2002 NCAA FOOTBALL RULE CHANGES APPLICABLE TO U.I.L.

2002 NCAA FOOTBALL RULE CHANGES APPLICABLE TO U.I.L.

RULE CHANGES • EDITORIAL CHANGES • APPROVED RULING CHANGES

MAJOR RULE CHANGES • “HALO” FOUL PENALTY INCREASED • PENALTY ENFORCEMENT ON TD PLAYS • PENALTY ENFORCEMENT ON CERTAIN EXTRA PERIOD PLAYS

“HALO” RULE CHANGE(Rule 6-4-1 Penalty, FR 82) • PENALTY FOR NON-CONTACT FOUL INCREASED FROM 5 TO 10 YARDS

“HALO” RULE CHANGE(POINTS OF EMPHASIS) • Enforcement is from spot of foul which is where “halo” is 1st entered (“12 yard” penalty) • If foul is in end zone, award touchback and penalize from the 20

“HALO” RULE CHANGE(POINTS OF EMPHASIS) • Returners get the “halo” on scrimmage AND free kicks • “Halo” exists as long as: • Receiver is beyond NZ and • Receiver is positioned to catch a kick and • Receiver is trying to catch a kick and • Kick has not touched the ground or any Team B player beyond NZ

“HALO” RULE CHANGE(POINTS OF EMPHASIS) • If Team A is blocked into the “halo”, there is NO “halo” foul

“HALO” RULE CHANGE(POINTS OF EMPHASIS) • If there is contact prior to the Team B returner touching the ball, it is a 15 yard penalty. If it is a flagrant foul, DQ the offender. When in question, it is a contact foul.

“HALO” RULE CHANGE(POINTS OF EMPHASIS) • Intent was to give more protection to punt returners but may result in fewer non-contact flags thrown as some refs hesitate due to severity of penalty

PERSONAL FOULS ON TD PLAYS(Rule 10-2-2-g-1, FR 122) • Past: If there was a personal foul by the opponent of a team which scored a TD, the enforcement would have to be on the try. • Now: The scoring team can elect to have the enforcement on the try OR the succeeding kickoff.

PERSONAL FOULS ON TD PLAYS • Example: Team A scores a TD • During the TD run, Team B commits an intentional facemask foul • Team A can attempt the extra point from the 1.5 yard line or • Team A can attempt the extra point from the 3 and then kickoff from the Team B 45 (U.I.L.) {50 in NCAA}

PERSONAL FOULS ON TD PLAYS • NOTE: Once the choice is made, it cannot be changed. • Example: Team A scores a TD • During the TD run, Team B is commits an intentional facemask foul • Team A elects to attempt the extra point from the 3 and then kickoff from the Team B 45 • On the try, B fouls and blocks the kick • A CANNOT now choose to have the 1st foul and the 2d foul enforced on the re-try (which would be a snap from the ¾ yard line)

FLAGRANT FOULS AFTER B POSSESSION IN EXTRA PERIOD(Rule 3-1-3-g-1, FR 57) • Past: If there was a foul after B gained possession (I.e fumble, interception, etc) in OT, the penalty was declined by rule and B would start its series at the 25. • Now: If there is a FLAGRANT personal foul, the penalty will be enforced on the next play.

FLAGRANT FOULS AFTER B POSSESSION IN EXTRA PERIOD • 1ST THINGS 1ST – WHAT IS “FLAGRANT”? • Editorial change at 2-9-1, FR 40, defines it as: “…a rule infraction so extreme or deliberate that it places an opponent in danger of catastrophic injury.”

FLAGRANT FOULS AFTER B POSSESSION IN EXTRA PERIOD • Example: Score tied, 1st OT series • Team A passes, Team B intercepts. • On Team B’s runback of interception, B44 clips A88. • Runner is tackled at the 50. • Next play will be Team B snapping at the 25 to start their series • BUT, if you rule the clip to be a FLAGRANT personal foul, Team B will snap at the 40

FLAGRANT FOULS AFTER B POSSESSION IN EXTRA PERIOD • No change for dead ball fouls or live ball fouls penalized as dead ball fouls (i.e. Unsportsmanlike Conduct). They still carry over to next series

FLAGRANT FOULS AFTER B POSSESSION IN EXTRA PERIOD • This rule change also applies to post-scrimmage kick situations in OT. • NOTE: Rules were unclear in past about PSK enforcement in extra period but editorial change now makes clear PSK foul penalties are declined by rule (3-1-3-g FR-57)

FLAGRANT FOULS IN EXTRA PERIOD • Example: Score tied. 1st series of OT. Team A attempts a field goal from B 25 yard line. • Kick is short and B will try to return from the 5 • B clips before kick is caught/recovered • Runner is tackled at the 50. • Next play will be Team B snapping at the 25 to start their series • BUT, if you rule the clip to be a FLAGRANT personal foul, Team B will snap at the 40

FLAGRANT FOULS IN EXTRA PERIOD • IN THE CATEGORY OF “THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO HMMMMMM….” IF YOU ARE CALLING A PLAYER’S FOUL, “FLAGRANT”, AREN’T YOU EJECTING HIM????

