2019 & 2020 NIRSA Flag and Touch Football Rules & Mechanics Changes Presenters: Nicole Green, University of Michigan Editorial Board Chair Nick Brigati, Penn State University Rules Editor Jason Gant, Farmingdale State College Officials Manual Editor

Agenda: Editorial Board Dedication Rules Changes Mechanics Changes Experimentation Question & Answer Roundtable Discussion (optional)

1: Editorial Board

Editorial Board 2017-2019 Members Nicole Green, Chair Nick Brigati, Rules Editor Jason Gant, Officials Manual Editor Jeff Feldhaus David Parker Dan Renfro Joe Wise Ben Strunk Mary Kate Crawford Dan Wrenholt Jarrode Davis Joshua Saunders

Editorial Board Application Process NIRSA Website 2 or 4 year term NIRSA Leadership Recruitment Cycle 6 open positions; new members May 1st, 2019 NIRSA Website 19th Edition Publication Available June 1st, 2019 from Human Kinetics Goals of this version include gender inclusive language whenever possible Male / Female - sex assigned at birth; removed Man / Woman - gender identity; applicable for Co-Rec Games His / Her - They

2: Dedication

James Leonard

3: Rules Changes

1-1-2 & 1-1-3 Article titles changed to “The Game” and “The Co-Rec Game” Penalty for illegal participation removed from these articles.

2-12 - Hurdling Hurdling is an attempt by a player to jump (hurdle) with 1 or both feet or knees over an opponent who is contacting the ground with no part of their body except 1 or both feet. Changed to match NFHS language.

2-24-9, 7-6-4, & 7-6-5 - Forward Fumble/Backward Pass A fumble or backward pass which strikes the ground or goes out of bounds between the goal lines in advance of the spot where possession was lost will be returned to the spot of the fumble/backward pass. This is also the end of the run spot for penalty enforcement.

3-6 - Illegally Conserving or Consuming Time When a penalty is accepted with less than 2 minutes remaining in either half, the offended team will have the option to start the game clock on the snap. Option only applies if the clock would have otherwise started on the RFP. Matches NFHS language.

3-6 - Illegally Conserving or Consuming Time The Referee may also reset the clock to the time of the previous snap, and start the clock on the snap, should the kicking team delay in kicking the ball in the manner described in 6-1-4. Penalty: Illegally Consuming Time, 5 yards from the previous spot. Relocated existing language into more appropriate location.

8-4, 9-4-1E - Tampering with the Flag Belt This foul has been changed from “Illegally Secured Flag Belt” or “Intentionally Tampering with the Flag Belt” in various places to “Tampering with the Flag Belt” for uniformity.

8-8-1 - Momentum, Safety, & Touchback Momentum exception expanded to include R’s recovery of a punt between its 5 yard line and its goal line. Matches NFHS language.

9-3-1 - Personal Fouls It is a personal foul for a nonplayer to be in the restricted area and cause unintentional contact with an official during a live ball. Matches NFHS language.

10-2-1 & 10-3-12 - Fouls by K During Punts The basic spot may, at the option of the offended team, be the succeeding spot for fouls by K during a punting down (other than kick catch interference or illegally consuming time) when K will not be next to put the ball in play. Exception to All-But-One Enforcement Principle.

7-5-1 - Runner (4 on 4) The foul for an A runner advancing the ball through A’s scrimmage line or for a B player crossing B’s scrimmage line prior to the release of a pass is Illegal Advancement. This penalty is 3 yards from the previous spot.

Case Plays Case plays were overhauled during this cycle. Several existing plays were changed or removed. 30+ new plays have been added to assist in clarification.

4: Mechanics changes

II-4 (Beginning a Period) This section was renamed from what was previously “After the 1st and 3rd periods” The content of this section applies to all periods, halves, etc. and the mechanics should be utilized to start any period

II-6 (Scoring Plays) Inform team captains or coaches of enforcement options if there is a foul by the opponent of the scoring team, or a foul by either team prior to the declaration of the Try. It is standard to get penalty enforcement options from coaches instead of captains

V-1-6d (3-person Back Judge Reverse Mechanics) Maintain responsibility for your sideline Adding this makes it clear that the Back Judge, not the Referee, is responsible for the sideline on a change of possession in 3-person mechanics

VI-1-4 (Line Judge Mechanics on 3rd and 4th down) The Line Judge is now responsible for line- to-gain on plays snapped 3 yards or less from line-to-gain on 3rd/4th down Decreases confusion between Line Judge and Field Judge on who is primarily responsible for covering line-to-gain in short-yardage situations

VI-1-4 (Field Judge Mechanics on 3rd and 4th down) The Field Judge now maintains standard initial position on plays snapped 3 yards or less from line-to-gain on 3rd/4th down Decreases confusion between Line Judge and Field Judge on who is primarily responsible for covering line-to-gain in short-yardage situations

Co-Rec Referee Mechanics V-3-1 (3-person), VI-3-1 (4-person) Referee mechanics used in standard games will now be used in Co-Rec games. The Referee rules on whether the passer is behind or beyond A’s scrimmage line. Creates consistency in play coverage game-to-game. Recent Co-Rec changes lessen importance of line of scrimmage.

Co-Rec Line Judge Mechanics V-3-1 (3-person), VI-3-1 (4-person) Line Judge mechanics used in standard games will now be used in Co-Rec games. The Line Judge no longer “holds the line” and can release downfield Creates consistency in play coverage game-to-game. Recent Co-Rec changes lessen importance of line of scrimmage