2024 NFHS FOOTBALL JERSEY and PANT RULES (April 2024)
RULE 1-4-3:
ART. 3 . . . Each player shall be numbered 0 through 99 inclusive. Any number preceded by the digit zero is illegal. See 7-2-5.
RULE 1-5-1:
ART. 1 . . . Mandatory Equipment. Each player shall participate while wearing the following pieces of properly fitted equipment, which shall be professionally manufactured and not altered to decrease protection:
b. Jersey:
1. A jersey, unaltered from the manufacturer’s original design/production, and which shall be long enough to reach the top of the pants and shall be tucked in if longer. It must completely cover the shoulder pads and all pads worn above the waist on the torso.
2. Players of the visiting team shall wear jerseys, unaltered from the manufacturer's original design/production, that meet the following criteria:
(a) The body of the jersey (inside the shoulders, inclusive of the yoke of the jersey or the shoulders, below the collar, and to the bottom of the jersey) shall all be white.
(b) The body of the jersey shall contain only the listed allowable adornments and accessory patterns in a color(s) that contrasts to white:
(1) as the jersey number(s) required in 1-5-1c or as the school's nickname, school logo, school name and/or player name within the body and/or on the shoulders
(2) either as a decorative stripe placed during production that follows the curve of the raglan sleeve or following the shoulder seam in traditional yoke construction, not to exceed 1 inch at any point within the body of the jersey; or as decorative stripe(s) added in the shoulder area after production, not to exceed 1 inch per stripe and total size of combined stripes not to exceed 3.5 inches
(3) within the collar, a maximum of 1 inch in width, and/or
(4) as a side seam (insert connecting the back of the jersey to the front), a maximum of 4 inches in width but any non-white color may not appear within the body of the jersey (inside the shoulders, inclusive of the yoke of the jersey or the shoulders, below the collar, and to the bottom of the jersey). The exception to (4) would be what is stated in (2) above.
NOTE: One American flag, not to exceed 2 inches by 3 inches, may be worn or occupy space on each item of uniform apparel. By state association adoption, to allow for special occasions, commemorative or memorial patches, not to exceed 4 square inches, may be worn on the uniform without compromising its integrity. (c) The visiting team is responsible for avoidance of similarity of colors, but if there is doubt, the referee may require players of the home team to change jerseys.
3. Players of the home team shall wear jerseys, unaltered from the manufacturer's original design/production,
that meet the following criteria:
(a) The body of the jersey (inside the shoulders, inclusive of the yoke of the jersey or the shoulders, below the collar, and to the bottom of the jersey) may not include white, except as stated below.
(b) The jerseys of the home team shall all be the same dark color(s) that clearly contrasts to white. If white appears in the body of the jersey of the home team, it may only appear:
(1) as the jersey number(s) required in 1-5-1c or as the school's nickname, school logo, school name and/or player name within the body and/or on the shoulders
(2) either as a decorative stripe placed during production that follows the curve of the raglan sleeve or following the shoulder seam in traditional yoke construction, not to exceed 1 inch at any point within the body of the jersey; or as decorative stripe(s) added in the shoulder area after production, not to exceed 1 inch per stripe and total size of combined stripes not to exceed 3.5 inches
(3) within the collar, a maximum of 1 inch in width, and/or
(4) as a side seam (insert connecting the back of the jersey to the front), a maximum of 4 inches in width but any white color may not appear within the body of the jersey (inside the shoulders, inclusive of the yoke of the jersey or the shoulders, below the collar, and to the bottom of the jersey). The exception to (4) would be what is stated in (2) above.
NOTE: One American flag, not to exceed 2 inches by 3 inches, may be worn or occupy space on each item of uniform apparel. By state association adoption, to allow for special occasions, commemorative or memorial patches, not to exceed 4 square inches, may be worn on the uniform without compromising its integrity. (c) The visiting team is responsible for avoidance of similarity of colors, but if there is doubt, the referee may require players of the home team to change jerseys.
c. Numbers:
1. The numbers shall be clearly visible and legible using Arabic numbers 0-99 inclusive and shall be on the front and back of the jersey.
