By NFHS on February 22, 2017

New rules on blindside blocking are the most recent steps taken by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Football Rules Committee in minimizing the risks associated with the sport.

The establishment of a new definition of a blindside block in Rule 2-3-10 and the addition of Rule 9-4-3n prohibiting a blindside block were two of 11 rules changes recommended by the NFHS Football Rules Committee at its January 20-22 meeting in Indianapolis. All rules changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

“The NFHS Football Rules Committee’s actions this year once again addressed risk minimization, officiating, competitive balance and game administration,” said Bob Colgate, director of sports and sports medicine at the NFHS and staff liaison for football.

The definition of a blindside block established by the committee is “a block against an opponent other than the runner, who does not see the blocker approaching,” and now results in a 15-yard penalty.

The committee stated that the blindside block “involves contact by a blocker against an opponent who, because of physical positioning and focus of concentration, is vulnerable to injury. Unless initiated with open hands, it is a foul for excessive and unnecessary contact when the block is forceful and outside of the free-blocking zone.”

Monday, August 22, 2016

1-5-1d(5)a: Further clarified the required specifications for the tooth and mouth protector.

Rationale: Completely clear or completely white tooth and mouth protectors are no longer prohibited. Tooth and mouth protectors shall include an occlusal (protecting and separating the biting surfaces) portion and include a labial (protecting the teeth and supporting structures) portion.

1-5 NOTE; 1-5-2b: Added the new Sports and Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) football glove specification to the existing rule.

Rationale: Football gloves are now required to meet either the new SFIA specification or the existing NOCSAE test standard at the time of manufacture.

2-17; 9-3-6; 9-3 PENALTY: Clipping in the free-blocking is now illegal.

Rationale: In a continued effort to minimize risk, the Committee made clipping in the free-blocking zone illegal. Clipping is now illegal anywhere on the field at any time.

2016 EDITORIAL CHANGES

Diagram NOTE; 1-5-1b(1); 1-5-1b(2)a, (3)a; 1-5-3a(1)a; 2-38; 4-3-2; 5-1-1b; 7-5
PENALTY; 9-3-5; 9-4-3h; 9-5-1a; 9-8-1a; 10-2-5; 10-5-1a; PENALTY SUMMARY.

2016 POINTS OF EMPHASIS

1. Risk Minimization
2. Legal and Illegal Blocks
3. Legal Jerseys, Pants and Pads
4. Unfair Acts

Printed from ArbiterSports.com

By NFHS on February 14, 2015

SPEARING DEFINITION REVISED (2-20-1c): Continuing the focus of risk minimization, the definition for the illegal helmet contact act of spearing was revised. Spearing is an act by any player who initiates contact against an opponent at the shoulders or below with the crown (top portion) of his/her helmet.

CORRECTING A DOWN NUMBER ADDED (5-1-1b NEW): The referee is granted authorization to correct the number of the next down before a new series of downs is awarded.

The 2015 Corky Kell Classic matchups have been released and it will be a shuffle of last year’s two-day, seven-game event. The first day (Friday, Aug. 21) will be held at McEachern High School and will feature a double-header that will kickoff at 5:45 pm between Sandy Creek and Creekview. The Friday nightcap will pin 2014 Class AAAAAA runner-up Archer and North Paulding.