Junior Skyland Football Conference 2016 Rules Changes Meeting NFHS Football Rules

National Federation of State High School Associations

Any person having questions about the interpretation of NFHS football rules should contact the football rules interpreter-assigner

• Steve Peloso (908) 642-7377 [email protected]

• Mike Whritenour (973) 934-7687 [email protected]

• Mark Bitar (973) 800-4608 [email protected]

• Jerry Graff (201) 206-5169 [email protected]

• Charley Zulauf (973) 632-0844 [email protected]

The NFHS is the sole and exclusive source of model interpretations of High School football rules. No other model football rules interpretations should be considered. National Federation of State High School Associations

2016 Football - Rules Changes

- Tooth and Mouth Protectors - Gloves - Elimination of Clipping in Free Blocking Zone - Equipment TOOTH AND MOUTH PROTECTORS RULE 1-5-1d(5)a

. Tooth and mouth protectors that are completely clear or completely white are no longer illegal.

. Tooth and mouth protectors that have been chewed or altered so they no longer provide the necessary

protection must be replaced. ILLEGAL Clipping RULES 2-17, 9-3-6, 9-3 penalty

. The exception that allowed clipping in the free-blocking zone has been eliminated. Clipping RULES 2-17, 9-3-6, 9-3 penalty

. Clipping, blocking below the waist and blocking in the back are legal methods of bringing down a runner or a player pretending to be a runner.

www.nfhs.or g Equipment RULE 1-5-1b(1)

. Shoulder pads and hard surface auxiliary attachments must be completely covered by a jersey. Equipment RULE 1-5-1b(1) . Back pads and hard surface auxiliary attachments must be completely covered by a jersey. Jerseys shall be long enough to reach the top of the pants and shall be tucked in if longer. National Federation of State High School Associations

2016 Points of Emphasis 1. Risk Minimization 2. Legal and Illegal Blocks 3. Legal Jerseys, Pants & Pads 4. Unfair Acts 5. Free Blocking Zone Risk Minimization

. The game of football has changed • Blocking/tackling techniques used now place an emphasis on using the entire field; this has resulted in more opportunities for excessive contact • Coaches should continue to educate players about the risks of unnecessary or excessive contact and to avoid such contact . Players need to have respect for the game and their opponents • Any action where a player takes aim of an unaware opponent increases the potential for serious injury and must be avoided • Blindside blocks, peel-back blocks and launching into airborne receivers provide opportunities for dangerous contact . Spectators, players and coaches should NOT promote nor celebrate actions that endanger the health and welfare of opponents Risk Minimization

. Players, parents, coaches, and administrators need to be careful not to use unproven technology such as impact sensors to diagnose a concussion, or even as a tool to decide if a concussion should or should not be suspected.

A B Legal and Illegal blocks

. Illegal blocks such as chop blocks (PlayPic A) are not to be taught and must be penalized. Legal techniques such as low-low combination blocks in the free-blocking zone (PlayPic B) are effective and minimize risk.

A B LEGAL JERSEYS, PANTS AND PADS

. The player in PlayPic A is wearing the required uniform and equipment. Examples of illegal pads, equipment or uniform are seen in PlayPic B.

A B LEGAL JERSEYS, PANTS AND PADS Unfair Acts

. Of course, it is impossible to list every unfair act that could take place.

Deliberately violating the rules in the hope or expectation of not being detected is deplorable and indefensible, and should be penalized. To this end, the referee is given great discretion in penalizing unfair acts and may enforce any penalty he or she considers equitable, including the awarding of a score. POINT OF EMPHASIS zone. the snap. The becomes illegal contact ball when the has left free the only the back, the offensive player must line on have of been the scrimmage at clipping, both players the were on line scrimmageof For snap. at the blocks in the for contact zone; and and is in the blocking snap theand below waist legal the whilefree Blocking Free below (A), waist the blocks in the back (B) and clipping (C) are only - Blocking Zone Enforcement - blocking blocking zone effect, both players is in the zone at were in - blocking blocking Free-Blocking Zone Enforcement

Blocking below the waist is legal if: 1. Both players are lined up in the free-blocking zone at the snap and on the line of scrimmage. The free-blocking zone is defined as 3 yards on either side of the line of scrimmage and 4 yards either side of the ball. POINT OF EMPHASIS OF POINT 2. The contact/block occurs in the free-blocking zone. 3. The ball is in the free-blocking zone.

