2012 NFHS Football Rules Changes - LHSAAlhsaa.org/uploads/forms/pdf/2012_NFHS_Football_Rules... ·...

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National Federation of State High School Associations

2012

NFHS

Football Rules Changes

Presentation of officials awards

Sign check-in sheet for all officials & head

coaches- Mandatory Attendance ($50 fine for schools & head coach cannot coach)

Extra Rule books available

Officials Cards - Superdome

• DO NOT ABUSE!

No fans on field prior to game or during half-time. No run through chutes by fans - only bands & cheerleaders.

LHSOA (Louisiana High School Officials Association)

Ejections---All Forms must be filled out & mailed or emailed to our office within 48 hours.

NFHS defines Fighting as:

“Any attempt by a player or non-player to

strike or engage a player or non-player in a

combative manner unrelated to football. Such

acts include, but are not limited to, attempts to

strike an opponent(s) with the arm(s),

hand(s), leg(s), or foot(feet), whether or not

there is contact.”

PLAYER EJECTED FROM A CONTEST IN A

SPORT FOR UNSPORTSMANLIKE

CONDUCT

FIRST OFFENSE – will receive an official

warning. Must take the NFHS Coach Education

Certification Program: “Sportsmanship – It’s Up

to You”. Certificate of completion.

SECOND OFFENSE – Probation. Suspended

through the next regularly scheduled contest at

that level, including post-season play.

THIRD OFFENSE – Suspended for the

remainder of the year in that sport.

PLAYER EJECTED FROM A CONTEST

IN A SPORT FOR FIGHTING

FIRST OFFENSE – Player will be suspended

through the next contest at that level. Will

receive an official warning. Student will have a

mandatory meeting with Principal, Coach,

Parent/Guardian. Cannot travel with team, sit on

the bench, or be affiliated with the team during

the suspended time. Will be required to complete

Certification Program : “Sportsmanship – It’s Up

to You”.

SECOND OFFENSE – Suspended from

participating in the same sport for the remainder

of the year.

PLAYER EJECTED FROM A CONTEST IN A

SPORT FOR COMING OFF THE BENCH ONTO

THE COURT OF FIELD

FIRST OFFENSE – Player will be suspended

through the next contest at that level. Will receive

an official warning. Student will have a mandatory

meeting with Principal, Coach, Parent/Guardian.

Cannot travel with team, sit on the bench, or be

affiliated with the team during the suspended time.

Complete Sportsmanship Class. School may be

subject to a sportsmanship hearing.

SECOND OFFENSE – Suspended from

participating in the same sport for the remainder of

the year.

COACH EJECTED FROM A CONTEST IN A

SPORT FOR UNSPORTSMANSHIP

CONDUCT:

FIRST OFFENSE – Will receive an official

warning. Must complete Sportsmanship Class –

“Teaching & Modeling Behavior”. Cost is the

responsibility of the coach.

SECOND OFFENSE – School fined $200.00 .

The coach is suspended through the next game

at the level, including post-season play.

THIRD OFFENSE – School fined $300.00.

School prohibited from playing in a contest with

the coach serving as the coach of the team.

ON-LINE TESTING INFO: • Football Testing Dates: Monday, Aug. 20- Thursday, Aug. 23

• Each Official will receive log-in information from their Assignment Secretary.

• If you take the test and pass (70% or higher), that score will be your final score. If you take the test and fail (69% or below), you may retake the test one time on a pass or fail basis. The score will be at the registered level. The test will be available from Sunday, Sept. 9 - Friday Sept. 14. Any computer may be used.

• NEW: Proctored Makeup Exam will be given on Tues. Sept. 4, 2012. This is for five year experience or higher officials who score lower than Approved.

