Author Topic: 2017 NFHS Football Rule Changes (Release Date Feb 22, 2017)  (Read 59765 times)

0 Members and 9 Guests are viewing this topic.

Offline Rulesman

  • Past Keeper of the Keys
  • Refstripes Hero
  • *****
  • Posts: 3839
  • FAN REACTION: +65535/-2
  • Live like tomorrow never comes.
2017 NFHS Football Rule Changes (Release Date Feb 22, 2017)
« on: February 11, 2017, 01:54:44 PM »
Highlights of the changes are listed below. The complete press release is attached.

New rules on blindside blocking are the most recent steps taken by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Football Rules Committee in minimizing the risks associated with the sport.

The establishment of a new definition of a blindside block in Rule 2-3-10 and the addition of Rule 9-4-3n prohibiting a blindside block were two of 11 rules changes recommended by the NFHS Football Rules Committee at its January 20-22 meeting in Indianapolis. All rules changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

The definition of a blindside block established by the committee is “a block against an opponent other than the runner, who does not see the blocker approaching,” and now results in a 15-yard penalty.

The committee stated that the blindside block “involves contact by a blocker against an opponent who, because of physical positioning and focus of concentration, is vulnerable to injury. Unless initiated with open hands, it is a foul for excessive and unnecessary contact when the block is forceful and outside of the free-blocking zone.”

Another significant risk-minimization change was elimination of a pop-up kick in new Rule 6-1-11. A new definition of a pop-up kick in Rule 2-24-10 is defined as “a free kick in which the kicker drives the ball immediately to the ground, the ball strikes the ground once and goes into the air in the manner of a ball kicked directly off the tee.”

The committee implemented this change in an effort to reduce risk of injury due to the increased use of the pop-up kick on onside kickoffs. Such kicks will be penalized as a dead-ball free-kick infraction, as noted with new Rule 6-1-11 PENALTY.

The NFHS Football Rules Committee also expanded Rule 2-32-16 regarding a defenseless player by adding specific examples of a defenseless player. Those examples include, but are not limited to:

a)      A player in the act of or just after throwing a pass;

b)      A receiver attempting to catch a pass who has not had time to clearly become a runner;

c)      The intended receiver of a pass in the action during and immediately following an interception or potential interception;

d)      A runner already in the grasp of a tackler and whose forward progress has been stopped;

e)      A kickoff or punt returner attempting to catch or recover a kick, or one who has completed a catch or recovery and has not had time to protect himself or has not clearly become a ball carrier;

f)       A player on the ground including a ball carrier who has obviously given himself up and is sliding feet-first;

g)      A player obviously out of the play or not in the immediate vicinity of the runner; and

h)      A player who received a blindside block with forceful contact not initiated with open hands.

Changes to Rule 7-1-6 expand on the situations required for encroachment to occur after the ready-for-play and after the snapper has placed his hand(s) on the ball. The rule previously stated that encroachment occurred if “any other player breaks the plane of the neutral zone.” In addition, now defensive players are restricted from contacting the ball prior to the end of the snap or making contact with the snapper’s hand(s) or arm(s) until the snapper has released the ball.

The remaining changes approved by the NFHS Football Rules Committee touched on a new ball specification (1-3-1h), uniforms 1-5-1b(3), game officials 1-5-4, post-scrimmage kick fouls 2-16-2h, penalty time clock management 3-4-7, prosthetic limbs 4-2-2l , and forward-pass interference 7-5-10, in which the previous foul for non-contact face guarding was eliminated as forward-pass interference.

Regarding the uniform change in Rule 1-5-1b(3), effective with the 2021 season, “the jerseys of the home team shall be a dark color that clearly contrasts to white.”

“The committee revised the rule to provide schools and manufacturers more clarification regarding the game’s current trend of utilizing lighter gray shades,” Colgate said. “The requirement for teams to wear contrasting colors to white is not a new rule, and it is the committee’s expectation that this new clarification will allow changes to be made during normal replacement cycles.”

A complete listing of all rules changes will be available soon on the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org. Click on “Activities & Sports” at the top of the home page, and select “Football.”
« Last Edit: February 22, 2017, 07:34:28 PM by Rulesman »
"Gentlemen, we are going to relentlessly chase perfection, knowing full well we will not catch it, because nothing is perfect. But we are going to relentlessly chase it, because in the process we will catch excellence. I am not remotely interested in just being good."
- Vince Lombardi

Offline SouthGARef

  • *
  • Posts: 270
  • FAN REACTION: +10/-16
Re: AND THE NEW RULES ARE......
« Reply #1 on: February 16, 2017, 10:47:24 AM »
What are we thinking is coming though?

