2026 NFHS Football Rules Interpretation Meeting

[Patrick E.]

The NFHS football rules interpretation meeting is this Saturday.

What question(s) would you ask?

Is anybody here attending?

[Ralph Damren]

Yo, Patrick-
Enjoy your journey to Windy Indy. I'll be out on my 'party barge' (pontoon boat) at our lakeside cottage and probably not thinking about football. A few situations that probably warrent discussions are:

(1) Free kick near sidelines near but not OOB touched by OOB R.  or no.

(2) Remove restrictions on where sweatbands can be worn. (VOTE 28-23, but not required 34-super majority needed).

(3) A team can burn a TO to allow an injured player to re-enter (VOTE 30-21 -see above)

(4) Remove 5-yard facemask penalty (VOTE: 27-24 - see above,above)

[bossman72]

Ask if they'll let you kick the editorial committee in the nuts.

[NVFOA_Ump]

Ask if they'll let you kick the editorial committee in the nuts.

[Patrick E.]

Ask if they'll let you kick the editorial committee in the nuts.

.

[sj]

The NFHS football rules interpretation meeting is this Saturday.

What question(s) would you ask?

Is anybody here attending?

Can't seem to find the information but what is the time and access information? Thanks.

[Ia-Ref]

From Ralph;
Yo, Patrick-
Enjoy your journey to Windy Indy. I'll be out on my 'party barge' (pontoon boat) at our lakeside cottage and probably not thinking about football. A few situations that probably warrent discussions are:

(1) Free kick near sidelines near but not OOB touched by OOB R.  or no.

(2) Remove restrictions on where sweatbands can be worn. (VOTE 28-23, but not required 34-super majority needed).

(3) A team can burn a TO to allow an injured player to re-enter (VOTE 30-21 -see above)

(4) Remove 5-yard facemask penalty (VOTE: 27-24 - see above,above)


Our state chief specifically asked the FED about the because of the confusion caused by the casebook example and other wild thoughts.
FED said it is where the ball is when touched.  If touched on the inbounds side of the sideline, the toucher put it out. If touched on the out of bounds side of the sideline, the kicker put it out.
The rule is different in NCAA which also causes confusion with those officials that do both.

[Ralph Damren]

Yo, Ref, I agree with the NFHS stance on this. I was the sponsor of the rule change back in 2000 as the previous rule was unfair, The prior rule was a foul of LAST touched by K.A squib to midfield could then be muffed around and last touched by K= . I was on the Editorial Committee back then and provided a lobster crate (Mainer saying) of case plays. It was unanimously felt that it wouldn't be fair to  K if the kick was still inbounds when touched by OOB  R. A case play and illustration was published for several years to support.

This was deeply discussed at the Rules Meeting and it was a 50/50 split among the members as to how their state called it. Hence, the addition of
6.1.9.A and all. It was mentioned at this year's meeting that it would be up for discussion again next year.  .