2010 OFFICIAL PLAYING RULES AND CASEBOOK OF THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE Roger Goodell, Commissioner 2010 Rules Changes Rule-Section-Article Page 4-7-4 If a replay review inside of one minute of either half results in the on-field ruling being reversed and the correct ruling would not have stopped the game clock, then the officials will run 10 seconds off the game clock before permitting the ball to be put in play on the ready-for-play signal. ........................................................................................23 5-1-2 The eligible jersey numbers for defensive linemen, linebackers and centers have expanded. ...................................................................................25 7-2-2 During a Field-Goal Attempt, Punt or a Try-Kick, a Team B player, who is within one yard of the line of scrimmage at the snap, must have his entire body outside the snapper’s shoulder pads............................................40 7-4-1 The ball will be dead if a runner’s helmet comes off. .......................................46 7-4-3 If a loose ball in play strikes a video board, guide wire, skycam or any other object, the ball will be dead immediately, and the down will be replayed at the previous spot. ..........................................................................46 10-2-3 The penalty yardage for interference when a kicking team player attempts to catch a muffed kick has been eliminated......................................67 12-2-8 Protection for defenseless players has been standardized and expanded. .........................................................................................................83 14-1-7 After the half has expired, dead-ball personal fouls by the offense or defense will be enforced on the succeeding kickoff. .......................................94 16-1-4 In overtime of postseason games, a field goal by the team that possesses the ball first will not end the game on its first possession............113 2010 OFFICIAL PLAYING RULES OF THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE Roger Goodell, Commissioner Preface This edition of the Official Playing Rules of the National Football League contains all current rules governing the playing of professional football that are in effect for the 2010 NFL season. Member clubs of the League may amend the rules from time to time, pursuant to the applicable voting procedures of the NFL Constitution and Bylaws. Any intra-League dispute or call for interpretation in connection with these rules will be decided by the Commissioner of the League, whose ruling will be final. Because interconference games are played throughout the preseason, regular season, and postseason in the NFL, all rules contained in this book apply uniformly to both the American and National Football Conferences. At many places in the text there are approved rulings which serve to supple- ment and illustrate the basic language of the rules. Each is headed by an abbreviation, followed by a number (e.g. “A.R. 32.0”). The letter “A” in an approved ruling indicates the team that puts the ball in play, and its opponents are designated by the letter “B.” Whenever a team is in possession of the ball, it is the offense, and at such time its opponent is the defense. Yard lines and players are indicated by numerals. Thus, for example: “A.R. 50.1 Third-and-10 on A30. During a run prior to an intended pass by quarterback A1, defensive player B1 holds flanker A2 on the A45…” Where the word “illegal” appears in this rule book, it is an institutional term of art pertaining strictly to actions that violate NFL playing rules. It is not meant to connote illegality under any public law or the rules or regulations of any other organization. The word “flagrant,” when used here to describe an action by a player, is meant to indicate the degree of a violation of the rules—usually a personal foul or unnecessary roughness—is extremely objectionable and conspicuous. “Flagrant” in these rules does not necessarily imply malice on the part of the fouling player or an intention to injure an opponent. Copyright © 2010 by the National Football League. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America ii Order of the Rules Page 1 Field.................................................................................................1 2 Ball...................................................................................................3 3 Definitions........................................................................................5 4 Game Timing.................................................................................17 5 Players, Substitutes, Equipment, General Rules ..........................25 6 Free Kicks......................................................................................35 7 Scrimmage ....................................................................................39 8 Forward Pass, Backward Pass, Fumble .......................................49 9 Scrimmage Kick ............................................................................63 10 Opportunity to Catch a Kick, Fair Catch .......................................67 11 Scoring ..........................................................................................69 12 Player Conduct..............................................................................77 13 Non-Player Conduct......................................................................91 14 Penalty Enforcement .....................................................................93 15 Officials: Jurisdiction and Duties.................................................105 16 Sudden-Death Procedures .........................................................113 17 Emergencies, Unfair Acts............................................................115 18 Guidelines for Captains...............................................................117 Penalty Summary ..............................................................................119 Index .................................................................................................122 Use of Third Quarterback .................................................................128 Roster of Officials..............................................................................129 Table of Foul Codes/Team Abbreviation Codes ...............................130 Official Signals ..................................................................................131 2010 NFL Schedule ..........................................................................137 OFFICIAL NFL PLAYING RULES iii Plan of the Playing Field SIX (6') TYPICAL ALL AROUND BORDER ALL AROUND FIELD SIX (6') TYPICAL PYLON 6'-3" 30'-0" PYLON 6' 3' 3' 24' 24' 300'-0" 360'-0" 6' 6' 24' 24' 3' 3' PYLON PYLON 6' 30'-0" 2'-0" 18'-6" 8" 12 YARDS PYLON 70'-9" 6'-3" 70'-9" 9' 9' 160'-0" iv Field Markings 1. The playing field will be rimmed by a solid white border six Inbound Yard Markers feet wide along the end lines and sidelines. There will be an additional broken yellow line nine feet farther outside this border along each sideline in the non-bench areas, and 4" such broken line will be continued at an angle from each 30- 4" yard line and pass behind the bench area (all benches a minimum of 30 feet back from the sidelines) at a distance of 2' 4" 10" 10" 4" six feet. In each end zone, this broken yellow line is six feet 2' from the solid white border. These yellow broken lines are to be eight inches wide and two feet long with a space of one 1 YARD 1 YARD foot between them. 68'-9" 70'-9" In addition, within each bench area, a solid yellow line six feet behind the solid border will delineate a special area for coaches, behind which all players, except one player who is Dimensions for Numerals charting the game, must remain. Furthermore, a broken on the Playing Field white line four inches wide and four feet long with a space of two-foot intervals will be marked three feet inside the nine-foot restriction line on the sideline, extending to meet the existing yellow broken line six feet behind both end zones and at each television box outside the bench area. 6' 2. All lines are to be four inches wide, with the exception of the goal line and yellow lines, which are to be eight inches wide. Tolerance of line widths is plus one-fourth inch. 4' 1' 4'1' 3. All line work is to be laid out to dimensions shown on the plan with a tolerance of plus one-fourth inch. All lines are straight. 4. All boundary lines, goal lines, and marked yard lines are to be continuous lines. Dimensions for the 5. The four intersections of goal lines and sidelines must be Directional Arrows marked at inside corners of the end zone and the goal line TOP OF OUTER NUMBER by pylons. Pylons must be placed at inside edges of white lines and should not touch the surface of the actual playing 15" field itself. 36" 6. All lines are to be marked with a material that is not injurious to eyes or skin. 18" 7. No benches or rigid fixtures should be nearer than 10 yards from the sidelines. If space permits, they may be further 6" back. 8. Player benches can be situated anywhere between respective 35-yard lines. Where possible, a continuation of the dotted yellow line is to extend from the 30-yard lines to a point six feet behind the player benches thereby enclosing this area. 9. A white arrow is to be placed on the ground adjacent to the top portion of each number (with the exception of the 50) with the point formed by the two longer sides pointing toward the goal line. The two