REFEREE HUB
Stay tuned for details on our in-person referee training event. We'll take these rules and scenarios onto the field for live practice.
Learn it before you're tested on it.
Each module teaches the rules, shows how they apply on the field, gives you a chance to practice and then moves you into the knowledge check.
Four steps in every module.
Learn It
Learn the rule in short, useful sections.
See It
Use examples, diagrams and game-day reminders.
Practice It
Make a call and immediately see the explanation.
Prove It
Complete the knowledge check and move forward.
Keep these on the sideline.
Save these PDFs to your phone or print them before game day. They match the same procedures taught in the Referee Hub.
Game-Day Checklist
Everything to handle before the game, during play, at halftime and at the end.
✓ player equipment
✓ flag pull test
✓ captains & coin toss
✓ no-run-zone call
✓ Punt or Play
✓ halftime reset
✓ score-card verification
Penalty Cheat Sheet
Fast enforcement reference for common offensive and defensive fouls.
✓ offensive penalties
✓ spot fouls
✓ yardage
✓ loss of down
✓ automatic first down
Quick Rules Card
The rules you are most likely to need while the game is moving.
✓ Punt or Play
✓ No-Run Zone
✓ 7-second clock
✓ rushers
✓ dead-ball rules
Six modules. One game-ready ref.
Modules 1–5 teach and practice the rules. Module 6 is the final Ref Challenge.
+ FINAL CHALLENGE
Game Ready
Pregame, equipment, coin toss, downs, 4th-down decisions and game-day responsibilities.
Field IQ & Timing
LOS, first-down line, no-run zones, rush line, play clock and game clock.
Live Ball & Ball Movement
Dead balls, running, passing, receiving and the 7-second clock.
Rush, Flags & Formations
Legal rushers, flag pulling, flag guarding, formations and motion.
Penalties & Game Management
Enforcement, sportsmanship, coach questions and communicating calls.
Ref Challenge
Twenty mixed situations. Pass the final and unlock your certificate.
Before the Ball Is Snapped
Learn how to prepare the field and players, start the game correctly and manage the important game-flow decisions.
Game Setup & Flow
Team captains meet at midfield for the opening coin toss.
The visiting team calls the coin toss.
The winner chooses offense or defense. The other team chooses direction.
There is no option to defer.
The offensive possession begins at its own 5-yard line.
The offense has four downs to cross midfield.
After crossing midfield, the offense has three downs to score.
The team that began the game with possession starts the second half on defense.
VISITOR CALLS → OFFENSE/DEFENSE → DIRECTION → NO DEFER → OWN 5 → 4 DOWNS TO MIDFIELD → 3 DOWNS TO SCORE
4th Down: Punt or Play?
PUNT
No play is run. Possession changes immediately and the opponent begins at its own 5-yard line.
PLAY
The offense runs the 4th-down play. Cross midfield = three new downs to score. Fail to cross midfield = opponent takes possession where the 4th-down play ended.
The head coach selects PUNT on 4th down before midfield. What happens?
Player Equipment
Players use official NFL FLAG belts and flags.
A mouthguard must be worn while on the field.
Jewelry must be removed.
No exposed metal on cleats or braces.
If a jersey falls below the belt, tuck it so flags remain unobstructed.
Flags cannot be the same color as the player's shorts or pants.
Before • During • Halftime • End
Module 1 Complete
You know how to prepare the game, manage 4th-down decisions and handle the key game-day checkpoints.
Know Where the Play Is Happening
Learn the lines, zones and clocks that control each play.
The Lines That Matter
The imaginary line through the football across the width of the field.
Midfield is the first-down line the offense must cross.
The designated rush line is 7 yards behind the LOS.
The 5 yards before midfield and the 5 yards before the opponent's end zone.
Stepping on the boundary line is out of bounds.
Before ready-for-play, the referee spots the ball in the middle of the field.
No-Run Zone
Inside 5 yards of midfield/first down and inside 5 yards of the opponent's end zone.
The offense cannot run the football across the line of scrimmage.
The play must result in a forward pass across the line of scrimmage.
GirlPower referees verbally announce “NO-RUN ZONE” before the snap.
Being in the no-run zone does not remove the quarterback's 7-second clock.
A handoff can eliminate the 7-second clock, but the no-run restriction still applies.
WITHIN 5 OF FIRST DOWN OR TOUCHDOWN → SAY “NO-RUN ZONE” → NO RUN ACROSS LOS → FORWARD PASS MUST CROSS LOS.
