Rule Changes 2015
Tony Dutton
San Angelo Chapter
The Ball 1-3-1-b
• Cover consisting
of four panels of
pebble-grained
leather with
corrugations other
than seams.
1-3-1-i
•
•
Ball warming substances and
mechanical devices not permitted on the
sidelines
“The ball may not be altered. This
includes the use of any ball-drying or
ball-warming substance. Mechanical
ball-drying and ball-warming devices are
not permitted near the sidelines or in the
team area”
1-4-5-1
• Jersey must be tucked into the pants or
made even with the waist line. It must
cover all pads worn at or above the waist
Illegal Equipment 1-4-7-k & l
• k. Jerseys that do not conform with Rule
1-4-5 (2014)
• l. Non-standard overbuilt facemask
1-4-8-b
• b. If an official discovers illegal equipment, or
if a player is not wearing mandatory
equipment, the player must leave the game
for at least one down and is not allowed to
return until the equipment is made legal. The
player may be allowed to return without
missing a down if the team takes a charged
team timeout, but in any event he may not
play with illegal equipment or without
mandatory equipment
1-4-8-c
• If equipment becomes illegal through play,
the player is not required to leave the
game for one down , but he may not
participate until the equipment is made
legal
Last Year & This Year
Player wearing illegal equipment or not wearing mandatory equipment
(Exception: equipment became illegal through play)
• Last Year
• This Year
• Team charged with a
timeout or a 5 yard
penalty if no timeouts
left
• Player must leave
game for one down or
allowed to remain if
team takes a timeout
A.R. 1-4-7-II
• At the end of a down, B55’s shoulder pad
has become exposed and is not covered
by the jersey
• RULING: Illegal equipment. Because the
pad became exposed through play, B55 is
not required to leave the game. The pad
must be covered by the jersey before the
ball is next put in play
A.R. 1-4-7-IV
• As Team A is about to break its huddle,
the Referee notices that A 35 is wearing
an overbuilt facemask.
• RULING: A35 must leave the game for
one down to get a legal facemask. Team
A may use an available charged timeout in
order that A35 not miss a down, but he
may not play with the illegal facemask
A.R. 1-4-8-I
• After the ball is ready for play, an official
identifies a player(s) who is obviously not
wearing a mouthpiece
• RULING: A35 must leave the game for at
least one down and may not return until
properly equipped with a mouthpiece. The
player(s) may remain in the game by
spending an available team timeout, but
they may not play until properly equipped
A.R. 1-4-8-II
• Late in the first half, Team B has used its
three timeouts. At the end of a play the line
judge notices that B44, a player who
participated in the previous play is equipped
with an eye shield that is either tinted or not
clear.
• RULING: Equipment violation. B44 must
leave the game for at least one down and
may not return if he is wearing an illegal eye
shield
A.R. 1-4-8-III
• When the ball is dead after a scrimmage
down, the Umpire notices that linebacker
B55 has an exposed back pad at waist
level, which apparently became exposed
through play during the previous down
• RULING: B55 is not required to leave the
game, but he must cover the exposed pad
with his jersey before the next down
Illegal Jersey 1-4-7-k
Illegal Jerseys 1-4-7-k
Overbuilt Facemask 1-4-7-l
See Appendix E
1-4-5-c-2
• The [jersey] number must be of a color that itself
is clearly in distinct contrast with the color of the
jersey irrespective of any border around the
number.
• Teams wearing jerseys/numerals that do not
conform to this rule will be asked to change into
legal jerseys before the game and before the
start of each quarter until the jerseys are
changed. Officials shall charge a timeout at
the start of each quarter the illegal jerseys
are worn.
