Football Rules Update 2016

1. Football Rules Update 2016 Tony Dutton San Angelo Chapter Slides Posted on sazebra.org Go to: Slide Presentations > Rules Update 2016 tdutton59@gmail.com

2. 2016 UIL Update Composition football Knee pads Eye shields Game suspended Disqualified coaches 2016 NCAA Update Unfair clock tactics Substitution Tripping Targeting Defenseless player Scrimmage kick formation Blocking Below the Waist “Clarified” Try to Look At

3. 3-1 The Ball • Composite footballs are illegal for varsity games • May be used in sub-varsity games

4. Knee Pads 1-4-4-d • Knee pads must be at least ½ thick and must be covered by pants. It is strongly recommended that they cover the knees. No pads or protective equipment may be worn outside the pants. • UIL EXCEPTION: 1-4-4-d. For UIL games, knee pads must cover the knee. • Knee pads no longer must cover the knees.

6. Eye Shields 1-4-6-c • Eye shields must be clear and not tinted, and made from molded or rigid material. Eyeglasses must be clear and not tinted. No medical exceptions are allowed. • ADD: “[UIL] Exception: A player(s) is permitted to participate in a UIL game wearing tinted eye shields, eyeglasses, or goggles if the player has been issued a current season UIL Medical Exemption Form that allows for his/her participation wearing the tinted equipment. • The Head Coach must present to the Referee a copy of the properly completed UIL Medical Exemption Form before the start of the game.

9. Suspending the Game 3-3-3-c • If a game is suspended under Rules 3-3-3-a and b before the end of the fourth period and cannot be resumed, there are four possible options: • Resume the game at a later date; • Terminate the game with a determined final score; • Forfeit of the game; or • Declare a no contest.

10. UIL Option to Take Effect • Both schools members of the same district • Non-district competition • No agreement between AD’s and coaches • Option determined by District Policy • AD’s of participating schools in consultation with coaches determine the option • UIL policy used to determine outcome if both schools members of UIL

11. Unfair Clock Tactics 3-4-3 • The referee shall order the game clock or play clock started or stopped whenever either team conserves or consumes playing time by tactics obviously unfair. This includes starting the game clock on the snap if the foul is by the team ahead in the score. If the game clock is stopped only to complete a penalty for a foul by the team ahead in the score inside the last two minutes of a half, it will start on the snap, at the option of the offended team.

12. Legal Substitutions 3-5-2-e • When Team A sends in its substitutes, the officials will not allow the ball to be snapped until Team B has been given an opportunity to substitute. • Team B must react promptly with its substitutes

13. 9-1-2-c Tripping • There shall be no tripping. (Exception: Tripping the runner is not a foul.) • It is now illegal to trip the ball carrier

14. A.R. 9-1-2 I • A player on defense sticks out his foot and trips an opponent. (a) The opponent is a wide receiver running a passing route. (b) The opponent is the ball carrier. • RULING: (a) and (b) Personal foul, Tripping. Penalty—15 yards, automatic first down.

15. Two ways to target Target and make forcible contact with the crown (top) of the helmet (9-1-3) Target and make forcible contact to the head or neck area of a defenseless opponent with the helmet, forearm, hand, fist, elbow or shoulder (9-1-4) This foul requires that there be at least one indicator of targeting Targeting 9-1-3 & 9-1-4

16. Launch – player leaving his feet to attack by an upward and forward thrust to make contact in the head or neck area Crouch followed by an upward and forward thrust to make contact in the head or neck area Leading with helmet, shoulder, forearm, fist, hand or elbow to attack head or neck area Lowering the head before attacking with the crown of the helmet Indicators of Targeting 9-1-4 Note 1

17. As ball carrier A20 sweeps around the end and heads upfield, he lowers his head and contacts defensive end B89 who is trying to tackle him. The players meet helmet to helmet. RULING: No foul. Neither A20 nor B89 is a defenseless player and neither has targeted his opponent in the sense of Rule 9-1-3. A.R. 9-1-4 II

