2018 NFHS Football Rules Book

1 2018 NFHS Football RULESBOOKROBERT B. GARDNER, PublisherBob Colgate, EditorNFHS PublicationsTo maintain the sound traditions of this sport, encourage sportsmanshipand minimize the inherent risk of injury, the National Federation of StateHigh School Associations writes playing Rules for varsity competitionamong student-athletes of high school age. High school coaches, officialsand administrators who have knowledge and experience regarding thisparticular sport and age group volunteer their time to serve on the rulescommittee. Member associations of the NFHS independently makedecisions regarding compliance with or modification of these playingrules for the student-athletes in their respective Rules are used by education-based and non-education-basedorganizations serving children of varying skill levels who are of highschool age and younger.

2 In order to make NFHS Rules skill-level and age-level appropriate, the Rules may be modified by any organization thatchooses to use them. Except as may be specifically noted in this rulesbook, the NFHS makes no recommendation about the nature or extent ofthe modifications that may be appropriate for children who are younger orless skilled than high school varsity individual using these Rules is responsible for prudent judgmentwith respect to each contest, athlete and facility, and each athlete isresponsible for exercising caution and good sportsmanship. These rulesshould be interpreted and applied so as to make reasonableaccommodations for athletes, coaches and officials with disabilities.

3 2018, By the National Federation of State High School the whole nor any part of this publication may be copied orreproduced and/or translated without first obtaining express writtenpermission from the of all or any portion of this publication on the Internetis expressly prohibited. Published by the NATIONALFEDERATION OF STATE HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATIONS, POBox 690, Indianapolis, Indiana 46206; Phone: 317-972-6900, , Cover photo courtesy of Visual ImagePhotography, Football Rules Changes1-5-4, 1-5-5, 3-5-10e (NEW), 3-6-2, 9-8-1h, 9-9 Improperly equippedplayer shall be replaced for at least one Defenseless player provisions for passer PENALTY, 6-1-4 PENALTY Signal change for free (NEW), 6-1-9b PENALTY (NEW), 10-4-2 EXCEPTION(NEW), 10-5-1j (NEW) New penalty option adopted for fouls bykicking Football (RULE 3) Length of time betweenperiods Football Editorial ChangesField Diagrams, 1-3-7, Table 1-7 (9.)

4 , 3-4-2c, 3-5-2b, 3-5-5b, 3-6 PENALTY, 5-1-2a, 7-2-5b EXCEPTION (1), Table 7-5-4, 7-5-5, 9-4 PENALTY, 9-5-1h, 9-7-2 EXCEPTION, 9-8-1j, 10-4-7, Resolving TiedGames, Penalty Summary, NFHS Official Football Signals, Football Points of Emphasis1. Proper Wearing and Use of Required Equipment2. Blindside Blocks and Defenseless Player3. Enforcement of Penalties for Personal Fouls and UnsportsmanlikeConduct Fouls4. Pace of Play and Timing Issues2018 NFHS Football Rules CommitteeChair: Todd Tharp, IowaVice Chair: Richard McWhirter, TennesseeAlabama - Mark JonesAlaska - Brian HoskenArizona - Tyler CerimeliArkansas - Steve RobertsCalifornia - Steve CooverColorado - Tom RobinsonConnecticut - Leroy WilliamsDelaware - Tommie NeubauerDistrict of Columbia - Dwayne Marcus.

5 - Frank BeasleyGeorgia - Tommy WhittleHawaii - Georges GilbertIdaho - Ty JonesIllinois - Sam KnoxIndiana - Robert FaulkensIowa - Todd TharpKansas - Mark LentzKentucky - Julian TackettLouisiana - Keith AlexanderMaine - Ralph DamrenMaryland - Bill WitteMichigan - Nate HamptonMinnesota - Kevin MerkleMississippi - Robert HollowayMissouri - Greg StahlMontana - Brian MichelottiNebraska - Nate NeuhausNevada - Jim CavinNew Hampshire - Steve HallNew Jersey - Jack DuBoisNew Mexico - Dusty YoungNew York - Gary VanDerzeeNorth Carolina - Mark DreibelbisNorth Dakota - Jeff RiskOhio - Beau RuggOklahoma - Mike WhaleyOregon - Brad GarrettPennsylvania - Paul SheehanRhode Island - John AbbateSouth Carolina - Bruce HulionSouth Dakota - John KrogstrandTennessee - Richard McWhirterUtah - Brenan JacksonVermont - Bob DavisVirginia - Tom DolanWashington - John MillerWest Virginia - Mike WebbWisconsin - Wade LabeckiWyoming - Trevor WilsonNFHS-CA - Scott ReedNFHS-OA - Jeff HilyerNFHS SMAC - Michael Koester, (Ex-Officio)2018 NFHS Football Editorial CommitteeTable of ContentsHelmet Warning InformationField DiagramsRule 1.

