Rule Changes and Points of Emphasis for the 2017 MSFL Season

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1 Rule Changes and Points of Emphasis for the 2017 MSFL Season NFL Rule Changes adopted for the 2017 MSFL Season 1) Communications Devices: Allows an offensive or defensive player to use a communication device with a play calling coach while the coach is either on the side or the coaches both. The previously requirement was that the play calling coach had to be on the sideline. 2) Chop Blocks: ALL chop blocks illegal. Any high/low block by 2 A (offensive) players, whether delayed or simultaneous, on a B (defensive) player is illegal at any time or any place on the field. 3) Delay of Game: It is a delay of game foul when a team attempts to call a time-out when it is not permitted to do so. For the most part, this is a rare occurrence. Wing officials will tell the HEAD coach how many time-outs are left when a time-out is called. A request for an additional time-out or after the third time-out will be ignored. If the coach still insists on a time-out, it becomes a game delaying tactic. Note: Unlike NFHS rules, NFL rules DO NOT permit the same team to call consecutive times-outs in the same dead ball period. Doing so would be a delay of game under this rule. 4) Elimination of the five-yard penalty for illegal touching of a forward pass by an eligible receiver: If an eligible receiver steps out of bounds on his own accord, then touches a legal forward pass after reestablishing himself inbounds it is illegal touching. The 5 yard penalty was eliminated and replaced with a loss of down. In essence, this is treated as an incomplete pass. The ball is returned to the previous spot. This does not apply to an eligible receiver is forced out of bounds by a defender. 5) Change the spot of enforcement when both teams commit a foul after a clean change of possession: The team last in possession shall retain the ball at the spot where they gained possession, the fouls would offset and it will be 1st and 10 for the team in possession. If the play would have resulted in a safety, the ball is placed at the 1 yard line. Note: It is important that the covering official bean bag the spot of change of possession for proper enforcement of this rule. 6) Player disqualification for 2 certain type of unsportsmanlike conduct fouls: A player who is penalized twice in one game for certain types of unsportsmanlike conduct fouls will be disqualified. The types of fouls are: o o o Throwing a punch or forearm, or kicking at an opponent, even if no contact is made Using abusive, threatening or insulting language or gestures toward opponents, teammates, officials or league representatives Using baiting or taunting acts or words that engender ill will between teams. Note: Non-physical aspects of this ruled will not preclude the "Blatchford Rule" that the MSFL uses. The Blatchford Rule allows the referee the option of ordering a player to the bench for a "cooling down period" rather than penalizing. That option is based on the official s judgment of the severity of the action. Likewise, if the physical aspect is blatantly intentional to inflict injury or results in a fight, immediate ejection is still an option. Nearly all the ejections in the MSFL last season were related to physical unsportsmanlike conduct.

2 There were some instances were a player was ejected for what appeared to be throwing a punch, was, on review of films actually moving his arm away in what appeared to be an aggressive manner. This rule would allow for "a Mulligan" on the first call, right or wrong, but would result in an ejection on the second call, again, right or wrong. It is imperative that coach stress and players practice self-restraint, control, and discipline in intense situations. MSLF Specific Rules 1) Succeeding spot for point after attempts: The succeeding spot for ALL extra point attempts is the 2 yard line. The ball becomes dead once it is apparent that the attempt has failed or B recovers a live ball. The defense cannot recover and return the ball for a score. 2 Succeeding spot after a touchback: The succeeding spot after a touch back is the 20 yard line between the inbounds marks. 3) Horse Collar: A horse collar is when the inside yoke of the shoulder pads or jersey is grabbed on the sides or back, and the runner is pulled toward the ground. It is NOT a foul if the front of the jersey, or shoulder pads are grabbed or if it is on a runner in the tackle box or a quarterback in the pocket. NOTE: A horse collar IS NOT a tackle. If the runner s knees buckle, but stays on his feet, it is still a horse collar foul. 4) Cut Block A cut block is an illegal block below the waist where the blocker makes contact on the knees or below on an opponent who is not the runner. It is a 15 yard penalty. NFHS/NCAA signal #40. Note: A cut block is essentially an illegal clip but to the front of the knees and lower leg, not the back. It IS NOT foul if the blocker's initial contact is above the knees and maintains contact while sliding down the legs. Likewise is the case of incidental contact to the knees being a result of play and NOT the primary purpose of a block. The picture below is from the Seahawks/Falcons game on October 16th were Jake Matthews of Atlanta executes a textbook cut on Michael Bennett of Seattle. Notice the contact directly on the knee and the hyperextension of the knee is well beyond normal the limit of 2 degrees knee extension.

