2005 NFHS Football Rule Changes Editorial Changes and Points of Emphasis

1. 2005 NFHS FootballRule ChangesEditorial Changesand Points of Emphasis John Hoffmann July 18, 2005 referee@bellsouth.net (321) 676-2844

2. Football Rules Changes for the 2005 Season 1-2-3e: Marks 9 yards from each sideline, located on each 10-yard line 1-5-1a: Helmets shall be secured with a four-snap chin strap 1-5-1i: Tooth protector shall be of a color other than white or clear 1-5-2c: Hand pads same standard as gloves, bear the NF/NCAA label 1-5-3l: Logo/trademark restriction now includes any company reference 3-3-4b: Period not extended when it is a “loss of down” foul and score 3-7; 7-2-1; 9-6-4a: Substitution and participation rules 7-2-1 Penalty: “Illegal procedure” terminology has been removed 7-5-1; 7-5-2e: Only one forward pass may be thrown during a down 7-5-10b: Face guarding is now deemed pass interference by rule 7-5-11c: Contact by a defender away from the pass is not DPI 8-5-2a Exception: All loose balls now part of momentum exception 9-4-3: Nonplayers added to coverage of illegal personal contact rule

3. Field Markings 1-2-3e: Nine-yard marks, 12 inches in length and 4 inches in width, shall be located 9 yards from each sideline. The 9-yard marks shall be marked so that at least each 10-yard line bisects the 9-yard marks. These marks shall not be required if the field is visibly numbered. If on-the-field numbers are used, the tops of those numbers shall be 9 yards from the sideline, should be 6 feet in height and 4 feet in width and may include directional arrows next to the yard-line numbers indicating the direction toward the nearest goal line. • Now required that all offensive players must have momentarily been between the 9-yard marks after the ready-for-play and prior to the snap, and adhere to all other pre-snap requirements. • The 9-yard markings are not required on fields that are visibly numbered.

4. Field Markings

5. Player Equipment – Chin Strap 1-5-1a: Beginning in 2006, a four-snap chin strap shall be required. • Beginning with the 2006 season. • Change should increase the probability of the helmet staying in place during game action. • Survey of helmet manufacturers determined that helmets have been shipped with the four-snap system for many years.

6. Player Equipment – Mouth Protector 1-5-1i: Beginning in 2006, the tooth and mouth protector shall be of any readily visible color, other than white or clear. 1-5-1i: A tooth and mouth protector with labial portion (protects the teeth and supporting structures) and covers the posterior teeth with adequate thickness. • Beginning with the 2006 season • More easily identifiable for both coaches and officials. • Must be one solid color, not multi-colors. • Also added language about its thickness. • A player who is unable to use a mouth-and-tooth protector must have written authorization from a dentist. • S.I. 1-5-1, page 11 has been here since at least 1978.

7. Player Equipment – Hand Pads 1-5-2c: Beginning in 2008, hand pads must have a securely attached label or stamp (NF/NCAA specifications) indicating compliance with test specification on file with the Sporting Goods Manufactures Association as of January 1, 1994, unless made of unaltered plain cloth. • Beginning with the 2008 season. • Hand pads are now required to meet the same specifications set forth for gloves. • Hand pads must carry the securely attached NFHS/NCAA label or stamp.

8. Player Equipment – Logo / Trademark 1-5-3l: Illegal equipment shall include jerseys and pants that have: A visible logo/trademark exceeding 2-1/4 square inches and exceeding 2-1/4 inches in any dimension. Beginning in 2008, more than one manufacture’s logo/trademark or reference on the outside of each item. (The same size restriction shall apply to either the manufacture’s logo/trademark or reference). • Beginning with the 2008 season, a company “reference” is treated similar to a logo or trademark. • Only one manufacture’s logo/trademark or reference may be visible on each uniform item. • The manufacturer logo/trademark size restriction now includes any company reference.