6 The Game, Field, Players and EquipmentRule 2. Definitions of Playing TermsRule 3. Periods, Time Factors and SubstitutionsRule 4. Ball in Play, Dead Ball and Out of BoundsRule 5. Series of Downs, Number of Down and Team Possessions AfterPenaltyRule 6. Kicking the Ball and Fair CatchRule 7. Snapping, Handling and Passing the BallRule 8. Scoring Plays and TouchbacksRule 9. Conduct of Players and OthersRule 10. Enforcement of PenaltiesFootball FundamentalsResolving Tied GamesNine-, Eight-, and Six-Player Rules DifferencesOfficial Football SignalsPenalty Summary2018 Points of EmphasisComments on the 2018 Rules ChangesAppendix A: Mission StatementAppendix B: Suggested Guidelines for the Management of Concussion inSportsAppendix C: Equipment GuidelinesAppendix D: Communicable Disease ProceduresAppendix E: Lightning and Thunder GuidelinesAppendix F: Coaches Code of EthicsAppendix G.

7 Officials Code of EthicsNFHS DisclaimersEach state high school association adopting these Rules is the sole andexclusive source of binding Rules interpretations for contests involving itsmember schools. Any person having questions about the interpretation ofNFHS Rules should contact the Rules interpreter designated by his or herstate high school NFHS is the sole and exclusive source of model interpretations ofNFHS Rules . State Rules interpreters may contact the NFHS for modelrules interpretations. No other model Rules interpretations should : Except as specifically stated within the Rules of a given sport, anydimensions or other information in diagrams of courts, fields, pools, rinksand mats is suggestive only; it is not required by NFHS Rules .

8 Theconstruction and layout of all facilities used for high school competitionare subject to any applicable laws and building codes, and to the soundjudgment of the persons in charge of the NFHS Position Statements and Guidelines: TheNFHS regularly distributes position statements and guidelines to promotepublic awareness of certain health and safety-related issues. Suchinformation is neither exhaustive nor necessarily applicable to allcircumstances or individuals, and is no substitute for consultation withappropriate health-care professionals. Statutes, codes or environmentalconditions may be relevant. NFHS position statements or guidelinesshould be considered in conjunction with other pertinent materials whentaking action or planning care.

9 The NFHS reserves the right to rescind ormodify any such document at any time. Position Statements are located atthe end of this : Because facilities used for high school athletics come inmany shapes, sizes and conditions, on-site event management may onoccasion conclude that compliance with NFHS directives about eventconfiguration is not feasible. Under all circumstances, onsite eventmanagement should utilize set-ups that minimize risk under theconditions with which they deal. If a given facility cannot be madereasonably hazard-free, the event should be Rules changes are denoted with RESPONSIBILITY AND FOOTBALLHELMET WARNING STATEMENTA thletes who participate in the sport of Football accept the risk of , athletes also have the right to assume that those who areresponsible for the conduct of the sport, , administrators, coaches andathletic trainers, have taken reasonable precautions to minimize the riskof significant injury.

10 Refinements in the playing Rules , the development ofrisk minimization guidelines and the establishment of equipmentstandards have helped to reduce significant injuries. However, to legislatesafety via the Rules book and equipment standards is never a completeanswer. All who are involved with participation in the sport of footballshare in the responsibility of minimizing the sport s inherent coach is responsible for pregame verification that in addition to otherrequired equipment, each player has a helmet which meet NationalOperating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE)standards when manufactured and that each helmet has an exteriorwarning label.