3 The picture below, it is not a cut technique because the initial contact of the block is above the waist and to the thighs and not on the knees themselves. 5) Officiating - Location of the Umpire: The umpire is positioned in the defense just behind the linebackers. Even though the prospects of player collisions are higher, the close line play between the tackles on the line can be better observed from that position. Though at times it may be unavoidable, coaches should instruct runners not to purposely use the umpire as a pick against a defender. 6) Play Clocks: Since most MSFL games are played on fields conforming to NFHS rules without on field play clocks, the league will utilize the NFHS 25 second play clock procedure. When the ball becomes dead after a down, officials should hustle the ball back in to the umpire for spotting. There is no need to give the dead ball/start the 40 second clock signal (NFHS NCAA #7). To make this work, ball boys should be following the line judge or linesman and have a ball ready to hand them. Other team personal should be chasing down balls, not officials. Once the ball is spotted, the referee will give a tweet on the whistle and a visual signal of pulling an extended arm down when the game clock is running or when the game clock starts on the snap. The wind sign is given to start both the play and game clocks if the game clock was stopped and is to start on the ready. Either the side judge or field judge will be keeping the play clock. Once the referee blows the whistle and gives the signal, the 25 second play clock will start. The official keeping the play clock will give and arm signal for each of the last 5 seconds high enough for the quarterback or placeholder to see. 7) Inbounds spots: Since most fields that MSFL games are played on are marked to NFHS specifications, the inbounds spot will be, unless marked on the field, will be on an imaginary line from one goal post upright to the corresponding upright of the goal post on the opposite end of the field. Games that are played on fields marked to NCAA specifications (college fields), the existing hash marks on the field will be used to locate the inbounds spots.

4 8) Yard to Gain Markers (sticks) As with the NFHS and NCAA rule, the location of the official chains will remain on the side OPPOSITE of the press box throughout the entire game. An auxiliary set of markers may be used on the side near the press box. Points of Emphasis Filed Goal/Extra Point Rush Tactics Game officials will monitor and strictly enforce the rules pertaining to illegal acts committed by the defensive team while trying to block field-goal and extra-point attempts during the 2016 season, including: =1) Making forcible contact below the waist of offensive blockers. ( yds) =2) Grabbing an offensive blocker and pulling him to the side or toward the ground to create space or a gap for a teammate to rush through. =3) Using the hands or other parts of the body to push off an offensive blocker to gain leverage in an effort to block the kick. ( yds in both 2&3) Not only do these tactics create an unfair advantage for the defense, they also are potentially dangerous and could lead to player injuries. Quarterback Slide Once a runner begins a feet-first slide before contact is imminent, defenders cannot make any forcible contact and must treat a sliding runner as they would any runner who is down by contact. Once a runner begins a slide and becomes protected, he can no longer advance the football, regardless of contact by an opponent. Runners who slide sideways or headfirst will not have special protection. Runners (especially quarterbacks) who want the protection afforded sliding players must make every effort to slide feet-first before contact is imminent. If a runner starts his slide when contact is imminent, a defender is not prohibited from making forcible contact, as long as it is below the head/neck area. Low Hits on a Passer Quarterbacks in a passing posture within the pocket are protected from forcible contact to the knee area or below. A defender may still make contact low as long as he only uses his arm(s) to swipe, wrap or grab the passer in an attempt to tackle him. Pre-Snap Movement Game officials will pay particular attention to and enforce pre-snap movement by offensive linemen, particularly movement of the ball, which simulates a snap. A center dropping or turning his head, or a guard tapping the center, is legal provided the movement is not quick or abrupt. Comment: In addition, players on the offensive line have protection from defensive players making a charge into the neutral zone. That is, if a B1 is lined up over A0 either as a lineman or a linebacker blitzing, breaks out of his stance and enters the neutral zone A0 and the adjacent players on either side of him can move to ward off the perceived charge to defend themselves without being charge with a false start. However, if B1 is lined up in the neutral zone before the snap, he can make a non-abrupt retreating motion out of the neutral zone and any motion by A would be a false start. Likewise if B1 is in a stance and lurches forward without any movement of his feet or hands breaking his stance other than the movement of a free hand to catch his balance, any movement by A would be a false start. In other words, not every movement by B in or into the neutral zone prior to the snap will give A free 5 yards. Likewise, quarterbacks often utilize a "hard count" in an attempt to draw the defense. Any abrupt movement by a quarterback during that hard count that would simulate him receiving the snap such as jerking his shoulders or pulling or kicking back a leg would be a false