2. The numbers, inclusive of any border(s), shall be centered horizontally at least 8 inches and 10 inches high on front and back, respectively.
3. The entire body of the number (the continuous horizontal bars and vertical strokes) exclusive of any border(s) shall be approximately 1½-inches wide.
4. The color and style of the number shall be the same on the front and back.
5. The entire body of the number (the continuous horizontal bars and vertical strokes) shall be a single solid color that clearly contrasts with the body color of the jersey.
d. Pads and Protective Equipment – The following pads and protective equipment are required of all players:
1. Hip pads and tailbone protector which are unaltered from the manufacturer’s original design/production.
2. Knee pads which are unaltered from the manufacturer’s original design/production, which are worn over the knee and under the pants and shall be at least ½ inch thick or 3/8 inch thick if made of shock absorbing material.
3. Shoulder pads and hard surface auxiliary attachments, which shall be fully covered by a jersey.
4. Thigh guards which are unaltered from the manufacturer’s original design/production.
e. Pants - which completely cover the knees, thigh guards and knee pads and any portion of any knee brace
that does not extend below the pants.
RULE 1-5-3:
ART. 3 . . . Illegal Equipment. No player shall participate while wearing illegal equipment. This applies to any equipment, which in the opinion of the umpire is dangerous, confusing or inappropriate. Illegal equipment shall always include but is not limited to:
a. The following items related to the Game Uniform:
1. Jerseys and pants that have:
(a) A visible logo/trademark or reference exceeding 2¼ square inches and exceeding 2¼ inches in any dimension.
(b) More than one manufacturer’s logo/trademark or reference on the outside of either item. (The same size restriction shall apply to either the manufacturer’s logo/trademark or reference).
(c) Sizing, garment care or other non-logo labels on the outside of either item.
3. Tear-away jerseys or jerseys that have been altered in any manner that produces a knot-like protrusion or creates a tear-away jersey.
4. Any transverse stripe on the sleeve below the elbow.
c. The following items related to Other Illegal Equipment:
1. Ball-colored helmets, jerseys, patches, exterior arm covers/pads, undershirts or gloves.
5. Jerseys, undershirts or exterior arm covers/pads manufactured to enhance contact with the football or opponent.
9. Equipment not worn as intended by the manufacturer.
PREGAME ADMINISTRATION
Many game officials may be under the impression that their job begins at kickoff and ends when the game clock expires. However, efficient administration of a game requires advance planning by the crew to ensure awareness of potential distractions that can cause problems and disrupt the orderly conduct of the game.
Pregame administration begins a few days before the game. The referee, as crew chief, has some added administrative responsibilities. The referee should contact the host school (either the athletic director or designated game administrator) by email or phone a few days prior to the game to confirm the date and time of kickoff. This is particularly important if the game was assigned months – and sometimes years – in advance. Games can and will be cancelled or rescheduled by schools, and members of the officiating crew are usually the last people to know of such changes. Moreover, it is a common business courtesy to contact clients in advance to confirm arrangements.
The referee should also inquire about parking location, changing facilities (if provided), the name and phone number of a contact person for the crew upon arrival, and whether there are any special activities occurring prior to the game. The referee should inform the school of the approximate arrival time of the crew. The referee should also inquire where the locker rooms are located for each team. This information can be important because some teams go to their locker room or another designated location after warm-up and return to the field just a few minutes before kickoff. If the referee is not aware of the team’s location and has not had an opportunity to meet with the team’s head coach, the pregame meeting will be rushed if it is held just minutes before kickoff.
Once the referee has contacted the school, the referee should provide the crew with all the information and specify the crew’s arrival time if crew members are arriving separately. After the crew has arrived and changed into game uniforms, the referee should lead the crew in a pregame conference.
