Fielding Yost

“ How often it occurs that such opportunities are missed by players who are on-side; they do not realize that they have just as much right to that ball as the player making the fair catch. When the opponents are attempting a fair catch, after a kick-off, kick-out, punt-out, kick from a fair catch, both sides are on-side and any one may secure the ball or interfere with any one else securing it, since all are on-side. ”

“ Time shall be taken out whenever the game is unnecessarily delayed or while the ball is being brought out for a try-at-goal, kick-out, or kick-off, or when play is for any reason suspended by the referee. Time shall he taken out after a fair catch. Time shall begin again when the ball is actually put in play. ”

“ A Safety is made when the ball in the possession of a player guarding his own goal is declared dead by the referee, any part of it being on, over or behind the goal line, provided the impetus which caused it to pass from outside the goal to or behind the goal line was given by the side defending the goal. ”

“ If any player of the side in possession of the ball other than the snapper-back makes any deliberate attempt, by a false start or otherwise, to draw the opponents off-side, the ball, if then snapped, shall not be regarded as in play nor the scrimmage as begun. ”

“ After the ball is put in play, the players of the side that has possession of the ball may obstruct the opponents with the body only, except the player running with the ball, who may use his hands and arms. ”

“ Whenever the commencement of a game is so late that, in the opinion of the referee, there is any likelihood of the game being interfered with by darkness, he shall, before play begins, arbitrarily shorten the two halves to such length as shall insure two equal halves being completed, and shall notify both captains of the exact time thus set. ”

“ E. When a foul has been committed and a signal to that effect has been given by the umpire or linesman, each acting within the limit of his authority as given under Duties of Officials, the referee shall call the ball back to the spot where the foul was committed and from that point exact the penalty as prescribed above.
When a foul has been declared the ball may not be again put in play until the penalty has been exacted or declined. ”

“ Opponents who are off-side shall not interfere in any way with a player who has an opportunity to make a fair catch, nor shall he be thrown to the ground after such catch is made unless he has advanced beyond his mark. ”

“ The ball is Out of Bounds when it touches the ground on or outside the side line or side line extended, or when any part of the player who holds the ball touches the ground on or outside the side line or side line extended. ”

“ Holding by defensive side of player not carrying the ball (Rule 17, c) . - Snapper-back or man opposite touching ball before it has touched third man (Rule 16, c) . Piling up after the ball has been declared dead (Rule 20, c) . B. Loss of 15 Yards.
Tripping (Rule 27, g) . Holding or illegal use of hands or arms by team in possession of ball (Rule 17, b) . Illegal running by man receiving ball directly from snapper-back (Rules 16, e; 18) . Interference with fair catch (see provision “G,” Rule 28) . C. Disqualification. ”

“ In case neither side was in possession of the ball when the foul was committed--for example, if the ball was in the air or free upon the ground after a kick, fumble or poor pass--it shall go to the offended side as first down at the spot where the foul occurred. ”

“ Defending Side May Charge.
NOTE--Since the defending team is on-side, they may, of course, charge as soon as the ball is kicked and try to get the ball or interfere with the catch.
Holder of Ball May Be Off-side. ”