5 start. This doesn't preclude the QB from lifting a foot and putting it back in the same position in order to give a motion signal to a back. Crown of the Helmet Contact Game officials will be instructed to call fouls when a defender lowers his head and makes forcible contact with the crown of his helmet on a runner outside the tackle box. The line-up requirement will still apply to a runner, since in many instances that player ducks his head to protect himself from impending contact by a defender, rather than to deliver a blow. Comment: What this translates into meaning is that defender cannot make forcible contact on a runner outside the tackle box with the crown of the helmet. For a runner, the forcible contact with the crown of the helmet to a defender must including lining up (i.e. aiming for) the defender. It cannot be stressed enough that legal or illegal, ANY forcible contact with the crown of the helmet can lead to serious debilitating injuries or even death. NFHS, NCAA, and the NFL all have active programs and rules "to keep the head out of football". For the safety of our players, the MSFL must follow suite. Red is guilty of contact with the crown regardless. White would be guilty if he had lined up on red in order to make contact. Coaches in Field of Play Despite being a point of emphasis in previous seasons, the issue of coaches leaving the bench area to gain the attention of the game officials or entering the field of play for other reasons continues to be a widespread problem. The Committee sees no other recourse than to direct game officials to penalize coaches who do not comply with the rule. A head coach can leave the bench area to get the attention of a game official when the snap takes place at a yard line not within the bench area and the coach is trying to call a team timeout or challenge an on-field ruling, and during an injury timeout to check the welfare of an injured player. A coach cannot leave the bench area to question a game official, and at no time is a coach allowed onto the field of play. At no time can an assistant coach leave the bench area, even during breaks after scoring plays. These rules remain in effect during any timeout. Only incoming substitutes, team attendants or trainers seeing to the welfare of a player may enter the field. Violations will result in a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and the coach and/or the club may face additional discipline. Comment: This is covered under NFL rule 13. The letter of this rule is not strictly enforced in the MSFL and for a good reason. Unlike their NFL counter parts, MSFL coaches do not have sophisticated helmet communication devices to send in signal to their on field players. They must rely on lung power to get the message out. That may require the coach to take 2 or 3 steps out on the field. Officials realize that and will

6 let it slide provided the coach has retreated back to the sideline and out of the restricted area once the ball is snapped. However, when 2 or 3 steps turns into 5 or 6 yards, or out past the top of the numbers which is 9 yards from the sideline, that is abusing the leniency allowed by the wing officials and could result in an unsportsmanlike conduct foul if not heeded after the 1st warning. Jerseys Covering Pads NFHS, NCAA, and specifically NFL Rule 5, Sec 4 Art 6 Item 3 require that ALL pads (shoulder, rib, and back plates) MUST BE WORN UNDER THE JERSEY. That rule has not been change in the MSFL and will be enforced by officials. Players not in compliance will not be allowed to participate. Players that persistently come out with pad uncovered can be penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct. Illegal: Shoulder pads and back plates must be covered by the jersey. There is a reason for this rule; simply to prevent injury. In the picture below, 27 has his hand under the shoulder pad of 80. If 80 were to start to fall and 27 was unable to free his hand, the result would be a severe hand, arm or shoulder injury not to mention the possibility of a fractured wrist. An injury that didn't have to happen.

7 Defenseless Players NFHS, NCAA, and the NFL all have in the past few years implemented rules regarding defenseless players. Essentially a defenseless player is a vulnerable player whose position or concentration prevents him from being able to ward off an opponent. The hit of Jordy Nelson illustrates a player in a defenseless posture. NFL rule 12 Sec 2 Art 7 defines a defenseless player to include a passer, a player catching a pass, and a defender intercepting a pass until they can establish themselves as a runner. The rule does not prohibit contact with a defenseless player, but any contact must be made without undue or excessive force. In the above picture, if 25 would have concentrated his effort on the pass rather than the contact, there would have been no foul. Unfortunately there was no flag on this play because the covering official kicked the call. Ignoring the fact that an illegal ball is being used (discussed later) if blue is intercepting the pass, he is a player in a defenseless posture until both feet are on the ground and he can establish himself as a runner. Note: Even if a player is not in a defenseless posture, the defender still can be flagged for unnecessary roughness. Case in point: With a runner along the sideline, the defender knocks him out of bounds by methods such as launching into the runner, laying a shoulder, or winding up a forearm when a simple push would have done the job. Offside and Illegal Formation For a legal formation 7 A players must be lined up on the line of scrimmage. Out of those 7, only the snapper may penetrate into the neutral zone with his head or hand no further than the foremost point of the ball. For an A player to be considered on the line of scrimmage, he must break the line going through the snappers waist and parallel to the line of scrimmage. His shoulders must also be parallel to his opponent s goal line. Any A or B player other than the snapper in the neutral zone at the time of the snap is guilty of offside. If both A and B are offsides at the snap, it is a double foul and the down is replayed.