MAJOR EDITORIAL CHANGES • CLIPPING EXCEPTIONS TIGHTENED UP • DEAD BALL PENALTY ENFORCEMENT ON TRY DOWNS MODIFIED

CLIPPING EXCEPTIONS(Rule 9-1-2-d-3 & 4, FR 104) • PAST: When attempting to get to runner or legally recover or catch ball, players could clip • NOW: They can clip as long as they do not make initial contact below the buttocks

DEAD BALL PENALTIES ON TRY DOWNS(A.R. 3-2-3-VIII, FI 10 A.R. 10-1-7-VII,XVII FI 70 & 71)

DEAD BALL PENALTIES ON TRY DOWNS • PAST: Penalties for fouls after ball became dead on a try had to be enforced on the kickoff (or succeeding spot in OT) even if try was to be repeated • NOW: If try is replayed, they MUST be enforced on replay of the try

DEAD BALL PENALTIES ON TRY DOWNS • Example: Team A attempts the extra point. Kick is good but B is offsides at the snap. After ball is dead, B commits late hit. • B can elect to have both penalties enforced and replay the try from the ¾ 3/4 yard line, or • B can decline the offsides penalty, keep the point, and then enforce the late hit penalty on the kickoff

BATTING VERSUS PASSING(PEACH BOWL 2002) • PAST: Definition of possessing was “Player holding or controlling the ball.” • PLAY: (INSERT VIDEO CLIP)

BATTING VERSUS PASSING(PEACH BOWL 2002) • DISCUSSION: • Prev rules were unclear as to what that act by #11 was. Illegal forward pass? Bat? Something else? • Forward passes can be batted in any direction by either team • To catch a ball, a player who is off his feet must have possession when he touches ground inbounds or is held up by an opponent

BATTING VERSUS PASSING(PEACH BOWL 2002) • DISCUSSION (cont): • To “pass” a ball, it is implied that you must first “possess” it. • Under the prev rule, it could be argued the 1st pass in this play was possessed before the 2d “pass” was thrown. • Therefore, the 2d pass could be called an illegal forward pass previously.

BATTING VERSUS PASSING(PEACH BOWL 2002) • NOW: 2-2-5-a FR-36 • Definition of possessing is “Player holding or controlling the ball WHILE CONTACTING THE GROUND INBOUNDS.”

BATTING VERSUS PASSING(PEACH BOWL 2002) • PEACH BOWL PLAY UNDER THE NEW RULE • Since the 1st pass was never “possessed”, #11’s act is considered a bat and is LEGAL.

MINOR CHANGES • APPENDIX C (LIGHTNING GUIDELINES) ADDED • “ALTERING STRIDE” ADDED TO UNSPORTSMANLIKE ACTS • RESTRICTIONS ONCE SNAPPER HAS HANDS AT KNEES • FLAGRANT PASS INTERFERENCE MAY RESULT IN DQ

APPENDIX CLIGHTNING GUIDELINES • MOST FOLKS WERE ALREADY FOLLOWING THESE EVEN BEFORE PUBLISHED • IF LIGHTNING WITHIN 6 MILES (30 SECONDS “FLASH TO BANG”) GET OFF FIELD • DON’T RESUME UNTIL 30 MINUTES AFTER LAST FLASH OR THUNDER

“ALTERING STRIDE” • 9-2-1-a-1-d FR-109 adds to list of what is considered Unsportsmanlike Conduct: “Obviously altering stride as an unopposed runner approaches the opponent’s goal line.”

PRE-SNAP RESTRICTIONS • Once the snapper has taken position and has his hands “at or below his knees” certain restrictions and designations kick in.

PRE-SNAP RESTRICTIONS • 1-4-2-b FR-25: The ineligibles in a scrimmage kick formation are identified • 2-18-1-a FR-44: No offensive players can be in or beyond the NZ except snapper, incoming subs/replaced players, or players who break the NZ with hands while pointing in a scrimmage kick formation

PRE-SNAP RESTRICTIONS • 2-27-8 FR-51 Snapper becomes the snapper • 7-1-3-a-1-a FR-84: Snapper can’t move to a different position

PASS INTERFERENCE EJECTIONS • 7-3-9-k FR-95: Tackling or running into a receiver when forward pass clearly uncatchable may result in DQ if you judge it to be “FLAGRANT”. (Remember the definition of FLAGRANT)

REMINDERS • U.I.L. ISSUED EXCEPTION TO NEW RULE RE FACEMASKS BEING SAME COLOR • U.I.L. ALSO WILL NOT USE THE EXPERIMENTAL 45 SECOND PLAY CLOCK

QUESTIONS/COMMENTS

2002 NCAA FOOTBALL RULE CHANGES APPLICABLE TO U.I.L.