Mike Pasenelli CACPFO Rules Interpreter Revised 21 February 2011

 My Style  Our Mission  Background  Rule 1 Highlights 2

 I brief as if this was a DoD briefing  My briefing faults: I talk too fast When I ask “Are there any questions” and no one says anything, I believe you 3

 Go over the codes  Introduce you to the Rule Book and Case Book  Go over the key parts of Rule 1 4

 NFL, the pros  NCAA, college  NFHS, Federation, High School 48 States Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Director, Brad Cashman, is on the Football Rules Committee, as shown in the front of the book 5

 10 Rules  Rule 1 starts on page 11  Rule, section, article (abbreviated as art.)  So, rule 1, section 5, begins on page 17  Rule 1, section 5, article 6, is on page 22  It tells us that each player shall properly wear the mandatory equipment while the ball is live  It’s way too hard to say “rule 1, section 5, article 6”, so officials use a shorthand version: 

 Top of page 22 tells us that the page starts with 1- 5  Top of page 23 tell us that the page starts with 1-6  Notice the portions shaded in gray on both pages  That indicates that the rule has been changed in the year the rule book was written 7

 Case book, page 2, Case Book Format  Rule book references are shown by a dash, case book references are shown by a decimal (dot)  is a rule reference  is a case book reference  The case book is linked to the rule book, so 1.5.6, on page 12, is a case related to rule  Above is case *1.5.3D, which has an asterisk: That means the case is has been revised or is completely new for

 A is the team that puts the ball in play (implies a non-kicking down)  B refers to the opponent of Team A  K is the team which kicks the ball during the down  R refers to the opponent of team K  Team designations remain until the ball is next declared ready for play  Offense is the team in possession of the ball, but that is not always team A 9

 Quarterback A1 receives the snap He is a member of team A His team is on offense  Quarterback A1 throws a forward pass that is intercepted by linebacker B1 B1 now has possession of the ball, and his team is on offense His teammates are B2 through B11 10

 K1 punts the ball Receiver R1 makes a catch and begins to run R is on offense as soon as he makes the catch The ball is now in team possession of R R1 fumbles and an opponent, K2, recovers K2 is now on offense  Summary: Designation of A, B, K & R never changes during the down Designation of offense can change several times during the down 11

 Front of the book highlights some of the new rules  Back of the book: page 80: Fundamentals A series of statements that are always true  Page 82: Points of Emphasis  Page 89: Comments on new rules  Page 91: Resolving Tied Games  Page 93: 9, 8 and 6 player football rules  Page 96: Signal Chart  Page 98: Penalty Summary 12

 These are highlights only, and are designed to cover the major topics  The title of rule 1 tells you what the rule covers The game The field Players Equipment 13

 1-1-2: While the ball is live, there is an interval called a down that is in progress 14 DEAD BALL READY FOR PLAY SNAP OR FREE KICK LIVE BALL END OF DOWN DEAD BALL

 1-1-3: A team must begin the game with 11 players, but it may continue with fewer  1-1-4: The game is administered by game officials whose title and duties are stated in the official’s manual: Referee (aka crew chief, white hat) Umpire 15

 (the elastic clause): The referee has the authority to rule promptly, in the spirit of good sportsmanship, on any situation not specifically covered in the rules Does not mean the referee can change rules Example is found in  1-1-7: Game officials shall assume authority 30 minutes prior to the scheduled game time or as soon as they are able to be present 16

 1-1-8: Officials’ jurisdiction extends through the referee’s declaration of the end of the fourth period or overtime  1-1-9: No replays  : A forfeit decision is final  : There is no protest of a rule that is recognized by the Federation 17

 Open the rule book to the Table of Contents on page 7  Turn the page  We are only going to talk about the 11 player field diagram 18

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21  1-2-1: Sidelines  1-2-1: Goal lines  1-2-1: Field of play  1-2-1: End lines  1-2-3b: Yard lines  1-2-3b Note 1: Yard line extensions  1-2-3d: Restraining line  1-2-3e: Hash marks  e Note 2: We can use college or pro fields  1-2-3f: 9 yard marks, or tops of the numbers  1-2-3g: Team boxes  1-2-3g: Coaches’ box  1-2-3g: Team boxes can be on the same sideline  1-2-3k: 3 yard mark

 4 inches square  18 inches high  Orange, red or yellow  Not a safety hazard  Intersection of the sidelines with the goal lines and end lines, plus the intersection of the hash marks extended  Out of bounds at the intersection of the sideline and goal line extended 22