8 Late in the 2016 season, the NFL began aggressively enforcing the illegal formation rule. In the picture below, there are 2 fouls by A: Illegal formation by the entire interior line and offside by the far split end. Illegal Ball The only approved balls for play in the MSFL are the Wilson NFL Duke or the custom made Wilson MSFL football. NHFS approved and NCAA approved footballs are not permitted. The ball in the picture is a Wilson NCAA approved GST football. Other than having the white stripes which the Duke does not have, the GST has a composite lacing where the Duke has double leather lacing. The composite lacing has an enhanced tactile texture which improves the passers grip on the ball.

9 Players reporting in as eligible or ineligible A player wearing an eligible number reporting in as ineligible must take an ineligible position. Likewise, a player wearing an ineligible number but reporting in as eligible must take an eligible position. In other words. a player reporting as eligible or ineligible cannot take a position that he would be normally allowed to take without reporting. A player reporting in must continue to report in to the referee before every play while occupying that position. Starting the game clock after an incomplete pass or player going out of bounds The game clock ALWAYS starts with the snap after an incomplete pass ANYTIME during the game. Case in point: Spiking the ball by the quarterback is considered an incomplete pass and is permitted anytime during the game. When a player goes out of bounds with a live ball, the game clock is stopped, but started once the ball is set and ready for play EXCEPT in the last 2 minutes of the first half and last 5 minutes of the second half. Then the game clock is started on the snap. Moving the Chains The game clock DOES NOT stop when the chains are moved for a new series of downs by the same team. The Referee may stop the clock for an undue delay in setting the chains, but that shouldn't happen if the chain gang have their heads in the game and concentrating on their jobs. Fair Catch, Fair Catch Interference, and Invalid Fair Catch Signal NFL rule 10 covers this topic. On any free kick that crosses K's restraining line, or a scrimmage kick that crosses the line of scrimmage while the ball is in flight, K is prohibited from interfering with R's attempt to catch the ball. This holds true regardless if any fair catch signal, valid or invalid, was given. The most common example of fair catch interference is when a gunner on a scrimmage kick runs down and stands close enough in front of the receiver; it obstructs R's view of the ball, even without making contact. This is fair catch interference (kick-catch interference in NFHS rules) and must be flagged. When a player of R signals for a fair catch, he gets protection from contact by K. In return, the ball is dead at the spot where R caught it and it cannot be advanced. If R1 initially muffs the ball, he is still protected from K's contact and interference until the ball touches the ground. Even though R1 may have given the signal, if R2 catches the ball, he DOES NOT get the protection from contact by K, but the ball still becomes dead at the spot it is caught. Rule 10 Sec 2 Art 2 Items 1 & 2 define a valid fair catch signal and invalid fair catch signal. A valid fair catch signal described in Item 1 is R waving ONE ARM FROM SIDE TO SIDE above his head. Any other signal is an invalid fair catch signal. The reason the side to side requirement in put in is to prevent R1 from making a last second fast single sweep wave attempting to get K to foul with contact. NOTE: This is where the covering official will use his judgment. It s the officiating "2 step". If the single sweep signal was made with K within 2 steps of R and contact is unavoidable, no foul for contact but one for an invalid fair catch signal. If the single sweep was made with K more than 2 steps away and no effort was made to avoid contact, then the official could justify the fair catch interference foul. Either way, players should be coached on giving the proper fair catch signal. Related to that is the "wave off" signal commonly used by R to signal teammates not to touch the ball. It is the same type of motion used to signal and incomplete pass. If it is done in a horizontal plane at an angle parallel

