2024 Football Weekly Reminders

WEEK #7 CLICK HERE
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Week #5 Reminders
NSAA / PSOA TRAINING TAPE
NFHS Training Tape Week 5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwWAust53S4

2024 NFHS Rule Review
Rule 2 – Definitions of Playing Terms
Section 28, Neutral Zone 
Article 1 The neutral zone is the space between the two free-kick lines during a free-kick down and between the two scrimmage lines during a scrimmage down. For a free-kick down, the neutral zone is 10 yards wide For a scrimmage down, it is as wide as the length of the football It is established when the ball is ready for play

Article 2 The neutral zone may be expanded following the snap up to a maximum of 2 yards behind the defensive line of scrimmage, inside the boundary lines, during any scrimmage down If a scrimmage kick occurs, the neutral zone shall not be expanded in the end zone

Rule 7 – Snapping, Handling and Passing the Ball
Section 5, Forward-Pass Classification
Article 1 It is a legal forward pass, if during a scrimmage down and before team possession has changed, a player of A throws the ball with both feet of the passer in or behind the neutral zone when the ball is released.  Only one forward pass may be thrown during the down.

Article 6 Pass eligibility rules apply only to a legal forward pass.  The following players are eligible pass receivers: All A players eligible by position and number including those who, at the time of the snap, are on the ends of their line or legally behind the line (possible total of 6) and are numbered 0-49 or 80-99 (7-2-5b EXCEPTION 2) NOTE – PLAYERS NUMBERED 50-79 ARE NEVER PERMITTED TO “DECLARE AS ELIGIBLE” All A players become eligible when B touches a legal forward pass All B players are eligible A player who is eligible at the start of the down remains eligible throughout the down

Article 12 Ineligible A players may not advance beyond the expanded neutral zone (2 yards) on a legal forward pass play before a legal forward pass the crosses the neutral zone is in flight If B touches the pass in or behind the neutral zone, this restriction is terminated PENALTY – INELIGIBLE DOWNFIELD, 5 YARDS

Article 13 An ineligible A player has illegally touched a forward pass if he bats, muffs, or catches a legal forward pass, unless the pass has first been touched by B PENALTY – ILLEGAL TOUCHING, 5 YARDS & LOSS OF DOWN

Week #4 Reminders
NSAA / PSOA TRAINING TAPE
 
                NFHS Training Tape Week 4 (youtube.com)
 

2024 NFHS Rule Review
Rule 2 - Definitions of Playing Terms
Section 32, Player Designations
Article 16
A defenseless player is a player who, because of his physical position and focus of concentration, is especially vulnerable to injury.
A player is no longer defenseless once the player’s physical position and focus of concentration no longer makes the player especially vulnerable to injury.
A player who initiates contact against a defenseless player is responsible for making legal contact. When in question, a player is defenseless.

Examples of defenseless players include, but are not limited to:
A passer
A receiver attempting to catch a pass
The intended receiver of a pass in the action during and immediately following an interception or potential interception
A receiver, including the person intercepting the pass who is forcefully contacted by an opponent and that contact is not:
Incidental contact as a result of making a play on the ball
Initiated with open hands
An attempt to tackle by wrapping arm(s) around the receiver
A runner already in the grasp of a tackler and whose forward progress has been stopped
A kickoff or punt returner attempting to catch or recover a kick, or one who has completed a catch or recovery and has not had time to protect himself
A player on the ground including a runner who has obviously given himself up and is sliding feet first
A player obviously out of the play or not in the immediate vicinity of the runner
A player who receives a blindside block with forceful contact not initiated with open hands  
 
Rule 9 – Conduct of Players and Others  
Section 4, Illegal Personal Contact
Article 3
​No player or nonplayer shall: Charge into or throw an opponent to the ground after he is obviously out of the play, or after the ball is clearly dead either in our out of bounds.
PERSONAL FOUL / ILLEGAL PERSONAL CONTACT – 15 YARDS

Make any other contact with an opponent, including a defenseless player (as in 2.32.16 above), which is deemed unnecessary or excessive and which incites roughness.
PENALTY – PERSONAL FOUL / ILLEGAL PERSONAL CONTACT – 15 YARDS

Execute a blindside block outside of the free-blocking zone with forceful contact unless initiated with open hands PENALTY – PERSONAL FOUL / ILLEGAL BLINDSIDE BLOCK – 15 YARDS

Week #3 Reminders
NSAA / PSOA TRAINING TAPE
NSAA/PSOA Training Tape #3
NFHS Football Training Tape Week 3 (youtube.com)
 
2024 NFHS / NSAA Points of Emphasis
Sportsmanship / Altercation Prevention Protocol
*Coaches must teach, promote, model, and set clear standards of behavior for themselves, players, and fans.
*Game officials must fairly and consistently enforce NFHS rules in all aspects related to unsporting behavior by coaches and participants.
*Everyone involved must clearly understand that education-based athletics are an extension of the classroom and is about more than just winning and losing.
Player Equipment & 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.
*Game officials should be watchful and proactive in addressing potential equipment, and more specifically, knee pad issues.
Formations
*A legal formation has no more than four players in the backfield.
*Linemen are legally on the line of scrimmage when their head is breaking the imaginary plane through the waste of the snapper.
*Receivers who wish to line up in the backfield must have clear space between the rear of the nearest lineman.  

