2004 NFHS Football Rule Changes Editorial Changes Points

2004 NFHS Football Rule Changes, Editorial Changes Points of Emphasis and Mechanics Changes CFOA / MCOA FHSAA Football Field Clinic August 20, 2004 1

Football Rules Changes for the 2004 Season 1 -5 -3 i, k: Legal towels must be moisture absorbing material. 2 -6 -2 a: Conference near sideline can involve unlimited team members. 2 -16 -2 g: PSK begins with snap and successful field goal not included. 2 -17 -4 b: Blocking in back permitted against defensive in the zone. 3 -1 -4: Gives authority back to states to handle interrupted contests. 3 -3 -3: Language re-instated for fouls during last timed down. 3 -5 -2 a: Head coach may now request a time-out. 6 -1 -5, 6 -2 -4: During a kick, muff or bat into a receiver shall be ignored. 8 -2 -2: Clarification on fouls by defense on a touchdown. 8 -5 -2 a: Momentum now applies to any defensive play situation. 10 -2 -1 b, 10 -2 -2 -: PSK as it relates to the creation of a double foul. 2

Legal Towels Illegal equipment shall include 1 -5 -3 i: Slippery or sticky substance on a towel. 1 -5 -3 k: Uniform adornments other than one unmarked moisture absorbing white towel. • Towels may not contain any substance that is sticky or slippery. • Towels must be such that it will absorb moisture. • As in the past, only white, unmarked towels, which are no less than 4 inches in width and 12 inches in length and not greater than 18 inches in width and 36 inches in length, may be worn. 3

Conference Near Sideline 2 -6 -2 a: One or more team members and one or more coaches directly in front of the team box within 5 yards of the sideline OR • Eliminates the requirement that only 11 players may participate in the sideline conference. • No advantage was gained if this restriction was removed. • As in the past, if the sideline conference is used, it must take place in front of the team bench and within five yards of the sideline. • Also, no uniformed player wearing a headset may be on the field during the conference. (1 -6 -2) • What is a player? Possible conflict with 9 -8 -3. – A non player shall not be outside his team box unless to become a player or to return as a replaced player. 4

Post Scrimmage Kick in 2004 • PSK is used when – Team R fouls occur during scrimmage kick plays • Other than trys and successful field goals – – From the time the ball is snapped until the kick ends When the ball crosses the expanded neutral zone When the foul occurs beyond the expanded neutral zone Team R is in possession at the end of the down • The “window” now opens when the ball is snapped. • The kick does not need to end beyond the neutral zone to apply. • The philosophy is that the location of the ball is NOT relevant. – It is the location of the foul and the fact that the ball crosses the neutral zone that are relevant. 5

Post Scrimmage Kick in 2004 • 10 -4 -3 involves the basic spot in relation to PSK fouls – The basic spot is where the kick ends when team R commits a PSK foul – Team R fouls behind the PSK spot are spot fouls • Clarifies that PSK fouls are an exception to the rule – Rule 5 -2 -1: After a distance penalty, the ball belongs to the team in possession at the time of the foul unless it is a PSK foul. – Rule 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 R after enforcement unless it is a PSK foul. 6

Blocking in the Back 2 -17 -4 b: Blocking in the back is permitted in the free blocking zone when the following conditions are met. a. By offensive lineman who are on the line of scrimmage and in the zone at the snap. b. Against defensive players who are on the line of scrimmage and in the zone at the snap. c. The contact is in the zone. • Last year, permissible blocking in the back against defensive players in the free blocking zone INCORRECTLY included the condition that those players must be on the line of scrimmage. • Now clipping and blocking in the back have different requirements. 7

Interrupted Contests 3 -1 -4: Games interrupted shall continue unless the teams agree to terminate the game with the existing score or as otherwise provided for by state association adoption. • State associations may develop their own procedures for completing games that are interrupted due to circumstances beyond control. • Previously, a conference or league could have one rule while a neighboring conference or league could have another. This was most difficult near state borders. • This change does not preclude the possibility that in a given contest, the head coaches and referee may mutually agree to terminate a game. (3 -1 -3) 8