Offline Ralph Damren

  • *
  • Posts: 4654
  • FAN REACTION: +864/-28
  • SEE IT-THINK IT-CALL IT
Re: AND THE NEW RULES ARE......
« Reply #2 on: February 16, 2017, 10:59:56 AM »
What are we thinking is coming though?
There are 11 new changes that will be revealed in a NFHS press release. Soon, I would expect.
« Last Edit: February 16, 2017, 11:11:37 AM by Ralph Damren »

Offline VALJ

  • *
  • Posts: 2428
  • FAN REACTION: +90/-14
Re: AND THE NEW RULES ARE......
« Reply #3 on: February 16, 2017, 01:51:39 PM »
11?  Holy cow!

Offline Ralph Damren

  • *
  • Posts: 4654
  • FAN REACTION: +864/-28
  • SEE IT-THINK IT-CALL IT
Re: AND THE NEW RULES ARE......
« Reply #4 on: February 17, 2017, 08:33:42 AM »
11?  Holy cow!

 :!#FOOTBALL HAS 11 PLAYERS...NFHS HAS 11 NEW RULES....THE PLANETS HAVE ALIGINED :!# :!#

Offline Ralph Damren

  • *
  • Posts: 4654
  • FAN REACTION: +864/-28
  • SEE IT-THINK IT-CALL IT
Re: AND THE NEW RULES ARE......
« Reply #5 on: February 22, 2017, 09:04:56 AM »
Just got a "heads-up" from NFHS. Press release with new rules will be available shortly. Rulesman will assist in posting them here.

MAY THE.....

 :sTiR: :sTiR: :sTiR: :sTiR: :sTiR: :sTiR: :sTiR:

.BEGIN tiphat:

Offline Rich

  • *
  • Posts: 65
  • FAN REACTION: +6/-5
Re: AND THE NEW RULES ARE......
« Reply #6 on: February 22, 2017, 09:28:20 AM »
Already on our state's webpage and the NFHS site.  I'll let the boss here post on the appropriate thread.

Ralph, can you comment on the penalty time clock management item in 3-4-7?  What does that refer to?
« Last Edit: February 22, 2017, 09:37:23 AM by Rich »

ALStripes17

  • Guest
AND THE NEW RULES ARE......
« Reply #7 on: February 22, 2017, 09:40:51 AM »
Disallowing of pop up kicks? .... Why not follow NCAA suit and allow receiving team to fair catch those kicks?
That's gonna be fun to officiate in crucial moments...

Offline Ralph Damren

  • *
  • Posts: 4654
  • FAN REACTION: +864/-28
  • SEE IT-THINK IT-CALL IT
Re: AND THE NEW RULES ARE......
« Reply #8 on: February 22, 2017, 09:50:38 AM »
In a nutshell, the changes mentioned but not explained are :

 1-3-1h : NFHS, state and school logos are not considered ads on a football.

 1-5-1b(3) : Requires home team uniforms be dark. Laundry list of non-white colors not
                 considered dark will be provided (silver, gray, yellow,etc).

 1-5-4 : If ump is taking a dump, another official can go with R to greet coach.

 2-16-2h : IP /IS that occurs during play (kid's hat coming off) qualifies for PSK.

 3-4-7 : Offended team can choose to start clock on snap on accepted penalty
           during last 2 minutes of either half.

 4-2-2l : If prosthetic limb comes off runner, ball's dead (yes, it happen in Ohio).

 7-1-6 : B touching snap/snapper's hands before snap completed = encroachment.

 7-5-10 : face guarding is no longer a PI foul.

   :sTiR: :sTiR: :sTiR: :sTiR: :sTiR:
 
« Last Edit: February 22, 2017, 12:57:17 PM by Ralph Damren »

Offline Rich

  • *
  • Posts: 65
  • FAN REACTION: +6/-5
Re: AND THE NEW RULES ARE......
« Reply #9 on: February 22, 2017, 10:07:12 AM »
3-4-7 supersedes the status of the ball on the play?

So if A holds on an incomplete pass and the penalty is accepted, B can choose to run the clock on the RFP?

That's actually a big change.  Maybe in 2018 we can start the clock on the RFP on runs that go out of bounds, too. :)

Offline Patrick E.

  • *
  • Posts: 150
  • FAN REACTION: +6/-3
Re: AND THE NEW RULES ARE......
« Reply #10 on: February 22, 2017, 10:08:29 AM »
 1-5-1b(3) : Requires HOME team uniforms be dark.

