NFHS FOOTBALL Officials Manual Committee 2005 Points of Emphasis

1. NFHS FOOTBALLOfficials Manual Committee2005 Points of Emphasis

2. Officials Manual Committee • Dale Pleimann – Missouri - - Chair - 2007 • Steve Stearns – California - - Vice Chair - 2007 • Ralph Damren – Maine - 2007 • Mike Webb – West Virginia - 2005 • Ralph Swearngin – Georgia - 2007 • Dave Anderson – Wisconsin - 2005 • Tom Robinson – Colorado - 2005 • Clark Sanders – Oregon - 2005 • Tom Lorang – Montana - - NFHS-OA - 2006

3. POINTS OF EMPHASIS • A period must be extended by an untimed down if during the last timed down of the period there is a foul, other than unsportsmanlike or nonplayer or fouls that specify loss of down, by either team and the penalty is accepted. (3-3-3) • If there is a foul, other than unsportsmanlike or nonplayer or fouls that specify loss of down, by either team and the penalty is accepted during the untimed down, the procedure is repeated. • If there is a foul that specifies loss of down and the penalty is accepted the down is not repeated and any score is cancelled. • The period shall not be extended further for dead ball fouls. • All officials shall be aware of untimed down situations and communicate amongst themselves. • Wing officials shall communicate an untimed down situation to the coaches on their sidelines to eliminate confusion. • Referee shall use Signal #1 (untimed down) to communicate with press box, media, fans, etc.

4. POINTS OF EMPHASIS • Wing officials’ mechanics for monitoring substitutions. • After ball is spotted straddle line ball is on. • Start on sideline. Eliminates hideout & decoy. • Nine-yard marks (top of numbers) - players & substitutes must be between the nine-yard marks prior to snap. (7-2-1) • Count B players and identify eligible receivers on your side. • Be alert for illegal substitutions. (3-7) (Numbers in & out, e.g. 2 in - 2 out)

5. POINTS OF EMPHASIS • Responsibilities for determining pass interference. • Forward or backward – only one forward pass allowed. (7-5-2-e) (Use of supplemental signal on page 24 of Officials Manual) • Hindering an opponent’s vision without making an attempt to catch ball. (7-5-10-b) • Defender obviously away from the direction of the pass. (7-5-11-c) (Divide field into thirds.) • When in doubt: • Pass is forward. • Defender has not hindered opponent’s vision. • Defender is in the direction of the pass.

7. POINTS OF EMPHASIS • The responsibilities of rules makers involve defining legal and/or illegal actions in a sport and then prescribing penalties for illegal acts. • The responsibilities of game officials involve interpreting the spirit and intent of the published rules and applying them to game situations. • The prescribed penalties automatically occur when calls are made by the officials. • Therefore, the judgments of the officials should focus on the actions of the participants and not on whether they consider the prescribed fouls and penalties to be appropriate.

8. CORRECTIONS • Page 15: III-A-3; add Back Judge (5-person) obtains football. • Page 16: III-B-2-b; add Back Judge (5-person) obtains football.

9. CORRECTIONS • Page 19-20: After a Score or Try – Prior to Free Kick; Refer to pages 50-53 – Before Kick for each position. • Page 50: Diagram; U for Umpire is not filled in on 20-yard line.

10. CORRECTIONS • Page 74-75: After a Touchback, Safety, Try or Field Goal; Refer to pages 50-53 – Before Kick for each position.

11. SUGGESTIONS or CONCERNS • Prepared by Dale Pleimann, Assistant Director, Missouri State High School Activities Association. • dale@mshsaa.org