9. Foul on Last Timed Down 3-3-4: A period shall not be extended by an untimed down if during the last timed down of the period, one of the following occurs: a. When the defense fouls during a successful try/field goal and the offended team accepts the results of the play with enforcement of the penalty from the succeeding spot. b. There is a foul that specifies loss of down and the penalty is accepted. The score is cancelled in the event of an accepted foul that specifies a loss of down. • Period may not be extended if the final down includes a score AND an accepted foul that specifies a loss of down. • Review C.B. SITUATION 6, page 5. [Score] • Review C.B. 3.3.3 SITUATION A, page 19. [No score]

10. Substitution 3-7-2: A player, replaced player or a substitute who has been unable to complete the substitution, is required to leave the field at the side on which his team box is located and go directly to his team box. • Status (player, replaced player, substitute) no longer needed. • This was amended to require all players, replaced players and substitutes to leave the field on the side of their team box, and that replaced players or substitutes go directly to their team box. • Based on 2004 NFHS questionnaire, 83% of respondents favored revisions which clarified these rules.

11. Participation 9-6-4a: It is illegal participation: a. When any player, replaced player or substitute enters during a down. PENALTY: Illegal participation [live-ball, basic spot] - S28 -15 yards. • Entry of a substitute during a down will constitute a foul for illegal participation rather than illegal substitution. • No longer a live ball, nonplayer foul, 5-yards • To be considered to have entered, he should be viewed by the official as attempting to become part of the play. • It does not matter if he influences the play or not. • Review C.B. 9.6 COMMENT, page 71 part b) and part c) for confusion on enforcement based on “influence” of substitute who enters. • Enforced using all-but-one. No special enforcement rule in 10-5.

12. Illegal Procedure 7-2-1: After the ball is ready for play, each player of A who participated in the previous down and each substitute for A must have been, momentarily between the 9-yard marks, before the snap. • The term “illegal procedure” has been removed from the penalty portion of the rules section. It will now be “illegal formation.” • The previous rule requiring each player of A to be within 15 yards of the ball was inconsistently applied as it contained no easily verifiable fixed reference point for officials to administer. • Term was never defined in the past.

13. One Forward Pass 7-5-1: It is a legal forward pass, if during a scrimmage down and before team possession has changed, a player of A throws the ball with both feet of the passer in or behind the neutral zone when the all is released. Only one forward pass may be thrown during the down. 7-5-2e: An illegal forward pass is a foul. The illegal forward passes are: e. A second or subsequent forward pass thrown during a down. Table 7-5: Penalty loss of 5 yards and loss of down enforced from end of run. • Team A is limited to ONE forward pass during a down. • Was difficult for defense to determine whether a pass in the flat was forward or backward. They didn’t know when pass interference restrictions ended. Defense was at a disadvantage not intended.

14. Faceguarding 7-5-10b: It is forward-pass interference if: b. Any player hinders an opponent’s vision without making an attempt to catch, intercept or bat the ball, even though no contact was made. • Pass interference rules now specify that hindering an opponent’s vision without making contact is pass interference. • This has been an “interpretation” for years • C.B. 7.5.10 SITUATION C, page 54 • This foul can be done by the offense or the defense.

15. Fouls Away From the Pass 7-5-11c: It is not forward-pass interference if: c. Contact by B is obviously away from the direction of the pass. • Team B pass interference, when is it obvious the pass is thrown in another direction, is ignored. • This change does not remove the restrictions on illegal use of the hands, holding or a personal foul that is committed during any play. • This specifically states defense (B) but good officiating philosophy should still apply to the offense (A) in a similar case. Talk to them. • Team B doesn’t know it is a passing play but team A does.

16. Momentum Exception 8-5-2a Exception: When a defensive player intercepts an opponent’s forward pass; intercepts or recovers an opponent’s fumble or backward pass; or an R player catches or recovers a scrimmage kick or free kick between his 5-yard line and the goal line, the ball belongs to B at the spot where the pass or fumble was intercepted or recovered or the kick was caught or recovered. • Momentum exception is no longer restricted to a ball that a player catches. The momentum rule will now apply to a grounded ball. • Previously, the momentum rule applied only to an intercepted forward pass, fumble or backward pass by an opponent or a caught scrimmage or free kick. • It is the momentum of the player, not the ball, that determines the validity of the exception.

