Rule Changes 2015

Tony Dutton

San Angelo Chapter

The Ball 1-3-1-b

• Cover consisting of four panels of pebble-grained leather with corrugations other than seams.

1-3-1-i

• Ball warming substances and mechanical devices not permitted on the sidelines

• “The ball may not be altered. This includes the use of any ball-drying or ball-warming substance. Mechanical ball-drying and ball-warming devices are not permitted near the sidelines or in the team area”

1-4-5-1

• Jersey must be tucked into the pants or made even with the waist line. It must cover all pads worn at or above the waist

Illegal Equipment 1-4-7-k & l

• k. Jerseys that do not conform with Rule 1-4-5 (2014)

• l. Non-standard overbuilt facemask

1-4-8-b

• b. If an official discovers illegal equipment, or if a player is not wearing mandatory equipment, the player must leave the game for at least one down and is not allowed to return until the equipment is made legal. The player may be allowed to return without missing a down if the team takes a charged team timeout, but in any event he may not play with illegal equipment or without mandatory equipment

1-4-8-c

• If equipment becomes illegal through play, the player is not required to leave the game for one down , but he may not participate until the equipment is made legal

Last Year & This Year

• Last Year

• This Year

• Team charged with a timeout or a 5 yard penalty if no timeouts left

• Player must leave game for one down or allowed to remain if team takes a timeout

Player wearing illegal equipment or not wearing mandatory equipment (Exception: equipment became illegal through play)

A.R. 1-4-7-II

• At the end of a down, B55’s shoulder pad has become exposed and is not covered by the jersey

• RULING: Illegal equipment. Because the pad became exposed through play, B55 is not required to leave the game. The pad must be covered by the jersey before the ball is next put in play

A.R. 1-4-7-IV

• As Team A is about to break its huddle, the Referee notices that A 35 is wearing an overbuilt facemask.

• RULING: A35 must leave the game for one down to get a legal facemask. Team A may use an available charged timeout in order that A35 not miss a down, but he may not play with the illegal facemask

A.R. 1-4-8-I

• After the ball is ready for play, an official identifies a player(s) who is obviously not wearing a mouthpiece

• RULING: A35 must leave the game for at least one down and may not return until properly equipped with a mouthpiece. The player(s) may remain in the game by spending an available team timeout, but they may not play until properly equipped

A.R. 1-4-8-II

• Late in the first half, Team B has used its three timeouts. At the end of a play the line judge notices that B44, a player who participated in the previous play is equipped with an eye shield that is either tinted or not clear.

• RULING: Equipment violation. B44 must leave the game for at least one down and may not return if he is wearing an illegal eye shield

A.R. 1-4-8-III

• When the ball is dead after a scrimmage down, the Umpire notices that linebacker B55 has an exposed back pad at waist level, which apparently became exposed through play during the previous down

• RULING: B55 is not required to leave the game, but he must cover the exposed pad with his jersey before the next down

Illegal Jersey 1-4-7-k

Illegal Jerseys 1-4-7-k

Overbuilt Facemask 1-4-7-l

See Appendix E

1-4-5-c-2

• The [jersey] number must be of a color that itself is clearly in distinct contrast with the color of the jersey irrespective of any border around the number.

• Teams wearing jerseys/numerals that do not conform to this rule will be asked to change into legal jerseys before the game and before the start of each quarter until the jerseys are changed. Officials shall charge a timeout at the start of each quarter the illegal jerseys are worn.

• NOTE: UIL exception

UIL Exception

• Note: Item # 2 does not apply to UIL games prior to the 2017 season; however, teams wearing jerseys/numerals that do not conform to this rule should be noted in the UIL incident report filed by the Referee after the contest. Effective for the 2017 season item # 2 will be applied as written

Block in the Back 2-3-4-a

• When in question clarified

• 2014: When in question, the contact is below the waist

• 2015: When in question, the contact is at or below the waist

• Compare Clipping (2-5-1): Clipping is a block against an opponent in which the force of the initial contact is from behind and at or below the waist

Personal Foul Defined

• 2-10-2: A personal foul is a foul involving illegal physical contact that endangers the safety of another player

• Compare with Flagrant Personal Foul (2-10-3): A flagrant personal foul is illegal contact so extreme or deliberate that it places an opponent in danger of catastrophic injury

Defenseless Player

• 2-27-14: When in question, a player is defenseless

• 2-27-14-d: A kick returner attempting to catch or recover a kick, or one who has completed a catch or recovery and has not had time to protect himself or has not clearly become a ball carrier [Also covered in Note 2, 9-1-4]

Timing Adjustments 3-2-2

• Before the game starts, playing time and the intermission between halves may be shortened by the Referee if he is of the opinion that darkness or other conditions may interfere with the game

