2007 Football Points of Emphasis

BLOCKING BY OFFENSE AND DEFENSE: In 1980, the NFHS Football Rules Committee included in its points of emphasis, “The legal and illegal use of hands in football is clearly covered by the rules. Certain limitations are placed upon players in order to keep a delicate balance between offense and defense and to prevent rough play.” The 1985 committee began a point of emphasis by stating: “The basic concept of football is that it is a game of contact resulting from legal blocking and tackling.” Those same concerns and fundamental tenants to the rules remain today and blocking rules are being emphasized again this year by the NFHS Football Rules Committee. The current committee has several concerns relating to blocking including low blocks by the defense on lead blockers; initial contact with hands on low blocks; holding; Chop Blocking and “Cut” Blocking; inconsistent application of the free blocking zone, particularly when the offense is blocking below the waist in shotgun and/or scrimmage kick formations; and protection for the snapper. Each of these represent an area where the committee believes the need to make certain that the points are clearly illustrated and emphasized. Rule 2-14-2:…A scrimmage-kick formation is a formation with at least one player 7 yards or more behind the neutral zone and in position to receive the long snap. No player may be in position to receive a hand-to-hand snap from between the snapper’s legs. Rule 2-17-2:…Blocking below the waist is permitted in the free-blocking zone when the following conditions are met: a. All players involved in the blocking are on the line of scrimmage and in the zone at the snap. b. The contact is in the zone. Rule 9-3-2:… A player shall not block an opponent below the waist except: a. In the free-blocking zone when the contact meets the requirements of Rule 2-17. b. To tackle a runner or player pretending to be a runner.

BLOCKING BY OFFENSE AND DEFENSE: It seems in some areas that officials are simply not enforcing these restrictions, and are not carefully noting who can block, who can be blocked, and where these blocks can occur. This is particularly a noted issue when the free blocking zone disintegrates, such as when a team is in the shotgun formation. When a team has a player receiving the snap more than three yards behind the line, the restrictions on blocking below the waist, blocking in the back and clipping begin the moment that the ball leaves the zone. In most cases, this is on the snap, and therefore the only legal blocks below the waist, blocks in the back or clipping that occur, have to be initiated simultaneously with the snap. Any delay in the block would make it most certainly illegal as the free-blocking zone no longer exists. In addition, officials are not consistently enforcing the rules on players blocking below the waist who are not on the line. Up backs are being allowed to “cut” or otherwise block defenders below the waist when the team has a player in scrimmage kick formation, which clearly is not legal. Only those players on the line and in the free-blocking zone at the time of the snap can block below the waist, and only in the free-blocking zone, and only if the free-blocking zone still exists.

BLOCKING BY OFFENSE AND DEFENSE: SNAPPER PROTECTION: Rules changes in the past few years have emphasized that the officials must protect the snapper, particularly when the team is in a scrimmage kick formation. The snapper must have an opportunity to return to a normal position prior to being contacted, and the umpire, and in some cases, the referee, must ensure the snapper’s safety. Many could consider that the snapper is the most vulnerable player on the field, particularly in a scrimmage kick formation where keeping his head down is so critical toward making sure the snap is executed properly. The officials must protect this most vulnerable of players. Rule 9-4-6:…Roughing the snapper. A defensive player shall not charge directly into the snapper when the offensive team is in a scrimmage-kick formation.

BLOCKING BY OFFENSE AND DEFENSE: Blocking Below The Waist: LOW BLOCKS BY THE DEFENSE: Despite rules to the contrary, it is apparent that officials are allowing the defensive team to simply “cutting” the lead blockers on offense. Rules and restrictions concerning blocking below the waist are clear and do not specify that the prohibitions are solely on the offense. To the contrary, these safety-driven rules mandate consistent enforcement by officials. Properly positioned officials, watching the play from a wider perspective than simply following the football, and properly instructed players taught the right techniques by their respective coaches, will ensure that knee and other injuries are minimized, and that the balance between offense and defense is maintained. Rule 2-3-7:…Blocking below the waist is making initial contact below the waist from the front or side against an opponent other than a runner. Blocking below the waist applies only when the opponent has one or both feet on the ground. High school playing rules are written to ensure the safety of the participants, to maintain the balance between offense and defense, and to promote an enjoyable experience for the participants. Consistent application of the blocking rules will help ensure these goals are met.