18. A ball carrier who has obviously given himself up and is sliding feet-first New Defenseless Player 9-1-4 Note 2

19. Striking 9-1-2-a. No person subject to the rules shall strike an opponent with the knee; strike an opponent’s helmet (including the face mask, neck, face or any other part of the body with an extended forearm, elbow, locked hands, palm, fist or the heel, back or side of the open hand; or gouge an opponent. PENALTY – Personal Foul. 15 yards. Disqualification if flagrant. Clarification – Targeting vs. Striking

20. Example • Defensive tackle slaps offensive tackle in the head • Defensive tackle slaps quarterback, who has just thrown a pass, in the head • Personal Foul Striking – 15 yards, automatic 1st, flagrant offenders disqualified • Targeting --15 yards and disqualification

21. A1, a ball carrier, strikestackler B6 with his extended forearm just before being tackled. RULING: Personal foul. Penalty—15 yards. Enforce from the previous spot if foul occurs behind the neutral zone. Disqualification if flagrant. Safety if the foul occurs behind Team A’s goal line. A.R. 9-1-2 II

22. A12 who normally plays quarterback in lined up as a wide receiver in the backfield and A33 is five yards behind the snapper in a shotgun formation. A33’s pass intended for A12 is intercepted. During the interception return B55 targets and launches at A33, striking him in the side of the helmet. RULING: Foul by B55 for targeting and initiating contact at the head of a defenseless player. For purposes of Rule 2-27-14, A33 is a defenseless player since he played the down in the role of the quarterback. A.R. 9-1-4 IV

23. Blocking Below the WaistNoChanges Noplayer may block below the waist During a down in which there is a free kick or scrimmage kickor (9-1-6-c) After a change of possession. (9-1-6-d)

24. Also No Changes for Team B Team B may BBW in the area 5 yds beyond and 5 yds behind the NZ 85 78 63 51 67 71 87 12 32 43 44 Two exceptions: • Against an opponent in position to receive a backward pass • Against an eligible Team A pass receiver beyond the neutral zone

25. Blocking Below the Waist (9-1-6) “Clarified” The “low-blocking zone” from 2015 has been eliminated All references are to the Tackle Box (2-34) The tackle box is the rectangular area enclosed by the neutral zone, the two lines parallel to the sidelines five yards from the snapper, and Team A’s end line The tackle box disintegrates when the ball leaves it

27. The following Team A players may legally block below the waist from the front or side inside the tackle box until they leave the tackle box or until the ball has left the tackle box Players on the line of scrimmagecompletely inside the tackle box, and Stationary backs who are at least partially inside the tackle boxand at least partially inside the frame of the body of the second lineman from the snapper 9-1-6-a Team A Prior to a Change of Team Possession

28. Allowed to block below the waist only if the force of the initial contact is “from the front,” meaning within the clock-face region between 10 and 2 forward of the player being blocked May not block below the waist toward the original position of the ball at the snap until the ball is clearly beyond the neutral zone Other Team A Players 9-1-6-a-2

29. After the ball has left the tackle box Allowed to block below the waist only “from the front” May not block below the waist toward Team A’s end line All Team A Players

30. “Restricted” vs. “Unrestricted” • Restricted: may block only from the front • And not toward the original position of the ball at the snap, until • The ball is clearly beyond the neutral zone • Unrestricted: may block from the side or from the front • Within the tackle box until • They leave or the ball leaves the tackle box

31. Restricted: May block only from front And not toward the original position of the ball at the snap Unrestricted: May block from front or side inside the tackle box Tackle Box 85 78 63 51 67 71 87 12 32 43 44 Until the ball is beyond the neutral zone Until the ball or they leave the tackle box

32. May block only from front and not toward the original position of the ball at the snap OK FOUL OK Tackle Box 85 78 63 51 67 71 87 12 32 43 44 Until the ball is beyond the neutral zone

33. As A31 runs a reverse, A82 blocks a linebacker below the waist from the front A.R. 9-1-6 IV Tackle Box 85 78 63 51 67 71 82 12 43 31 44 Illegal block. The block is “toward the line through the original position of the ball before it has crossed the neutral zone”

34. As A31 runs a reverse, A82 blocks a linebacker below the waist from the front Tackle Box 85 78 63 51 67 71 82 12 43 31 44 Legal block.The ball has crossed the neutral zone.

