2011 Rule Changes
Tony Dutton
Knee Pads
1-4-4-d
• NCAA: It is strongly recommended that
they cover the knees.
• UIL: Pants or approved knee pads must
cover the knees.
Towels
1-4-6-a
• NCAA: Solid white towels no larger than 4” by
12” with no words, symbols, letters, or numbers.
Towels may bear the team logo. [NEW: No
restriction on who may have towels.]
• UIL: Towels may be of school color and may
contain school name, school initials, mascot
insigne. Towels may not contain numbers.
Gloves of Any Color
1-4-6-b
• There is no restriction on the color of
gloves.
Television Monitors
1-4-11 Exception
• Monitors in the coaches’ booths of both
teams may be used only to view the live
telecast or webcast.
• Jurisdiction resides with game
management personnel.
10 Second Clock Runoff
3-4-4
• Does not apply to UIL games.
• UIL continues to use the 2005 timing rules.
Copy available at taso.org Members Portal
Page.
More than 11 Players on Field
3-5-3
• Team A may not break huddle with more than 11
players nor keep more than 11 in huddle or
formation for more than 3 seconds. Officials
shall stop the action whether or not the ball has
been snapped.
• Team B may not have more than 11 players in
its formation if the snap is imminent. Whether
the snap is imminent of has just occurred, the
officials shall stop the action.
Illegal Wedge on Free Kick
6-1-10
a. A wedge is defined as two or more
players aligned shoulder to shoulder
within two yards of each other.
[NOTE: a wedge of only two players
is not illegal.]
6-1-10-b
b. Free –kick down only: After the ball
has been kicked, it is illegal for three
or more members of the receiving
team intentionally to form a wedge
for the purpose of blocking for the
ball carrier. This is a live-ball foul,
whether or not there is contact
between opponents.
Key Points
• Free Kick only.
• After the ball is kicked.
• Three or more members of receiving
team.
• Purpose of blocking for the ball carrier.
• Live-ball foul.
• Whether contact or not.
6-1-10-c & d
c. Formation of the wedge is not illegal
when the kick is from an obvious
onside kick formation.
d. There is no foul if the play results in
a touchback.
G
R
L
H
San Antonio Chapter Coverage
R
L
H
San Antonio Chapter Coverage
6-1-10 Penalty
PENALTY—Noncontact foul. 15
yards, spot of the foul, or 15 yards,
spot where the subsequent dead ball
belongs to Team B if this is behind
the spot of the foul. 15 yards,
previous spot with the down repeated
if the subsequent dead ball belongs to
Team A.
Penalty Summary
• Noncontact foul – 15 yards.
• Enforcement spot:
1) Spot of the foul, or
2) Spot where dead ball belongs to
B, if behind spot of the foul.
3) Previous spot and rekick, if dead
ball belongs to A.
Defensive Lineman on Place Kicks
6-3-14
• Only if Team A in or formation for field goal or try.
• Illegal for three Team B players:
 On their line of scrimmage at the snap;
 Inside the blocking zone:
 Align shoulder to shoulder and,
 Move forward together after the snap with,
 Primary contact against a single Team A player.
• Penalty: 5 yards – Illegal formation,
A.R. 6-3-14 I
54
55
57
66
78
78
RULING: Foul
50
A.R. 6-3-14 I
54
55
57
66
78
78
RULING: No Foul 5 0
A.R. 6-3-14 I
Leaps
54
55
57
66
78
78
RULING: No Foul 5 0
From 2009-2010 Rule Book
• Delete 7-1-3-b-2.
• It is no longer illegal for offensive players
on the line of scrimmage to lock legs.
• Rules committee finds no unfair offensive
advantage through this alignment.
• To Repeat: Offensive players on the line of
scrimmage may lock legs.
Significant Change Not Listed
In Major Rule Changes
7-1-2-b-5
• False start if Team A never comes to onesecond stop prior to the snap after the ball
is ready for play.
• Dead-ball foul. Shut down the play and
penalize Team A five yards – succeeding
spot.
A.R. 7-1-2 II
• Ten Team A players shift while A1
remains stationary. A1 then starts moving
backward before one second elapses and
the ball is snapped. RULING:
• If A1 did not halt with the other Team A
players for one second before the snap, is
a dead-ball foul at the snap for a false
start.
Illegal Forward Pass
7-3-2
• 2010 Rule: illegal either to conserve time or
save yardage to throw a forward pass where
no eligible Team A player has a reasonable
opportunity to catch it.