17. Nonplayer Personal Foul 9-4-3: No player or nonplayer shall: Swing foot, shin or knee; charge into opponent after he is out of the play; pile on a player lying on the ground; hurdle an opponent; position on the shoulders of teammate or opponent; throw a helmet to trip opponent; make contact which incites roughness; grasp opponents face mask; but block, face tackle or spear; use helmet to ram opponent; hide ball under jersey; or strike opponent with fist, hands, forearm, elbow or kick or knee him. • Nonplayers added to the list of those who may be penalized for committing illegal personal contact fouls. • Previously, they were technically not covered. • This could have been ruled unsportsmanlike last year. • Anyone associated with the team (including coaches, managers and other tem personnel) are subject to the rules.

18. Major Football Editorial Changes 2005 Season Use of Media 1-6-1: Electronic communication equipment, other than an audio tape recorder, including but not limited to computer, film, television and videotape or any type of still or moving pictures, shall not be used for coaching purposes during the game or between periods. Inadvertent Whistle 4-2-3c: If an inadvertent whistle occurs during a down in which a foul occurs prior to the inadvertent whistle, and the penalty is accepted, the inadvertent whistle is ignored.

19. Major Football Editorial Changes 2005 Season Post-Scrimmage Kick 2-16-2g: A post scrimmage kick foul by R when the foul occurs: 1. During scrimmage kick plays, other than a try or successful field goal. 2. During a scrimmage kick play in which the ball crosses the expanded neutral zone. 3. Beyond the expanded neutral zone. 4. Before the end of a kick. 5. And K does not have possession of the ball when the down ends and will not be next to put the ball in play.

20. Major Football Editorial Changes 2005 Season Basic Spot 2-40-1: The basic spot is a point of reference for penalty enforcement. It is the previous spot for a loose-ball play unless the only accepted fouls meet the requirements of a post-scrimmage kick foul (2-16-2g) and the end of the run for a running play. 10-4-3: The basic spot is the spot where the kick ends when R commits a post-scrimmage kick foul (2-16-g). R fouls behind the post-scrimmage kick spot are spot fouls.

21. Major Football Editorial Changes 2005 Season Untimed Down 3-3-3a: A period must be extended by an untimed down if during the last timed down, one of the following occurs: a. There was a foul, other than unsportsmanlike or nonplayer, or fouls that specify loss of down by either team and the penalty is accepted. 3-3-4b: A period shall not be extended by an untimed down if during the last timed down of the period, one of the following occurs: b. There is a foul that specifies loss of down and the penalty is accepted. The score is cancelled in the event of an accepted foul that specifies a loss of down. These two create a CONFLICT. Review C.B. SITUATION 6, page 5.

22. Major Football Editorial Changes 2005 Season Down and Possession After Penalty 5-2-2: When a foul occurs during a scrimmage down and before any change of team possession, and before a receiver is first to touch a scrimmage kick while it is beyond the neutral zone, the ball belongs to A or K after enforcement unless it is a 2-16-2g (post-scrimmage kick) foul. Simply stated, no foul causes loss of ball 2-16-3.

23. Major Football Editorial Changes 2005 Season Double Fouls 10-2-2: If each team fouls during a down in which there is a change of possession and all R fouls are after the kick has been made, then R may retain the ball, provided R declines the penalty for K’s foul(s), other than a nonplayer or unsportsmanlike foul. In this case, the team that was not last in possession has no penalty option and the foul against R will be enforced. If both teams foul and team R’s only foul(s) qualifies as after the kick (not necessarily a PSK foul), team R may keep the ball by declining team K’s fouls. Last year there was confusion as to whether the team K foul would combine with team R’s foul to create a double foul. It is as if team K relinquishes possession and team R gains possession when the ball is kicked.

24. Major Football Editorial Changes 2005 Season Fouls on Touchdowns 8-2-2:If during a touchdown-scoring play in which there is no change of possession, a foul by the opponents of the scoring team occurs the scoring team may accept the results of the play and have the penalty enforced from the succeeding spot. If during a touchdown-scoring play in which there is a change of possession, a foul by the opponents of the scoring team occurs after the change of possession, the scoring team may accept the results of the play and have the penalty enforced from the succeeding spot. The committee intended to address only fouls by team B when there was no change of possession, or by the opponent of the scoring team if the foul occurs after a change of possession. The change clarifies that A fouls occurring prior to the change of possession are not applicable to this rule.