When the crew takes the field, each crew member has certain responsibilities, as detailed in this manual. Those responsibilities include field inspection, checking player equipment, checking the chain crew equipment and meeting with the chain crew, meeting with the clock operator, meeting with ball helpers, and checking and securing game balls.
Pregame administrative responsibilities should be conducted in a professional manner and should not be taken lightly. If game officials are diligent in conducting their pregame administrative tasks, the game will flow more smoothly and efficiently.
CLOCK MANAGEMENT
The rule implementing the 40-second play clock that was passed recently by the NFHS created not only some subtle changes to clock management but also had direct impact on the pace of play.
Occasionally, clock operators are volunteers, but in most cases they are hired by the home team and it is not unusual for them to be partisans. The vast majority of operators are ethical, reliable individuals who are burdened with multiple responsibilities. It is common for the game clock operator to also be responsible for maintaining the scoreboard. The latter duty requires the succeeding spot, down and distance to the line-to-gain to be updated promptly after each play. When a team achieves a first down inbounds, the game clock stops and is restarted when the referee signals. That interval should be no more than 3-5 seconds. The problem arises when the referee gives the start-the-clock signal – the “silent wind” – while the clock operator is working on the scoreboard console instead of watching the referee. The clock operator’s briefing should include a request to refrain from changing the scoreboard (down, distance and yard line where the ball is located) until the referee has restarted the game clock.
After a first down inbounds, the ready-for-play occurs when the ball has been spotted and the game official who spotted the ball has stepped away into position. Under no circumstances should the ready be delayed if the chain crew is still moving and is not in position. In such a case, the linesman can drop a beanbag to mark the spot of the snap. In that situation, to ensure the game clock is promptly started, the referee should begin the silent wind when the umpire has possession and is about to spot the ball. That will compensate for the clock operator’s reaction time to the signal and ensure the game clock has been started and is running when the ball is snapped. The prompt starting of the game clock will ensure neither team gets an unfair time advantage especially during the last two minutes of a half. If the spotting of the ball is delayed for any reason e.g., wet ball, exceptionally long gain, etc., the referee can adjust accordingly by slightly delaying the silent wind.
If there is a visible play clock that is not being operated by an on-field official, play clock operators should be certified game officials who are knowledgeable of NFHS play clock rules. Operating the play clock is a more difficult proposition than operating the game clock. The game clock operator can adequately do the job by following on-field signals with only minimal knowledge of NFHS rules. The play clock operator frequently must act without a visible signal from a game official. Knowledge of the situations where a 40-second play clock is required versus a 25-second play clock is essential as is always keeping the referee in view for a play clock re-set signal.
THE IMPORTANCE OF DEAD-BALL OFFICIATING
Dead-ball officiating may be viewed by some game officials as an afterthought and a time to take a break. However, when the ball becomes dead, it is the most critical time for game officials to continue to perform their duties in order to maintain decorum among opponents. Game officials should strive to be excellent dead-ball officials since the likelihood of fouls being committed is at perhaps its highest.
Dead-ball fouls include behavior that is outside of the normally accepted boundaries of football and can involve both players and nonplayers. Some examples are baiting and taunting, fighting, throwing equipment in frustration, verbal abuse of game officials, and initiating contact with an opponent after the play is over. Because this type of behavior tends to gender ill will between opponents, it is imperative that it is immediately recognized by game officials and penalized accordingly.
NFHS football rules penalize unsportsmanlike actions in different ways:
- Illegal personal contact is a category of fouls that involve contact with an opponent. Frequently referred to as a personal foul, illegal personal contact can result in disqualification if the game officials deem the foul to be flagrant. Even though they may involve unsportsmanlike actions, penalties for dead-ball illegal personal contact fouls, with limited exceptions, are always enforced from the succeeding spot, the same way as penalties for unsportsmanlike conduct fouls are enforced. While there are no rules mandating additional penalties for multiple illegal personal contact fouls committed by the same player or nonplayer, good dead-ball officiating will prevent participants from repeatedly committing
these types of fouls. Game officials must recognize situations where opponents are likely to commit dead-ball fouls and prevent them from happening through positioning and communication with players.