Untimed Downs 3 -3 -3 NOTE: The period shall not be extended further when the defense fouls during a successful try (or field goal) and the offended team accepts the results of the play with enforcement of the penalty from the succeeding spot. • Language was eliminated last year which caused potential confusion in administering penalties prior to changing goals to begin the next period. Last year, the period was extended whether the foul occurred during a timed or untimed down. • The phrase “if during the last timed down” has returned. • Example: Team A scores a TD as period expires. Team B fouled during the play. Period is extended for the try (if needed). Team B fouls during the successful kick try. Period is… – NOT extended if results accepted and enforced from succeeding spot. – extend if penalty accepted and replay of the down is chosen. 9

Timeouts 3 -5 -2 a: A charged team time-out occurs when the ball is dead and a player’s or the head coach’s request is legally granted. • A head coach may now request a time-out from the team box. • If the head coach chooses to observe play from the press box or other off-field spot, the team loses the ability to call timeouts from the sideline. • Teams with co-head coaches must designate which person is the head coach for purposes of this rule. • An ejected head coach may designate a replacement head coach who may assume the privilege. • Wingmen, get to know your head coaches. The calling official must clearly identify that it is the head coach making the request. Be aware of the game situation. 10

Muffs During Free Kicks 6 -1 -5: Such touching is ignored if it is caused by K pushing or blocking R into contact with the ball or if K muffs the ball into contact with R. • This change clarifies a potential free kick situation where R might be penalized for an act of K. • The committee believes that the same principles should apply if K mishandles, muffs or pushes the ball, and it touches R. • If a team K player muffs a free kick in the neutral zone causing the ball to touch a team R player, the touching by team R is ignored. • This change prevents the possibility that team K recovers a kick due to unforced touching by team R. • If R is making no attempt to touch the ball and K muffs the ball into R, R should not lose possession of the ball. 11

Muffs or Bats During Scrimmage Kicks 6 -2 -4: Such touching is ignored if it is caused by K pushing or blocking R into contact with the ball or is caused by K legally batting or muffing the ball into R. • This change clarifies a potential scrimmage kick situation where R might be penalized for an act of K. • If a team K player legally bats a scrimmage kick so that it touches a team R player, the touching by team R is ignored. • This change prevents the possibility that team K recovers a kick due to unforced touching by team R. • On a scrimmage kick that goes beyond the line of scrimmage, if R is making no attempt to touch the ball, R should not lose possession of the ball if K legally bats or muffs the ball into R. 12

Fouls on Touchdowns 8 -2 -2: If during a touchdown-scoring play, a foul by the opponents of the scoring team occurs on a play where there is no change of possession; or a foul by the opponents of the scoring team occurs after the change of possession, if there is a change of possession, the scoring team may accept the results of the play and have the penalty enforced from the succeeding spot. • Last years change regarding penalties on touchdown plays to carry over to the succeeding spot intimated that the privilege extended to both teams and any type of play. This conflicted with 10 -5 -3. • 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. 13

Momentum Exception 8 -5 -2 a EXCEPTION: When a B defensive player intercepts a forward pass, fumble, backward pass by an opponent. • The momentum exception has been expanded to potentially include both teams. • Now, if A becomes the defensive team because of a change of possession and A’s momentum carries him into the end zone, the spot of A’s interception (inside the 5) will become the dead ball spot and will not result in a safety. • Remember, the momentum exception only applies to fumbles, passes or kicks that are caught. Once the ball hits the ground, the momentum exception no longer applies. 14

Double/Multiple Fouls and Post Scrimmage Kick 10 -2 -2: If each team fouls during a down in which there is a change of possession and all R fouls are post-scrimmage kick fouls, 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 options and the foul against R will be enforced. • If both teams foul and team R’s only foul(s) qualifies as 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. 15

Major Football Editorial Changes 2004 Season Miscellaneous 1 -5 -2 c NOTE: Gloves must be absent of any web-like material between the fingers and/or thumb. 2 -15 -1: Forward progress is now the forward most point of the ball (not the runner). It also defines the forward progress spot for a fumble out of bounds. 2 -30 -14: The snapper must now face his opponent’s goal line with his shoulders approximately parallel thereto. 4 -2 -3: If an inadvertent whistle occurs during a down in which a foul occurs, and the penalty is accepted, the inadvertent whistle is ignored. 16

Major Football Editorial Changes 2004 Season Series of Downs 5 -1 -2 a: A new series of downs is awarded after a 1 st, 2 nd or 3 rd down, only after considering the effect of any act during the down and any dead ball foul by B. 5 -1 -2 b: A new series of downs is awarded after a 4 th down, only after considering the effect of any act during the down, other than a nonplayer or unsportsmanlike foul. A conflict still exists with FF II-2: Whether the next down will be first is determined at the time the ball becomes dead and after considering any act, except a nonplayer or unsportsmanlike foul, which occurred during the down. 17

