National Federation of State High School Associations
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This copyrighted power point is presented by the NFHS. This material shall only be reproduced or distributed by member state associations for teaching and training purposes.
2022 NFHS FOOTBALL RULES POWERPOINT
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF
STATE HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATIONS (NFHS)
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF
STATE HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATIONS
officials, parents, students and others.
NFHS RULES REVIEW COMMITTEE
Davis Whitfield | Lindsey Atkinson | Bob Colgate | Sandy Searcy | Elliot Hopkins | Julie Cochran | James Weaver | Dan Schuster |
Chief Operating | Basketball, Girls | Football and Sports | Softball, Swimming & | Baseball and | Cross Country, Gymnastics, | Boys Lacrosse | Ice Hockey |
Officer | Lacrosse and Volleyball | Medicine | Diving and Water Polo | Wrestling | Field Hockey, Soccer and Track & Field | and Spirit | |
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF
STATE HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATIONS
2022 NFHS
FOOTBALL RULES CHANGES
NFHS FOOTBALL RULES
Each state high school association adopting these NFHS football rules is the sole and exclusive source of binding rules interpretations for contests involving its member schools. Any person having questions about the interpretation of NFHS football rules should contact the football rules interpreter designated by the respective state high school association.
The NFHS is the sole and exclusive source of model interpretations of NFHS football rules. State rules interpreters may contact the NFHS for model football rules interpretations. No other model football rules interpretations should be considered.
Rule Change
TEAM BOXES
RULE 1-2-3g NOTES 3. (NEW), TABLE 1-7 (3.) (NEW)
It is permissible for state associations to approve an extension of the team box and to determine the individuals who may be in the extended area, provided such extension is the same for both teams.
Rule Change
GAME BALLS RULE 1-3-3
Any game official may order the ball changed between downs. Unless the ball is ordered changed by the Referee or another game official, Team A scoring a touchdown with one ball (MechaniGram A) may not request a different ball for the try (MechaniGram B) but may use a different approved ball for the ensuing free kick (PlayPic C).
JERSEY NUMBERS
RULE 1-4-3, FIGURE 1-4-2, RULE 1-5-1C(1),
Rule Change
RULE 7-2-5b EXCEPTIONS, RULE 7-5-6a
Each player shall be numbered 0 though 99 inclusive. Any number preceded by the digit zero such as “00” is illegal.
CHOP BLOCK RULE 2-3-8
Rule Change
A chop block is combination block by two or more teammates against an opponent other than the runner, with or without delay, where one of the blocks is below the waist and one of the blocks is above the waist.
Rule Change
GAME CLOCK OPTION RULE 3-4-7
When a foul is committed with less than two minutes remaining in either half, the offended team has the option to start the game clock on the snap. In MechaniGram A, Team B trails when Team A fouls. Team B’s coach is consulted (PlayPic B), choosing to decline the penalty and have the clock started on the snap (PlayPic C).
PLAY CLOCK
RULE 3-6-1a(1)e EXCEPTION 2. (NEW)
Rule Change
When the clock is stopped due to Rule 3-5-7i and Team B is the only team to foul, the play clock will be set to 40 seconds.
INTENTIONAL GROUNDING
RULE 7-5-2d EXCEPTION 2. (NEW), TABLE 7-5-2,
Rule Change
TABLE 7-5
It is legal for a player to conserve yardage by intentionally throwing an incomplete forward pass if the passer has been beyond the lateral boundary of the free-blocking zone as established at the snap; and the pass reaches the neutral zone, including the extension beyond the sideline.
INTENTIONAL GROUNDING
RULE 7-5-2d EXCEPTION 2. (NEW), TABLE 7-5-2,
Rule Change
TABLE 7-5
Legal. The player taking advantage of the new rules exception need not be the player
who received the snap.
