1. Gridiron Officials Camp Rules Changes & Points of Emphasis
June 2016
NFHS | 2016
Rules Changes & Points of Emphasis

2. Gridiron Officials Camp
June 2016
Agenda
Philosophy
Key Expectations
NFHS Rules Changes 2016
NFHS Points of Emphasis 2016
“Whistle to Snap”
Your Questions / Discussion
SSFOA
Fall 2016

3. Our Philosophy Philosophy…
A theory or attitude held by a person or organization that acts as a guiding principle for behavior.
RULES
PHILOSOPHY
MECHANICS
SSFOA
Fall 2016

4. Our Philosophy Safety First! Fair Play!
The rules and penalties for the game of football are intended to prohibit all forms of unnecessary or excessive roughness, unfair tactics and unsportsmanlike conduct; i.e., to keep players safe.
Fair Play!
The primary responsibility for ensuring a safe and fair competition during each football game lies with the football official.
SSFOA
Fall 2016

5. Key Expectation
All instruction, mentoring & observation reports based on WOA Mechanics Illustrated
SSFOA
Fall 2016

6. Rules changes
What’s new for 2016
SSFOA
Fall 2016

7. NFHS Rules Changes ILLEGAL! 1-5-1d(5)a: Tooth / Mouth Protector
Completely clear or completely white tooth and mouth protectors are no longer prohibited
ILLEGAL!
SSFOA
Fall 2016

8. NFHS Rules Changes Mittens are exempt 1-5 NOTE; 1-5-2b: Gloves
Football gloves are now required to meet either the new SFIA specification or the existing NOCSAE test standard at the time of manufacture
National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment
Sports and Fitness Industry Association
Permanent, exact replica; visible; exterior wrist opening
SSFOA
Fall 2016
Mittens are exempt

9. NFHS Rules Changes 2-17; 9-3-6; 9-3 (Penalty): Clipping
Clipping in the free-blocking zone is now illegal
SSFOA
Fall 2016

10. NFHS Rules Changes 2-17; 9-3-6; 9-3 (Penalty): Clipping
It is still legal to clip a player who is a runner or is pretending to be a runner
Clipping, blocking below the waist and blocking in the back are legal methods of bringing down a runner or a player pretending to be a runner
SSFOA
Fall 2016

11. EDITORIAL CHANGES
Clarifying the Text
SSFOA
Fall 2016

12. ILLEGAL! Editorial | Equipment 1-5-1b(1)
Shoulder pads and hard surface auxiliary attachments must be completely covered by a jersey
SSFOA
Fall 2016
ILLEGAL!

13. ILLEGAL! Editorial | Equipment 1-5-1b(1)
Back pads and hard surface auxiliary attachments must be completely covered by a jersey. Jerseys shall be long enough to reach the top of the pants and shall be tucked in if longer
ILLEGAL!
SSFOA
Fall 2016

14. ILLEGAL! Editorial | Equipment 1-5-1b(2)a, (3)a
The front and back of the football jersey may contain the school name, school logo, school nickname or player name (PlayPic A)
Team nicknames such as seen on the jersey in PlayPic B are illegal
ILLEGAL!
SSFOA
Fall 2016

15. Editorial | Down Error 5-1-1b Correcting a down error
The referee shall correct the number of the next down prior to the ball becoming live after a new series of downs is awarded and prior to the declaration of the end of any period
SSFOA
Fall 2016

16. POINTS OF EMPHASIS
What should be our focus in 2016?
SSFOA
Fall 2016

17. Points of Emphasis … (Handout)
Risk Minimization
Legal / Illegal Blocks
Legal Jerseys, Pants, and Pads
Unfair Acts
SSFOA
Fall 2016

18. Points of Emphasis Risk Minimization Concussions Impact Sensors
Proper concussion management at all levels of play
Impact Sensors
Not for diagnosis
Heat Illness
Well-rehearsed Emergency Action Plan
SSFOA
Fall 2016

19. Points of Emphasis Illegal Blocks
“Targeting is an act by any player who takes aim and initiates contact against an opponent above the shoulders with the helmet, forearm, hand, fist, elbow or shoulders”
NFHS
Illegal Blocks
Kick-catching / Forward-pass Interference
Personal Fouls and other prohibited contact
Targeting
Chop blocking
Blocking below the waist / in the back
Clipping…except?
“Chop block is a combination block by two or more teammates against an opponent other than the runner, with or without delay, where one of the blocks is low (at the knee or below) and one of the blocks is high (above the knee)”
NFHS 2-3-8
SSFOA
Fall 2016