Major Football Editorial Changes 2004 Season Post Scrimmage Kick Cleanup 5 -1 -3 d 5 -1 -3 f 5 -1 -3 g 5 -2 -1 5 -2 -2 5 -2 -5 e 5 -2 -5 f 5 -2 -5 g 10 -4 -3 10 -6 FF I-3 FF II-3 18

Major Football Editorial Changes 2004 Season Player Numbering Requirements 7 -2 -5 a: Removed the “at least seven A players” to read “seven A players” shall be on their line of scrimmage at the snap. 7 -2 -5 b: No longer requires that just five players (50 -79) on their line of scrimmage. It can be “at least five” players. Force That Makes Safety 8 -5 -2 b: It is a safety when a player forces a loose ball from the field of play to or across his goal line by a new force to a grounded loose ball with his muff or bat or illegal kick, provided the ball becomes dead there in his team’s possession. 19

Major Football Editorial Changes 2004 Season Pass Eligibility 7 -5 -6 b: All A players become eligible when B touches the last forward pass. Pass interference restrictions on a legal forward pass end for all 7 -5 -9 a: A players, when B touches the pass or last forward pass if more than one. 7 -5 -9 b: Eligible A players when A touches the last forward pass. 7 -5 -9 c: B players when the first forward pass has been touched by A or B. 20

Minor Football Editorial Changes 2004 Season Minor Nit Picks 1 -5 -1: Mandatory equipment shall fit properly. 1 -7 -15: Use of TV/radio time-out added to state association adoptions. 2 -12 -2: First touching during a scrimmage kick if touched by any kicker beyond the expanded neutral zone. 2 -16 -2 d: A multiple foul is two live ball fouls (other than nonplayer or unsportsmanlike) by the same team. 2 -16 -2 f: A player foul is a foul (other than nonplayer or unsportsmanlike) by a player in the game. 2 -42 -4: Team designations (A and B, K and R) are retained until the ball is next declared ready for play. 9 -2 Pen: Interlocked blocking no longer uses “helping the runner” signal. It is back to using the “holding” signal. 21

Football Points of Emphasis for the 2004 Season 1. Helmet Contact Intentional helmet-to-helmet contact and leading with the head must not be taught or condoned. 2. Substitution and Participation While deception is part of football, the rules committee does not believe this rule or any rule should create a situation where the offense, defense or officials are confused or distracted. This is related to the proliferation of specialty players and specialty situations within games. 3. Team Box and Sideline Management We must be more vigilant to prevent unfortunate incidents. Violation of rules 1 -2 -3 e, 9 -8 -3 and 2 -6 -2 must be enforced by officials. Sideline violations are handled by a progressive component in 9 -8. Media, boosters and guests should be handled by game management. 22

Football Officials Manual Revisions for the 2004 Season 1. Change in free-kick assignments for umpire, linesman and back judge (five-official). {50 -53} 2. Visual count by back judge of last 5 seconds prior to delay of game penalty in a five-official crew when 25 -second clocks are not used. {64, 67} 3. Added guideline for free kicks when the kicking team is not ready in the prescribed time. {50} 4. Umpire now notes B’s players on LOS in free blocking zone. {62, 66} 5. All relevant officials mark spot of fumble, first touching, momentum or end of kick. {70, 73} 6. Referee has additional responsibilities during injury time-out. {80} 7. Added a chart concerning chop blocks. {84} 8. Adjusted signal chart for touchback. {84} 23

New Free Kick Positions (5 -man) • The Back Judge now has K's restraining line, the Line Judge stays where he was, the Head Linesman is now on R’s 30 opposite the press box, the Umpire is on the press box side at R's 20 and the Referee stays where he was. – The rational was that since most kicks do not end beyond team R's 30 yard line, the linesman will be better positioned to get the chain crew into position for the start of the next series. The back judge, who is more accustomed to having plays run toward him, will get that same look on free kicks and will also be closer to normal position for scrimmage downs. • Umpire is now under the upright (rule on crossbar) when there is a field-goal attempt by free kick following a fair catch or awarded fair catch. 24

5 -man Positions for Kickoff (Regular) BJ HL R LJ Press Box U 25

5 -man Positions for Kickoff (Obvious Short Kick) BJ HL R LJ U Press Box 26