1-1-8 Administrative duties of game officials clarified.
1-5-1c(4) Thigh guard standard revised.
1-5-3c(3) (NEW) Eye shade restrictions adopted.
2-3-8 Chop block redefined (click for more information).
2-6-1, 2; 3-5-8 Injury timeout conferences restricted to outside nine-yard marks.
3-5-10a-c Provisions for removal of injured players standardized.
9-4-3k Horse collar penalty enforcement clarified.
9-4 PENALTY Enforcement spot for roughing the passer revised.
9-6-2 Illegal participation revised.
9-8-1g(3) (NEW) Penalty added for violations of Rule 3-2-2.
Nine-, Eight- and Six-player Removal of point differential note.
2011 EDITORIAL CHANGES
1-1-8, 9; 1-2-1 NOTE; 1-2-3b NOTE 2; 1-4-1; 1-5-1b(6)e and NOTE;
1-5-1b(7)e and NOTE; 1-5-1c(3, 5); 1-5-1e; 1-5-2a-c; 1-5-3a-c; 1-6-1,
NOTE; 1-6-2 NOTE; 1-7 NOTE (NEW); Table 1-7; 2-16-2f; 2-20-1a-b;
2-26-4; 2-32-5a; 2-33-2; 2-41-9a; 3-1-5; 3-2-2; 3-3-6; 3-5-2c; 3-5-4;
3-5-7; 3-5-10a-c; 3-7-1; 5-1-3f; 6-1-4; 7-5-2ce; 7-5 PENALTY; Table
8-1; 8-2-2, 3; Table 9-3-6; 9-4-2; 9-4-8; 9-4 PENALTY; 9-5-1; 9-5-1f-g;
9-8-1; 9-8-1b-d; 9-8-1g(2); 9-8-1l; 9-8-1 PENALTY; 10-1-2; 10-5-5;
FOOTBALL PENALTY ENFORCEMENT; FUNDAMENTALS – III-1, IX-1, X-3;
RESOLVING TIED GAMES – 5-3-1; NINE-, EIGHT- AND SIX-PLAYER RULES
DIFFERENCES– Rule 2, Rule 7 (Six-Player); Penalty Summary.
2011 POINT OF EMPHASIS
1. Concussions, Contact Both to and With the Helmet, and Helmet Technology and Proper Helmet Fitting
New Rule for 2011: Mercy Rule
This item is has been approved for statewide adoption, for both regular and post-season contests, starting with the 2011 season. The proposed rule is in accordance with NFHS Football Rules 3-1-2 and 3-1-3.
1. Prior to the 4th Quarter, by mutual agreement of the opposing coaches and the referee, a “running clock” may be used if the point differential between the two teams reaches 35 or more;
2. If at the start of the 4th Quarter or at any time during the 4th Quarter, the point differential is 35 or more points, a running clock shall be used for the reminder of the contest;
3. Once the “running clock” is in effect during the 4th Quarter, it shall remain in effect for the balance of the contest, even if the team that is behind subsequently scores to make the deficit less than 35 points;
4. The “running clock” will be administered as follows:
A. The game clock will start with the snap or legal touch of a free kick on the first play following the establishment of the pertinent point differential, and continue to run uninterrupted when:
B. The game clock shall be stopped for:
A score (including touchdown: try; field goal; safety);
C. Following a stoppage for any reason in B. above, the game clock will start when the ball is next:
Timing – Non-Varsity Games
A question has been raised regarding timing procedures for lower level games with-in the CIF-SS - (which involve CIF Southern Section schools)
National Federation of High School Rules - Rule 3 / Section 1 / Article 1 states:
The clock running time for a game shall be 48 minutes
Please refer to Table 3-1 (Table of Game Clock Times) on pages 38 and 39 of the 2010 NFHS Football Rule Book and the CIF-SS 2010-2011 Blue Book: Article 190 – FOOTBALL – Section 1911.
LENGTH OF QUARTERS
The length of the quarters in football games shall be twelve (12) minutes at the varsity, junior varsity, sophomore, soph-frosh and freshman levels. Quarters may be shortened only by mutual consent of both competing schools.
You may have some leagues/divisions that have 10 minute quarters in their policies/by-laws or what have you. We have found that this is the case in some leagues at the freshman levels. If that’s the case when you enter the stadium and you see 10 minutes on the clock, go with it. If either team objects, use 12 minute quarters. There should be no need to bring it up in pre-game, as the coaches don’t know.
The bottom line is: There is no such thing as ‘old timing rule’ for a Federation HS game. Go out there thinking they are 12 minute quarters, and if they are 10 minutes long, it’s a bonus for you. As far as we are concerned, we’re going 12 minutes. Again coaches don’t know; so if there is a real squawk about it, ask for the Athletic Director and he will discuss it and get it straight with you and the teams involved.
If the SGVFOA finds out a/the league rule, we will pass on that information to you at one of our Association meetings.
If it’s a game in the San Gabriel Valleys sphere of games - use 12 minute quarters.
When in doubt, use 12 minute quarters - default timing - 12 minute quarters - It's pretty simple.
If it comes to the Assignor's attention, the Referee better have all his ducks in a row – school / person you spoke to / situation regarding other than 12 minute quarters – And if all that’s in order, you will get the backing of everyone involved – (Board/Assignor/IC/Assn)
Have a great game!
Bob McQueen
8 Man Football - Differences
Barring penalty enforcements:
- Kick-Offs - from the 30 yard lineReceivers - at the 40 yard line
- Touchbacks - ball spotted at the 15 yard line
- After a Safety – Ball free kicked from the 15 yard line.
- PAT’s – from the 3 yard line
- Kicks out of bounds is 5 yard penalty and re-kick or ball placed at 25 yard line.
