Differences in the NFL and NCAA rulebooks
In the rules of the American professional football league NFL and college football in the NCAA , whose rules are used by the American high schools and all European leagues in addition to the colleges , there are some differences in the details of the rule interpretation. Many are only formal (for example, the terms "pocket" and "force out" only appear in the NFL rules), but others are of great importance:
| rule | NFL | NCAA |
|---|---|---|
|
Coin Toss
(Coin flip to choose side) |
The winner must make a decision about choice of side or possession
from 2008 also option like NCAA to postpone the election to the second half |
Winner can also carry over this decision to the 2nd half |
|
Kick off
(Kicking off) |
From the 35 yard line
Tee (installation aid for the ball) 1 ″ (2.54 cm) high |
From the 35 yard line
with the rule change in 2006, the tea is also 1 ″ (2.54 cm) high
|
| Fair catch | After a successful fair catch , the next down is played at the location of the catch | After a successful fair catch , the next down is played at the location of the catch, unless the fair catch occurs during a kickoff, here the next down is at the 25 yard line if the fair catch was closer to the goal line (valid from the 2018 season ) |
| Fair catch kick | After a fair catch , a fair catch kick or play from scrimmage is possible | After a fair catch , only plays from scrimmage are allowed |
| punt | Only the four ends (outside players) are allowed to run forward before the punt ( downfield ) | All players are allowed to downfield immediately after the snap |
| Fumble on the fourth try | Only the fading player is allowed to carry the ball after picking it up, otherwise dead ball (end of play)
This also applies to every move made in the last 2 minutes of a half |
Like NFL, but on 4th down and extra point |
| Illegal forward pass |
Loss of Down (no repetition), no yard penalty
Play ends immediately if the rules are violated |
Loss of down , 5yd penalty
The game continues initially |
|
Intentional grounding
(Deliberately throwing the ball away) |
10yd penalty and loss of down
No penalty if the passer is outside the pocket (area between the two outermost players on defense, the defensive tackles ) and the ball is thrown at least to the line of scrimmage or out of bounds. |
only loss of down at the point of the foul (R 7-3-2-f)
No penalty: see NFL |
| Protection of the quarterback | No attack on the head and knees when there is a clear path to the QB (unnecessary hardship)
Dead ball when QB is clearly and hopelessly in the tackle |
Roughing the Passer (R 9-1-2-o) |
| Potential pass recipients |
QB only from the shotgun (not directly at the center)
Players with shirt numbers 50-79 ( offensive line ) after prior notice and according to the rules (in the backfield or as end ) |
QB always
Players with shirt numbers 50–79 under no circumstances Allowed Recipients: Players in Backfield and Ends |
| Full passport
(also applies to interception ) |
Receiver must be in the field with both feet, alternatively with the first other part of the body (one knee equals two feet)
Complete pass with tackle out of the air if the receiver would have landed inbounds without the opponent (= forced out ) 2008 forced out abolished (analogous to NCAA) |
Receiver only needs to be in the field with the first part of the body (even just one foot)
Only complete if the receiver cannot return to the ground immediately in the field = is carried out |
| Defensive pass interference (pass interference by the defense) |
First down at the point of the foul,
In the event of interference in the end zone: First down at the 1-yard line |
15yd from the previous spot (place where the game starts ),
if the location of the foul is no further than 15yd from the previous spot : first down at the location of the foul, in the event of interference in the end zone: first down at the 2-yard line; the only punishment not halving the distance if the punishment would lead closer than half to the goal line |
| Offensive Pass Interference | 10yd penalty | 15yd penalty |
| Defense before the snap | must stay on your own side of the neutral zone | must be (again) on your own side when you snap |
|
Point after touchdown
(Extra point attempt after the touchdown) |
From the 15 yard line
Defense can score points (since 2015) |
From the 3 yard line
Defense can score 2 points through turnover in the end zone |
| Field goal | Defense gets the ball after's failed attempt at the point of Attempts | Ball possession for defense at the previous spot, at least 20yd away from your own end zone |
| Personal foul on pass | on a full pass, penalty (15yd) from the point of the dead ball | except for Roughing the Passer always from the previous scrimmage from |
| Gloves | Colored gloves are allowed | Gloves that do not have the NF / NCAA label are prohibited |
| Eyeshields | Colored eyeshields allowed | only clear, uncolored eyeshields allowed |