HEAT AND HYDRATION: Several times over the past few years, heat and hydration have, understandably, been selected by the NFHS Football Rules Committee as a point of emphasis. This past year we experienced 13 football related deaths at the high school level and five of these were felt to be heat-related, according to statistics from the Annual Survey of Football Injury Research by Fred Mueller, Ph.D. Consequently, this is again a point of emphasis for the 2007 football season. The NFHS, the NFHS Sports Medicine Advisory Committee and the NFHS Football Rules Committee continue to search for methods of education, rules, equipment and process change to minimize, if not, eliminate these heat-related deaths. It is estimated that in hot and humid conditions, an athlete can lose five or more pounds of fluid through sweating in a matter of an hour. Drinking appropriate fluid is important in all sports and even normal activities of daily living. Football players are at higher risk than others exercising in the heat because of the amount of equipment covering the body which decreases the body's ability to cool off by radiating heat from the skin surface. Athletes should be educated regarding the risks associated with heat and dehydration on health and physical performance. Coaches and medical staffs need to work with individual athletes to develop fluid-replacement strategies that optimize hydration status before, during and after exercise. Rule 3-5-7h:…An official’s time-out occurs during a dead ball without a time-out being charged to either team: h. For unusual heat or humidity which may create a health risk to the players.

PLAYER EQUIPMENT AND UNIFORM ADORNMENTS: A greater focus must be made by coaches, players and officials on players having and properly wearing mandatory football equipment as required by NFHS Football Rules. A parallel focus must also be on not allowing players to wear illegal equipment or adornments. Through normal observation, officials should attempt to verify that each player is legally equipped prior to the ball becoming live, and if illegal equipment is detected or required equipment is missing, that player must rectify the problem or leave the game. Prior to the ball becoming live, if the officials are unable to detect the illegal or missing equipment, and the player(s) are observed wearing illegal equipment or participating without the mandatory equipment during the down, a foul must be called. Towels and Sweatbands: One unmarked moisture-absorbing white towel not less than 4 inches wide and 12 inches in length and no greater than 18 inches in width and 36 inches in length and/or one moisture-absorbing sweatband worn on one or both wrists beginning at the base of the thumb and extending no more than 3 inches toward the elbow are the only two uniform adornments that are legal.

SPORTSMANSHIP: When the ball becomes dead in possession of a player, he shall place the ball on the ground or immediately return it to a nearby official. The player shall not act in a way that is delayed, excessive or prolonged in an attempt to focus attention upon himself. Examples of dead-ball unsportsmanlike acts after scoring and certain offensive/defensive plays are, but not limited to: One or more back flips. Jump shooting a football. Dunking or attempting to dunk a football over the crossbar. Interacting with spectators. Bringing attention to one’s self through choreographed movements and displays of symbolic gestures and signs. Standing with crossed arms on chest. Strutting back and forth. Celebrations should be spontaneous and shared with teammates. Coaches must take a visible leadership role in this issue. Since the coaches are the most influential persons in teaching good sportsmanship, one of their fundamental responsibilities is to inspire players to conduct themselves in a manner which best represents the values of high school sports. Coaches must stress respect for opposing players and tolerate no conduct which demeans or embarrasses the opponent. Coaches should instruct their players to “Act like you have been there before.”

Sportsmanship: Rule 9-5-1a:…No player shall act in an unsportsmanlike manner once the officials assume authority for the contest. Examples are, but not limited to: a. Baiting or taunting acts or words or insignia worn which engenders ill will. NOTE: The NFHS disapproves of any form of taunting which is intended or designed to embarrass, ridicule or demean others under any circumstances including on the basis of race, religion, gender or national origin. Rule 9-5-1c:…No player shall act in an unsportsmanlike manner once the officials assume authority for the contest. Examples are, but not limited to: c. Any delayed, excessive or prolonged act by which a player attempts to focus attention upon himself.