Offline sir55

  • *
  • Posts: 205
  • FAN REACTION: +12/-5
Re: AND THE NEW RULES ARE......
« Reply #11 on: February 22, 2017, 11:28:46 AM »
Blind side blocks are now a 15 yard penalty unless they start with open hands. The new rule defines it as well as a new list of defenseless players. This is on the NFHS website.

Offline sir55

  • *
  • Posts: 205
  • FAN REACTION: +12/-5
Re: AND THE NEW RULES ARE......
« Reply #12 on: February 22, 2017, 11:31:45 AM »
Defenseless player definitions:
The NFHS Football Rules Committee also expanded Rule 2-32-16 regarding a defenseless player by adding specific examples of a defenseless player. Those examples include, but are not limited to:

a)      A player in the act of or just after throwing a pass;

b)      A receiver attempting to catch a pass who has not had time to clearly become a runner;

c)      The intended receiver of a pass in the action during and immediately following an interception or potential interception;

d)      A runner already in the grasp of a tackler and whose forward progress has been stopped;

e)      A kickoff or punt returner attempting to catch or recover a kick, or one who has completed a catch or recovery and has not had time to protect himself or has not clearly become a ball carrier;

f)       A player on the ground including a ball carrier who has obviously given himself up and is sliding feet-first;

g)      A player obviously out of the play or not in the immediate vicinity of the runner; and

h)      A player who received a blindside block with forceful contact not initiated with open hands.

Offline Ralph Damren

  • *
  • Posts: 4654
  • FAN REACTION: +864/-28
  • SEE IT-THINK IT-CALL IT
Re: AND THE NEW RULES ARE......
« Reply #13 on: February 22, 2017, 11:41:19 AM »
Disallowing of pop up kicks? .... Why not follow NCAA suit and allow receiving team to fair catch those kicks?
That's gonna be fun to officiate in crucial moments...
The NCAA rule was on the docket last year and failed. The general feeling is that coaches would no longer teach that technique and it wouldn't occur. The official(s) on K's line would make the call = blow & throw -dead ball foul.

Offline Ralph Damren

  • *
  • Posts: 4654
  • FAN REACTION: +864/-28
  • SEE IT-THINK IT-CALL IT
Re: AND THE NEW RULES ARE......
« Reply #14 on: February 22, 2017, 11:45:39 AM »
1-5-1b(3) : Requires HOME team uniforms be dark.
Thanks, Patrick, I've corrected that. Being left-handed, I sometimes get things bass-ackwards :)!
« Last Edit: February 22, 2017, 12:40:14 PM by Ralph Damren »

Offline bama_stripes

  • *
  • Posts: 2936
  • FAN REACTION: +115/-27
Re: AND THE NEW RULES ARE......
« Reply #15 on: February 22, 2017, 02:01:27 PM »
Hard to believe that the committee was worried about how to handle a prosthetic limb, but STILL didn't define whether an airborne player is inbounds or out of bounds.    hEaDbAnG

Offline KWH

  • *
  • Posts: 721
  • FAN REACTION: +633/-113
  • See it, Think about it, Pass on it if possible!
Re: AND THE NEW RULES ARE......
« Reply #16 on: February 22, 2017, 02:54:40 PM »
Disallowing of pop up kicks? ....
Yes - Keep it simple!

Why not follow NCAA suit and allow receiving team to fair catch those kicks?
NCAA games are typically officiated by 7 (or 8) officials.  NCAA Onside kick situations have 6 (or 7) in the box and sometimes, they only get it right when they review the replay. With most high school games having 3 or 4 in the box and no option for replay,  it makes sense to keep just it simple and safer by making the pop-up kick illegal! Just like "softening up the long snapper" you will not ever see a "pop-up kick" two years from now!

That's gonna be fun to officiate in crucial moments...
Actually Al it will be quite simple since, by rule,  the ball NEVER becomes live.
« Last Edit: February 25, 2017, 01:10:20 PM by KWH »
SEE everything that you CALL, but; Don't CALL everything you SEE!
Never let the Rules Book get in the way of a great ball game!

Respectfully Submitted;
Some guy on a message forum

Offline FLAHL

  • *
  • Posts: 900
  • FAN REACTION: +52/-9
Re: 2017 NFHS Football Rule Changes (Release Date Feb 22, 2017)
« Reply #17 on: February 22, 2017, 10:24:45 PM »
If a player in the act of throwing a pass is a defenseless player, do we now have a foul if the QB is hit just as (or just after) he throws a pass?

