1. 2008-2009 NFHS Football Officials Manual Changes/Recommendations
Dale Pleimann, Chair
NFHS Football Officials Manual Committee
2008
NFHS Football Rules Interpreters Meeting
July 15, 2008 – Indianapolis, Indiana

2. Officials Manual Committee
Dale Pleimann – Missouri - - Chair
Steve Stearns – California - - Vice Chair
Bob Baly – New Jersey
Mike Webb – West Virginia
Mark Dreibelbis – North Carolina
Dave Anderson – Wisconsin
Ron Etheridge – Oklahoma
Brian Michelotti – Montana
William Riccio Jr. - Connecticut - - NFHS-OA

3. The direction the referee faces during the coin toss.
MANUAL DELETIONS
The direction the referee faces during the coin toss.
Eliminate the practice of clipping the chain on all downs involving goal to goal situations and instead providing the down operator with a bean bag to mark the spot of the snap.
With no strong rationale for the referee facing the clock or having his back to the clock this was left up to each state to mandate if so desired.

4. 2008-2009 Significant Manual Revisions
Time-Outs
Secure name of coaching staff personnel designated to call time-outs if other than head coach or in absence of head coach.
PREGAME RESPONSIBILITIES
I. CREW ASSIGNMENTS
A. Referee:
5. Secure name of coaching staff personnel designated to call time-outs if other than the head coach or in absence of head coach.

5. 2008-2009 Significant Manual Revisions
Sideline Warnings
On first sideline warning the official shall drop the penalty marker.
CONTROLLING THE SIDELINE AND TEAM BOX
II. FIRST VIOLATION BY TEAM
A. Results in sideline warning.
B. Covering official sound whistle, drop penalty marker, give proper signal, then report infraction to referee.
C. Referee will give proper signal and indicate offending sideline.
D. Covering official echo signal (#15) while verbally informing coach of warning. Communication also should include reminder of distance penalties for further violations.
E. All officials record time and period warning is given.
Recommend dropping the penalty marker on the first sideline warning.

6. 2008-2009 Significant Manual Revisions
Wing Officials Starting Position
On scrimmage plays, wing officials starting position will be on the sideline.
RUNNING PLAY
III. LINESMAN AND LINE JUDGE
A. After ball is spotted:
1. Position: Straddle the line of scrimmage on the sideline.
B. After snap:
1. Areas of responsibility:
a. Stay on line of scrimmage until ball carrier crosses line of scrimmage, look through to tackle to read run or pass.
Recommend wing officials stay on the line-of-scrimmage until the ball carrier crosses the line of scrimmage on running plays.

7. 2008-2009 Significant Manual Revisions
The referee’s position on scrimmage kicks has been adjusted.
SCRIMMAGE KICK
I. REFEREE
A. After ball is spotted:
3. Position: Outside the tight end and even with the kicker, on kicking-leg side.
Recommend the referee’s position on scrimmage kicks be adjusted to outside the tight end and even with the kicker.

8. Manual Revisions PREGAME RESPONSIBILITIES I. CREW ASSIGNMENTS
D. Line Judge:
1. Review starting time and be sure an auxiliary stopwatch, which records accumulated time, is available.
2. Secure game balls for referee’s approval and meet with ball persons.

9. Manual Revisions PREGAME RESPONSIBILITIES I. CREW ASSIGNMENTS
E. Back Judge:
Be responsible for all timing situations, including 25-second count, time-outs, quarter change and the time between a score and the suceeding kickoff.

10. Manual Revisions PREGAME RESPONSIBILITIES
IX. OFFICIALS DUTIES AND CREW RESPONSIBILITIES FOLLOWING PREGAME CONFERENCE
D. Linesman:
5. Clip chain, then move chain 2 yards off sideline. Remove line-to-gain indicator from sideline when line-to-gain is goal line.
8. Provide down-marker operator with a bean bag for first-and-goal situations when the line-to-gain equipment has been removed.

11. Manual Revisions AFTER A SCORE OR TRY – PRIOR TO FREE KICK I. Referee
G. On scoring plays involving a penalty by the opponent of scoring team, use the following procedure:
1. Give preliminary penalty signal and indicate offending team.
2. Obtain captain’s choice.
3. Give penalty signal and indicate offending team. If penalty is accepted, give penalty signal and indicate offending team, then indicate score counts and if penalty will be enforced on the subsequent kickoff, indicate by pointing to midfield. (Lineman in four-person and Back Judge in five-person, will give final signal prior to stepping off penalty and prior to the subsequent kickoff.)

12. Manual Revisions KICKOFF (Four and Five Officials) IV. LINE JUDGE
A. Before kick:
3. Temporarily move to inbounds line, then count K players and identify the free-kick line for the receiving team.
Recommended the line judge’s positioning prior to free kicks.

13. Manual Revisions KICKOFF – FIVE OFFICIALS II. UMPIRE III. LINESMAN
B. Before kick:
1. Kick to your side:
a. Signal clock to start when kick is touched, only if ball is even or up field from you.
b. Pick up runner and follow.
c. When ball becomes dead, sound whistle and give time-out signal.
III. LINESMAN
a. Signal clock to start when kick is touched, only if ball is even or up field from you.
Recommend limiting when the umpire and linesman start the clock on free kicks.

14. EDITORIAL REVISIONS PREREQUISITES FOR GOOD OFFICIATING
GENERAL REMINDERS
AUXILIARY OFFICIALS RESPONSIBILITIES
THE COIN TOSS
SOUNDING WHISTLE
DECLARING BALL READY-FOR-PLAY
AFTER A SCORE OR TRY – PRIOR TO FREE KICK
Recommend the required labeling on gloves and pads be clearly visible and located on the exterior of the item.

15. EDITORIAL REVISIONS GOAL-LINE PLAY AFTER A SAFETY, TRY OR FIELD GOAL
MEASURING FOR FIRST DOWN USING TRADITIONAL LINE-TO-GAIN EQUIPMENT
TIME-OUT PROCEDURE
KEYS AND PRIORITY OF KEYS
FORWARD PASS – FIVE OFFICIALS
FIELD-GOAL ATTEMPT OR TRY FROM ANY DISTANCE

16. MANUAL REVISIONS 2008-09 POINTS OF EMPHASIS
1) Enforcing 2-yard restraining area around entire field.
2) Observe unnecessary contact away from the ball.
3) Eliminate wasted time prior to marking the ball ready-for-play.
4) Enforce 9-yard mark requirements.
5) Use proper signals, ie. NFHS touchback signal.

17. REVIEWED and UPDATED Use Of The Bean Bag Declaring Ball Ready-For-Play
After A Score Or Try – Prior To Free Kick
Correcting Obvious Errors In Timing
Coach-Referee Conference
Coach-Disqualification Procedure
Controlling The Sideline And Team Box