The offense is 4 yards short of midfield. What should you do before the snap?
The offense is at the opponent's 3-yard line. The QB legally hands the ball off behind the LOS. What must happen next?
Regular-Season Timing
Two 24-minute running halves.
The offense has 40 seconds to snap once the ball is spotted.
Each team receives one 60-second timeout per half.
Use halftime to verify the score, switch sides and confirm second-half possession.
Module 2 Complete
You know the field, no-run-zone procedure, game clock and play clock.
Know When the Play Is Over
Learn dead-ball situations, running, passing, receiving and the 7-second pass clock.
Dead-Ball Situations
The ball carrier is down.
The ball carrier steps on or across the boundary.
Knee, shin, leg, forearm or arm contacts the ground.
The ball carrier is immediately down.
A player gaining possession with one or no flags is down at that spot.
The play is dead when the loose ball contacts the ground.
The play ends if the quarterback does not throw before the pass clock expires.
A runner who jumps, leaps or hurdles while advancing is down at that spot.
Running, Passing & the 7-Second Clock
The player receiving the snap cannot directly run across the LOS.
Only one forward pass is allowed per play.
The forward pass must be released from behind the LOS.
A forward pass must cross the LOS unless touched by a defender.
The quarterback has 7 seconds to throw.
A legal handoff, backward pitch or lateral behind the LOS eliminates the 7-second clock.
A legal rusher does not by itself eliminate the 7-second clock.
Being in a no-run zone does not eliminate the 7-second clock.
HANDOFF / BACKWARD PITCH / LATERAL BEHIND LOS = CLOCK OFF.
RUSHER = CLOCK STILL ON.
NO-RUN ZONE = CLOCK STILL ON.
A legal rusher leaves the 7-yard line at the snap. Does the quarterback's 7-second clock stop?
Module 3 Complete
You can recognize common dead-ball, passing, running and pass-clock situations.
Watch the Rusher. Watch the Flags.
Learn who may rush, when flags can be pulled and what legal offensive alignment looks like.
Rushing the Passer
A designated rusher begins at least 7 yards from the LOS.
Up to two players may be designated rushers.
Rushers identify themselves by raising a hand before the snap.
A designated rusher must rush immediately.
After a legal backward exchange behind the LOS, all defenders may cross the LOS.
The presence of a legal rusher does not eliminate the 7-second clock.
Flag Pulling & Flag Guarding
A legal flag pull occurs after the player has possession.
A defender may dive for the flag but cannot tackle or hold.
The defender may not strip the football.
Do not intentionally pull the flag of a player without possession.
The runner cannot obstruct access to the flags with the ball or body.
The player is immediately down if a flag falls off while she has possession.
A runner swipes a defender's hand away from her flag. What is the call?
Formations & Motion
At least the center must be on the LOS.
No more than four offensive players may be on the LOS.
The quarterback lines up off the LOS.
Only one player may be moving at the snap.
Motion at the snap must be parallel to or backward from the LOS.
After a shift, all players reset for one second before the snap.
Module 4 Complete
You can identify legal rushers, flag violations and formation issues.
See It. Call It. Enforce It. Reset.
A referee needs to identify the foul, enforce it and communicate the ruling clearly.
Defensive Penalties
Illegal crossing of LOS.
+5 from LOS + automatic first downFlag pulled before possession.
+5 from LOS + automatic first downIllegal contact with the passer.
+5 from LOS + automatic first downIllegal restriction or contact.
Spot +5 + automatic first downIllegal interference with receiver.
Spot foul + automatic first downUnsportsmanlike conduct.
+10 + automatic first downOffensive Penalties
Runner obstructs access to the flags.
Spot -5 + loss of downOffensive player illegally impedes defender.
Spot -5 + loss of downBall carrier initiates illegal contact.
Spot -5 + loss of downIllegal forward pass.
-5 from LOS + loss of downIllegal movement at the snap.
-5 from LOS + loss of downIllegal disruption of the rush path.
-5 from LOS + loss of downCommunicate the Call
Rule clarification comes from the captain or head coach.
A team may use a timeout to question a rule interpretation.
Two unsportsmanlike fouls on a player or coach result in disqualification.
A half or game cannot end on an accepted defensive penalty.
Module 5 Complete
You can identify, enforce and communicate the common calls.
The Ref Challenge
Twenty mixed game situations. Score at least to unlock your GirlPower Carolinas completion certificate.
20 Questions
Read the situation and make the call.
Challenge Complete
Create Your Completion Certificate
Enter your name exactly as it should appear.