Football Update

June 25, 2015FACA Fall Sports Summer Conference

Football Advisory Committee MembersSection 1 – Yusef Shakir – Lincoln Section 3 – Chuck Kenyon – Martin CountySection 1 – Jarrod Hickman – Florida High Section 3 – Bill Kramer – NaplesSection 2 – Darrell Sutherland – Bartram Trail Sectoin 4 – Dan Marguriet – TaravellaSection 2 – Stephen Field – North Marion Section 4 – Mike Rumph – American Heritgate

FACA Representative – Randy Bethel

Congratulations to the 2015 State Champs

• 1A – Port St. Joe• 2A – Victory Christian (Lakeland)• 3A – Trinity Christian (Jacksonville)• 4A – Booker T. Washington (Miami)• 5A – American Heritage (Plantation)• 6A – Miami Central• 7A – St. Thomas Aquinas• 8A - Apopka

Important Dates for 2015

• First practice date - non contact (Week 6) – Aug. 3• First practice date - contact (Week 6) – Aug. 8• Preseason classic competitions (Week 8) – Aug. 19-22• EL7 & EL12 forms due to AD (Week 9) – Aug. 2• First regular season playing date (Week 9) – Aug. 26-29• Last district playing date (Week 18) – Oct. 28-31• District tiebreakers (Week 19) – Nov. 2• Official entry list due (Week 19) – Nov. 2• Last regular season playing date (Week 19) – Nov. 4-7

Required Before Participation (By-Law 9)

• EL2 – must be current within the past 365 days completed by appropriate health care providers – see Policy 40.2/By-Law 9.7

• EL3 & EL3CH – signed by all parties. See By-Law 9.8

• Birth Certificate on file (By-Law 9.6)

• Academic Requirements – minimum of 2.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale (See By-Law 9.4)

• All other pertinent By-Laws and Policies that apply to eligibility.

Key Reminders for Coaches

• All Head & supplemented coaches are required to successfully complete the online “Concussion in Sports” and “Sudden Cardiac Arrest” courses which both may be found on www.nfhslearn.com.

• Follow the Heat Acclimatization – Policy 41 procedures. Have a plan for every circumstance.

• Don’t ever think it won’t happen on your watch, because it will.• Hold yourself and staff to the same standards you would expect

from any other professional. • Enjoy the moment. Remember it is ALL about the kids!

Day Attire Max Practice Time Two-A-Days Walk Through

1-2 Helmets 3 hours Not Allowed Yes – see policy 41.3.4

3-5 Helmets & Shoulder Pads

3 hours Not Allowed Yes – see policy 41.3.4

6-7 Full Gear 3 hours Not Allowed Yes – see policy 41.3.4

8-14 Full Gear 1 practice – 3 hours2 practices – 5 hours total

Allowed but must follow 2-1-2-1 policy

Yes on days with 1 practice. Not allowed on two-a-days. See policy 41.4.10

Practice Policy

*****Days refer to actual practice days.****

2015 NFHS Rule ChangesRule # Explanation

2-20-1c Spearing definition revised. Spearing is an act by any player who initiates contact against an opponent at the shoulders or below with the crown (top portion) of their helmet. The shaded area is the crown.

5-1-1b (NEW) Added authority to the referee to correct the number of the next down prior to the ball becoming live after a new series is awarded.

6-1-3; 6-1-4(NEW); 6-1 PENALTY

Free-kick formations revised. At the time the ball is kicked, there must be at least four players on either side of the kicker. The player beyond the five yard mark is the only person eligible to kick the ball.

9-4-3g Updated unnecessary roughness to include defenseless player and added excessive contact.

9-4 PENALTY Roughing the passer penalty clarified. An automatic first down is not awarded for a 5 yard incidental face mask infraction against the passer.

10-2-5 Dead-ball penalty enforcement modified. Equal number of 15 yard penalties will cancel each other. Remember to enforce the penalties in the order in which they occurred.

Spearing is an act by any player who initiates contact against an opponent at the shoulders or below with the crown (top portion) of the helmet. The shaded area is the crown.

Spearing Rule 2-20-1c Spearing Rule 2-20-1c

Number 61 is guilty of spearing because the crown (top portion) of their helmet was used to initiate contact against an opponent at the shoulders or below.

In MechaniGram A, K has only three players on one side of the kicker. If K4 shifts to the other side of the

kicker by going more than five yards from the free kick line after the ready-for-play signal (MechaniGram B), it

is a dead-ball foul for encroachment.

Free-kick Formation Rule 6-1-3; 6-1-4 NEW; 6-1 Penalty

Number 54 grasps but does not twist, pull or turn the passer’s face mask. The foul is incidental face mask, and is

not roughing the passer. The penalty is five yards administered under the all-but-one principle, and no

automatic first down.

Roughing the Passer Rule 9-4 PENALTY

Illegal Personal contact Rule 9-4-3g

No player or nonplayer shall make any other contact with an opponent, including a defenseless player, which is deemed

unnecessary or excessive and which incites roughness.

1-5-1b(2) NOTE and 1-5-1b(3) NOTE

Further clarified and standardized the rules language on the American flag and the use of commemorative or memorial patches on the uniform.

Table 1-7 (8) Added Rule 1-7 on accommodations to the Table of State Association Adoptions.

2-8 Clarified that Encroachment also occurs when a player violates the free kick restrictions as in 6-1-4.

2-20-1a, b Clarified the rules language on Butt Blocking and Face Tackling.

3-6, 7 PENALTY Standardized the PENALTY section.

5-1-1 Changed the format to Rule 5-1-1.

2015 NFHS Football Editorial Changes

6-1, 2, 5 PENALTY Standardized the PENALTY section.

6-5-4c Further clarified the rules language on the Fair Catch.

7-1, 2, 3, 5 PENALTY

Standardized the PENALTY section.

9-3-1 Added in rules references.

9-2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 PENALTY

Standardized the PENALTY section.

9-4-3h Clarified by adding to the rule, incidental grasping of an opponent’s face mask, helmet opening, chin strap or a tooth and mouth protector attached to the face mask.

9-4-3i Revised the rules language on Illegal Helmet Contact to note that it may be judged by the game official a flagrant act.

9-8-1m Deleted.

9-9 (NEW) Added a new Section on “Failure to Properly Wear Required Equipment.”

10-2-1 Standardized the rules language on a Double Foul.

Football Fund. IX-5 Clarified nonplayer and unsportsmanlike fouls.

Six-Player Rules Differences (Rule 6)

Clarification from a 2014 rules change on free-kick formation.

Penalty Summary Revised the Penalty Summary to reflect the 2015 NFHS football rules changes.

2015 Points of Emphasis

Risk Minimization Facilitating NFHS Football Rules

2016 NFHS Rules Proposal Form

Due to the FHSAA Office by October 16, 2015 for approval.

• Examine the teams playing and assign a neutral association to work the game. (A neutral association may be one both teams are under contract with.)

• Try to place the better crews on the games that may be issues.

• Sometimes the top crews may be assigned to an easier or no game to save for later rounds.

• Every effort is made to assign crews to games with the least amount of travel.

Assigning Officials

Things to Consider/Discuss• Plan for limiting contact at practice during the season

• Length of Spring Football• Direction of 7-on-7

• District Assignment – Size or Travel?• How do we attract the Independent schools back into the State

Series?

Questions or comments

Thank you for all you do! Good luck

this season!Craig Damon

FHSAA – Director of Athletics352-216-1214 Cell

cdamon@fhsaa.org