National Federation
Rules Changes For 2012
Rule Changes 2012
Corporate Advertising And/Or Commercial Field Markings Allowed
1-2-3I – Corporate and/or commercial markings are now allowed on the field
of play so long as they do not obstruct the yard lines, hash marks or
nine yard marks.
Rule Changes 2012
Effective Date Of The New Glove Rule Moved To 2013
1-5-2a – Beginning in 2013, gloves must meet the NOCSAE test
standard at the time of manufacture. Until then, gloves must have
a securely attached NFHS / NCAA label or stamp indicating
compliance with test specifications on file with the SGMA.
A glove is a covering with individual sections for each finger.
The thumb is not considered a finger.
1-5-3b – The rule stating that penalty colored pads or gloves
are illegal has been deleted.
Rule Changes 2012
Location Of Play Cards Revised
1-5-3c(8) – It is now considered an illegal equipment foul to wear a
play card in a location other than on the arm or wrist.
Rule Changes 2012
Blocking Below The Waist Interpretation Revised
2-3-7 – The previous interpretation that is was not a foul for a player to
block below the waist if the hand(s) of the opponent was first contacted
below the waist was revised. The new rule states that such a scenario
is now a foul.
Rule Changes 2012
Players Must Sit Out One Play If Their Helmet Comes Off
3-5-10 – If a player’s helmet comes off completely during the course
of a play, and it is not directly attributable to a foul by the opponent,
the player will have to leave the game for at least one down.
Rule Changes 2012
Restrictions Placed On Contact By The Kicking Team During A Free Kick
9-3-8 – It is now prohibited for members on the kicking team to initiate
contact (or block) members of the receiving team until the ball has
broken the plane of the receiving team’s restraining line, or until the
kicking team is eligible to recover the free kick.
Rule Changes 2012
Grasping A Tooth Or Mouth Protector Is A Face Mask Foul
9-4-3h – Grasping the tooth or mouth protector, as well as the face mask,
is now considered a foul.
Rule Changes 2012
Direction Of The Pull During A Horse Collar Tackle Clarified
9-4-3k – A horse collar tackle is grabbing the inside back or side collar
of the jersey or shoulder pads of the runner and subsequently pulling
backward or sideward that player to the ground, even if possession of
the ball is lost.
Key word of a horse collar tackle is “tackle” – must use the collar to
pull the player to the ground to be illegal.
→ All horse-collar fouls are to be treated as live-ball fouls.
National Federation
Mechanics Changes For 2012
Kick Off Positions
5 Man Mechanics
Press Box
LJ
K
R
<1
0
<2
0
<3
0
HL
<4
0
50
40
BJ
<
Score Board
U
1
Wing Official Positioning
Press Box
Stay Wide
LJ
Score Board
R
U
BJ
<2
0
<3
0
<4
0
HL
1
0
50
40
<
<1
Points Of Emphasis
Sportsmanship
The NFHS has concern over the sportsmanship of running clock games
and contests which are blow outs. Contact designed to be “punishing”
should be penalized. Taunting and acts of a blatant unsportsmanlike
nature should be swiftly addressed.
- More vocal officiating
- More vigilante dead ball officiating
- Preventive officiating