NCAA Football New Rules and Points of Emphasis 2015 Modified for MIAA Playing Rules

Illegal Equipment: Overbuilt Facemask (Rule 1-4-7) New paragraph l: “l. Non- standard overbuilt facemask” Following suit from the NFL Images in Appendix E

Illegal Equipment: Overbuilt Facemask (Rule 1-4-7) – NO!

Illegal Equipment: Overbuilt Facemask (Rule 1-4-7) – OK!

Illegal Equipment: Player Must Leave the Game (Rule 1-4-8) “b. If an official discovers illegal 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 even he may not play with illegal equipment.” “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.”

Illegal Equipment: Player Must Leave the Game (Rule 1-4-8) Previously: automatic charged timeout for illegal equipment Now: coaches’ choice to take timeout or make substitution Part c. above: Exposed back pad; shoulder pad popped out of collar – easily remedied before next down

Unsportsmanlike Conduct for Pushing/Pulling an Opponent off the Pile (Rule 9-2-1) Add new sub-paragraph (k) to Rule a-1: “(k) After the ball is dead, using forcible contact to push or pull an opponent off the pile.” Makes the action an automatic UNS – same category as taunting, dancing, removing one’s helmet, and dead-ball contact fouls that are not part of the game’s action

Game Administration Interference (Rule 9-2-5) New penalty statement: “PENALTY – Administer as a dead-ball foul. First infraction: Warning for sideline interference. No yardage penalty. Second and third infractions: Delay of game for sideline interference; five yards from the succeeding spot. Fourth and subsequent infractions: Team unsportsmanlike conduct for sideline interference; 15 yards from the succeeding spot. Automatic first down for fouls by Team B if not in conflict with other rules.”

Game Administration Interference (Rule 9-2-5) Brings back the sideline warning First infraction: [S15] – sideline warning signal #2 and 3: [S21] and [S29] – delay of game signal and sideline interference signal #4+: [S27] and [S29] – unsportsmanlike conduct signal and sideline interference signal

Game Administration Interference (Rule 9-2-5) Note: If a player or coach physically interferes with an official, (9-2-5-b) it is still a 15- yard penalty. Keep ‘em back!

NCAA Rule Changes Not Applied by MIAA Pre-game warmups (3-1-1) – administrative issue, not applicable Play clock reset (3-2-4) and (3-3-9) – MIAA play clock is always 25 seconds Number of officials (11-2-1) – can’t wait to see that 8 th official IR: Blocking by Team A during on-side kick (12-3-4) – there is no instant replay in MIAA games

Change to MIAA Overtime Rules Be sure to establish OT procedures prior to game “If there is a change of team possession during the last play of an overtime period (second series), live ball personal fouls or live ball unsportsmanlike conduct fouls by opponents of the team last gaining possession, that occur after the change of possession, gives the team in possession the option of putting the ball in play, where the penalty leaves the ball, for one down free of penalty or penalize as a dead ball foul at the succeeding spot in the subsequent overtime period. This option is exercised only if the team last gaining possession is free of foul during the down.”

Editorial Changes I – Ball Warming Devices Prohibited i. 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

Editorial Changes – Chop Block It is not a chop block if the blocker’s opponent initiates the contact.

Editorial Changes – Personal Foul Defined ARTICLE 2 - A personal foul is a foul involving illegal physical contact that endangers the safety of another player

Editorial Changes Exception – Correcting the Down Exception: The number of the down may be corrected any time within that series of downs or before the ball is legally next put in play after that series

Editorial Changes and – Tack-on fouls during a kick Only Team A fouls that occur between the goal lines are eligible for the tack-on provision at Team B’s option

Editorial Changes b-3 – Added section for Unsuccessful FG attempt 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

Editorial Changes – Note 2: Defenseless player Added to the kick returner: “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”

Points of Emphasis Protection of defenseless players; crown of helmet action Targeting disqualification Rule – Defenseless player defined Don’t forget NFHS Concussion Course

Points of Emphasis Helmets When a helmet comes off, stop the clock and remove the player Only exception is if the helmet comes off as the direct result of a foul

Sideline Control Do everything possible to keep the field clear of everyone but 22 players and 5 officials Keep the sideline clear for you and your chain crew Do what you can with what you have (Millis, N. Attleboro, etc.) Work with the coaches; find a get-back coach; go to the head coach Use the sideline warning – first one’s a freebie, no penalty In this, as in everything, follow the assigner’s guidance