2011 NFHS FOOTBALL ® CASE BOOK ROBERT B. GARDNER, Publisher Bob Colgate, Editor NFHS Publications © 2011, This case book has been copyrighted by the National Federation of State High School Associations with the United States Copyright Office. No one may republish any material contained herein without the prior written consent of the NFHS. Republication of all or any portion of this case book on the Internet is expressly prohibited. Cover photos courtesy of Kim Jew Photography, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Published by the NATIONAL FEDERATION OF STATE HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATIONS PO Box 690 Indianapolis, IN 46206 Phone: 317-972-6900, Fax: 317.822.5700 www.nfhs.org FOREWORD This Football Case Book has been designated as the official supplement to the football rules book by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). The case book is universally used by officials who are interested in foot- ball game administration, by coaches and instructors as a textbook for directed study by football squads, and in sports officiating courses. Football leaders in all sections of the country have contributed accounts, reports and summaries of situations in games under their jurisdiction. Much assistance has been given by the executive officers of the member state high school associations and all who use this book in their football training program. It is recognized that when NFHS rules are changed, re-ordered or eliminated, plays may be rendered obsolete. If you find plays you think may be in error, please report them to the NFHS. CASE BOOK FORMAT A1 and B1 are players of the offensive Team A and the defensive Team B, respectively. A2 is a teammate of A1. K refers to the kicking team and R the receiving team. The situation numbers identify the primary rule, section, article of the rules book which supports the interpretation. Situation numbers are designated with a “decimal” whereas rule references are shown with a “dash.” Example: 7.2.7 is the case book play and 7-2-7 is the rules-book reference. New or Modified Situations – Part 1: All material in Part 1 is new. Part 2: All sit- uations which have been revised or which are new are preceded by an asterisk. All material has been brought up to date to coordinate with the current rules. The case book contains some paragraphs entitled “Comment.” The information contained in these sections is included to give the reader an insight into the back- ground and development of a particular rule. These comments are intended to express the philosophy of the committee and the “spirit” of the rules. GENERAL INFORMATION The interpretations and rulings for all situations have been approved by the NFHS Football Rules Committee and are official. Additional interpretations are available from the inquirer’s state high school association. The NFHS will assist in answering rules questions from state associations whenever called upon. Page 3 2011 NFHS Football Case TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Part 1 – Comments on the 2011 Changes...........................................................4 Part 2 – Other Play Situations..............................................................................6 Rule 1 – The Game, Field, Players and Equipment ..............................................6 Rule 2 – Definitions of Playing Terms................................................................13 Rule 3 – Periods, Time Factors and Substitutions.............................................18 Rule 4 – Ball in Play, Dead Ball and Out of Bounds...........................................31 Rule 5 – Series of Downs, Number of Down and Team Possession After Penalty ........................................................................................36 Rule 6 – Kicking the Ball and Fair Catch............................................................40 Rule 7 – Snapping, Handing and Passing the Ball.............................................47 Rule 8 – Scoring Plays and Touchback..............................................................60 Rule 9 – Conduct of Players and Others............................................................65 Rule 10 – Enforcement of Penalties...................................................................88 2011 Changes 2011 NFHS Football Case Page 4 Part Ì1 Comments on the 2011 Changes ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES OF GAME OFFICIALS CLARIFIED (1-1-8): The com- mittee clarified that administrative duties for game officials may need to continue after the game to document actions which occur during the game. This revision illustrates the difference between the game officials’ jurisdiction during the game and other administrative responsibilities such as submitting specific reports after the game. In addition, the committee clarified that State Associations may con- tinue to develop and implement policies that allow for review of unusual incidents that occur while the game officials have jurisdiction or after the game. SITUATIONS: See 1.1.8A and 1.1.8B THIGH GUARD STANDARD REVISED (1-5-1c(4)): The committee determined that the