- Unsportsmanlike conduct fouls, by definition, are non-contact fouls (other than illegal participation) that do not influence a play. The penalties for these fouls are always enforced as dead-ball fouls (i.e., from the succeeding spot). When an unsportsmanlike conduct foul is judged to be flagrant or when any player or nonplayer commits two unsportsmanlike conduct fouls in the same game, the offender is disqualified. Unsportsmanlike conduct fouls cannot be combined with illegal personal contact fouls to disqualify an offender.
Recognizing unsportsmanlike actions requires game officials to be familiar with and use approved mechanics. Since most dead-ball fouls occur within three seconds of the end of a play, maintaining appropriate distance and angles after a play ensures game officials who do not have runner responsibility will be positioned so that they can monitor areas around the ball. This “Halo Principle” allows effective coverage of all 22 players. Rather than rushing to retrieve the football or focusing on the area around the runner, game officials should gently pinch-in toward the nearest players keeping them within sight and sound until the opponents have separated and teams are on their own side of their line of scrimmage. This is particularly important after a touchdown or try, when multiple players and substitutes are intersecting as they enter or leave the field.
Understanding the need to eliminate unsportsmanlike actions from the game, properly and consistently penalizing unsportsmanlike conduct and illegal personal contact and using NFHS-approved football game officials’ mechanics and officiating philosophies are all critical steps to improve sportsmanship in high school football.
2024 FOOTBALL POINTS OF EMPHASIS July 15, 2024
SPORTSMANSHIP AND ALTERCATION PREVENTION AND PROTOCOL
The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), state associations, coaches and game officials across the country are concerned as unsporting behavior in education-based athletics continues to escalate across all sports. A commitment to a collaborative, working relationship to promote good sportsmanship and teach and enforce NFHS rules and state association expectations is paramount to continue to safely conduct the game.
Everyone associated with high school football has a role to play in creating a positive, sportsmanlike atmosphere at games. The NFHS must continue to address poor sporting behavior and promote the value of good sportsmanship. State associations must clearly set expectations in regard to unsportsmanlike behavior and enforce association rules regarding violations of those expectations. School administrators and coaches must teach, promote, model and set clear standards of behavior for themselves, players and fans. School administrators and coaches should also ensure that additional personnel on the sideline, outside the team box, adhere to set standards of sportsmanship. Game officials must fairly and consistently enforce NFHS rules in all aspects related to unsporting behavior by coaches and participants. Players and parents must model respect for coaches and game officials’ decisions, opponents and adhere to and promote the set expectations regarding sportsmanship.
Everyone involved must clearly understand that education-based athletics is an extension of the classroom and is about more than just winning and losing, getting scholarships and gaining accolades. Education-based athletics is about learning, and the conduct and actions of everyone involved should reflect this.
In order to prevent unsportsmanlike issues from escalating please consider the following preventive protocols.
Fight or Altercation Protocol
Most fights end quickly. Fights that escalate beyond the initial incident tend to do so because others run toward the fight. Running toward a fight normally contributes to the escalation of the altercation.
1. Prepare before it happens. Make sure to instruct and even practice what to do in case an altercation occurs.
a. Assign specific coaches or administrators to run to the altercation to assist with breaking it up.
b. Assign specific coaches to immediately step off the sideline and turn their attention to keeping the players on the sideline.
c. Team members already on the field should distance themselves from the altercation.
d. Educate all participants about the penalties associated with fighting, leaving the team area, taunting, using offensive gestures, and other unsportsmanlike acts.
e. Instruct your video crew to continue to record or to start recording if an altercation occurs.
f. Know where security is stationed.
g. Keep all non-essential people off the sideline and preferably behind a fence or barrier.
