2015 NCAA Rule Changes

[TXMike]

Forget about the change to ineligibles downfield...

NCAA FOOTBALL RULES COMMITTEE
2015 Rules Changes--FINAL

The Playing Rules Oversight Panel (PROP) has approved rules changes for 2015.   Here are the changes as they will appear in the 2015 NCAA football rulebook.

1.  Illegal Equipment: Overbuilt Facemask (Rule 1-4-7)
Add new paragraph l:
l.  Non-standard overbuilt facemask.

2. Illegal Equipment: Player Must Leave the Game (Rule 1-4-8)
Replace the current paragraphs b and c by the following:
b.  If an official discovers illegal equipment, the player must leave the game for at least one down and is not allowed to return until the equipment is made legal.  The player may be allowed to return without missing a down if the team takes a charged team timeout, but in any event he may not play with illegal equipment.

c.  If equipment becomes illegal through play, the player is not required to leave the game for one down, but he may not participate until the equipment is made legal.

3. Pre-Game Warm-ups (Rule 3-1-1)
Add new paragraph a; re-number subsequent paragraphs.
a.  Prior to regular season games, teams may have access to the field for pregame warm-ups until at least 22 minutes before the opening kickoff.  This may be altered in advance through written mutual agreement of the teams.   Game management personnel are responsible for administering this rule.   

4. Play Clock:  Reset When Ball Is Not Ready For Play (Rule 3-2-4)
The first sentence of paragraph b-3 becomes:
b-3. In the event that the 40-second play clock is running and reads 25 before the ball is ready to be snapped, the referee shall declare a timeout and signal that the play clock be set at 25 seconds. (The remainder of the paragraph is not changed.)

5. Play Clock: Helmet Comes Off Defensive Player (Rules 3-2-4 and 3-3-9)
a.  In Rule 3-2-4-c-13, delete   Exception: If there is an option for a 10-second subtraction in either half, the play clock is set at 25 seconds for any player.
b.  In Rule 3-3-9-b-2, delete second sentence:  The play clock will be set at 25 seconds.



6.  Unsportsmanlike Conduct for Pushing/Pulling an Opponent off the Pile (Rule 9-2-1)
Add new sub-paragraph (k) to Rule 9-2-1-a-1:
(k) After the ball is dead, using forcible contact to push or pull an opponent off the pile.

7.  Game Administration Interference (Rule 9-2-5)
Modify penalty statement, as follows:
PENALTY—Administer as a dead-ball foul.
First infraction:  Warning for sideline interference.  No yardage penalty. [S15]
Second and third infractions: Delay of game for sideline interference; five yards from the succeeding spot. [S21 and S29]
Fourth and subsequent infractions:  Team unsportsmanlike conduct for sideline interference; 15 yards from the succeeding spot.  Automatic first down for fouls by Team B if not in conflict with other rules [S27 and S29]

8.  Number of Officials: Allow up to eight (Rule 11-2-1)
Rewrite Article 1 to read:
ARTICLE 1.  The game shall be played under the supervision of five, six, seven or eight officials.

9.  Instant Replay: Blocking by Team A during on-side kick (Rule 12-3-4)
Add new paragraph e.
e.  Blocking by Team A players before they are eligible to touch the ball on an on-side kick.

[hefnerjm]

e.  Blocking by Team A players before they are eligible to touch the ball on an on-side kick

(Preface: I am admittedly still new to NCAA rulebook) - How would you handle an on-side kick where the ball is kicked, and R moves beyond the R restraining line and there is engagement between R and K?  Is this determined by who initiates the contact?  what if mutually engaging in contact between the restraining lines?

I know this particular rule change is relative to instant reply: What would be a scenario where review would come into play for this?

[Kalle]

e.  Blocking by Team A players before they are eligible to touch the ball on an on-side kick

(Preface: I am admittedly still new to NCAA rulebook) - How would you handle an on-side kick where the ball is kicked, and R moves beyond the R restraining line and there is engagement between R and K?  Is this determined by who initiates the contact?  what if mutually engaging in contact between the restraining lines?

I know this particular rule change is relative to instant reply: What would be a scenario where review would come into play for this?

I think you can use the same guidelines as when determining OPI for blocking downfield. If the team B player voluntarily participates in the block, then it is legal.

As to review, simply a team A player blocking in advance of the ball before the ball crosses the team B restraining line with another team A player catching/recovering the ball after it crosses.

[dvasques]

Not on the CFO site yet
Or am I missing it?

[Joe Stack]

Forget about the change to ineligibles downfield...

Thank goodness. That was a good rule change several years ago. I don't know why in the world they would want to go back. I say change it further -- its only a foul if the lineman is actively engaging in a block downfield when the ball that crosses the line is thrown.

[TXMike]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2015/03/06/football-rules-committee-linemen-downfield-change/24503521/

Incredible!   The lack of participation by the coaches in this process is inexcusable. 

[Magician]

Thank goodness. That was a good rule change several years ago. I don't know why in the world they would want to go back. I say change it further -- its only a foul if the lineman is actively engaging in a block downfield when the ball that crosses the line is thrown.

It's not just blocking that causes a problem. Being downfield is telling the defense they are either running the ball or throwing a screen pass behind the LOS. Just like we read and react to plays, the defense does the same. I learned this when talking to a coaching friend of mine when talking about missing an ineligible downfield call against his guy. I told him the ball was thrown beyond the lineman anyway, and he explained why that shouldn't matter.

[Morningrise]

3. Pre-Game Warm-ups (Rule 3-1-1)
Add new paragraph a; re-number subsequent paragraphs.
a.  Prior to regular season games, teams may have access to the field for pregame warm-ups until at least 22 minutes before the opening kickoff.  This may be altered in advance through written mutual agreement of the teams.   Game management personnel are responsible for administering this rule.

What is the effect of this rule? Was there an issue in the past that this rule is resolving? And does this affect the officials' onfield pregame routine?

[bossman72]

What is the effect of this rule? Was there an issue in the past that this rule is resolving? And does this affect the officials' onfield pregame routine?

My guess is that when the clock hits 22:00, you need to be off the field so that pregame festivities can commence.

[hefnerjm]

"Until at least 22 mins..."

I would read it as saying, teams must be allowed access to the field at minimum to that point, but that it does not necessarily force teams off at the 22 min mark.  In the event where there are no pre-game activities (senior day, etc), then teams would be given some flexibility. 

Thoughts?

[Rulesman]

Agree. I believe what they are saying is pre-game "festivities" don't start prior to 22:00.

[TXMike]

I suspect what has happened is that at some places the visitors were told they needed to be off the field by 30 or more minutes before kickoff so the home school could do all the sorts of things they do to keep alumni happy, to honor people. to showcase other on-campus organizations etc.  Some coaches probably thought that would have their guys in the locker room too long.  At that point the teams are often a lot like caged animals and have way too much energy flowing to be hanging out in the locker room for an extended period.  This change will guarantee they have only that pre-defined period of time before they can come out of the chute.

[Joe Stack]

Not to mention the fact that often, the visitor's locker room is a dungeon, the size of a kindergarten classroom.