Scrimmage plays:
- 5 men on LOS
- 3 in backfield
- No numbering requirements for eligibility
- 3 ‘middle’ lineman ineligible (but not by number)
- Top of numbers is at 7 yard mark - (9 yd in 11 man)
- Inbounds spot (hash marks) are 15 yards in from the sideline
All other rules and enforcements are the same as in an 11-man game
NOTE: See page 9 of current NFHS Rule book for 8-man field diagram
1-5-2a Creates a new standard for gloves. Beginning in 2012, gloves must meet the NOCSAE test standard at the time of manufacture.
1-5-3b Eliminates previous restriction on penalty-marker colored pads or gloves.
1-5-3e Clarifies the padding rule for guards, casts, knee and ankle braces. Eliminates the need for a Dr.'s note to verify an injury. 1-5-3f 3-1-2 Allows State Associations to adopt a point differential (mercy rule) at any time during the contest, not just at halftime or at any time during the second half when the point differential is reached.
3-2-2 Not more than four captains from each team may be present at the coin toss. All other team personnel must remain outside the field of play.
This change eliminates honorary captains and, for example, seniors playing their last home game from entering the field and remaining at the inbounds lines during the coin toss ceremony.
3-5-10b Any player who shows signs, symptoms or behaviors associated with a concussion must be removed from the game and shall not return to play until cleared by an appropriate health-care professional. 3-7-1 Changes the time frame for replaced players to leave from immediately to within three seconds.
8-2-2 Refines existing rules and creates a new article regarding fouls on scoring plays that have succeeding spot enforcement.
8-2-5 Beginning in 2010, unsportsmanlike or non-player fouls by either team may be enforced on either the try or subsequent kickoff.
9-4-3k Changes the word runner to opponent. This allows a horse-collar foul to be called when the horse-collar occurs inbounds but the tackle is completed out of bounds, in the end-zone, or after player possession has been lost.
9-4-8 Unintentional contact by a non-player with an official in the restricted area while the ball is alive is now a 15-yard penalty. For the second offense, 15-yards and disqualification of the head coach.
Prior to this change, any collision between a non-player and an official was a warning for the first offense, a 5-yard penalty for the second offense and a 15-yard penalty for each subsequent offense. It was felt that a more severe consequence was necessary for violating the restricted area when contact occurs between an official and a non-player.
Non-contact violations of the restricted area continue to be penalized under the 2009 rule.
Points of Emphasis:
1. Concussion Management
2. Heat Illness and Hydration
3. Illegal Helmet Contact
4. Assisting the Runner
5. Sportsmanship of PA Announcers
2009 NFHS Football Rules Changes
1-2-3b NOTE 2 (NEW): All required field markings must be clearly visible.
1-3-1c: Stripes located on the football must be adjacent to and perpendicular to the seam upon which the laces are stitched.
2-14-2; 7-2-5: The definition of a scrimmage-kick formation was clarified to differentiate formations that have been used traditionally for attempting a field goal or kick try from those used for a punt. The circumstances under which the numbering exception can be used have been changed to clarify what can be done on first, second, third and fourth downs.
Table 3-1; 9-8-1g: The mandatory three-minute warm-up period begins immediately following the conclusion of the halftime intermission. The head coach of each team is responsible for his team being on the field for the warm-up period.
3-3-4b5 (NEW): If a penalty resulting in a safety occurs on the last timed down of a period, the period is not extended.
8-2-2; 8-2-3; 8-2-4 (NEW); 10-5-1f: Three rules were refined and a new article created regarding penalty enforcement for dead-ball, non-player or unsportsmanlike fouls that occur during or after a touchdown scoring play. Now, the scoring team, in most situations, has the option of enforcing the penalty on the subsequent kickoff.
9-4-3h: It is now illegal to grasp the opponent's chin strap.
9-4-3k (NEW): The horse-collar tackle has been added to the list of illegal personal contact fouls, regardless of where it occurs on the field. It is illegal to grasp the inside back or side opening of the collar of the jersey or shoulder pads of the runner and subsequently pull the runner to the ground.
9-7-2 EXCEPTION: The kicking team cannot bat a scrimmage kick that has not yet been grounded unless it is toward its own goal line. Scrimmage kicks may only be batted by the kicking team towards its own goal line.
1-2-3g; 9-8-3: A restricted area has been defined where a maximum of three coaches may communicate with players and substitutes during dead-ball situations. The coaches must move into the team box before the ball becomes live. There will no longer be an allowance for three coaches to remain in an area adjacent to the sideline during play.
Editorial and Other Changes
1-2-1; 1-2-3d; 1-3-1f; 1-5-1c(5b, 6b); 1-5-1i; 1-5-3a, b, c; 1-5-3k, l, n, o (NEW); 2-11; 2-16-2h; 2-35; 2-41-1, 9; 3-3-4b; 3-3-4b NOTE; 3-4-3j (NEW); 3-5-10c; 6-2-1; 7-5-2; 7-5-6a; 8-2-2, 3; 8-5-2a EXCEPTION; 9-4 PENALTY; 9-8-1; 9-9 PENALTY NOTE; 10-2-2b; 10-2-3; 10-4-2c; 10-5-1f; 10-6; FUNDAMENTALS: II-5, II-6 (NEW), IV-6, IX-3, X-4; OFFICIAL FOOTBALL SIGNALS – 15, 25 (NEW)
Points of Emphasis
1. NFHS Guidelines on Handling Contests During Lightning
Disturbances
2. Illegal Personal Contact
3. Blocking and Illegal Blocks
4. Helmet and Face Mask
5. Uniforms
6. Sportsmanship
2007 High School Rules
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USA Football Officiating Philosophies