PlayPic®

When lead blockers who were not on the line of scrimmage at the snap are “cut” by defenders on sweeps or on roll-out passes, it is

POINT OF EMPHASIS OF POINT a violation of the blocking-below-the-waist rule if it occurs by a player who was not originally on the line of scrimmage and occurs outside the free-blocking zone. © REFEREE ENTERPISES INC. 2012 National Federation of State High School Associations National Federation of State High School Associations National Federation of State High School Associations

Key Rule Reminders from prior years Rule 9-4-3K Horse Collar Tackle

To be considered a Horse Collar Tackle • Must be a solo tackle • Hand inside of back or side collar of shoulder pads • Must stop/reverse progress/momentum

A catch is the act of establishing player possession of a live ball which is in flight, and first contacting the ground inbounds while maintaining possession of the ball or having the forward progress of the player in possession stopped while the opponent is carrying the player who is in possession and inbounds.

Pushed - Incomplete Pass Carried -Complete Pass © REFEREE ENTERPISES INC. 2012 Rule 3-5-10d Helmet Comes Off (New in 2013)

Runner’s forward Player must leave for progress stopped one down if the helmet came completely off Runner’s helmet without being directly attributable to a foul comes off as part of by the opponent subsequent dead- ball action; official’s time-out National Federation of State High School Associations

A replaced player must leave the field within three seconds. The three seconds begins when a player becomes a replaced player as defined in 2-32-12 and a substitute becomes a player as defined in 2-32-15. It is not a foul to break a huddle with more than 11 players as long as the replaced player begins to leave the field within three seconds. National Federation of State High School Associations National Federation of State High School Associations

Illegal Shifts Involving the Quarterback

A B

Moving the hands from one position to a position under the center (PlayPic A) is a shift. In all cases, when a shift has occurred (or multiple shifts), all A players must come to an absolute stop for a full second prior to the snap. The quarterback receiving the snap immediately upon placing the hands under center would be a foul as there was not an absolute stop (PlayPic B). Hurdling Rule 2-22; 9-4-3d

PlayPic® ILLEGAL

Hurdling (an attempt by a player to jump (hurdle) with one RULE CHANGE RULE or both feet or knees foremost over an opponent who is contacting the ground with no part of his body except one or both feet) is illegal. Coaches must teach their players of the inherent dangers associated with this illegal act, and game officials must call it when observed. © REFEREE ENTERPISES INC. 2012 Offensive Pass Interference Rule 7-5-10 Penalty

The loss of down portion of the penalty for offensive pass interference has been removed. When A commits pass interference ( A), the down is replayed after enforcement of a 15-yard penalty from the previous spot ( B). National Federation of State High School Associations

2016 Rules Differences NFHS vs Pros/College Basic Differences – NFHS vs Pros/College

• Pass interference – Not a spot foul – 15 yard previous spot foul – Is not an automatic first down – No un-catchable provision • No halo rule on punts • No shaded eye shields • No cut blocking of pass rushers by backs or outside the free blocking zone • NFHS - can have formations with covered ends • Knee, thigh & tail pads are REQUIRED • Intentional Grounding – no outside the pocket provision in NFHS

RULE CHANGE RULE • No 5 yard contact buffer on receivers as long as ball not in the air • NFHS – Everyone can release on snap for punts • Neutral zone infractions kill the play (no jumping back) • Penalty enforcement is often from the spot of the foul in NFHS

• Face Mask - Two types of fouls: 1. “Incidental” is grasping of the face mask, helmet opening or chin strap. (5-Yard Penalty) 2. “Grasping and twisting, turning or pulling” of the face mask, helmet opening, mouth piece or chin strap. (15- Yard Penalty) • Fake field goal attempt – holder must rise before pitching • Missed FG’s that go into the end zone come out to the 20 yard line

• Can’t run kickoffs out of the end zone RULE CHANGE RULE • Personal foul is not an automatic first down • Don’t have to report otherwise ineligible receivers – Only players eligible by position and number can catch a pass in NFHS © REFEREE ENTERPISES INC. 2012