2. If an altercation does occur, execute the above plan.
3. Once the participants are separated, keep them separated until play can safely resume or until administrators and game officials decide how to proceed.
4. Do not allow teams to simultaneously use the same exits or occupy the same areas following an altercation or chippy contest.
Handshake Line Protocol
1. Administrators/security from both schools should be stationed on the field in close proximity to the handshake line.
2. One team should be on the right and the other team should be on the left. Players from one team should not be allowed to walk down both sides of the line.
3. Absolutely no non-essential personnel should be allowed on the field or sidelines until both teams have reached a designated area after completion of the handshake line.
4. A coach or administrator should be stationed at the end of the handshake line to direct the players who have completed the line to a designated area on their end of the field. Do not allow the players to continue to the opposing sideline or to the other end of the field.
5. Have one or more coaches at the front of the line and one or more at the end of the line.
Improving the current state of the game regarding the prevalence of unsporting behavior requires that everyone involved commit to addressing the issue. Civility, even in the midst of intense competition, matters.
PLAYER EQUIPMENT AND ENFORCEMENT
To support the safety of all participants, players must wear equipment and uniforms that are properly fitted and worn as intended by the manufacturer. Before starting each game, the head coach must verify that all players are properly and legally equipped.
The use of knee pads is an area targeted for emphasis. Due to potential injury, it is essential that players only be allowed to participate if their pants and knee pads comply with the rules. Pants must completely cover the knees, and knee pads must be worn over the knee. In pregame duties, game officials should be watchful and proactive in addressing potential equipment, and more specifically, knee pad issues. Players often wear pants that slide up and expose the knee during movement. Game officials should communicate with coaches and/or players and ensure that only legally and properly equipped players are allowed to participate – noncompliance results in nonparticipation.
It is the shared responsibility of the coaches, players and game officials to closely monitor equipment issues and act in accordance with NFHS football playing rules on this subject. The specific areas of concern include the wearing of mandatory equipment by each player at all times while the ball is live, properly wearing any mandatory/legal equipment as intended by the manufacturer, and avoiding the use of any illegal equipment at any time by any player. It must be noted that NFHS Football Rules 3-5-10e and 9-8-1h directly address the correct enforcement for violations of these specific equipment rules. Coaches, game officials and players should work together and support the safety of all participants by ensuring that NFHS football equipment and uniform rules are followed.
FORMATIONS
Over the past several years, there has been a considerable decline by many teams in their efforts to line up legally. There has also been a decrease by game officials with enforcement of illegal formations, especially involving offensive linemen. Linemen are legally on the line of scrimmage when they face their opponent’s goal line and have head or foot breaking the imaginary plane through the waist of the snapper. It has become fairly common to see guards or tackles line up a yard or two off the ball to aid in pass blocking or pulling. Doing so provides a significant advantage for the offense and should be addressed at the first opportunity by coaches and game officials.
A back is an “A” player who has no part of his body breaking the plane of the waist of the nearest teammate who is on the line of scrimmage. Formations become illegal when backs are not clearly in the backfield. If an offensive player lines up by intersecting the waistline of the tackle, but not the center, Team A has committed an illegal formation foul because all Team A players must be a lineman or back. Receivers who wish to line up as a back should have “daylight” between the rear end of the nearest lineman and their nearest body part. Communicating with the line of scrimmage official on your side of the field is the best way to avoid a formation foul.
All coaches should spend time learning and periodically reviewing the current NFHS football playing rules so they can effectively pass correct information on to their players. Someone on the coaching staff should be assigned to monitor player compliance and understanding of formation rules during practice and game play. Early and consistent communication between coaches, players and game officials will permit the game to proceed with less disruption to the flow.
Game officials should monitor pre-game warm-up and communicate (through coaches) to allow them to correct borderline or illegal formation issues they have observed. Once the contest begins, preventive officiating skills should be used at the earliest opportunity to allow coaches to make adjustments before formation issues become egregious. However, formations that clearly and obviously do not meet the specifications of NFHS Football Rules 2-32-3, 2-32-9 and 7-2 must be penalized as fouls without warning.