ALStripes17

  • Guest
Re: AND THE NEW RULES ARE......
« Reply #18 on: February 23, 2017, 06:12:11 AM »
Yes - Keep it simple!
NCAA games are not officiated by 7 (or 8) officials.  NCAA Onside kick situations have 6 (or 7) in the box and they sometime only get it right when they review the replay. With most high school games having 3 or 4 in the box and no option for replay,  it makes sense to keep just it simple and safer by making the pop-up kick illegal! Just like "softening up the long snapper" you will not ever see a "pop-up kick" two years from now!
Actually Al it will be quite simple since, by rule,  the ball NEVER becomes live.
The point was that footballs aren't necessarily a sphere. Weird bounces happen and even one kicked sharply parallel to the ground could catch an end and pop-up. I understand their point and where they are getting at. Just tough to see practicality in judging it in some situations.


 That was more so the point I was trying to get across.

Offline Ralph Damren

  • *
  • Posts: 4654
  • FAN REACTION: +864/-28
  • SEE IT-THINK IT-CALL IT
Re: 2017 NFHS Football Rule Changes (Release Date Feb 22, 2017)
« Reply #19 on: February 23, 2017, 06:55:55 AM »
If the kicker kicks a grounder that takes a hop that wouldn't be a foul, just a lousy kick. A pop-up kick is easy to spot as the kicker drills the kick directly into the ground. A pop-up kick needs both practice and talent on the part of the kicker. With it now being illegal, it is assumed that coaches will no longer be teaching the technique.

In discussing safety rules several of us ole' duffers recalled 1996 when we passed today's roughing the snapper rule. Prior to that, many coaches  instructed their nose guards/middle linebackers to go after the center as he snaps as it hopefully will intimidate him and draw a bad snap later. It was reported that some coaches would have a gentleman's agreement prior to the game not to rough each other's snapper. A rule needed to be added and we then added today's rule. The coaches then taught their players to shoot the gap and leave the snapper alone. Since then, I cannot recall ever having a roughing the snapper foul in any of my games. Why ?? - The coaches taught the new rule and the problem was corrected. We feel the same will occur with this.   

Offline Ralph Damren

  • *
  • Posts: 4654
  • FAN REACTION: +864/-28
  • SEE IT-THINK IT-CALL IT
Re: AND THE NEW RULES ARE......
« Reply #20 on: February 23, 2017, 07:04:05 AM »
Hard to believe that the committee was worried about how to handle a prosthetic limb, but STILL didn't define whether an airborne player is inbounds or out of bounds.    hEaDbAnG
I'll try again next year.
« Last Edit: February 27, 2017, 06:52:50 AM by Ralph Damren »

Offline bossman72

  • *
  • Posts: 2116
  • FAN REACTION: +301/-25
Re: 2017 NFHS Football Rule Changes (Release Date Feb 22, 2017)
« Reply #21 on: February 23, 2017, 08:21:52 AM »
If the kicker kicks a grounder that takes a hop that wouldn't be a foul, just a lousy kick. A pop-up kick is easy to spot as the kicker drills the kick directly into the ground. A pop-up kick needs both practice and talent on the part of the kicker. With it now being illegal, it is assumed that coaches will no longer be teaching the technique.

You know it when you see it.  Example:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bb94fXT0pU

Offline SouthGARef

  • *
  • Posts: 270
  • FAN REACTION: +10/-16
Re: AND THE NEW RULES ARE......
« Reply #22 on: February 23, 2017, 08:43:41 AM »
3-4-7 supersedes the status of the ball on the play?

So if A holds on an incomplete pass and the penalty is accepted, B can choose to run the clock on the RFP?

That's actually a big change.  Maybe in 2018 we can start the clock on the RFP on runs that go out of bounds, too. :)

There's no way that's actually the rule, right? Maybe this is a bad assumption, but I would assume that the rule only permits an offended team to start the clock on the snap, but doesn't allow them to supercede the other rules to start on the RFP.

Offline Ralph Damren

  • *
  • Posts: 4654
  • FAN REACTION: +864/-28
  • SEE IT-THINK IT-CALL IT
Re: AND THE NEW RULES ARE......
« Reply #23 on: February 23, 2017, 10:21:44 AM »
There's no way that's actually the rule, right? Maybe this is a bad assumption, but I would assume that the rule only permits an offended team to start the clock on the snap, but doesn't allow them to supercede the other rules to start on the RFP.
You're correct. I wasn't correct when I originally posted. I have since corrected my post. Don't blame Rich, as correctly read my incorrect post.

Offline bama_stripes

  • *
  • Posts: 2936
  • FAN REACTION: +115/-27
Re: AND THE NEW RULES ARE......
« Reply #24 on: February 23, 2017, 10:55:12 AM »
I made another tactical error by including in the rationale :
"...This is the NCAA rule."

Your rationale should have been: "The FED basketball rule is....."