2021 Football Rules Book

1 2021 Football Rules BookIF i LOSEI LL RESPOND WITH t undo my hard workwith poor NCAA Football Rules AND INTERPRETATIONSNATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION[ISSN 0736-5144]THE NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC BOX 6222 INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA 46206-6222317 2021 NCAA, NCAA LOGO AND NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION ARE REGISTERED MARKS OF THE ASSOCIATION AND USE IN ANY MANNER IS PROHIBITED UNLESS PRIOR APPROVAL IS OBTAINED FROM THE , 1974, BY THE NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATIONREPRINTED: 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICAM anuscript Prepared By: Steve Shaw, Secretary- Rules Editor, NCAA Football Rules By: Ty Halpin, Director, Championships and By.

2 NCAA StaffFR-3 ContentspageNCAA Football Rules Committee FR-4 Major Rules Changes for 2021 FR-5 Index to Editorial Changes FR-6 Points of Emphasis FR-7 Sportsmanship Statement FR-10 The Football Code FR-11 Official NCAA Football Rules FR-13 Rule 1 The Game, Field, Players and Equipment FR-14 Rule 2 Definitions FR-28 Rule 3 Periods, Time Factors and Substitutions FR-47 Rule 4 Ball in Play, Dead Ball, Out of Bounds FR-61 Rule 5 Series of Downs.

3 Line to Gain FR-64 Rule 6 Kicks FR-67 Rule 7 Snapping and Passing the Ball FR-76 Rule 8 Scoring FR-85 Rule 9 Conduct of Players and Others Subject to the Rules FR-91 Rule 10 Penalty Enforcement FR-107 Rule 11 The Officials: Jurisdiction and Duties FR-111 Rule 12 Instant Replay FR-112 Appendix A Guidelines for Serious On-Field Injuries FR-119 Appendix B Lightning Policy FR-120 Appendix C Concussions FR-121 Appendix D Field Diagrams FR-123 Appendix E Equipment.

4 Additional Details FR-130 Appendix F Official Football Signals FR-136 Appendix G Summary of Penalties FR-139 Appendix H Accommodations for Student-Athletes with Disabilities FR-143 Official NCAA Football Rules Interpretations FI-1 Table of Contents for Approved Rulings FI-2 List of New and Modified Approved Rulings FI-3 Rule 1 The Game, Field, Players and Equipment FI-4 Rule 2 Definitions FI-7 Rule 3 Periods, Time Factors and Substitutions FI-11 Rule 4 Ball in Play, Dead Ball, Out of Bounds FI-24 Rule 5 Series of Downs.

5 Line to Gain FI-27 Rule 6 Kicks FI-30 Rule 7 Snapping and Passing the Ball FI-41 Rule 8 Scoring FI-54 Rule 9 Conduct of Players and Others Subject to the Rules FI-62 Rule 10 Penalty Enforcement FI-78 Index to Rules IND-1FR-4 NCAA Football Rules CommitteeThe chart below lists the members of the committee who voted on and approved the Rules included in this edition of the book.

6 This information is being included for historical ExpirationBill CarolloBig Ten Conference9-1-22 Kirsten FordRocky Mountain Athletic HodginShenandoah University9-1-24 Josh LooneyMissouri Western State PierceSul Ross State University9-1-24 Anthony RenoYale University9-1-21 Zac SelmonUniversity of Oklahoma9-1-23 David Shaw*Stanford University9-1-22 Steve Shaw**Secretary- Rules Editor9-1-21**Jacob SpavitalTexas State University9-1-21 Demario WarrenSouthern Utah University9-1-24 Doug ZippOhio Wesleyan University9-1-22 Bill ZwaanWest Chester University9-1-22*Committee chair**Non-voting member**Eligible for reappointmentFor a complete and current listing of the NCAA Football Rules Committee, please go to: who find it necessary to contact the editor for interpretations of Rules , play situations or for information and guidance regarding officiating, may send an e-mail to the address below.

7 Requests should be sent to:STEVE SHAWS ecretary- Rules Editore-mail: Rules Changes for 2021 The numbers and letters in the left column refer to rule, section and article, respectively. Changed or altered items are identified in the Rules by a shaded background, unless the change results in the deletion of the entire segment containing the 2021 season is an off-year in the playing Rules cycle; however, the committee is able to make changes for the following reasons during this period: 1) Student-athlete safety; 2) Adjustment to rule change from the previous season that is not achieving its intent; or 3) Changes that have a significant impact on the image of the game. The 2022 season will be a year in which the committee is able to make changes to all Rules without restriction.

8 The Football Rules Committee made the following major changes for the 2021 season:MAJOR Rules CHANGES for 20211-2-4-a Team Area and Coaching Box extended to 20-yard lines3-1-3-e Beginning with the third extra period, a team s possession series will be one play for a two-point try3-1-3-f Beginning with the second extra period, teams scoring a touchdown must attempt a two-point try3-3-5-b Feigning injuries: Review process established for questionable game actionFR-6 Index to Editorial ChangesSIGNIFICANT EDITORIAL CHANGES for 20211-1-6-b Adds lighting system operators to persons subject to the rules1-2-4-b Medical staff exempted from 50 team area credential restriction1-3-2-a Number of game balls offered for play increased to ten1-4-5-a Undergarments may not extend below the waistline ( , T-shirt)1-4-11-d Clarified microphones attached to the head coach1-4-13-b Definition of official-to-official (O2O)

9 Communication added2-16-4-b Clarification for use of a tee on a free kick3-2-3-a-1 Offended team option added when a period is not extended3-4-5 10-second runoff summary added5-1-3-a Clarified forward progress point on a catch7-1-6-a Handing the ball forward clarification9-1-11-d Added apparent kick in leverage and leaping rule9-2-1-b-5 Clarified video/audio/lighting operators obstructing play9-2-3-c Persons subject to the Rules interfering with play10-2-5-b Penalty enforcement for defensive pass interference on the try12-3-2-e-1 Recovery in the immediate, continuing action detailed12-3-3-d-1 Added ball out of bounds for reviewability12-3-4-g Receiving team advancing after fair catch signal reviewable12-3-6-b Replay clock adjustment: Two/Five minute principle added12-3-6-d Clock adjustment at the end of a quarter: Removed requirement for scrimmage down to be next play12-3-8-a Added player has been beyond the neutral zone12-3-8-e Touching of a forward pass by an originally ineligible player12-4-2-c Definition of official-to-official (O2O) communication addedFR-7 Points of EmphasisThe NCAA Football Rules Committee has extraordinary pride in the Football Code, which was introduced in 1916 and has been updated several times.

10 These guidelines form a harmony of agreement among coaches, players, game officials and administrators that places each contest in an environment of fairness and sportsmanship. It is noted that the Code emphasizes the following unethical practices: Using the helmet as a weapon. The helmet is for protection of the and players and coaches should emphasize the elimination of targeting and initiating contact against a defenseless opponent and/or with the crown of the helmet. Every participant in the collegiate Football scene shares a responsibility for ethical conduct that enhances the future of this American tradition. PROTECTION OF DEFENSELESS PLAYERS / TARGETING The NCAA Football Rules Committee continues to embrace the targeting rule in order to promote player safety, reduce head contact and eliminate specific targeting actions from the game.