10 or less to the ground below the shoulders, it should not be interpreted as an invalid fair catch signal. Any waving of BOTH arms above the shoulders or head is an invalid fair catch signal. Similarly, R is permitted to raise one or both hands to his helmet to shield his eyes from the sun with out it being considered a valid or invalid fair catch signal. Putting the ball into play after a fair catch or awarded fair catch can be done by a snap, drop kick, for field goal without a tee. Lightening and Adverse Weather No game will be started in an area affected by a severe thunderstorm or tornado warning, until those warnings have been cancelled. Upon issuance of such warnings, ongoing games should be immediately suspended or terminated. With the advent of weather radar on smart phones and weather websites on the internet, it makes it easier to determine if adverse weather will affect the continuation of game play. If adverse weather is forecast during the time period of a scheduled game, home management will assign a person to monitor the weather activity as part of the pre-game preparation. If cloud to ground lightening is seen or thunder is heard, or it is determined by using various weather sources, the storm activity is determined to be within 10 miles of the game site, the weather monitor will notify both home management and the game referee. Play will be suspended for 30 minutes. If no further lightening is see during that period, the Referee and both head coaches will confer, and based on available weather reports, determine whether to continue play. Under no circumstance will play continue if cloud to ground lightning is again seen. Speed Up of Play The logistics of rescheduling a postponed or suspended game due to weather creates problems for both the team owners and the league. The ideal situation is to play the game on the date scheduled and to complete a game already in progress. There are instances even with forecast severe weather that can be done, but not within the standard rules for a regulation game. Initiation of one or more of the speed up criteria would only start by mutual agreement of both head coaches and the Referee, or by order of a league executive committee member. Except for (3), the decision to speed up the game can be made either at the start, or during any quarter of the game. If a decision is made to speed up the game by either (1) or (2), that decision remains final for the duration of the game. 1) Shortening the Quarter: Quarters can be shortened to 12 minutes in length. No quarter currently underway will be shortened UNLESS it is within the first three minutes of the start of the quarter. In that point during the quarter, the referee will instruct the clock operator to run off that amount of time which would result in the quarter ending had it been started at 12 minutes. (Example: If the game is shortened at the 13:25 mark into the quarter that means that 1 minute and 35 seconds had been played so far. Subtract the 1:35 from 12:00 and the game clock would be reset to 10:25). Halftime intermission will also be shortened to 12 minutes. 2) Running Clock: The game clock will run continuously except for the following: A) A charged team time out. B) An injury time out. C) After a score. D) An official s time out for safety reasons. E) Intermission between quarters. 3) Tied Game: If after 3 quarters of play in a tied game with a prolonged period (2 hours or more) of severe weather being imminent, the duration of the game will be played to a sudden death win or until the adverse weather begins. If the tie is not broken, the duration of the game would be suspended and rescheduled to resume at the point of suspension UNLESS the outcome of the game will have no bearing on standings or play-off implications to either team.

11 4) When the Outcome of the Game Is Not In Doubt: If after 2 ½ quarter of play are complete, the score differential is 50 or more points, the weather delay has been 60 or more minutes, and the outcome of the game will have no bearing on standings or play-off implications to either team, the game will be entered as a complete game. Note: A postponed game is one scheduled for a specific date and time that has not started while a suspended game is one that has started. The Blatchford Rule The MSFL utilizes the Blatchford Rule. It is a rule which allows the referee to send a player out of the game for a period of time if in the referee s opinion, the actions and behavior of the player are not in the interest of sportsmanship and if left unchecked, could escalate and disrupt the play of the game. It is essentially a "cooling off" period. Actions include taunting, vulgar or profane language, threatening reprisals "on the next play", excessive physical force and contact not in the spirit of the game and intended to intimidate or punish opponents. It is important to remember that a player being sent out under this rule may have not necessarily committed an unsportsmanlike foul. The whole idea is to PREVENT him from committing the foul. A player can be benched for a number of plays, a series of downs or a quarter. On the bench, the head coach is expected to address the player s behavior with him and corrective actions. Note: The official s decision to send out under this rule cannot be challenged by the head coach. This rule is not to be used as a substitute for an unsportsmanlike foul if the situation calls for it. This is a preventative officiating measure that is for the benefit of the player. The alternative is to let a situation go unchecked which usually will result in an unsportsmanlike foul with possible ejections and game suspensions. The Restricted Area It cannot be emphasized enough that coaches, players and other team personal must be out of the restricted area of the team box once the ball has become live. Severe injuries have been sustained by both coaches and officials as the result of collisions that have occurred. On those fields which the size of the team box is limited, coaches must stand far back enough away from the sideline to permit the wing official to move freely up and down the line without contacting team personal. For team personal being in the team box during a live ball the penalties are: First offense: A warning Second offense: 5 yard penalty Third and subsequent offense: 15 yard penalty

12 In addition, if an official runs into a coach in the restricted area during live ball play, it is a 15 yard penalty from the previous spot and ejection of the coach involved. Conclusion: The game of football is dynamic and changes from year to year. To achieve excellence in coaching and officiating means staying informed and up to date with those changes The NFL rule book and other information on the game, rules, officiating, and rules interpretation and can be found on the at the NFL rules and operations website operations.nfl.com. For specific question regarding MSFL play, please contact a member of the league's executive board.