For the upcoming 2014 fall high school football season, the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) has adopted additions set by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Football Rules Committee in January – and has added six modifications of its own.
The 10 NFHS rules added in an effort to reduce risk of injury include:
* “Targeting” is now defined as an “act of taking aim and initiating contact to an opponent above the shoulders with the helmet, forearm, hand, fist, elbow or shoulders.” Such targeting which goes beyond making a legal tackle, a legal block or playing the ball will be prohibited.
* A “defenseless player” is defined as “a player who, because of his physical position and focus of concentration, is especially vulnerable to injury.” This definition was added for risk-minimization purposes.
* In an effort o reduce risk of injury on kickoffs, two new requirements have been added for the kicking team. First, at least four members of the kicking team must be on each side of the kicker – and second, other than the kicker, no members of the kicking team may be more than five yeards behind the kicking team’s free-kick line. If more than one player is more than five yards behind the restraining line and any other player kicks the ball, it is a foul. This balances the kicking team’s formation as well as limits the maximum distance of the run-up for the kicking team.
* New language was added that states that “the accidental touching of a looses ball by a player who was blocked into the ball is ignored and does not constitute a new force.”
* Roughing the passer fouls now include all illegal personal contact fouls listed in the rule, which results in an automatic first down – in addition to a 15-yard penalty.
* Provides state associations with the authority to require game officials to be on the field more than 30 minutes prior to game time.
* Clarifies the intent of an illegal kick. Now, when an illegal kick occurs, the loose ball retains the same status that it has prior to the illegal kick.
* In order to extend or not extend a period with an untimed down – time must have expired during that down.
The six rule modifications put in place by the MSHSL for Minnesota schools include:
* A 25-second play clock may be used when available at the discretion of the home team. there must be a clock operator and the clock must be available to both teams.
* A “Minnesota Experiment” is being tests on free kicks. On free kicks, at least four members of the kicking team’s players must be on each side of the ball when it is kicked (a live ball penalty will be assessed for illegal formation; five-yard penalty from the previous spot). In addition, the kicking team may not initiate contact with members of the receiving team until the kicking team is eligible to recover the kick (the ball has gone 10 yards and touched the ground) – or it is obvious that this is NOT an obvious onside kick attempt (an illegal use of hands penalty will be assessed; 10-yard penalty from the previous spot).
* A modification of the football distance penalty for 9-Man football. All penalties that require a loss of 15 yards in 11-Man football will be penalized a lost of 10 yards in a 9-Man game – IF played on an 80-yard field. All 15-yard penalties o a 100-yard field will be penalized as a loss of 15 yards.
* When facilities permit, 9-Man football should be played on a 100-yard field. If space does not allow for 100 yards, the game can be played on an 80-yard field. In either case, the width of the field is 40 yards; and the distance from sidelines to hash marks in 48 feet, 4 inches.
* The “Mercy Rule” states that when the point differential reaches 35 points or more in the fourth quarter, the clock will go to running time. The clock will be stopped for any time-outs (team or official); and after scoring plays, until the ensuing kickoff. Regular timing rules will be used if the point differential drops back to less than 30 points. NOTE: the rule allowing for the game to be shortened of terminated at any time, by mutual agreement of the opposing coaches and the referee remains in effect.
* Both 9-Man and 11-Man football will use the rule that states, “if, at the end of the fourth period, the teams have identical scores, the tie will be resolved using the ‘ 10-yard’ overtime procedure as outlined in the NFHS rule book.
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