ASSOCIATION TESTING SITE SPORT

FOOTBALL BASKETBALL BASEBALL SOFTBALL

ALEXANDRIA Tioga High School X X X X

BATON ROUGE Broadmoor High School X X X X

HAMMOND Hammond High School X X X X

LAFAYETTE Opelousas High School X X X X

LAKE CHARLES Lagrange High School X X X X

MONROE Ouachita High School X X X X

NEW ORLEANS Grace King High School X X X X

OPELOUSAS Opelousas High School X

RIVER PARISH Lutcher High School X

RUSTON Ruston High School X X X

SHREVEPORT Bossier High School X X X X

THIBODAUX Terrebonne High School X X X X

WEST CENTRAL Leesville High School X X X

WINNSBORO Mangham High School X X X

FOOTBALL: AUGUST 20 - 23

BASKETBALL: OCTOBER 22 – 25

SOFTBALL: JANUARY 28 - 31

BASEBALL: FEBRUARY 4 - 7

NEW RATING REQUIREMENTS OF

LHSAA FOOTBALL OFFICIALS

To become REGISTERED, an official must:

1. Be registered with the LHSAA and a local officials' association.

2. Attend the state rules clinic.

3. Make 70% or above on the LHSAA test to work varsity games.

4. Work at least 10 freshman or junior varsity contests before

working varsity.

5. Be a high school graduate or be twenty-one years of age.

6. Shall not work past the first week of playoffs in any sport.

NOTE: Officials will not receive a card until he/she has met all the

criteria listed above.

ANY OFFICIAL FAILING TO TAKE THE TEST OR ATTEND THE

CLINIC MUST RETURN AS A REGISTERED OFFICIAL THE NEXT

YEAR OF REGISTRATION WITH HIS/HER LOCAL ASSOCIATION.



To become APPROVED, an official must:

1. Registered with the LHSAA and a local official’s

association a minimum of two (2) years.


3. Make 80% or above on the LHSAA officials’ test.

4. Attend 70% of the local association meetings.

5. Work at least 5 varsity contests the prior season.

6. Attend a LHSOA sponsored camp or an approved

continuing education workshop once every two

years.



To become CERTIFIED, an official must:

1. Registered with the LHSAA and a local official’s

association a minimum of four (4) years.


3. Make 90% or above on the LHSAA officials’ test.

4. Attend 70% of the local association meetings.

5. Work at least 5 varsity contests the prior season.

6. Attend a LHSOA sponsored camp or an approved

continuing education workshop once every two

years.

STATE LAW

ACT 314

According to the recent passage of Act 314:

1. Your school system shall educate coaches, officials,

volunteers, athletes, and parents about the risk of

concussions and head injuries.

2. Each coach and official is required to complete an annual

concussion recognition course.

3. Each athlete and their parents/guardians shall sign a

concussion and head injury information sheet which shall

be designed by your local school system.

4. Due to the passage of Act 314, each official shall be

required to view the NFHS Course titled: Concussions:

What You Need to Know as well as sign the Officials

Concussions Statement which shall be kept on file with

your assignment secretary.

2012 LHSAA POLICY ON CONCUSSIONS

POINTS OF EMPHASIS

A CONCUSSION is defined as a traumatic

brain injury that interferes with normal brain

function. An athlete does NOT have to lose

consciousness to have suffered a concussion.

COMMON SYMPTOMS include the following:

• Headache, fogginess, difficulty concentrating,

easily confused, slowed thought processes,

difficulty with memory, nausea, lack of energy,

dizziness or poor balance, blurred vision,

sensitive to light and sounds, mood changes-

irritable, anxious, or tearful.


POINTS OF EMPHASIS

An appropriate Healthcare Professional is defined as an individual or

individuals from the following professions. They are the ONLY

individuals who are designated as the persons to DIAGNOSE whether

an athlete has or does not have a concussion.

• MD – A medical doctor licensed to practice medicine in Louisiana

• DO – A doctor of osteopathic medicine licensed to practice

medicine in Louisiana

• PA – Physicians Assistant licensed to practice in Louisiana

• NP – A registered nurse practitioner licensed to practice in

Louisiana

• PM – A paramedic licensed to practice in Louisiana (an EMT

Cannot make this decision)

• AT – An athletic trainer licensed nationally or by the state of

Louisiana


MANAGEMENT PROTOCOL

The LHSAA has adopted the following policy with all sports for dealing

with concussions.

• 1. NO athlete shall return to play or practice on the same day of a

concussion.