25. Minor Football Editorial Changes 2005 Season Equipment 1-3-1a: The ball shall be a tan-colored cover consisting of either pebbled-grain, cowhide or approved composition (leather or rubber). 1-5-2b Exception: Tape, bandage or support wrap not to exceed three thicknesses are legal without inspection or approval. 1-5-3k: Moisture-absorbing sweatbands are legal, when worn on the wrist beginning at the base of the thumb and extending no more than 3 inches toward the elbow. Table 1-7: Added “authorizing” or “determining” to State Association adoptions in entries 5, 13 and 15.

26. Minor Football Editorial Changes 2005 Season Pass Eligibility 7-5-6b: Pass eligibility rules apply only to a legal forward pass. The following players are eligible pass receivers: b. All A players become eligible when B touches a legal forward pass. 7-5-9: Pass interference restrictions on a legal forward pas end for all: a. A players, when B touches a legal forward pass. b. Eligible A players when A touches a legal forward pass. Ineligible A players may not touch the pas, but can use hands or arms in a legal block to ward off an opponent. c. B players when a legal forward pass has been touched by A or B.

27. Minor Football Editorial Changes 2005 Season Chop Block 9-3-6: A player shall not chop block. Table moved back from points of emphasis at end of mechanics manual into rule book. Remember any block with “delay” and the second block “low” is illegal. Without both, it is legal. Loose Ball Play 10-3-1 Note: The run(s) which precedes such legal or illegal kick, legal forward pass, backward pass or fumble is (are) considered part of the action during a loose-ball play. Now becomes more clear and inclusive of a), b) and c) as described.

28. Minor Football Editorial Changes 2005 Season Minor Nit Picks 3-5-11: A player, directed by his coach or the head coach, may request and be granted a time-out for the purpose of the coach and the referee reviewing a decision which may have resulted from misapplication or misinterpretation of a rule, provided the request is made prior to the time the ball becomes live following the play to be reviewed, unless the period has officially ended. 7-2-5a: Player numbering requirements include a. At the snap, at least seven A players shall be on their line of scrimmage.

29. Football Points of Emphasis for the 2005 Season 1. Heat and Hydration and Their Effect on Weight a) SEVEN deaths attributable to dehydration from heat last year. b) An athlete can lose five or more pounds of fluid through sweating in a matter of an hour. c) In football, the amount of equipment covering the body decreases the body’s ability to cool off by radiating heat from the skin. d) Schedule practices at a time when heat can be avoided. e) WATER is the ideal fluid to drink to maintain good hydration. f) Sports drinks may provide additional benefit for prolonged continuous activity (>45 min), individual who sweats excessively, or individual not used to being in the heat. f) Drink early and often, before, during and after activity.

30. Football Points of Emphasis for the 2005 Season 2. Spearing, Butt Blocking, Face Tackling and Chop Blocks Spearing is intentionally driving the helmet into a player in an attempt to punish him. Committed by offensive or defensive players. Butt blocking is driving the face mask, frontal area or top of the helmet directly into an opponent. Committed by offensive player. Face tackling is driving the face mask, frontal area or top of the helmet directly into the runner. Committed by defensive player. A chop block is a delayed block at the knees or below against an opponent who is in contact with a teammate of the blocker. Done by a pair of offensive or pair of defensive teammates. Be diligent and vigilant in detecting these fouls and call them consistently.

31. Football Points of Emphasis for the 2005 Season 3. Sideline Management Not only are coaches violating the rules, but officials are not enforcing the rules 1-2-3e, 9-8-3 and 2-6-2. Sideline violations are handled by a progressive component in 9-8. Be preventative and communicate with coaches before the game and early in the contest. 4. Game Management Responsible to make sure only proper personnel have access to the sideline area (media, photographers, statisticians and boosters). Game officials may request of game management to take care of problems outside of the team box.