35. Number 44 goes in motion Tackle Box 85 78 63 51 67 71 87 FOUL OK 12 32 43 44 May block only from front and not toward the original position of the ball

36. Number 44 with the ball runs outside the tackle box Number 71 curls back and BBW toward his end line Tackle Box 87 85 78 63 51 67 71 12 32 43 44 Illegal block. Ball has left the tackle box and no Team A may block below the waist toward his own end line.

37. Number 12 drops back To pass Number 71 blocks below the waist toward his end line Tackle Box 87 85 78 63 51 67 71 12 32 43 44 Legal Block. Ball has not left the tackle box and 71 may block below the waist toward his own end line.

38. A22 shoots between the guard & tackle and blocks a linebacker low from the side A.R. 9-1-6 VII 85 78 63 51 67 71 82 12 31 22 44 Illegal block. A22 has left the tackle box and must block from the front.

39. 44 runs right. 78 moves 2 yards downfield And blocks a linebacker from the front OK OK Foul 87 85 78 63 51 67 71 12 32 43 44 78 has left the tackle box and must block only from the front and not toward the original position of the ball until the ball is clearly beyond the neutral zone

40. 9-1-14Contact Against the Snapper When a team is in a scrimmage kick formation, a defensive player may not initiate contact with the snapper until one second has elapsed after the snap

41. 2-16-10Scrimmage Kick Formation • A scrimmage kick formation is a formation with no player in position to receive a hand-to-hand snap from between the snappers legs and with either (1) at least one player 10 or more yards behind the neutral zone; or (2) a potential holder and potential kicker seven or more yards behind the neutral zone in position for a place kick. For either (1) or (2) to qualify as a scrimmage kick formation, it must be obvious that a kick will be attempted

42. 5 0 4 0 A.R. 9-1-14 I A10 A10 is in a shotgun formation 71/2 yards behind the snapper. Immediately at the snap B55 charges the snapper pushing him backward. B55 RULING: Legal. No special protection for the snapper because A10 is not in a scrimmage kick formation (at least 10 yards deep). Snapper has usual protection against any personal foul.

43. Any coach, player or identified squad member in uniform who commits two unsportsmanlike conduct fouls in the same game shall be disqualified A coach disqualified from the game must leave the playing enclosure within a reasonable amount of time after the disqualification and must remain out of view of the field of play for the remainder of the game 9-2-6-aDisqualified Players and Coaches

44. UIL Exception 9-2-6-a • ADD sentence to read: “Exception: In UIL games in which there is only one sideline coach, two unsportsmanlike fouls committed by the coach will not result in his/her disqualification.”

45. During a dead-ball time, a head coach or assistant coachis flagged for coming out to the numbers and cursing the officials in a loud and abusive manner. RULING: The officials charge either the head coach or the assistant coach with a foul for unsportsmanlike conduct. The referee announces that this is either the first or second unsportsmanlike conduct foul against the coach in question. If it is the second, the coach in question is disqualified from the game A.R. 9-2-1 XII

46. 9-2-5-b Game Administration and Sideline Interference • Physical interference with an official is a foul charged to the team for unsportsmanlike conduct.

47. A.R. 9-2-5 IGame Administration and Sideline Interference 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.

48. 9-2-1 Penalty Unsportsmanlike Conduct Fouls Administered as either live-ball or dead-ball fouls depending on when they occur If by Team B: Automatic 1st Down All dead-ball fouls: Succeeding Spot Live-ball fouls: By players: 15 yards (3 & 1) By non-players: 15 yards from succeeding spot

49. A.R. 9-2-1 II 3rd & 15 at the B 20. A88 catches a pass at the 18 and “goose steps” from the 10 into the end zone. QB RULING: Live-ball unsportsmanlike. 15 yards, spot of the foul. A’s ball 3rd and 20 at the 25. 1 0 G 2 0

50. A.R. 9-2-1 III RULING: Live-ball unsportsmanlike. 15 yards, spot of the foul. A’s ball 2nd and 10 at the 45. 2nd & 5 at the B 40. A22 takes backward pass and heads for the end zone. X Guard A66 blocks opponent to the ground, and, when A22 is at the 10, stands over him taunting at the B30. 4 0 3 0 G