Play Clock 3-2-4-b-3

• In the event that the 40-second play clock is running and reads 25 [not 20] before the ball is ready to be snapped, the referee shall declare a timeout and signal that the play clock be set at 25 seconds

A.R. 3-2-4-I

• When the ball is dead after a running play that ends out of bounds, the 40-second play clock is started. The umpire receives the ball from the line judge, and as he is placing it on the ground, he sees that it is one of Team B’s balls. He tosses the ball to the line judge who attempts to get a Team ball from the ball boy

RULING

• If the play clock reads 25 or less before the correct ball is in from the sideline and ready for play, the Referee declares a timeout and signals to reset the play clock to 25 seconds

A.R. 3-2-4-II

• When the ball is dead after a running play that ends in the side zone, the officials have difficulty getting the ball in to the hashmark. As the play clock nears 25, the Umpire places the ball on the ground, and by the time the officials are ready, the play clock is somewhat below 25 when the Umpire steps away

RULING

• Without stopping the game clock, the Referee gives the “pump” signal to indicate that the play clock is to be reset to 25. If the play clock is quickly reset to 25, the game clock does not stop. Only if the play clock operator does not quickly respond to the Referee’s “pump” signal will the Referee declare a timeout, signal for the play clock to be set at 25, and then signal to start both the play and game clocks

10-Second Runoff

• Remember there is no option for 10-second runoffs in UIL games

Rule Decisions Final 5-2-9

• No rule decision may be changed after the ball is next legally snapped, legally free-kicked or the second or fourth periods have ended. (Exception: The number of a down may be corrected any time within that series of downs or before the ball is legally next put in play after that series.)

Forced Touching

• Applies to both Free Kicks (6-1-4) and Scrimmage Kicks (6-3-4)

• Three times to disregard touching1. Player is blocked by an opponent into the

ball2. An opponent bats the ball into an

inbounds player3. [New] An opponent illegally kicks the ball

into a player

Next Play – Unsuccessful FG Attempt 8-4-2-b-3

• If the ball crosses the neutral zone, is untouched by Team B beyond the neutral zone, and is declared dead behind the neutral zone, all rules pertaining to scrimmage kicks apply (A.R. 8-4-2-VII)

G

RULING: Team B’s ball, first And 10 at the 17.

A’s FG attempt from the 15 isblocked, lands at the 12 untouchedand rebounds out of bounds atthe 17.

A.R. 8-4-2-VII

K H

1 5

Unsportsmanlike Conduct 9-2-1

• (k) After the ball is dead, using forcible contact to push or pull an opponent off the pile

A.R. 9-2-1-XI

• During the play, the ball carrier fumbles and several players dive for the ball. B55 grabs A33 and slings him off the pile.

• RULING: B55 is charged with a foul for unsportsmanlike conduct. 15 yards and automatic first down. The referee announces that this is either the first or second unsportsmanlike conduct foul against B55. If it is the second, B55 is disqualified from the game.

Unfair Acts 9-2-3 (2014)

ARTICLE 3. The following are unfair acts:

a. While the ball is in play any person other than a player or an

official interferes in any way with the ball, player or an official.

b. A team refuses to play within two minutes after ordered to do so

by the referee.

c. A team repeatedly commits fouls for which penalties can be

enforced only by halving the distance to the goal line.

d.An obviously unfair act not specifically covered by the rules

occurs during the game (A.R. 4-2-1-II).

PENALTY—The referee may take any action he considers equitable, which includes directing that the down be repeated, including assessing a 15-yard penalty, awarding a score, or suspending or forfeiting the game.

Game Administration &Sideline Interference (9-2-5)

• While the ball is alive and during the continuing action after the ball has been declared dead:

a) Coaches, substitutes and authorized attendants may not be between the sideline and coaching line or on the field of play.

PENALTY– Administer as a dead-ball foul. First infraction: Warning for sideline interference. No yardage penalty.

Second & third infractions: Delay of game (5 yards)

Fourth and subsequent infractions: Unsportmanlike conduct (15 yards)

9-2-5-b(Physical Interference with an Official)

b) Physical interference with an official is a foul charged to the team for unsportsmanlike conduct

PENALTY– Administer as a dead-ball foul. Team unsportsmanlike conduct. 15-yards from the succeeding spot. Automatic first down for fouls by Team B if not in conflict with other rules.

A.R. 9-2-5-I

• On the opening kickoff, B22 catches the kick at his goal line and returns the ball down the sideline on Team B’s side of the field. As he moves down the sideline officiating the play, the side judge either runs into or must run around a Team B coach or squad member in the restricted area (“the white”). B22 is driven out of bounds at the A-20.

RULING

• Either situation is physical interference with an official during the play. No warning. Team B foul for unsportsmanlike conduct administered as a dead-ball foul. After the 15-yard penalty, Team B will have first and 10 at the A-35.

And That’s All!