• 2011 change: illegal either to conserve time
or save yardage to throw ball forward into an
area where there is no eligible Team A
receiver.
What is “an area where
there is no eligible Team A receiver”?
• CFO Bulletin (see tasofb.wordpress.com):
• “There is not, nor will there ever be, an exact yardage
distance between the receiver and where the pass lands
that will absolutely determine whether a foul has been
committed. That distance can vary significantly based
on the circumstances of the play and the direction of the
pass. This phrase ‘direction of the pass’ is emphasized
as it provides the crucial piece of evidence that allows us
to determine the ‘intentional’ aspect of the play.”
• “For a foul to be called it should be clear to everyone that
the passer throws the ball into an area not occupied by
an eligible receiver. Do not be overly technical.
Blocking Below the Waist Defined
2-3-2
•
•
•
•
Force of the initial contact is below the waist.
Opponent has one or both feet on the ground.
When in question: contact is below the waist.
Not a block below the waist if:
1) Blocker makes contact above the waist then slides
below the waist.
2) Blocker first contacts opponent’s hands at or
above the waist.
Blocking Below the Waist Rule
9-1-6
• Blocking below the waist (except against the
runner) is illegal (with a few exceptions).
• Blocking below the waist is always illegal for
any player:
 After a change of possession;
 During a down which includes a kick (free
or scrimmage).
B-B-W Legal
•
Offensive team players who at the snap
are:
1. Completely inside the tackle box, or
2. On the line of scrimmage inside the
seven-yard limit
• May block below the waist.
• These players are unrestricted.
Blocking Zone
(Centered on Middle Lineman)
Tackle Box
(Centered on Snapper)
Legal to block below the waist:
Completely inside the tackle box or
On the line of scrimmage inside the seven-yard limit.
B-B-W Legal
Only Along a North-South Line or
Toward Sideline Adjacent at the Snap
• Offensive players on the line of scrimmage
more than seven yards from middle
lineman or,
• In the backfield with any part of the body
outside the tackle box or,
• In motion.
North-South Line: parallel to sidelines
from end line to end line (2-12-9).
North-South Line
Wide Receiver 85 positioned on the line of scrimmage
More than seven yards from middle lineman.
84
Number 84 moves to a position between the tackle and end.
84
Number 84 is in motion at the snap.
84
Number 84 is in motion at the snap.
B-B-W Defensive Team
•
•
2011 Rule 9-1-6-c (FR-85) Rewritten Should
read as follows:
“Players of the defensive team may block
below the waist until the ball has gone more
than five yards beyond the neutral zone.” [Two
exceptions:]
1. Against a Team A player in position to receive a
backward pass.
2. Against an eligible Team A receiver beyond the
neutral zone unless attempting to get to the ball or
ball carrier.
Defensive players may block below the waist until the ball is more
than 5 yards beyond the neutral zone. (Exceptions: 1) player to
receive backward pass or 2) eligible receiver beyond the neutral
zone.
Action Out of Bounds
9-1-7-b
• Illegal for any player clearly out of bounds
to initiate a block against an opponent who
is out of bounds.
• Spot of the foul: where blocker crosses the
sideline going out of bounds.
• [Guideline – Cooper Castleberry: all four
feet out of bounds for illegal block.]
Roughing the Kicker 9-1-16
• Old Rule: Defensive player legally blocked
into kicker not exempt from roughing.
Illegally blocked into kicker, exempt.
• 2011 Rule: When defensive player’s
contact with kicker caused by opponent’s
block (legal or illegal) there is no foul (9-116-a-5).
Unsportsmanlike Conduct Fouls
9-2-1
•
Administered as either live-ball or dead-ball
fouls depending on when they occur.
• Auto 1st Down if by Team B.
• All dead-ball fouls: succeeding spot.
• Live-ball fouls:
1. By players: 15 yards (3 &1 administration).
2. By non-players: 15 yards from succeeding
spot.
A.R. 9-2-1 II
QB
A88 catches a pass at
the 18 and “goose steps”
from the 10 into the end zone.
3rd & 15 at
the B 20.
RULING: Live-ball unsportsmanlike.
15 yards, spot of the foul.
A’s ball 3rd and 20 at the 25.
A.R. 9-2-1 III
2nd & 5 at
the B 40.
RULING: Live-ball unsportsmanlike.
15 yards, spot of the foul.
A’s ball 2nd and 10 at the 45.
A22 takes backward pass and
heads for the end zone.
X
Guard A66 blocks opponent to the
ground, and, when A22 is at the 10,
stands over him taunting at the B30.