2022 NFHS
FOOTBALL EDITORIAL CHANGES
Editorial Change
2022 NFHS FOOTBALL EDITORIAL CHANGES
1-5-1f | Changed the size of the font on the dimensions for the cleats. |
TABLE 1-7 | Re-numbered all 17 items in TABLE 1-7. |
2-28-2 | Added: “If a scrimmage kick occurs, the neutral zone shall not be expanded into the end zone” to the rule for further clarification. |
3-5-9 | Added: “game official” to the rule for clarification. |
3-5-11 | Added: “altering the” to the rule for clarification. |
5-2-4 | Revised the format of the rule for clarity due to the length of it. |
6-2-6 | Added: “If a scrimmage kick occurs,” to the rule for clarification |
7-5 PENALTY | Changed the rules reference for Intentional Grounding to Art. 2d. |
TABLE 9-3-6 | Deleted. |
10-2-2, 10-2-3 | Clarifying the terminology between “foul” and “penalty.” |
Editorial Change
2022 NFHS FOOTBALL EDITORIAL CHANGES
FOOTBALL PENALTY ENFORCEMENT - FIGURES | Updated Figures 1 and 2. |
FOOTBALL FUNDAMENTALS – V-3, VII-2 | Clarified the Football Fundamentals for “Free Kicks” and “Passes.” |
RESOLVING TIED GAMES – 5- 1-1, 8-3 | Deleted the following from 5-1-1 and added it to 8-3: “If the team on offense scores a touchdown, it is entitled to the opportunity for a try unless the points would not affect the outcome of the game or playoff qualifying. |
SIX-PLAYER RULES DIFFERENCES – RULE 2 and 7 | Deleted the word “clear” before pass. |
PENALTY SUMMARY | Updated the rules reference for Intentional Grounding (also loss of down) to 7-5-2d. |
2022 NFHS
FOOTBALL RULES REMINDERS
BLOCKING BELOW THE WAIST RULE 2-17-2c
Rules Reminder
In PlayPic A, both players are in the free-blocking zone and on their lines of scrimmage. In PlayPic B, the block is legal because it is in the zone at the time of the snap, is an immediate, initial action following the snap, and both players began the play on their lines of scrimmage and in the free-blocking zone.
BLOCKING BELOW THE WAIST RULES 2-17-1, 2-17-2, 2-17-4
Rules Reminder
It is legal for offensive linemen to block below the waist in the free-blocking zone, provided both players were on their lines of scrimmage and within the zone at the time of the snap and the block is an immediate, initial action following the snap. No. 77 could only block No. 62 below the waist if the block was immediate, initial action following the snap.
No. 65 can block No. 93 below the waist even though No. 93 is playing off his shoulder, if the block is an immediate, initial action following the snap. No. 72 could not block No. 55 below the waist at any time during this play.
BLOCKING BELOW THE WAIST RULES 2-3-7, 2-17-1, 2-17-2, 9-3-2
Rules Reminder
While in the free-blocking zone, the initial contact in PlayPic A is with the hands below the waist. When the blocker finishes the block below the waist as in PlayPic B, it is not a foul. A block below the waist is legal if it occurs in the free- blocking zone, provided both players were on their lines of scrimmage and within the zone at the time of the snap and the block is an immediate, initial action following the snap.
BLOCKING BELOW THE WAIST RULES 2-3-7, 2-17-1, 2-17-2, 9-3-2
Rules Reminder
The initial contact in PlayPic A is above the waist. In PlayPic B, the blocker then loses contact and the blocker starts a new block below the waist, this is a foul. A block below the waist is legal if it occurs in the free-blocking zone, provided both players were on their lines of scrimmage and within the zone at the time of the snap and the block is an immediate, initial action following the snap.
BLOCKING BELOW THE WAIST RULES 2-3-7, 2-17-2, 9-3-2
The rules regarding blocking below the waist apply equally to both teams. In the PlayPic, the defender goes below the waist outside the free-blocking zone to take out the lead blocker. This is an illegal block by the defender. A block below the waist is only legal if it occurs in the free-blocking zone, provided both players were on their lines of scrimmage and within the zone at the time of the snap and the block is an immediate, initial action following the snap.
Rules Reminder
FOOTBALL JERSEY NUMBERS RULE 1-5-1c(3)
The entire body of the number (the continuous horizontal bars and vertical strokes) exclusive of any border(s) shall be approximately 1 1/2 – inches wide.
2024 - FOOTBALL JERSEY NUMBERS RULES 1-5-1c; 1-5-1c(6)
Effective with the 2024 season, the entire body of the number (the continuous horizontal bars and vertical strokes) shall be a single solid color that clearly contrasts with the body color of the jersey.
