State meeting notes/observations:
Overall I though the new format was a BIG improvement, really enjoyed Mike Defee and Mike Pereira, and the short wing position breakout was excellent.
For those that didn't attend, here's some info/changes that were shared... let me know if I got something incorrect.
TASO Football membership is up 5% from last year. Current membership is 11% new members (one year or less)
Overall retention is 82.4%
2023 new member retention: 46.1%
Three-year member retention: 33.5%
average exam score: 90.9
Highest exam score average: Austin, 92.9
Average member age: 48
Youngest chapter: Rio Grande, San Angelo - average age of 42.5
Average age of new members: 36.2
New Scratch Policy:
'Deemed Accepted' now has a formal definition
1) All scratches must be completed using the UIL online scratch form.
2) After a school has accepted an official, as outlined in (g) above, in order to scratch the official prior to a contest, the scratch must be submitted with written approval by the superintendent, prinicpal, or athletic director. If the head coach is also the athletic director, then the written approval must come from the principal, superintendent, or the superintendent's designee.
The scratch notification must state one of the following reasons:
a) Conflict of interest (must clearly state the conflict)
b) Lack of rules knowledge (documented examples including video preferred)
c) Lack of proper judgement knowledge (documented examples including video preferred)
d) Failure to exemplify professional behavior or attitude knowledge (documented examples including video preferred)
7) Middle school and tournaments: Scratches are only allowed in middle school games if approved in writing by the District Director of Athletics.
(j) Cancellations
1. Weather-related cancellations
a. Chapter not notified <2 hours: travel paid
b. Officials arrive at game site prior to cancellation: travel + game fee
c. Multiple games scheduled, and officials arrive at site prior to cancellation: travel + game fee for first game
d. multiple games scheduled, and cancellation occurs after scheduled start of subsequent games: travel and all game fees
2. Non-weather related cancellations
a. Cancelled <24 hours: game fee (unless emergency beyond school control)
b. multiple games scheduled: first game fee
c. If officials are assigned a substitute game: no pay for cancelled game
Texas Way: 28.9% of officials completed the training. Undisclosed what percentage of coaches completed it (or I didn't catch it, if it was verbalized)
Annual recommitment video coming soon, should take less than 10 minutes
Chapters should not require member participation
Overall ejections down 13% from previous year
Player ejections down 12%
Spectator ejections down 66%
Coach ejections UP 44%
SB 2929 - removed an existing loophole for ejecting fans (previously had to give a warning first)
YOU CANNOT REVERSE AN EJECTION.
There is now a formalized process/flowchart detailing steps taken if a coach/school wants to appeal the ejection
ONLY the UIL can rescind an ejection
Guardian Caps:
Approved in TAPPS game with TAPPS medical waiver approval form
Allowed in UIL games with no waiver required
In both, must match color of rest of team's helmets
Eyeshields: TBD if any non-clear ones are approved
Wearable Technology:
(1-4-11-b)
UIL Exception 23 - Coach-to-player communication through one-way wearable wearable technology is now permitted.
No limit on how many players have it
No cutoff on data flow
Must be one-way only, coach to player
Signals from press box only, not sideline
Helmet communications not allowed
WE DO NOT ENFORCE THIS - incident report only
Two minute timeout
(3-3-5-a&b)
Varsity games only
a) When clock is running and the ball is not live: crew stops clock with exactly two minutes remaining in the second and fourth quarters for a two-minute timeout.
a) If ball is live when game clock reaches two minutes in the second and fourth quarters, play continues, and the R or covering official stops the clock when the ball is declared dead for a two-minute timeout.
b) If there is no media timeout partner in the game, the timeout shall be one minute plus the five-second referee notification and the 25-second play clock interval.
UIL Exception #39: If both teams indicate a readiness to resume play before the expiration of one minute, the referee will declare the ball ready for play.
Crew meeting: Quickly get together and discuss timing adjustments and unique rules that now apply, then get back to normal TO positions
TASO preparing reminder cards you can download/print
All 10-second runoffs and clock restarting adjustments that used to apply inside the last minute of our game, now apply after the two-minute timeout, just as in NCAA. These have to occur on plays where the ball was snapped after the two-minute timeout.
