New rules for 2015 were announced today by the National Federation.
FWIW, no earth-shattering changes here that will affect the game from
the standpoint of the casual fan. Here's the list with my comments,
which combined with $5 will buy you some Starbucks coffee:
2-20: Spearing is now defined as "an act by any player who initiates
contact against an opponent at the shoulders or below with the crown
(top portion) of his helmet." (contact above the shoulders is defined as targeting).Really just a clarification. Last year, there was some overlap in the
definitions between spearing and targeting. This just narrows things
down. Both are 15 yarders, both are ejections if flagrant.
5-1-1b: The referee shall have authority to correct the number of the next down prior to a new series of downs being awardedThis one just puts in the rule book what has been in the case book for as long as I can remember.
6-1-4: This rule was added to state that the timing of the foul for not having at
least four players on each side of the kicker on a free kick now occurs when the ball
is kicked.This is, IMHO, the best change of the bunch. Last year's rule (no less
than four on each side of the kicker after the ready for play whistle)
was a hemorrhoid to figure out, because the kicker is not a kicker by
rule until he kicks the ball. This should make it a lot easier to
enforce.
9-4: Automatic
first down will NOT be awarded for a 5-yard incidental face mask penalty
against the passer. Previously, this violation was included in the
penalty for roughing the passer, which calls for a 15-yard penalty and
an automatic first down.This will seldom happen, and now you have a clear explanation in the book.
9-4-3g: "No player or non-player shall make any contact with an opponent,
including a defenseless player, which is deemed unnecessary or excessive
and which incites roughness."Not sure why this needed to be added. The press release uses the example
of an othewise-legal blindside block thrown against a player who is
obviously out of the play. That's been a foul for several years now.
10-2-5: The distance
penalty for unsportsmanlike, non-player or dead-ball personal fouls
committed by teams can offset. Equal numbers of 15-yard penalties by
both teams will cancel and remaining penalties may be enforced.As a white hat, I like this change. As it was, if we had two dead ball
personal fouls in a half-the-distance situation, we had to mark off both
fouls in the order in which they occurred. This would end up with
unequal penalties, because one team would get a half the distance foul,
and the other would get the full 15. Now we can wave 'em off if they
are both dead or enforced as dead ball fouls. However, if it's a live
ball followed by a dead ball, it's still the same.
This post was edited on 2/14 2:19 AM by ref4e
2015 Rule Change News Release from NFHS
FWIW, no earth-shattering changes here that will affect the game from
the standpoint of the casual fan. Here's the list with my comments,
which combined with $5 will buy you some Starbucks coffee:
2-20: Spearing is now defined as "an act by any player who initiates
contact against an opponent at the shoulders or below with the crown
(top portion) of his helmet." (contact above the shoulders is defined as targeting).Really just a clarification. Last year, there was some overlap in the
definitions between spearing and targeting. This just narrows things
down. Both are 15 yarders, both are ejections if flagrant.
5-1-1b: The referee shall have authority to correct the number of the next down prior to a new series of downs being awardedThis one just puts in the rule book what has been in the case book for as long as I can remember.
6-1-4: This rule was added to state that the timing of the foul for not having at
least four players on each side of the kicker on a free kick now occurs when the ball
is kicked.This is, IMHO, the best change of the bunch. Last year's rule (no less
than four on each side of the kicker after the ready for play whistle)
was a hemorrhoid to figure out, because the kicker is not a kicker by
rule until he kicks the ball. This should make it a lot easier to
enforce.
9-4: Automatic
first down will NOT be awarded for a 5-yard incidental face mask penalty
against the passer. Previously, this violation was included in the
penalty for roughing the passer, which calls for a 15-yard penalty and
an automatic first down.This will seldom happen, and now you have a clear explanation in the book.
9-4-3g: "No player or non-player shall make any contact with an opponent,
including a defenseless player, which is deemed unnecessary or excessive
and which incites roughness."Not sure why this needed to be added. The press release uses the example
of an othewise-legal blindside block thrown against a player who is
obviously out of the play. That's been a foul for several years now.
10-2-5: The distance
penalty for unsportsmanlike, non-player or dead-ball personal fouls
committed by teams can offset. Equal numbers of 15-yard penalties by
both teams will cancel and remaining penalties may be enforced.As a white hat, I like this change. As it was, if we had two dead ball
personal fouls in a half-the-distance situation, we had to mark off both
fouls in the order in which they occurred. This would end up with
unequal penalties, because one team would get a half the distance foul,
and the other would get the full 15. Now we can wave 'em off if they
are both dead or enforced as dead ball fouls. However, if it's a live
ball followed by a dead ball, it's still the same.
This post was edited on 2/14 2:19 AM by ref4e
2015 Rule Change News Release from NFHS