October 17, 2024
NAERA (National Athletic Equipment Reconditioners Association), NOCSAE (National Operating
Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment) and helmet manufacturers are informing you of
reconditioning and recertification recommendations for football, lacrosse, baseball and softball helmets.
NAERA recommends that during every football, lacrosse, baseball and softball season or practice period,
every helmet should be cleaned and inspected regularly by a school or organization staff member with
knowledge of manufacturer recommendations. We further recommend every helmet should be
reconditioned and recertified annually unless stated otherwise by the manufacturer. ONLY a company
licensed by NOCSAE can perform the recertification of football, lacrosse, baseball and softball helmets.
For a list of NAERA members that are licensed by NOCSAE please visit our web site www.naera.net.
More information regarding NOCSAE and their standards can be found at www.nocsae.org.
Reconditioning/Recertification and Sanitization: NAERA recommends every football, lacrosse, baseball
and softball helmet be reconditioned and recertified prior to being issued to all athletes, unless stated
otherwise by the manufacturer. NAERA further recommends that nonrecertifiable equipment, including but
not limited to, football and lacrosse shoulder pads, chest protectors and shin guards be sanitized in
accordance to manufacturer guidelines.
On January 1, 2017NOCSAE put into effect standard ND 001 6.1.1 shown below.
ND 001 6.1.1. Helmets intended to be recertified shall have a recertification interval provided by the
manufacturer. Certification life is limited to this time period. Helmets not recertified during the stated
interval shall no longer be certified. Recertification interval'required for warranty validation shall
satisfy this requirement.
What does ND 001 6.1.1 mean for your school or organization? For Football helmets, as of this writing, the
requirements from all football helmet manufacturers for recertification is a minimum of every other year. If
you acquired new helmets in 2023 these helmets will need recertification per this standard for 2025 play.
Helmets that have a lapsed certification per NOCSAE DOC. 001 may be recertified under most conditions.
Always ask your NAERA representative if you have doubts. Remember when your team Captain or
Coach tells the official your team is legally equipped, you need to know that is correct and factual.
Every state association playing under NFHS (National Federation of State High School Associations) and
NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) rules has adopted the NOCSAE standards for football,
lacrosse, baseball and softball helmets. Other state associations may have similar rules; however, most
support the helmet manufactures recommendations.
NAERA encourages schools and organizations to send your equipment for reconditioning and recertification
as soon as your season is complete. Please make certain you are using a reconditioning company licensed
by NOCSAE. For a list of NOCSAE licensed athletic equipment reconditioners visit www.naera.net.
Tony Beam, BA, E.S., CAA
Executive Director, NAERA
NAERA SHOULDER PAD CARE RECOMMENDATIONS
At the end of each football season NAERA recommends sending all of your shoulder pads that
were used during the past season to a NAERA member for reconditioning. During the
reconditioning process, the NAERA member will inspect the plastic for cracks or weak points,
they will also inspect the cushions for tears as well as clean and sanitize each pad. NAERA
further recommends that you have a routine in-season maintenance plan that includes
checking for broken or missing parts, cleaning and sanitizing, per the manufacturer's
guidance.
Even with regular maintenance and reconditioning, high impact equipment requires regular
rotation for aging equipment. NAERA recommends you have a system to remove aging
shoulder pads from your inventory according to the manufacturer's recommendations.
*****************************
Updated: September 20, 2024
To help clarify for schools and organizations experiencing warning labels separating from football helmets reconditioned in 2024:
The loss of a mandatory label that might occur after the helmet has been properly recertified and returned to the customer does not void the certification or recertification. Helmets with warning label issues DO NOT need to be removed from play. If during inspection of helmets in your inventory an exterior warning label is missing, you should determine if your helmets are current with manufacturer recommended intervals for recertification. If so, the helmets will still meet NOCSAE and manufacturer recertification guidelines for on field play. Please reach out to your reconditioning representative for instructions to replace the missing label.