 Think of it as a sheet of glass that goes up forever  The bottom rests on the crossbar, and the edges are inside of the uprights  The top of the crossbar is 10 feet from the ground  The crossbar is 23 feet 4 inches long  Each upright is 23 feet, 4 inches from each other  Uprights are a maximum of 4 inches wide, and a minimum of 10 feet above the crossbar  Goal posts must be padded  Uprights and crossbars must be free of decorative material, except paint. Recommended silver, white or yellow.  Can have a wind streamer, 4” x 42”, red, orange or yellow 23

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 Tan colored cover  One set of laces, 8 or 12 evenly spaced, not closer than 3¾ inches from each end  A 1 inch white or yellow stripe on the 2 panels next to the laces  Weighs between 14 and 15 ounces  Air pressure between 12.5 and 13.5 psi  Has an NFHS stamp  Each team must bring a ball  If a touchdown occurs after a COP, the team scoring can use their ball for the try 25

 Tee (1-3-4): Pliable material, which elevates the lowest part of the ball no more than 2” off the ground  Chains (1-3-5): Operated 2 yards outside the sideline on the side opposite the press box  Clock (1-3-6): There will be a “game clock” 26

 1-4-1: Captains communicate with officials  Captain’s first choice of any offered decision is final, except for  6-5-4: After a fair catch or awarded fair catch, the captain can choose To snap or free kick, anywhere between the inbounds line If a dead ball foul occurs, or a foul occurs during the down, or an inadvertent whistle sounds and the down is replayed, the captain has all of those same choices 27

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 Mandatory  Optional  Illegal Is actually illegal/optional 29

 1-5-1a: Helmet and face mask plus at least a 4 point chin strap Helmet must have a warning label showing it meets the NOCSAE standards  1-5-1b: Jersey with numbers  1-5-1c: Pads and protective equipment: Hip pads and tail bone protector Knee pads Thigh guards 30

 Pants  Shoes with cleats not more than ½” long  Shoulder pads, fully covered by jersey  Tooth and mouth protector, must not be completely white or completely clear 31

 a. State authorized artificial limb  b. Forearm pads*  c. Gloves with a stamp*, unless made of unaltered plain cloth  c. Hand pads*  d. Tape, bandage or support wrap on the hand or forearm  *Can be anchored with tape 32

 Transverse stripes below the elbow  Slippery or sticky substance  Adornments except for: A towel that is:  White  Minimum: 4” x 12”  Maximum: 18” x 36” A sweatband that is  Worn on the wrist no more than 3” toward the elbow  Tear away jerseys or knots in a jersey 33

 Casts on the hand, wrist, forearm or elbow, unless: Covered with a minimum of ½” thick foam; and  Knee and ankle braces that are altered  Knee braces that are worn over the pants  Rib/back pads unless they are fully covered by a jersey  Pads without rounded radii  Shin guards that are not NOCSAE certified 34

 An eye shield is legal if it is: Constructed of a molded, rigid material It is clear without any tint  Metal projections are illegal  Ball colored helmets, jerseys, patches, pads or glove are illegal  Jerseys, undershirts or arm covers/pad manufactured to enhance contact with the football or the opponent  Jewelry is illegal, but, Religious medals and medical alert medals are not considered jewelry Religious medals must be taped and worn underneath the uniform A medical alert medal must be taped and may visible  Communications equipment, except: Coaches headphones are OK Players can use headphones only during authorized sideline conferences 35

 Prior to the game, the Head Coach must verify that all players are legally equipped and in compliance with the rules  Any questions regarding legality of a player’s equipment will be resolved by the umpire 36

 Players must be legally equipped to participate, and an official’s time out will be called to permit prompt repair of equipment which became illegal or defective through use  1-5-6: Each player shall properly wear all mandatory equipment while the ball is live 37

 What’s at the bottom of 1-5?  The standard penalty section: PENALTY: Name of the foul, and which articles it pertains to The signal for that foul The penalty prescribed for that foul  A foul is the infraction, a penalty is the result imposed for a foul 38

 Coaches can wear headsets  Players may use headsets only during authorized sideline conferences 39

 A series of rules that states can adopt, or not  Note: if a state changes a rule, other than state adoptions, they forfeit their right to be on the rules committee of the NFHS 40

 #3 Mandate a specific ball for postseason competition  #4 Authorized the use of supplementary equipment to aid in game administration (microphones, 25 second clocks )  #9 Adopt a procedure to resolve tied games (the NFHS overtime procedures found on page 91, without exception) 41

 #10 Establish a point differential to establish a running clock—the “Mercy Rule”—a running clock in the 2 nd half if there is a 35 point differential  #12 Adopt 10 minute periods for 9 th grade games 42

 The field is 160’ wide and it is divided into thirds  The goal posts are 23’4” apart  The uprights are at least 10’ high  Only the goal lines and end lines touch the sidelines 43

 Go over the codes  Introduce you to the Rule Book and Case Book  Go over the key parts of Rule 1 44