also as a blocker. The tight end lines up beside the offensive tackle to the right or the left of the quarterback.
Football Glossary
waivers
A situation where a player is dropped from a team roster; the player goes on waivers for a limited time before becoming a free agent. All coaches then have a set amount of time (usually two days) to decide whether to add him to their teams.
Football Glossary
wide receiver
A player who uses his speed to elude defenders and catch the football. Teams use as many as two to four wide receivers on every play.