Sincerely, Tony Beam, BA, CAA Executive Director, NAERA
Update: August 29, 2024
Issues with FB Helmet Warning Label
2024 NOCSAE Reconditioner Licensees
Athletic Equipment Repair Corporation Athletic Helmet Reconditioning
Gil Mikula Jason Mikula Lane Womack
5350 W Clinton Ave 17548 US Highway 69 South
Milwaukee, WI 53223 Alto, TX 75925
Phone: 414-271-2837 Phone: 936-858-9990
Fax: 414-271-4670 Fax: 936-858-9992
Email: ath.equip.rep@att.net Email: helmetshop14@yahoo.com
Athletic Helmet Reconditioning Southeast Capitol Varsity Sports
Brandon Freeman Bob Fawley
5080 Hwy 20 East 6723 Ringwood Rd
Tuscumbia, AL 35674 Oxford, OH 45056
Phone: 256-627-4787 Phone: 513-523-4126
Fax: 513-523-0426
Email: bfreeman@helmetrecon.com Email: bfawleyc@aol.com
Continental Athletic Supply Harco Reconditioners
Jason Soares Chris Bachman
1050 Hazel Street 520 North Link Lane
Gridley, CA 95948 Ft. Collins, CO 80524
Phone: 530-846-4711 or 1-800-544-5564 Phone: 970-482-1814
Fax: 530-846-5155 Fax: 970-482-0336
Email: sales@continentalathletic.com Email: chris@harcoathletic.net
Integrity Sport Services Mercury Sports
Jeff Harrison Darren Cato
869 Broad Street, Suite 106 31 W Tennessee St
Wadsworth, OH 44281 Evansville, IN 47710
Phone: 330-485-3105 Phone: 812-422-9066
Email: jeff@integritysportservices.com Email: catod@mercurysportsllc.com
Proline, Inc. Riddell/All American
Rod Zide Nate Bickhart
120 Industry Road 7501 Performance Lane
Marietta, OH 45750 North Ridgeville, OH 44039
Phone: 740-373-6446 Phone: 888-681-1717
Fax: 740-373-5653
Email: rzide@zides.com Email: nsbickhart@riddellsales.com
Riddell/All American Schutt Sports
Nate Bickhart Larry Curry
127 Burson St 2510 S Broadway Ave
East Stroudsburg, PA 18301 Salem, IL 62881
Phone: 888-681-1717 Phone: 1-800-426-9784
Email: nsbickhart@riddellsales.com Email: customerservice@schutt-sports.com
Sportsman’s Reconditioning Stadium System, Inc.
Greg Heider Mike Schopp
829 Horner Street 61 Church Street
Johnstown, PA 15902 Canaan, CT 06018
Phone: 814-536-5318 Phone: 860-824-5479
Fax: 814-536-7868 Fax: 860-708-0060
Email: heidergreg@aol.com Email: mschopp@stadium-system.com
USA Reconditioning Xenith
Frank Scordo Customer Service
615 Cincinnati Ave 4333 W Fort Street
Egg Harbor City, NJ 08215 Detroit, MI 48209
Phone: 973-340-8282 Phone: 877-257-8669
Fax: 978-328-5277
Email: usareconditioning@gmail.com Email: cs@xenith.com
**Updated September 2024
Education – along with proper football techniques – is one of the biggest deterrents to concussions and one of the keys to athletes being treated properly if one does occur
Direct helmet-to-helmet contact and any other contact both with and to the helmet must be eliminated from the sport of football at the interscholastic level! Using the helmet to inflict punishment on the opponent is dangerous and illegal. Coaches and game officials must be diligent in promoting the elimination of contact to and with the helmet, as follows:
• Coaches -- through consistent adherence to proper and legal coaching techniques.
