Just as some discussion leading up to football, I thought it'd be worth discussing rule changes for the 2015 for NFHS (high school rules for everyone minus Texas)
This year saw a couple of minor administration changes (how officials can correct downs) and some editorial changes for spearing, etc.
The theee big rules changes for this year are:
1. A minor face mask penalty (5 yards) has been added to the "roughing the passer" rule. This includes incidental grasping of the face mask, chin strap, or any other opening in the helmet. This will be called as a face mask.
2. Dead ball unsportsmanlike conduct penalties (double fouls... Meaning each team commits the foul) made prior to the announcement of the fouls will now offset. This used to be enforced separately in the order they occurred (which made for some very pissed off coaches if one was enforced half the distance). This is a very welcome change.
3. Free kick formation changes (kickoffs, safeties, after a fair catch) - there now has to be at least 4 people on each side of the ball at the time the ball is kicked. Also, once the ball is marked ready for play, only one person can be more than 5 yards beyond the kicking teams free kick line and that person must kick the ball. If more than one person is beyond 5 yards after the ready for play or if the player who is beyond 5 yards doesn't kick the ball, it will be called encroachment.
I'm looking forward to some good football this year. Meridian and Starkville are supposed to be very very good. I'm sure south panola will continue to do their thing. So the season should be very good. I often run into people who don't exactly know the differences in high school/college/pro rules and it can make for a frustrating experience watching the games.
This year saw a couple of minor administration changes (how officials can correct downs) and some editorial changes for spearing, etc.
The theee big rules changes for this year are:
1. A minor face mask penalty (5 yards) has been added to the "roughing the passer" rule. This includes incidental grasping of the face mask, chin strap, or any other opening in the helmet. This will be called as a face mask.
2. Dead ball unsportsmanlike conduct penalties (double fouls... Meaning each team commits the foul) made prior to the announcement of the fouls will now offset. This used to be enforced separately in the order they occurred (which made for some very pissed off coaches if one was enforced half the distance). This is a very welcome change.
3. Free kick formation changes (kickoffs, safeties, after a fair catch) - there now has to be at least 4 people on each side of the ball at the time the ball is kicked. Also, once the ball is marked ready for play, only one person can be more than 5 yards beyond the kicking teams free kick line and that person must kick the ball. If more than one person is beyond 5 yards after the ready for play or if the player who is beyond 5 yards doesn't kick the ball, it will be called encroachment.
I'm looking forward to some good football this year. Meridian and Starkville are supposed to be very very good. I'm sure south panola will continue to do their thing. So the season should be very good. I often run into people who don't exactly know the differences in high school/college/pro rules and it can make for a frustrating experience watching the games.
