TEAMS LIMITED TO ONE
FORWARD PASS
IN HIGH SCHOOL
FOOTBALL
This was
one of 13 rules changes approved by the NFHS Football Rules Committee at its
January 8-9 meeting in Hilton Head,
“The
throwing of multiple passes in a down in high school football is not a very
common occurrence,” said Jerry Diehl, NFHS assistant director and liaison to
the Football Rules Committee. “Because teams don’t see it that often, confusion
has existed regarding the second pass.
“Since
teams rarely use this option, the committee determined it would be best to not
allow more than one forward pass in an effort to reduce confusion regarding
when pass interference rules are in effect for either team. This change should
assist the offense, the defense and the game officials in determining when pass
eligibility rules apply.”
Two changes
were made in Rule 1-5 (player equipment) with risk management in mind.
Beginning with the 2006 season, all helmets shall be secured with a four-snap
chin strap, and a colored tooth protector (not clear or white) will be
required.
Diehl said
that in a survey of helmet manufacturers, it was determined that new helmets
are being produced with the four-snap chin strap. He said the four-snap chin
strap will increase the possibility of the helmet staying in place during game
action more than the traditional two-snap chin strap.
“The NFHS
Sports Medicine Advisory Committee recommended that a colored tooth protector
be required,” Diehl said. “The official’s responsibility is more easily
completed with the use of a colored product. There is no additional cost for a
colored tooth protector.”
Two changes
were approved by the committee to help officials better determine the 11 legal
offensive players in the game. The first change will require a mark 12 inches
in length, 4 inches in width and 9 yards from each sideline to be located on
each 10-yard line. The other change will require all offensive players to be,
momentarily, 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.
“The
Football Rules Committee has considered various issues over the past few years
to address substitutions and the balance between offense and defense,” said
Brad Cashman, executive director of the Pennsylvania
Interscholastic Athletic Association and chairman of the NFHS Football Rules
Committee. “Teams were reportedly returning to previous practices of hiding
players near the sideline, as well as attempting to deceive the opponents with
various substitution abnormalities.
“The
previous rule requiring each offensive player to be within 15 yards of the ball
was inconsistently applied, as it contained no easily verifiable fixed
reference point for officials to administer.”
In addition
to the substitution rule mentioned above, several other substitution and
illegal participation rules were revised by the committee to clarify omissions
and eliminate conflicts within the rules.
In Rule 3,
the substitution rule was changed to make the entry of a substitute during the
down a foul for illegal participation rather than illegal substitution. Rule
3-7 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. Rule 9-6 was amended to classify the
entry of a player, replaced player or substitute as illegal participation if
such happens during the down, and to clearly state the penalty for illegal
participation.
In addition
to the one forward pass restriction, two other changes were approved in Rule
7-5 dealing with forward passes. Hindering an opponent’s vision without making
an attempt to catch, intercept or bat the ball is pass interference, even
though no contact was made. This change provides rules support for what has
been interpreted as a foul. In addition, contact by a defender obviously away
from the direction of the pass is not considered pass interference.
“This
addition to the forward-pass classification clarifies that contact away from
the direction of the pass would not constitute forward-pass interference,”
Diehl said. “This change does not remove the restrictions on illegal use of the
hands, holding or a personal foul that is committed during any play.”
Beginning
with the 2008 season, hand pads must meet the same standard as gloves
concerning the level of tackiness. The hand pads shall bear the NF/NCAA label
indicating compliance with test specifications on file with the Sporting Goods
Manufacturers Association as of
“More and
more products are being produced that apparently are tackier than the
specifications allowed for gloves,” Diehl said. “This situation is causing
concern that players are gaining an advantage; therefore, the same requirements
for gloves will apply (in 2008) to hand pads.”
With a
revision to the exception in Rule 8-5-2a, 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.
Other
changes approved by the committee:
Rule
Rule
Rule 7-2-1Penalty
– “Illegal procedure” terminology has been removed from the rules book and
signal chart.
Rule
Six- and
Eight-Player Football – At least five offensive players shall be on their line
of scrimmage at the snap and may have any legal jersey number.
In addition
to these rules changes, the Football Rules Committee approved four points of
emphasis for the 2005 high school season – heat and hydration and their effect
on weight; spearing, butt blocking, face tackling and chop blocks; sideline
management; and game management.
In terms of
participants, football is the No. 1 sport for boys at the high school level.
Combined with 24,958 participants in six-player, eight-player and nine-player
football, a total of 1,057,640 boys participated in high school football in
2003, according to the 2003-04 High School Athletics Participation Survey
conducted by the NFHS. Eleven-player football (1,032,682 participants) ranks
fourth in terms of school sponsorship for boys with 13,680 high schools
sponsoring the sport. In addition, 1,615 girls participated in football (1,527
in 11-player) during the 2003 season.