• Game Officials -- through strict enforcement of pertinent playing rules and game administrations.
Coaches must insist that players play “heads-up” football by utilizing proper and safe techniques, - not only during games, but on the practice field as well. Coaches must shoulder the responsibility of consistently reinforcing with their players that using the top or face of the helmet goes against all tenets of the basic techniques of safe and legal blocking and tackling.
The No. 1 responsibility for game officials must be player safety. Any initiation of contact with the helmet is illegal; therefore, it must be penalized consistently and without warning. Player safety is really a matter of attitude, technique, attention and supervision. Football players will perform as they are taught; therefore, there must be a concentrated focus on consistently enforcing the existing rules. And contrary to most other rule enforcements, when in doubt, contact to and with the helmet should be ruled as a foul by game officials. Contact to and with the helmet may be considered a flagrant act and may be penalized by disqualification if a game official considers the foul so severe or extreme that it places an opponent in danger of serious injury.
NFHS Information
NOCSAE Statement - Add-Ons (2018) | NOCSAE Statement - Add-ons
The NFHS does not perform scientific tests on any specific items of equipment to determine if the equipment poses undue risks to the student-athletes, coaches, officials or spectators. Such determinations are the responsibility of equipment manufacturers, and we rely heavily on products meeting NOCSAE standards.
NFHS Football Rule 1-5-1a states, in part, that “A helmet and facemask which met the NOCSAE test standard at the time of manufacture…” is required. A consideration in determining whether add-on helmet attachments are legal is that our rule specifies only that the helmet had to meet the NOCSAE test standard at the time of manufacture; helmet add-ons typically are added after the time of helmet manufacture.
The attached NOCSAE Statement gives manufacturers of add-on attachments (in the fourth bullet) the option to have helmets tested with the helmet add-on attached; however, this would presumably require such manufacturers to test every make and model of helmet with their add-on attached.
The third bullet of the NOCSAE Statement gives the right to helmet manufacturers to determine, under the NOCSAE standards, whether given helmet add-on items would render the certification void. While that may occur, we have no information that it has happened yet.
In the interim, absent decisions by the helmet manufacturers, under the NOCSAE standards, to declare their certifications void pursuant to the third bullet point, or absent further revisions of the pertinent NOCSAE Statement, or absent an NFHS football rules change, our position about the permissive use of such helmet add-ons remains unchanged from last August.
We know and understand that this position by NFHS is not as proactive as some may wish as to whether given helmet add-ons should be considered legal; however, when considering the NOCSAE Statement and the applicable rules, the NFHS is not in a position to change our Rules Review Committee determination that such equipment is permissive.
NOCSAE statement on third party helmet add-on products and certification
There are many new products on the market that are intended to be added to helmets, in particular football helmets, which products claim to reduce concussions and make helmets safer and more protective. Read the entire NOCSAE Position Statement.
Minimizing risk for all participants is the number one priority.
When in doubt as to whether or not a targeting foul has occurred - game officials will be instructed to call targeting.
When in doubt as to whether or not a flagrant targeting foul has been committed - game officials will be instructed to classify the foul as flagrant and disqualify the offending player.
The WIAA will continue using the Overtime Procedures used during previous years.
New NCAA Overtime Procedures for 2021 will be monitored and reviewed during the NCAA season ahead.
FOOTBALL
25-YARD LINE OVERTIME PROCEDURE
WIAA ADAPTATION
of the
NCAA FOOTBALL 25-YARD LINE OVERTIME PROCEDURE
Note: In the text that follows the word “inning” is used but alternate wording is given in the square brackets “[ ].”
OVERVIEW
The 25-yard line overtime procedure to resolve tied games adopted by the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association for the 2011 football season and beyond incorporates elements of the NCAA tie breaker system modified to comply with football rules published by the National Federation of State High School Associations.
https://www.wiaawi.org/Portals/0/PDF/Sports/Football/tie-breakersystem.pdf