2013 RULE CHANGES 2013 POINTS OF EMPHASIS 2012 RULES CHANGES REVIEW

1. 2013 RULE CHANGES 2013 POINTS OF EMPHASIS 2012 RULES CHANGES REVIEW

2. 2013 An illegal personal contact foul applies to a player or non-player who initiates contact with an opposing player whose helmet has come completely off. (Penalized as a live-ball basic-spot foul) It is illegal participation for a player whose helmet comes completely off during a down to continue to participate beyond the immediate action in which the player is engaged. (Penalized as a live-ball basic-spot foul) 2012 If a player’s helmet comes off while the ball is live and is not directly attributable to a foul by an opponent, the player must be replaced for at least one down, unless the halftime or an overtime intermission occurs. Note: A charged timeout does not excuse the player from sitting out one play

3. 2013 The loss of down has been removed for offensive pass interference and the automatic first down has been eliminated for defensive pass interference. (Both penalties are still 15 yards)

4. 2013 Clarification of the definition of a catch such that an airborne player who has forward progress stopped inbounds and is carried out of bounds by an opponent before contacting the ground is awarded a catch at the spot of forward progress. 2012 The force out catch has been eliminated. An airborne receiver must now come down inbounds to complete a catch. Note. An airborne receiver’s first contact with the ground must be inbounds

5. 2013 A provision to the rule enacted last year regarding contact by the kicking team against members of the receiving team. The new provision stipulates that the kicking team may initiate contact once the receiving team has initiated a block within the neutral zone. 2012 During a free kick (i.e. kickoff) Team K is now prohibited from blocking an opponent until they are eligible to recover the ball or the ball has gone 10 yards. (Illegal use of the hands foul) Note: Members of the kicking time can respond to blocks by the receiving team in the neutral zone.

6. 2013 Fair catch or kick catch interference now has two yardage options. Take an awarded fair catch and fifteen yards from the spot of the foul, or take a 15 yard penalty from the previous spot and replay the down. Only team A can score on a try. Towels may now be any solid color that is not ball or penalty flag colored, may have one manufacturer’s logo, and the players all have to have the same colored towels. Gloves must meet the NOCSAE Standard

7. 2013 The use of communication devices will be allowed during authorized conferences outside the nine-yard marks, on the sidelines and during the halftime intermission. The use of communication devices by players except conferences outside the nine-yard mark continues to be prohibited.

8. 2012 Play cards may only be worn on the wrist. If a blockers initial contact is with an opponent’s hand(s) that are at or above the waist and the blocker follows through and blocks that opponents below the waist it is a legal block, however if the blocker first contacts the opposing players hand(s) below the waist and the blocker follows through and blocks the opponents below the waist it is considered a block below the waist. Horse collar tackle foul occurs when the inside back or side collar of the shoulder pads or jersey of a runner is pulled and the runner is pulled to the ground either sideways or backwards. The strap that attaches the mouthpiece to the face mask is considered part of the face mask, and grasping or pulling the strap is a foul.

9. 2013 POINTS OF EMPHASIS • FREE BLOCKING ZONE ENFORCEMENT • & • CONSISTENT ENFORCEMENT OF • BLOCKING BELOW THE WAIST • (TO BE ADDRESSED AT 8/7/13 MEETING) PROHIBITION ON CONTACT TO AND WITH THE HELMET In an effort to minimize the risk of catastrophic head and neck injuries, the NFHS Football Rules Committee continues to urge KEEPING THE HEAD OUT OF FOOTBALL. (TO BE ADDRESSED AT 8/14/13 MEETIING)