• 2. ANY athlete showing signs or symptoms of having a concussion

SHALL be evaluated by an appropriate health care professional that day.

If there is not a healthcare professional available, the HEAD COACH shall

make the determination. WHEN IN DOUBT, KEEP THE STUDENT-

ATHLETE OUT!!!

• 3. ANY athlete diagnosed with a concussion shall be medically cleared by

a MEDICAL DOCTOR or DOCTOR OF OSTEPATHIC medicine, each of

which must be licensed to practice in Louisiana, prior to resuming

participation in any practice or competition.

• 4. After medical clearance, RETURN TO PLAY, should follow a step-wise

protocol with provisions as determined by a MEDICAL DOCTOR licensed

in Louisiana for delayed RETURN TO PLAY based upon return of any

signs or symptoms.

RECOMMENDED CONCUSSION

MANAGEMENT

The LHSAA highly recommends that all member schools have

an appropriate health-care professional at all athletic events.

If an appropriate health-care professional is not present at an

athletic contest and an athlete is removed for showing signs and

symptoms of a head injury, after an appropriate examination, the

head coach my re-enter the athlete into the contest. However,

once re-entered, if the athlete continues to show signs and

symptoms of a concussion and is removed a second time,

he/she shall not be allowed to return to play that day until the

protocol for return to play has been followed.

In the absence of a health-care professional, the head coach

shall be designated as the RESPONSIBLE individual to make

the diagnosis whether his/her athlete has or does not have a

concussion.

Half-Time • 3 minute mandatory warm-

ups plus regular half-time.

Guidelines on Handling Contests during Lightning Disturbances

Appropriate Healthcare Professional

Officials jurisdiction begins: • 30 minute prior to kick-

off

• ends when the referee so declares or when crew leaves the field.

In Louisiana: • No tied games

• Must break all ties: district & non-district

• Wildcard Seeding

• Coaches have no choice, must play overtime if game is tied at end of regulation

• Rule change in 2008-beginning with 3rd overtime teams must go for two after a touchdown.

© REFEREE ENTERPISES INC. 2012

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Field Markings

Rule 1-2-3h

Decorative markings in the end zones shall be no closer

than 2 feet from the boundary and the goal lines.

PlayPic®


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Field Markings

Rule 1-2-3l (New)

Advertising and/or commercial markings, may not obstruct

the yard lines, hash marks or nine-yard marks.

MechaniGram® MechaniGram®

ILLEGAL LEGAL

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Gloves

Rule 1-5-2b

Beginning in 2013, gloves must meet the NOCSAE test standard at

the time of manufacture with visible stamp as above, unless made

of unaltered plain cloth. For 2012, gloves may carry the above

stamp or the NFHS/NCAA stamp.

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Illegal Equipment

1-5-3c(8) (New)

Play cards must be worn on the wrist or arm.

LEGAL ILLEGAL

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Blocking Below the Waist

Rule 2-3-7

Contact with an opponent’s hand(s) above the waist

(PlayPic A) that continues into the body below the waist

(PlayPic B) is legal.

PlayPic® PlayPic®

A B


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Rule 2-3-7

Contact with an opponent’s hand(s) below the waist

(PlayPic A) that continues into the body below the waist

(PlayPic B) is considered blocking below the waist.

PlayPic® PlayPic® PlayPic®

A B


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Catch

Rule 2-4-1

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.

FOOT TOUCHES INBOUNDS MAINTAINS

POSSESSION: COMPLETED PASS

PlayPic® PlayPic®

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Catch

Rule 2-4-1

Because the receiver did not touch the ground inbounds, the pass

is incomplete. The fact the receiver would have come down

inbounds if not for the contact is not a factor.

AIRBORNE

RECEIVER

CONTACTED

RECEIVER LANDS

OUT OF BOUNDS:

INCOMPLETE PASS

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B C

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Helmet Comes Off

Rule 3-5-10d (New)

If any player’s helmet comes completely off during the down,

and it is not due to a foul by the opponent, that player must

leave the game for at least one down (unless halftime or an

overtime intermission occurs). In such circumstances, an

officials’ time-out occurs.