Clock adjustments after the two-minute timeout:
These apply in subvarsity and varsity even though no two-minute timeout in subvarsity.
Previously (in TXHS games): Some adjustments that applied inside the last minute of a half and some that applied inside the last two minutes.... Now, all apply after the two-minute timeout
10 Second Runoff Summary
a) Injury TO (3-3-6-f) (NEW EXCEPTION)
b) helmet comes off timeout (3-3-10-b)
c) Foul (3-4-4)
d) Instant replay (12-3-6-c) (NOT IN OUR GAME EXCEPT AFTER CHAMPIONSHIPS)
Disconcerting Signals
(7-1-5-a-4,5)
'The terms 'move' and 'stem' are reserved for defensive cadence and may not be used by the offense. The offense may use a 'clap' as a starting signal and this signal may not be used by the defense.
CLARIFICATION:
Defenses are not restricted to using only MOVE and STEM. They can use other words. But offenses cannot use MOVE or STEM.
Offenses do not have to clap. But defenses cannot clap.
Targeting:
TASO asked UIL to refine language around targeting rule, since flagrant/and nonflagrant have very specific definitions in the rulebook that do not align with UIL rule, they declined to do so)
Revised definitions for flagrant and non-flagrant, will more closely align with rulebook definitions
Targeting (UIL/TAPPS)
If calling official and crew deem targeting to be flagrant: DQ and yardage
If calling official and crew deem targeting to be nonflagrant: Yardage only on 1st, yardage and DQ on 2nd
Flagrant (2-10-3): illegal contact so extreme or deliberate that it places opponent in danger of catastrophic injury
***Non longer use non-flagrant just because no crew agreement***
Targeting Considerations
Late hits, RTP, UNR, BSB - think flagrant initially
Lining up a hit/carrying a brick - think flagrant initially
Non-flagrant fouls:
Illegal physical contact that meets the definition of a personal foul (targeting is one example)
No DQ unless it's player's 2nd targeting of the game
Targeting Crew Discussion:
Flagging official(s) meet with any official who had another view of play and discuss
Flagging official(s) initially state flagrant or nonflagrant AND 9-1-3 or 9-1-4 type
Other officials can provide input, and flagging official(s) can change their call or not
If disagreement among crew, then R steps in and after hearing crew views, makes final decision
Mechanics Manuals - all updated
notable:
TWO foul markers (
)
Texas Way Pin now authorized to wear on lapel
If you received Battlefields to Ballfield uniform scholarship, you may wear the US VETERAN patch on back left of officiating hat (I cannot believe they did not extend this to ALL vets, that is shameful)
Ball position information now added to manuals
Clarifies mock toss mechanics
Targeting philosophy: Officials must determine if it is flagrant/nonflagrant
Strike old language ('When there is no question there is a foul for targeting, it shall be deemed flagrant')
Swinging Gate formation addressed in manuals now
Two minute TO info (see above)
O2O - systems no longer require TASO approval
New section will address verbal and non-verbal communication as well as proper use of O2O within the crew
Foul codes added to all manuals
Pregame meeting with coaches added
Good sportsmanship reports added
Crew of 7 - section on mechanics for crew of 6 - for emergency use only
Crew of 5 - H and L change sides after halftime
Manuals now available in two formats - PDF and e-book/kindle
2025 NCAA Points of Emphasis:
1. Protection of Defenseless Players/Targeting
2. Concussions
3. Pre-Snap Actions for Offense & Defense/Disconcerting Signals/Offensive Alignment
4. Feigning an injury (not applicable to UIL)
5. Unsportsmanlike Conduct/Taunting
6. Sideline control
7. Illegal contact against the QB/Passer
8. Manage pace of play, substitutions, and length of game
I have thoughts/questions around the targeting rule change... I need to go back and watch some TGT video and then determine how to apply new rule, it will be a different thought process... TASO seesm to want flagrant by default?