A.R. 9-2-1 IV
QB
3rd & 15 at
the B 20.
A88 catches a pass at
the 18 and very near the
goal line, dives into the
end zone. No team B player
within 10 yards. FJ is uncertain
exactly where 88 started his dive.
RULING: Unsportsmanlike conduct.
Administer as a dead-ball foul. Penalty
Enforced on try or succeeding kickoff.
A.R. 9-2-1 VI
1st & 10 at
the 50.
RULING: Live-ball unsportsmanlike.
Penalty is enforced on either the try
or succeeding kickoff.
A44 takes pitch and races
into the end zone.
LJ flags linebacker B57 for yelling
obscenities that he was held.
A.R. 9-2-1 VII
QB A12 is sacked for a 10 yard loss by B77.
B77 stands over A12 taunting and beating
his chest.
QB
3rd & 15 at
the A45.
RULING: Dead-ball unsportsmanlike.
15 yards from succeeding spot
(A’s 35 yard line), automatic 1st down.
A’s ball 1st & 10 at the 50.
A.R. 9-2-1 VIII
RULING: Unsportsmanlike foul
committed by a non-player. Administer
as a dead-ball foul. Touchdown counts
and penalty is enforced on either the try
or succeeding kickoff.
Team A passes.
Safety B33 intercepts a pass at the B10
and returns for a touchdown.
LJ runs into coach on the field
Near the B 40 while the ball is alive.
X
A Few Other
Editorial Changes
Limit Lines 1-2-3-b
(12 Feet Outside Sidelines)
• 2010: No person outside the team area
shall be inside the limit lines.
• 2011: No person outside the team area
shall be inside the limit lines. Game
management personnel have the
responsibility and the authority to enforce
this rule.
Passer 2-27-5
• 2010: The passer is the player who throws
a legal forward pass.
• 2011: The passer is the player who throws
a forward pass.
Disqualified Player 2-26-12-b
• A disqualified player must leave the
playing enclosure within a reasonable
amount of time after his disqualification.
• UIL Exception: Does not apply.
Disqualified players do not need to leave
the playing enclosure.
Ball Declared Dead Exception
4-3-b
• 2010: The ball remains live when an
offensive player has simulated a kick or is
in position to kick the ball held for a place
kick by a teammate.
• 2011: The ball remains live when an
offensive player has simulated a kick or at
the snap is in position to kick the ball held
for a place kick by a teammate.
Safety Exception 8-5-1-a
• Not a safety if player between his 5-yard line
and his goal line intercepts a pass or fumble
or recovers an opponent’s fumble or catches
or recovers a kick; and his original
momentum carries him into his own end
zone; and the ball remains behind his goal
line and is declared dead there. This
includes a fumble that goes from the end
zone into the field of play and out of bounds.
RULING: B’s ball at the
spot of the interception.
B intercepts pass at the 2.
Momentum carries him into
the end zone where he is
hit and fumbles out of
bounds.
5
G
Defenseless Player 9-1-4
• 2010: No player shall initiate contact and
target a defenseless player above the
shoulders.
• 2011: No player shall target and initiate
contact to the head or neck area of a
defenseless player with the helmet,
forearm, elbow or shoulder.
Leaping & Landing 9-1-11-b-3
• No defensive player who runs forward
from beyond the neutral zone and leaps
from beyond the neutral zone in an
obvious attempt to block a field goal or try
may land on any player(s).
• It is not foul if an offensive player initiates
contact against the player who leaps.
Illegally Batting or Kicking 9-4
• Penalty changed from 15 yards to 10
yards.
Review of Batting & Kicking
• Batting (2-11-3): Batting the ball is
intentionally striking it or intentionally
changing its direction with the hand(s) or
arm(s). [WIQ: accidental touching rather
than batting.]
• Kicking (2-16-1-a): Kicking the ball is
intentionally striking the ball with the knee,
lower leg or foot.
Batting Rules 9-4 1 to 3
• Player may bat a pass in flight in any
direction. Two Exceptions:
1. passing team may not bat a backward
pass forward;
2. player in possession may not bat the ball
forward.
• No player may bat other loose balls forward
in the field of play, or in any direction in the
end zone.
Illegally Kicking 9-4-4
• Player may not kick:
 A loose ball,
 A forward pass or,
 A ball being held for a place kick by
opponents.
• Penalty: 10 yards plus loss of down for fouls
by Team A. No loss of down if foul occurs
when a legal scrimmage kick is beyond the
neutral zone.