PlayPic® PlayPic®

A B


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Helmet Comes Off

Rule 3-5-10d (New)

If a player’s helmet comes completely off during the down

and it is directly attributable to a foul by an opponent, the

penalty is enforced but the player need not leave the game.

PlayPic® PlayPic®

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Illegal Blocking

Rule 9-3-8 (New)

No member of the kicking team shall initiate

contact (block) an opponent until the legal kick

has traveled 10 yards; or the kicking team is

eligible to recover a free kicked ball.

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Illegal Blocking

Rule 9-3-8 (New)

Because R1 has initiated contact with a K player,

all K players may block.

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Illegal Blocking

Rule 9-3-8 (New)

No member of the kicking team shall initiate contact (block)

an opponent until:

a) The legal kick has traveled 10 yards;

or

b) The kicking team is eligible to recover a free kicked ball.

MechaniGram®


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Illegal Personal Contact

Rule 9-4-3h

Grasping an opponent’s tooth and mouth protector

attached to the face mask is a foul.

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Illegal Horse-Collar Tackle

Rule 9-4-3k

No player or nonplayer shall grab the inside back or side

collar of the shoulder pads or jersey of the runner and

subsequently pull (backward or sideward) that opponent to

the ground (Horse-collar). The horse collar foul is enforced

as a live ball foul.


A B C



2012

Football

Points of Emphasis

2012 NFHS

Football Points of Emphasis

1. Concussions, Contact to and With the Helmet,

Helmet Technology and Proper Helmet

Fitting-

2. Heat Acclimatization and Preventing Heat

Illness-

3. Illegal Shifts Involving the Quarterback-

4. Illegal Blocking Below the Waist-

5. Improper Uniforms-

6. Hurdling-

Concussions

See Appendix B

on Page 97

of the 2012

NFHS Football

Rules Book

Heat Acclimatization and

Preventing Heat Illness

Exertional Heatstroke (EHS) is the leading

cause of preventable death in high school

athletes.

Athletes participating in high-intensity, long-

duration or repeated same-day practices

during the summer months or other hot-

weather days pose the greatest risk.

Football has received the

most attention because of the

number and severity of

exertional heat illnesses.

Heat Acclimatization and

Preventing Heat Illness

The National Center for Catastrophic Sports

Injury Research reports that 35 high school

football players died of EHS between 1995

and 2010.

EHS also results in thousands of emergency

room visits and hospitalizations throughout

the nation each year.

Schools and coaches need

to know the importance of a

formal pre-season heat

acclimatization plan.


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Illegal Shifts Involving

the Quarterback

Rule 7-2-6

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).

PlayPic®

A B

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Illegal Blocking Below the Waist

Rule 2-3-7

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 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.

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Rules 2-3-7, 2-17

Blocking below the waist is legal if:

1. Both players must be 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.

2. The contact/block occurs in the free-blocking zone.

3. The ball is in the free-blocking zone.

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Improper Uniforms

Rules 1-5-3a(5), 1-5-3c(4); 1-5-3c(6)

Among the illegal adornments/equipment are a towel that is

not plain white (PlayPic A), sweat bands not worn on the

wrist (PlayPic B), tinted eyeshields (PlayPic C) and jewelry

(PlayPics D and E).


PlayPic® PlayPic®

A

B C

D E


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Hurdling

Rule 2-22; 9-4-3d

Hurdling (an attempt by a player to jump (hurdle) with one 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.

PlayPic®

ILLEGAL

If a player, coach or non-player is in the restricted zone while

the ball is live but doe not contact an official, a warning is issued

for the first offense. The second instance results in a five-yard

penalty and the third offense results in a 15-yard penalty.

• INSERT SIDELINE COLLISION SLIDE



2012

Football

Rules Reminders

Legal Football Jerseys

Rules 1-5-1b(6), (7) (2012)

Legal Football Jerseys

– Beginning 2012

Illegal Football Jerseys

Rules 1-5-1b(6), (7) (2012)

Illegal Football Jerseys

– Beginning 2012

A.

B.

C.

D.



Thank You!

www.nfhs.org

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