In as far as a notion to have an en masse rules amendment request remitted at once from multiple officials & coaches from multiple states: to not overwhelm those rules folks, what would be +/-3 to change?
For me, based on things round these parts:
First:
Change Rule 3-4 to more closely resemble NCAA/NFL for OOB clock stoppages. - in other words, for OOB plays, once the ball is set, run the clock.
Rationale: As HS coaches, in attempt to emulate and/or evolve the HS game to NCAA/NFL games, are employing more and more passing offenses. Unfortunately, coaches are not always realistic in succeeding at this new plan of attack. Primarily, this is due to the lack of having the developed athletes to execute such attack. As one can guess, this results in many incomplete passes which stops the game clock until the following snap.
(not a knock on coaches but we've all seen those who think Oregon is recruiting the next offensive coord)
Furthermore, as HS players emulate NCAA/NFL players, HS players are simply running out of bounds as they near the sideline. While NCAA/NFL re-starts the clock (for the most part) on OOB plays, HS has no such consideration.
This all adds up to HS games, of 48min length, taking the same length of time (3 hours or more) that of NCAA/NFL which are 60min length AND have commercial breaks to boot.
Second:
(personally, I like the FL mercy rule – except for the fact it’s not mandatory prior to the 4th q. Plus some states don’t even have a mercy rule )
A uniform Mercy Rule that is not at the option of a coach for whether or not to invoke, AND once “mercy” status is met it will continue for the remainder of the contest – regardless whether the point differential changes.