2024 NFHS / NSAA Rules Reminders
Helmet covers / Guardian caps are permissive per NFHS rules.  (THE HELMET COVER IS NOT REQUIRED TO BE THE SAME COLOR AS THE HELMET)
Towels cannot be less than 4 inches in width and 12 inches in length.
Rib pads / back protectors must be fully covered by the jersey.
Eye shade must be a single solid stroke.
Visors must be clear without the presence of any tint.  (A DOCTOR’S NOTE DOES NOT SUPERSEDE THE RULE)
Jerseys must reach the top of the pants.
Jerseys and undershirts that hang below the top of the pants must be tucked in.
Players may have only 1 tooth and mouth protector.
Sweatbands cannot be worn above the elbow or on the lower leg.  

2024 NFHS Rule Review
Rule 2 - Definitions of Playing Terms
Section 3, Blocking
Article 1 Blocking is obstructing an opponent by contacting him with any part of the blocker’s body
Article 7 Blocking below the waist is making initial contact below the waist from the front or side against an opponent other than a runner.  Contact with an opponent’s hand(s) below the waist then continues into the body below the waist is considered blocking below the waist Blocking below the waist applies only when the opponent has one or both feet on the ground.
Article 8 Chop block is a combination block by two or more teammates against an opponent other than the runner, with or without delay, where one of the blocks is below the waist and one of the blocks is above the waist
Article 10 A blindside block is a block against an opponent other than the runner, who does not see the blocker approaching

Section 5, Clipping/Blocking in the Back
Article 1 Clipping is a block against an opponent when the initial contact is from behind, at or below the waist, and not against a player who is a runner or pretending to be a runner
Article 2 Blocking in the back is a block against an opponent when the initial contact is in the opponent’s back, inside the shoulders and below the helmet and above the waist, and not against a player who is a runner or pretending to be a runner.

Section 17, Free-Blocking Zone – Legal Blocking Below the Waist & Legal Block in the Back
Article 1 The free blocking zone is a rectangular area extending laterally 4 yards either side of the spot (3 yards in 8-player and 6-player) of the snap and 3 yards behind each line of scrimmage.  A player is in the free-blocking zone when any part of his body is in the zone before the snap.
Article 2 Blocking below the waist is permitted in the free-blocking zone when the following conditions are met: All players involved in the blocking are on the line of scrimmage and in the zone at the snap The contact is in the zone The block is an immediate, initial action following the snap
Article 3 Blocking in the back is permitted in the free-blocking zone when the following conditions are met: By offensive linemen who are on the line of scrimmage and in the zone at the snap Against defensive players who are in the zone at the snap The contact is in the zone
Article 4 The free-blocking zone disintegrates and the exception for an offensive lineman to block in the back is not to continue after the ball has left the zone  

Rule 9 - Conduct of Players and Others
Section 3, Illegal Blocking
Article 2 A player shall not block an opponent below the waist except:
*In the free-blocking zone when the contact meets the requirements of 2-17
*To tackle a runner or player pretending to be a runner
PENALTY – BLOCK BELOW THE WAIST – 15 YARDS

Article 3 A receiver who has given a valid or invalid fair-catch signal shall not block an opponent until the kick has ended
PENALTY – BLOCKING AFTER SIGNAL – 15 YARDS

Article 5 A player shall not block an opponent in the back except:
*In the free-blocking zone when the contact meets the requirements of 2-17
*To tackle a runner or player pretending to be a runner
PENALTY – BLOCKING IN THE BACK – 10 YARDS

Article 6 A player shall not chop block or clip
PENALTY – CHOP BLOCK – 15 YARDS PENALTY – CLIPPING – 15 YARDS

Article 7 No member of the kicking team shall initiate contact to (block) an opponent on a free kick until:
*The legal kick has traveled 10 yards
*The kicking team is eligible to recover a free-kicked ball
*The receiving team initiates a block within the neutral zone
​PENALTY - ILLEGAL BLOCK – 10 YARDS

Week #2 Reminders
NSAA / PSOA TRAINING TAPE

• NSAA/PSOA Training Tape #2:
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6AyrfRV3gE