thigh guard specifications regarding composition, compression resis- tance and required thickness of the outside and inside surfaces were not neces- sarily applicable to newer technologies being used in current production. The requirements for wearing thigh guards and that the guards be unaltered from the manufacturer’s original design/production remain part of the rule. EYE SHADE RESTRICTIONS ADOPTED (1-5-3c(3) NEW): The committee adopted new restrictions in response to increasing use of “face painting” and the placement of words and other symbols within eye shade (grease or no-glare strips or stickers). In recent years, players were applying materials in situations where it was not necessary for game conditions. In other cases, it appeared that some use of eye shade and other face paint was intended to draw attention to the individual player. Under the revision, if a player uses eye shade, it must be applied using a single solid stroke under each eye. The committee’s intent was that eye shade be located below and within the width of the eye socket and not extend below the cheek bone. No words, numbers, logos, or other symbols of any type may be included within the eye shade. SITUATION: See 1.5.3 COMMENT CHOP BLOCK REDEFINED (2-3-8): The definition of a chop block was modified by the committee. The revised language specifies that any combination block where one block is high (above the knee) and one block is low (at or below the knees) constitutes a chop block, with or without a delay between the blocks. The rule change also stipulates that a low-low combination block is no longer a chop block. SITUATION: See 9.3.2B Page 5 2011 NFHS Football Case 2011 Changes INJURY TIMEOUT CONFERENCES RESTRICTED TO OUTSIDE NINE-YARD MARKS (2-6-1, 2; 3-5-8): With two changes, the committee labeled the two types of authorized team conferences (“Outside Nine Yard Mark Conference” and “Between Nine Yard Mark Conference”). In addition, the committee specified that when an injury occurs and the referee grants an authorized conference, it must be an “Outside Nine Yard Mark Conference”. This will give medical personnel time and space to address the injured player. SITUATION: See 3.5.8A PROVISIONS FOR REMOVAL OF INJURED PLAYERS STANDARDIZED (3-5- 10a-c): The committee standardized the rules regarding the replacement of apparently injured players (3-5-10a), players who exhibit concussion signs and symptoms (3-5-10b) and players who are bleeding or have blood on himself or the uniform (3-5-10c). Players removed in any of these situations must leave the game for at least one down (unless halftime or the overtime intermission occurs) and comply with the remainder of the applicable rule. The rule also stipulates that the time-out taken in such circumstances constitutes an officials’ time-out. SITUATION: See 3.5.8A HORSE COLLAR PENALTY ENFORCEMENT CLARIFIED (9-4-3k): The commit- tee stipulated that all horse collar fouls are to be treated as live ball fouls. SITUATIONS: See 9.4.3P and 9.4.3Q ENFORCEMENT SPOT FOR ROUGHING THE PASSER REVISED (9-4 PENALTY): Penalties for roughing the passer are now enforced from the dead ball spot when there is no change of team possession and the dead-ball spot is beyond the line of scrimmage provided A maintains possession. SITUATION: See 9.4.4C ILLEGAL PARTICIPATION REVISED (9-6-2): With this change, the rule regard- ing illegal participation now has been extended to apply to a player who inten- tionally goes out of bounds and, while out of bounds, affects the play, touches the ball or otherwise participates. Action of this type would now constitute illegal par- ticipation and be penalized 15 yards from the basic spot. SITUATIONS: See 9.6.2A and 9.6.2B PENALTY ADDED FOR VIOLATIONS OF RULE 3-2-2 (9-8-1g(3) NEW): This change stipulates that an unsportsmanlike penalty will be assessed to the head coach for violation of the restrictions contained in Rule 3-2-2. REMOVAL OF POINT DIFFERENTIAL NOTE (NINE-, EIGHT- AND SIX-PLAYER RULES DIFFERENCES): This change removes the provision in the Nine-, Eight- and Six-player rules differences regarding point differential as state association running clock/mercy rules would apply per Rule 3-1-2. Rule 1 2011 NFHS Football Case Page 6 Part Ì2 Other Play Situations NOTE: Situation number is also the principal rule reference. Other related rule references are shown at the end of the ruling. An asterisk (*) indicates a new sit- uation in Part 2 or a revised situation ruling. 1 The Game, Field, Players Rule Ì and Equipment NUMBER OF PLAYERS 1.1.3 SITUATION: During the waning moments of the game, a fight erupts and several players from each team are disqualified. When order is restored, it is discovered Team A has 11 players available and B has only nine. There are no other team members eligible for participation following the mass disqualification. RULING: Each team must have at least 11 players in order for the game to start. The game may continue even though one team does not have 11 players. There is no penalty for a team having fewer than 11 players, except when that team is on offense, there must be at least seven players on the line of scrimmage.