FOOTBALL JERSEY NUMBERS RULES 1-5-1c; 1-5-1c(6)
The style of the numbers on all four of these jerseys are legal now and will be in 2024 too.
.
A
B
C D
FOOTBALL JERSEY NUMBERS RULES 1-5-1c; 1-5-1c(6)
The style of the numbers on these jerseys are legal through the 2023 season. The following four types of number designs will be illegal in 2024.
A
B
C D
2022 NFHS
FOOTBALL POINTS OF EMPHASIS
2022 NFHS FOOTBALL POINTS OF EMPHASIS
Points of Emphasis
SPORTSMANSHIP
Poor sportsmanship by coaches and players sets a negative tone for fans, game officials and others.
Points of Emphasis
SPORTSMANSHIP
Fans must not employ language or acts that defames, demeans, abuses, or bullies a competitor, game official, or another fan. Issues with fan behavior should be directly referred to contest management by game officials.
Points of Emphasis
TARGETING/DEFENSELESS PLAYER
A downed runner is defenseless and cannot protect himself against unnecessary contact (PlayPic A). Once a pass is thrown, a passer is defined as a defenseless player (PlayPic B). A pass receiver attempting to catch a pass, or a pass receiver who has clearly relaxed when the player has missed the pass or feels he can no longer catch the pass, should be considered defenseless (PlayPic C).
TARGETING/DEFENSELESS PLAYER
Points of Emphasis
A1 is obviously out of the play and not in the immediate vicinity of the runner. A1 is by definition defenseless. The contact by B1 is a personal foul.
Points of Emphasis
LEGAL UNIFORMS/EQUIPMENT
Players who fail to wear required equipment during a down
(PlayPic A) must be replaced for one down (PlayPic B).
2022-2023 NFHS
FOOTBALL GAME OFFICIALS MANUAL
2022-2023 NFHS FOOTBALL
GAME OFFICIALS MANUAL REMINDERS
Game Officials Manual
2022-2023 NFHS FOOTBALL GAME OFFICIALS MANUAL COMMITTEE POINTS OF EMPHASIS
Game Officials Manual
Manual Point of Emphasis
COMMUNICATION BETWEEN COACHES AND GAME OFFICIALS
Game officials must actively listen to what a coach is saying, then respond factually and unemotionally (PlayPic A). If coaches show little respect for game officials and make derogatory comments, their players will likely treat game officials similarly (PlayPic B).
Manual Point of Emphasis
OFFICIATING INTENTIONAL GROUNDING
If a passer moves at least three full steps laterally, game officials should strongly consider whether or not
the passer has left the free-blocking zone.
OFFICIATING INTENTIONAL GROUNDING
Manual Point of Emphasis
FREE-KICK MECHANICS
Manual Point of Emphasis
Successful coverage of free kicks depends on game officials observing players in their assigned coverage zones. For the traditional deep kick, coverage of the goal line and pylons, downfield movement, return in or away from the game official’s position, starting the game clock and likely areas of illegal contact must be covered in the pre- game conference.
FREE-KICK MECHANICS
Manual Point of Emphasis
Onside kicks are especially challenging. Responsibility for the kick legality, free kick lines, first touching by Team K, contact— both who initiated and if legal — must be considered because contact will occur quickly. Teams will aggressively fight for possession. Quick and decisive movement, determination of possession and observation of participants not involved in the area around the ball is needed.
Manual Point of Emphasis
TIME-SENSITIVE SITUATIONS – END OF SECOND AND FOURTH PERIODS
Late in the second or fourth period, game officials should be aware of situations in which coaches may wish to request time-outs. Factors impacting the time remaining in a game include score, field position, available timeouts, injury and penalty timing. A quick glance to the sideline in those situations can save valuable seconds.
2022-23 NFHS
FOOTBALL INFORMATION
NFHS SUGGESTED GUIDELINES FOR MANAGEMENT OF CONCUSSION IN SPORTS
In the Appendix in all of the 2022-23 NFHS
Rules Book
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States Registering Officials
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Contests Assigned
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National Federation of State High School Associations
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