 
2024 NFHS / NSAA Points of Emphasis

1. Sportsmanship / Altercation Prevention Protocol
   • Coaches must teach, promote, model, and set clear standards of behavior for themselves, players, and fans.
   • Game officials must fairly and consistently enforce NFHS rules in all aspects related to unsporting behavior by coaches and participants.
   • Everyone involved must clearly understand that education-based athletics are an extension of the classroom and is about more than just winning and losing.
2. Player Equipment & 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.
   • Game officials should be watchful and proactive in addressing potential equipment, and more specifically, knee pad issues.
3. Formations
   • A legal formation has no more than four players in the backfield. 
   • Linemen are legally on the line of scrimmage when their head is breaking the imaginary plane through the waste of the snapper.
   • Receivers who wish to line up in the backfield must have clear space between the rear of the nearest lineman.

 
2024 NFHS / NSAA Rules Reminders

• Helmet covers / Guardian caps are permissive per NFHS rules. 
• Players may have only 1 tooth and mouth protector. 
• Sweatbands cannot be worn above the elbow or on the lower leg.

 
2024 NFHS Rule Review
Rule 3, Section 1, Length of Periods – Halftime Intermission

• Article 3              
  • A period or periods may be shortened in any emergency by agreement of the opposing coaches and the referee. 
  • By mutual agreement of the opposing coaches and the referee, any remaining period may be shortened at any time or the game terminated.
• Article 4
  • Games interrupted because of events beyond the control of the responsible administrative authority shall be continued from the point of interruption, unless the teams agree to terminate the game with the existing score, or as otherwise provided for by the state association adoption. 
• Article 6
  • State high school associations may determine the length of halftime intermission, provided it is not less than 10 minutes and not more than 20 minutes.
    • 15 minutes in normal for halftime intermission (plus mandatory 3-minute warm-up period)
    • Halftime intermission may be increased to a maximum of 20 minutes, provided opponents have been notified prior to the contest (plus mandatory 3-minute warm-up period)
    • By mutual agreement of the opposing coaches, the halftime intermission may be reduced to a minimum of 10 minutes (plus mandatory 3-minute warm-up period)
    • Exception: If the game is interrupted due to weather during the last three minutes of the second period, and the delay is at least 30 minutes, the opposing coaches can mutually agree to shorten halftime intermission, provided there is at least a one-minute intermission (plus mandatory 3-minute warm-up period)
• Article 7
  • The game officials are responsible for ensuring that there is a 3-minute warm-up period posted on the game clock and the warm-up period is started for use by the coaches and players immediately following the designated halftime intermission
  • The head coach is responsible for his team being on the field for the mandatory 3-minute warm-up period following the halftime intermission

 
 
2024 NFHS Rule Review
Rule 9, Section 4, Illegal Personal Contact

• Article 5
  • Running into or roughing the kicker or holder. A defensive player shall neither run into the kicker nor holder, which is contact that displaces the kicker or holder without roughing: nor block, tackle, or charge into the kicker of a scrimmage kick, or the place-kick holder, other than when:
    • Contact is unavoidable because it is not reasonably certain that a kick will be made
    • The defense touches the kick near the kicker and contact is unavoidable
    • Contact is slight and is partially caused by the movement of the kicker
    • Contact is caused by R being blocked into the kicker or holder by K
  • NOTE:  
    • IT IS ALWAYS ROUGHING THE KICKER IF THE CONTACT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT IT WAS APPARENT A KICK WOULD HAVE BEEN MADE
    • ONLY UNAVOIDABLE CONTACT IS IGNORED IF IT IS NOT REASONABLY CERTAIN A KICK WILL BE MADE

 
NSAA Sportsmanship / Ejection Guidelines

• Officials are required to file an ejection report through their Official login page for any ejection of a player or coach at any level (Varsity and Sub-Varsity)
  • Report should be submitted immediately following the contest
  • Provide specific details and cite NFHS rule reference
• Any unusual situation that occurs before, during, or after a contest should be reported

Additional Reminders
Heat Management Considerations 

• School administrators, game officials, and coaches should discuss potential protocols for minimizing risk due to elevated temperatures prior to the contest. 
• Official’s time-outs for water breaks can be scheduled or inserted into the game as needed.  See the information below.

