Equipment Rules

Question 1

ILLEGAL EQUIPMENT
First-and-10 on 50. A1 starts to come into the game wearing illegal equipment when the Umpire sees him.

Answer 1

Ruling: A’s ball, first-and-10 on 50. The umpire should not allow A1 into the game.

Question 2

UNIFORM IS TORN DURING PLAY
Third-and-5 on 50. Quarterback A1 cannot spot an open receiver, scrambles, and runs to the B46. The Umpire
reaches for the ball after the tackle and spots A1 wearing an illegally torn jersey.

Answer 2

Ruling: Fourth-and-1 on B46. Suspend A1 for one play, or Team A may take a charged timeout to correct the
equipment.

Question 3

ALTERED JERSEY
Third-and-2 on B35. A1 runs to the B30 where he is downed. At the end of the down, the Umpire notes that A3’s
jersey is cut off and altered.

Answer 3

Ruling: A’s ball, first-and-10 on B30. A3 must leave the game for one play and replace the jersey. The player can
remain in the game by taking a timeout and replacing the jersey.

Question 4

ILLEGAL EQUIPMENT—FIELD-GOAL ATTEMPT
Fourth-and-10 on B25. A field-goal attempt from the B33 is good, and the Referee then discovers the kicker wearing
an illegal kicking shoe.

Answer 4

Ruling: Kick is no good. B’s ball, first-and-10 on B33. The kicker must replace the illegal shoe prior to entering the
game for any subsequent kick attempt.

Question 5

POTENTIAL ILLEGAL SUBSTANCE ON JERSEY—HURRY-UP OFFENSE
With less than one minute remaining in the first half, after several prior checks, the Umpire believes there is silicone
on the jersey of A6. Team A is in a hurry-up offense

Answer 5

Ruling: The Umpire does not interrupt the hurry-up offense. At a normal break or at halftime, the Umpire checks A6,
and if there is silicone or a foreign substance on the jersey, the jersey is confiscated and given to NFL security, and
the player is suspended for one play. The team cannot avoid that one-play suspension with a timeout.

Question 6

ILLEGAL SUBSTANCE ON JERSEY—PLAYER WITHDRAWS AND RETURNS
First-and-10 on B40. Guard A2 asks the Umpire to check for silicone on B2’s jersey. The Umpire finds silicone on
B2’s jersey and suspends him for at least one play to replace the jersey. He comes back three plays later, when A2
again requests a check of B2’s jersey. B2 is found to have silicone on his jersey.

Answer 6

Ruling: Five yards enforced from succeeding spot, and B2 is suspended for a play. the player is suspended for one
play. The team cannot avoid that one-play suspension with a timeout. The jersey is confiscated and given to NFL
security. (5-4-4-Item 8)