Touch football is a fun backyard game that people of all ages can enjoy. It’s faster paced and more accessible than tackle football since players need only touch opponents instead of tackling them. In this article, we’ve gathered 40 entertaining riddles about touch football rules, gameplay, strategies, and equipment. Test your knowledge of this classic game by seeing if you can solve all 40 riddles!
General Touch Football Riddles
These riddles cover basic touch football rules and gameplay.
Riddle #1: What kind of plays are not allowed in touch football?
Answer: Kickoffs, punts, and field goals are plays not allowed in touch football since there is no specialized kicking equipment.
Riddle #2: When the ball touches the ground in touch football, what does this lead to?
Answer: When the ball touches the ground, it’s ruled dead at that spot just like in regular football.
Riddle #3: How do you score points in touch football?
Answer: You score points by crossing the goal line with the ball, just like in tackle football. Getting into the end zone results in 6 points.
Riddle #4: What ends a team’s possession in touch football?
Answer: A team’s possession ends when they fail to get a first down in four plays, they score a touchdown, or they throw an interception.
Riddle #5: How long is the field in touch football typically?
Answer: Touch football fields are usually around 40-60 yards long since games take place in backyards rather than on full-sized football fields.
Touch Football Strategy Riddles
These riddles focus on strategies used when playing touch football.
Riddle #6: To cover more ground with the ball, is it better to run straight up the field or diagonally from one sideline to the other?
Answer: It’s better to run diagonally from sideline to sideline since this avoids congestion in the middle and allows you to cover more open field.
Riddle #7: Is it typically better to pass the ball or have your fastest runner attempt to outrun opponents for a touchdown?
Answer: Passing is generally the better strategy since even fast runners will eventually get chased down in touch football and running takes more energy.
Riddle #8: What’s the best defensive strategy to prevent giving up big plays in touch football?
Answer: The best defense is to guard opponents closely so it’s hard for the offense to find open receivers. Forcing the offense into short gains prevents big plays.
Riddle #9: If you want receivers to get open more easily, is it better for them to run straight lines or more complex patterns?
Answer: Receivers can more easily get open if they use complex criss-crossing patterns that are harder for defenders to stick with.
Riddle #10: Is it typically smarter to go all out trying to score on every play or take a more methodical approach?
Answer: Taking a methodical approach with short gains is smarter since going all out every play leads to mental mistakes, unfinished drives, and getting winded more quickly.
Touch Football Equipment Riddles
These next riddles are about the equipment used during touch football games.
Riddle #11: For marking field boundaries, are things like traffic cones better or worse to use than pointy objects stuck in the ground?
Answer: Traffic cones are safer for marking boundaries since pointy objects could lead to injuries if collided with at high speeds.
Riddle #12: Should the ball used be more over-inflated or under-inflated from the recommended pressure printed on it?
Answer: The ball should be inflated to the recommended pressure to ensure proper grip, handling, and flight through the air when passed.
Riddle #13: If wearing flags to denote possession changes in touch football, where should they be positioned?
Answer: Flags should be positioned hanging from the waistline on each side of the hips to facilitate easy grabbing while minimizing obstruction of leg movements.
Riddle #14: During winter touch football games when it’s cold out, should players wear gloves and knit caps or avoid them?
Answer: Wearing gloves improves grip and catching ability in the cold while caps under helmets keep heads and ears warmer without negatively impacting safety.
Riddle #15: What kind of cleats work better for touch football – metal, firm plastic, or rubber?
Answer: Rubber cleats provide the best grip on grass and turf without the injury risks of metal or overly firm plastic cleats.
Touch Football Penalty Riddles
These riddles focus on penalties you may encounter in touch football.
Riddle #16: If the quarterback is struggling, is it permitted for a receiver to step out of bounds and then come back in to get open?
Answer: No, this would result in an illegal touching penalty if the receiver is the first to touch the ball afterwards.
Riddle #17: What penalty might result from a defensive player holding onto a ball carrier’s flag after pulling it?
Answer: Holding onto the flag after pulling it constitutes clipping or illegal contact, similar to penalties in regular football.
Riddle #18: If a receiver contacts a defender trying to intercept a pass, what penalty might be called?
Answer: Defensive pass interference could be called just like in standard football rules.
Riddle #19: Can the quarterback run with the ball past the line of scrimmage before passing or would that draw a penalty?
Answer: The quarterback cannot run past the line of scrimmage without risking an illegal rushing penalty.
Riddle #20: If multiple players shift position at the same time prior to the snap, what procedure penalty might this draw?