 
NFHS Rule 3.5 – Charged and Official’s Time-Outs

• Article 7… An official’s time-out (which is not charged to either team) occurs during a dead ball foul:
  1. For unusual heat or humidity which may create a health risk to the players. 
• Recommended opportunities to take an official’s time-out for heat include:
• Between the first and second periods (Extend to two minutes or as needed)
• Between the third and fourth periods (Extend to two minutes or as needed)
• Prior to a free kick following a PAT, successful field goal or safety (Extend to two minutes or as needed)
• Change of possession (Extend to two minutes or as needed)

NOTE – Halftime may also be extended, by mutual agreement of each team

Week #1 Reminders
NSAA / PSOA TRAINING TAPE
NFHS Training tape 2024 Week 1  

2024 NFHS / NSAA Points of Emphasis
Sportsmanship / Altercation Prevention Protocol
Coaches must teach, promote, model, and set clear standards of behavior for themselves, players, and fans. Game officials must fairly and consistently enforce NFHS rules in all aspects related to unsporting behavior by coaches and participants. Everyone involved must clearly understand that education-based athletics are an extension of the classroom and is about more than just winning and losing.
Player Equipment & 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. Game officials should be watchful and proactive in addressing potential equipment, and more specifically, knee pad issues.
Formations
A legal formation has no more than four players in the backfield.  Linemen are legally on the line of scrimmage when their head is breaking the imaginary plane through the waste of the snapper. Receivers who wish to line up in the backfield must have clear space between the rear of the nearest lineman.  

2024 NFHS / NSAA Rules Reminders
Helmet covers / Guardian caps are permissive per NFHS rules.
Players may have only 1 tooth and mouth protector.
Sweatbands cannot be worn above the elbow or on the lower leg.  

Guidelines for Bands / Music (Refer to page 33 in the 2024 Football Manual for additional information)
Band instruments, including drums, are not to be played at any time other than when the entire band is playing.
The use of artificial noisemakers is prohibited. (Examples: air horns, whistles, bells, etc.) Megaphones are to be used by cheerleaders only.
Persons subject to the protocols, including bands, shall not create any noise that prohibits a team from hearing their signals.  Bands are allowed to play at the following times (same rules apply to recorded music):
*Pre-game
*Between quarters
*Halftime
*Post-game
*Time-outs (except injury time-outs)
*After scoring plays prior to the try and / or kick off
*Change of possession
*Between plays stopping when:
**The umpire has placed the ball and moved into position;
**or The offense breaks the huddle or, in the case of a no-huddle offense, approaches the line of scrimmage to move into formation
Violation of these protocols may result in penalties which include Delay-of-Game, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, or Unfair Acts.

Instructions for Clock Operators
2024 NFHS Instructions for Clock Operators
35 Point Rule
25/40 Play Clock Information  
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Instructions for Chain Crews
2024 NFHS Instructions for Chain Crews
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6-Player Football - Rule Clarification

The NFHS rule change below only pertains to the 8-player and 11-player rule. 
​
Intentional Grounding Exception Changed [7-5-2 EXCEPTION 2a, c (NEW)]
This change permits the exception for intentional grounding to the first and only player to possess the ball after the snap ends.
 
Please review the link below to confirm the 6-player rule as it pertains to the intentional grounding exception.  The rule for 6-Player is the same as it was last year. 
·      2023 NFHS 6-Player Rules Differences

Rule 7:
f. It is legal for a player to conserve yardage by intentionally throwing an incomplete forward pass if:
1. The passer has been beyond the lateral boundary of the free-blocking zone as established at the snap; and
2. The pass reaches the neutral zone including the extension beyond the sideline

Guidelines for Public Address Announcers
 
·      Guidelines for Public Address Announcers

Communication Between Coaches and Game Officials
Coaches and game officials must demonstrate respect for one another This mutual appreciation is the foundation of appropriate and professional communication

Game Management
Each school community must take pride in hosting an athletic contest or event Provide clear and concise information to the opponent and game officials

MINIMAL GAME ADMINISTRATION EXPECTATIONS
Clearly communicated event itinerary
Required field markings and game equipment
Clock operator(s)
Line-to-gain crew
Game officials accommodations and security
Visiting team accommodations
Support personnel
Medical personnel
Security personnel
Hospitality for game personnel, administration, and game officials

Hudl - Pool Exchange
 
The NSAA League Pool creates the opportunity to share and view film equitably from school to school and will provide a training and education resource for use by the NSAA staff and game officials across the state.
 
Hudl has created a tutorial that walks you through how to add film to the pool, as well as pull film to add to your library.
You can find that tutorial at the link below.

• Hudl League Pool Tutorial

 
Teams are encouraged to upload game film to their respective pool each week and in turn ‘unlock’ access to all film that has been added to the pool and can be immediately added to your team’s library.
Teams can upload/download film from the pool and also exchange film directly with their opponent.
 
The League Pools will be grouped by classification:

• Class A Pool
• Class B Pool  
• Class C Pool (C1 & C2)
• Class D Pool (D1 & D2)
• Class D6 Pool

 
The NSAA will have access to each pool.  Coaches can email [email protected] directly with questions or concerns regarding specific play situations and interpretations. 
He can then access the film via the pool and review the situation.
Uploading your film to the pool each week will eliminate the need to share film directly to the NHSOA as in years past.