new high school football rules (2012)

The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) approved one of eight high school football rules that go into effect this fall (2012). One rule that is getting a lot of conversation is in the case where a player's helmet comes completely off without it being "directly attributable to a foul by the opponent," the player will have to leave the game for at least the next down. This rule, Rule 3-5-10 was approved at their January 20-22 meeting in Indianapolis. Click here to review ALL of the new 2011 high school football rules.

"The committee made this rules change after reviewing data from multiple states regarding the frequency of helmets coming off during live-ball play," said Julian Tackett, chair of the Football Rules Committee and commissioner of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association. "It is the committee's hope that this serves notice for schools to properly fit players with helmets to reduce the incidence of these situations and remind the players not to take steps that alter the fit." Another notable change is a new interpretation of a legal catch. A receiver now must establish possession of the ball and contact the ground inbounds while maintaining possession, regardless of contact made with an opponent. click icon to review NEW rules "In previous years, the covering official could have ruled that an airborne player attempting to catch the ball would have come down inbounds, but was prevented from doing so because of contact by the opponent," said Bob Colgate, NFHS director of sports and sports medicine and liaison to the Football Rules Committee. "Now, the player must establish possession and contact the ground inbounds for a legal catch." Other rule changes include the approval of on-field corporate advertising and commercial markings, limits on below-the-waist blocks, and prohibiting the kicking team from blocks until the ball has broken the plane of the receiving team's restraining line. "The game of football at the high school level is in great shape, and the committee continues to review all available data to minimize the risk to participants," Tackett said. "A hallmark to the NFHS playing rules is the constant emphasis on risk minimization, as well as historic tenets regarding the balance between offense and defense and making the rules appropriate for the levels of the coaches, players and officials."  To read the official press release, click here.

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