Answer: Too many players moving prior to the snap constitutes an illegal shift.
Scoring Plays and Celebrations Riddles
These riddles involve scoring plays and celebrations in touch football.
Riddle #21: If a touchdown is scored but flags and hats fly off in the end zone celebration, does the score still count?
Answer: Yes, the score counts regardless since possession changed in the end zone prior to the dead ball celebration.
Riddle #22: Is falling with the ball across the goal line enough to count as a score or must the player remain on his or her feet?
Answer: The ball breaking the plane while in possession scores a touchdown even if the player falls down in the process.
Riddle #23: When scoring, the same player must cross back over the goal line to put the ball in play again. True or false?
Answer: False, anybody can hike the ball to put it back in play after a score.
Riddle #24: Does the player who scored the touchdown have to catch the extra point attempt in the end zone for it to count as 2 points?
Answer: No, anybody can catch the ball in the end zone for a 2 point conversion.
Riddle #25: If the quarterback spikes the ball in celebration after a touchdown, would this draw a penalty?
Answer: Yes, spiking the ball constitutes an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty even as part of a touchdown celebration.
Player Designation and Substitution Riddles
These riddles cover player roles and substitutions.
Riddle #26: Are eligible receivers required to line up on the line of scrimmage or can they start from the backfield?
Answer: Eligible receivers can start from either the line of scrimmage or the backfield.
Riddle #27: What would you call an eligible receiver that lines up behind the quarterback and next to the center prior to the snap?
Answer: This would be referred to as a flanker back.
Riddle #28: When substituting players, does the new player have to enter from the side the team is defending or can they come from the opposite side?
Answer: Substitutes may enter from either sideline.
Riddle #29: Is it permitted for one player to play both quarterback and middle linebacker or would this break substitution rules?
Answer: One player can play both positions since no general rules restrict what positions an individual can play.
Riddle #30: Can a substitute enter play during a drive or only in between possessions?
Answer: Players can substitute in between plays even during drives since possession changes so frequently.
Final Stretch Touch Football Riddles
You’re in the home stretch! Here are the last set of touch football riddles:
Riddle #31: If the quarterback fumbles and an offensive player catches the ball behind the line of scrimmage, can that player then pass downfield or only run?
Answer: That player can attempt a forward pass since possession never changed following the fumble recovery behind the line.
Riddle #32: Is blocking permitted on running plays?
Answer: No, offensive blocking constitutes illegal contact in touch football. Teammates should merely stand in their defenders’ way without using hands.
Riddle #33: When does the play clock start in touch football?
Answer: The play clock starts once the official places the ball for the next snap rather than when the prior play ends like in tackle football.
Riddle #34: If the intended receiver is covered, throwing to the ground immediately avoids a sack. True or false?
Answer: False, throwing the ball away still results in a sack if behind the line of scrimmage when the quarterback is tagged.
Riddle #35: Can you hike the ball off to one side of the quarterback or must it pass directly from between the center’s legs?
Answer: The ball may be hiked from alongside the center as long as the first forward movement is from behind the line of scrimmage.
Riddle #36: After crossing the line of gain for a first down, must the next snap come from that advanced spot?
Answer: Yes, once a first down line is gained, the next snap must come from that yard line.
Riddle #37: Does the 7 second pass clock start when the quarterback gets possession of the snapped ball or when it is first touched?
Answer: The 7 second pass clock starts when any offensive player first touches the ball following the snap.
Riddle #38: In which case would a touchdown be worth 1 point – when scoring on a conversion attempt or when downing a punt behind the opponent’s goal line?
Answer: Downing a punt behind the opponent’s goal line would be worth 1 point under most recreational touch football rules.
Riddle #39: Is the receiving team allowed to return interceptions out of their own end zone?
Answer: No, interceptions in one’s own end zone typically result in a touchback and dead ball rather than a return.
Riddle #40: What requisite yardage gains over how many plays results in a first down?
Answer: Gaining 10 yards or more over 4 plays earns a first down. If not achieved, possession flips to the defense.
Conclusion
And with that, you’ve solved all 40 entertaining riddles testing knowledge of touch football rules, gameplay strategy, equipment, penalties, scoring, substitutions, and more. From general concepts to more advanced facets like procedures and player designations, this full slate of riddles covered a wide range of topics related to recreational touch football. Whether playing in the park or just enjoying football season from the couch, reviewing the questions and answers supplied here provides a fun way to refresh knowledge of America’s most popular back yard game – touch football.
