1. NFHS FOOTBALL Officials Manual Committee 2005 Points of Emphasis

2. Officials Manual Committee
Dale Pleimann – Missouri - - Chair
Steve Stearns – California - - Vice Chair
Ralph Damren – Maine
Mike Webb – West Virginia
Ralph Swearngin – Georgia
Dave Anderson – Wisconsin
Tom Robinson – Colorado
Clark Sanders – Oregon
Tom Lorang – Montana - - NFHS-OA

3. POINTS OF EMPHASIS
A period must be extended by an untimed down if during the last timed down of the period there is a foul, other than unsportsmanlike or nonplayer or fouls that specify loss of down, by either team and the penalty is accepted. (3-3-3)
If there is a foul, other than unsportsmanlike or nonplayer or fouls that specify loss of down, by either team and the penalty is accepted during the untimed down, the procedure is repeated.
If there is a foul that specifies loss of down and the penalty is accepted the down is not repeated and any score is cancelled.
The period shall not be extended further for dead ball fouls.
All officials shall be aware of untimed down situations and communicate amongst themselves.
Wing officials shall communicate an untimed down situation to the coaches on their sidelines to eliminate confusion.
Referee shall use Signal #1 (untimed down) to communicate with press box, media, fans, etc.

4. POINTS OF EMPHASIS
Wing officials’ mechanics for monitoring substitutions.
After ball is spotted straddle line ball is on.
Start on sideline. Eliminates hideout & decoy.
Nine-yard marks (top of numbers) - players & substitutes must be between the nine-yard marks prior to snap. (7-2-1)
Count B players and identify eligible receivers on your side.
Be alert for illegal substitutions. (3-7) (Numbers in & out, e.g. 2 in - 2 out)

5. POINTS OF EMPHASIS Responsibilities for determining pass interference.
Forward or backward – only one forward pass allowed. (7-5-2-e) (Use of supplemental signal on page 24 of Officials Manual)
Hindering an opponent’s vision without making an attempt to catch ball. ( b)
Defender obviously away from the direction of the pass. ( c) (Divide field into thirds.)
When in doubt:
Pass is forward.
Defender has not hindered opponent’s vision.
Defender is in the direction of the pass.

6. FOULS AWAY FROM THE PASS (7-5-11c)
Change:
Removes a pass-interference foul when the pass is clearly away from the direction of the pass.
Reason for Change:
Many felt the pass interference penalty was too severe.
Attitude was “no-call” as it didn’t affect play.
If there is interference away from the direction of the pass, DPI should not be called.

7. POINTS OF EMPHASIS
The responsibilities of rules makers involve defining legal and/or illegal actions in a sport and then prescribing penalties for illegal acts.
The responsibilities of game officials involve interpreting the spirit and intent of the published rules and applying them to game situations.
The prescribed penalties automatically occur when calls are made by the officials.
Therefore, the judgments of the officials should focus on the actions of the participants and not on whether they consider the prescribed fouls and penalties to be appropriate.

8. CORRECTIONS
Page 15: III-A-3; add Back Judge (5-person) obtains football.
Page 16: III-B-2-b; add Back Judge (5-person) obtains football.

9. CORRECTIONS
Page 19-20: After a Score or Try – Prior to Free Kick; Refer to pages – Before Kick for each position.
Page 50: Diagram; U for Umpire is not filled in on 20-yard line.

10. CORRECTIONS
Page 74-75: After a Touchback, Safety, Try or Field Goal; Refer to pages – Before Kick for each position.

11. SUGGESTIONS or CONCERNS
Prepared by Dale Pleimann, Assistant Director, Missouri State High School Activities Association.