• NOTE: UIL exception
UIL Exception
• Note: Item # 2 does not apply to UIL
games prior to the 2017 season; however,
teams wearing jerseys/numerals that do
not conform to this rule should be noted in
the UIL incident report filed by the Referee
after the contest. Effective for the 2017
season item # 2 will be applied as written
Block in the Back 2-3-4-a
• When in question clarified
• 2014: When in question, the contact is
below the waist
• 2015: When in question, the contact is
at or below the waist
• Compare Clipping (2-5-1): Clipping is a
block against an opponent in which the
force of the initial contact is from behind
and at or below the waist
Personal Foul Defined
• 2-10-2: A personal foul is a foul involving
illegal physical contact that endangers the
safety of another player
• Compare with Flagrant Personal Foul
(2-10-3): A flagrant personal foul is illegal
contact so extreme or deliberate that it
places an opponent in danger of
catastrophic injury
Defenseless Player
• 2-27-14: When in question, a player is
defenseless
• 2-27-14-d: A kick returner attempting to
catch or recover a kick, or one who has
completed a catch or recovery and has not
had time to protect himself or has not
clearly become a ball carrier [Also covered
in Note 2, 9-1-4]
Timing Adjustments 3-2-2
• Before the game starts, playing time and
the intermission between halves may be
shortened by the Referee if he is of the
opinion that darkness or other conditions
may interfere with the game
Play Clock 3-2-4-b-3
• In the event that the 40-second play clock
is running and reads 25 [not 20] before
the ball is ready to be snapped, the
referee shall declare a timeout and signal
that the play clock be set at 25 seconds
A.R. 3-2-4-I
• When the ball is dead after a running play
that ends out of bounds, the 40-second
play clock is started. The umpire receives
the ball from the line judge, and as he is
placing it on the ground, he sees that it is
one of Team B’s balls. He tosses the ball
to the line judge who attempts to get a
Team ball from the ball boy
RULING
• If the play clock reads 25 or less before
the correct ball is in from the sideline and
ready for play, the Referee declares a
timeout and signals to reset the play clock
to 25 seconds
A.R. 3-2-4-II
• When the ball is dead after a running play
that ends in the side zone, the officials
have difficulty getting the ball in to the
hashmark. As the play clock nears 25, the
Umpire places the ball on the ground, and
by the time the officials are ready, the play
clock is somewhat below 25 when the
Umpire steps away
RULING
• Without stopping the game clock, the
Referee gives the “pump” signal to indicate
that the play clock is to be reset to 25. If
the play clock is quickly reset to 25, the
game clock does not stop. Only if the play
clock operator does not quickly respond to
the Referee’s “pump” signal will the
Referee declare a timeout, signal for the
play clock to be set at 25, and then signal
to start both the play and game clocks
10-Second Runoff
• Remember there is no option for 10second runoffs in UIL games
Rule Decisions Final 5-2-9
• No rule decision may be changed after the
ball is next legally snapped, legally freekicked or the second or fourth periods
have ended. (Exception: The number of a
down may be corrected any time within
that series of downs or before the ball is
legally next put in play after that series.)
Forced Touching
•
Applies to both Free Kicks (6-1-4) and
Scrimmage Kicks (6-3-4)
• Three times to disregard touching
1. Player is blocked by an opponent into the
ball
2. An opponent bats the ball into an
inbounds player
3. [New] An opponent illegally kicks the ball
into a player
Next Play – Unsuccessful
FG Attempt 8-4-2-b-3
• If the ball crosses the neutral zone, is
untouched by Team B beyond the neutral
zone, and is declared dead behind the
neutral zone, all rules pertaining to
scrimmage kicks apply (A.R. 8-4-2-VII)
A.R. 8-4-2-VII
A’s FG attempt from the 15 is
blocked, lands at the 12 untouched
and rebounds out of bounds at
the 17.
K
H
RULING: Team B’s ball, first
And 10 at the 17.
15
G
Unsportsmanlike Conduct 9-2-1
• (k) After the ball is dead, using forcible
contact to push or pull an opponent off the
pile
A.R. 9-2-1-XI
• During the play, the ball carrier fumbles
and several players dive for the ball. B55
grabs A33 and slings him off the pile.
• RULING: B55 is charged with a foul for
unsportsmanlike conduct. 15 yards and
automatic first down. The referee
announces that this is either the first or
second unsportsmanlike conduct foul
against B55. If it is the second, B55 is
disqualified from the game.
Unfair Acts 9-2-3 (2014)
ARTICLE 3. The following are unfair acts:
a. While the ball is in play any person other than a player or an
official interferes in any way with the ball, player or an official.
b. A team refuses to play within two minutes after ordered to do so
by the referee.
c. A team repeatedly commits fouls for which penalties can be
enforced only by halving the distance to the goal line.
d. An obviously unfair act not specifically covered by the rules
occurs during the game (A.R. 4-2-1-II).
PENALTY—The referee may take any action he considers
equitable, which includes directing that the down be repeated,
including assessing a 15-yard penalty, awarding a score, or
suspending or forfeiting the game.
Game Administration &
Sideline Interference (9-2-5)
•
While the ball is alive and during the continuing
action after the ball has been declared dead:
a) Coaches, substitutes and authorized attendants may
not be between the sideline and coaching line or on
the field of play.
PENALTY– Administer as a dead-ball foul. First
infraction: Warning for sideline interference. No
yardage penalty.
Second & third infractions: Delay of game (5 yards)
Fourth and subsequent infractions: Unsportmanlike
conduct (15 yards)
9-2-5-b
(Physical Interference with an Official)
b) Physical interference with an official is a
foul charged to the team for
unsportsmanlike conduct
PENALTY– Administer as a dead-ball foul.
Team unsportsmanlike conduct. 15-yards
from the succeeding spot. Automatic first
down for fouls by Team B if not in conflict
with other rules.
A.R. 9-2-5-I
• On the opening kickoff, B22 catches the
kick at his goal line and returns the ball
down the sideline on Team B’s side of the
field. As he moves down the sideline
officiating the play, the side judge either
runs into or must run around a Team B
coach or squad member in the restricted
area (“the white”). B22 is driven out of
bounds at the A-20.
RULING
• Either situation is physical interference with
an official during the play. No warning.
Team B foul for unsportsmanlike conduct
administered as a dead-ball foul. After the
15-yard penalty, Team B will have first and
10 at the A-35.
And That’s All!