20. Points of Emphasis Illegal Blocks
Blocking below the waist / in the back
“Blocking in the back is a block against an opponent when the initial contact is in the opponent’s back, inside the shoulders and below the helmet and above the waist, and not against a player who is a runner or pretending to be a runner.” NFHS 2-5-2
SSFOA
Fall 2016

21. Points of Emphasis Illegal Blocks Clipping
“Clipping is a block against an opponent when the initial contact is from behind, at or below the waist, and not against a player who is a runner or pretending to be a runner.” NFHS 2-5-1
SSFOA
Fall 2016

22. Points of Emphasis Illegal Blocks Chop Blocks
Illegal blocks such as chop blocks (PlayPic A) are not to be taught and must be penalized
Legal techniques such as low-low combination blocks in the free-blocking zone (PlayPic B) are effective and minimize risk
SSFOA
Fall 2016

23. Points of Emphasis Jerseys, Pants, and Pads
Jerseys completely cover all pads
Pants completely cover knees and knee pads
Knee pads must be worn over the knee
If adjustment to the jersey or pants during a dead-ball period cannot be made, the player should not be permitted to continue as a participant on the field of play.
SSFOA
Fall 2016

24. Points of Emphasis
LEGAL ILLEGAL
SSFOA
Fall 2016

25. Points of Emphasis
ILLEGAL!
SSFOA
Fall 2016

26. Points of Emphasis Unfair Acts | Rule 9-10 Uniforms
Non-standard; foreign substance
Disconcerting acts / words
Interfering with A’s signals & movements
“Hide-Out” plays
Deceive at / just prior to snap / free kick
Doesn’t rule out “trick plays
Run within the spirit and intent of the Rules
SSFOA
Fall 2016

27. Whistle to Snap Supplement to Mechanics Illustrated | 2014 SSFOA
Fall 2016

28. Accordion Mechanic Movement of all Officials Purposes
Toward dead ball spot
Except Umpire
Purposes
Show presence to players
Sell forward progress spot
Move away from Coaches
Return after ball is spotted by Umpire
SSFOA
Fall 2016

29. Accordion Mechanic Referee Back Judge Wings 5 – 7 yards 10 – 12 yards
Square in…at least to top of Numbers
SSFOA
Fall 2016

30. Accordion Mechanic Exceptions Player safety…don’t go past players
Don’t go past the ball
Unless very close to LTG / Goal Line
Nearest Wing to the dead ball spot
BJ / R slide to cover players
Not used on:
Incomplete pass
Covering a flag / reporting a foul
Safety concern
SSFOA
Fall 2016

31. Dead Ball Mechanics Incomplete pass Normal downs…Next down signals
Covering Official = “Incomplete” x 2
Others = Stop Clock x 2, unless 3+ needed
Normal downs…Next down signals
LJ > R > HL > BOX > Crew Echos
Ready-For-Play
x until all Crew (except U) in pre-snap positions
…and several more!
SSFOA
Fall 2016

32. NASO “If you buy a camera, you are a photographer. If you buy a piano,
“Refereeing is knowing the mechanics.”
“Are our Officials reading the Mechanics Manual?”
Declining number of Officials
“Replace yourself as an Official.”
“As each Official gets older, players are still 17.”
“If you buy a camera,
you are a photographer.
If you buy a piano,
you bought a piano.”
SSFOA
Fall 2016

33. NASO | 5 Legal Concerns Officiating the Concussion Rule
Games & Scrimmages
Taking Out the Trash; Game control
Taunting & Baiting
Take the game away from the players who don’t want to play
Toxic ACA2
Do not talk to spectators
Silence can’t be quoted
SSFOA
Fall 2016

34. NASO | 5 Legal Concerns Managing the Fight Venue Awareness
Don’t allow it to begin
Concentration & Quickness
Warning =
Player did something wrong and you passed on it
Pass or throw the flag
No good deed goes unpunished
Venue Awareness
Who has your back?
SSFOA
Fall 2016

35. Greater visibility & role in player safety & integrity of game
NASO
Greater visibility &
role in player safety
& integrity of game
SSFOA
Fall 2016

36. SSFOA
Fall 2016