There are a few rule changes this season that high school football fans might want to be aware of.
Not a lot of major changes but a few rules that you might want to know..
- Face Guarding, as long as you avoid contact with the receiver, is no longer a violation.
- Blind Side Blocks outside the blocking zone will result in a personal foul if they are deemed forceful and contact is made without an open hand.
- The definition of a defenseless player has been broadened
- No contact with the ball or the snappers hand/arm is allowed until he releases the ball.
- A rule to insure that home teams wear dark uniforms in contrast to the white uniform worn by visitors (the use of grey uniforms forced this)
- “pop-up” kick-offs are now illegal and will be penalized.
- From the “there has to be a story behind this one”… a ball to be whistled immediately dead if the ball carrier completely looses a prosthetic limb
- the offended team may ask for the clock to be started on the snap after an accepted penalty in the final two minutes of the game or half.
a few more changes but they have to do with official meetings, markings on the ball, etc.