Post by Coach Campbell on May 2, 2011 12:26:35 GMT
2011 NCAA RULES CHANGES OVERVIEW
The Texas Association of Sports Officials (TASO) is providing you with some preliminary information from the
NCAA regarding football rule changes for the 2011 season. There may be further changes before the season
starts. There are UIL and TAPPS exceptions listed as "TEXAS HIGH SCHOOLS WILL NOT USE THIS RULE" and are
noted to some rules. TASO will communicate any additional changes to you as soon as we learn of
them.
1) Unsportsmanlike Conduct Penalties for unsportsmanlike conduct fouls during live-ball play are now
enforced as live-ball fouls using basic spot enforcement instead of as dead-ball fouls using succeeding spot
enforcement. In other words, if a player is running uncontested to the goal line and taunts an opponent
or does something to draw attention to himself, the touchdown will be nullified and the penalty will be
enforced from where the foul occurred.
2) Illegal Wedge There can be no foul for an illegal wedge during a free kick that results in a touchback.
3) 10-Second Subtraction from Game Clock "TEXAS HIGH SCHOOLS WILL NOT USE THIS RULE". If the game
clock is running with less than one minute in either half and either team commits a foul that causes the
clock to stop, the officials may subtract 10 seconds from the game clock at the option of the offended
team. These types of fouls may be (but not limited to)...
* Any foul that prevents the snap.( i.e. false start, defense offside, etc.)
* Intentional grounding to stop the clock
* Backward pass thrown out of bounds to stop the clock
* Any other foul committed with the intent of stopping the clock.
The 10-second rule does not apply if the game clock is not running when the foul occurs or if the foul does
not cause the game clock to stop (i.e. illegal formation, illegal substitution, illegal shift, etc.) The offended
team may accept the yardage penalty and decline the 10-second subtraction. However, if the yardage
penalty is declined, the 10-second subtraction is also declined by rule. Following the distance penalty and
10-second subtraction (if any), the game clock starts on the referee's ready for play signal. If the distance
penalty and 10-second subtraction are declined, the clock starts on the snap. The fouling team may avoid
the 10-second subtraction by using one of its timeouts (if any). In that case, the game clock starts on the
snap.
EXAMPLE: A team is in hurry-up offense trying to score the winning or tying field goal in the 4th quarter.
They complete a pass to the B-25 with the clock counting down 11...10...9... They get set but with 8 seconds
on the clock, the RG false starts. If the offensive team is out of timeouts, the game is over.
4) Defensive Linemen on Place Kicks If a team is in a formation to attempt a place kick (field goal or try), it is
illegal for three defensive players on their line of scrimmage inside the blocking zone to align shoulder-to-
shoulder and move forward together after the snap with primary contact against a single
opponent.
5)Blocking Below The Waist New language has been written regarding the manner in which a low
block may legally occur. An offensive player that is (1) on the line of scrimmage more than 7 yards from
the middle lineman of the offensive formation or (2) in the backfield outside the tackle box, or (3) in
motion in any direction at the snap may block below the waist only along a line parallel to the sideline or
toward the sideline to which he was adjacent at the snap. This restriction applies anywhere on the field.
This sounds innocent enough, but a wide-out on the hash opposite the press box cannot drag across the
field to the press box side and block a corner back below the waist toward the sideline on the press box
side.
6) Blocking an Out Of Bounds Opponent It is illegal for a player to initiate a block against an opponent who
is out of bounds. The enforcement spot will be where the blocker crosses the sideline in going out of
bounds. (This will be enforced as a personal foul).
MAJOR EDITORIAL CHANGES
> Any player may wear a towel.
> "TEXAS HIGH SCHOOLS WILL NOT USE THIS RULE". A disqualified player must leave the playing
enclosure and remain out of view of the field under team supervision for the duration of the game.
> The game clock does not stop when the ball carrier's helmet comes off. However, the ball becomes
dead.
> The foul for 12-players on the field, whether live-ball or dead-ball carries a 5-yard penalty.
> After the ball is ready for play and before the snap, if the offense never has all 11 players set for a full
second, it is a dead-ball false start rather than an illegal shift. If they become set and then make an
illegal shift without re-setting before the snap, it is a live-ball foul at the snap.
> For Team A to avoid a foul for intentional grounding, it is no longer required that a receiver have a
"reasonable opportunity" to catch the pass. The receiver must only be in the area.
> Penalties for unsportsmanlike conduct by Team B include an automatic first down.
> 15-yard penalties are reserved for personal fouls, unsportsmanlike conduct fouls and pass
interference.
> Offensive linemen are allowed to interlock legs.
The Texas Association of Sports Officials (TASO) is providing you with some preliminary information from the
NCAA regarding football rule changes for the 2011 season. There may be further changes before the season
starts. There are UIL and TAPPS exceptions listed as "TEXAS HIGH SCHOOLS WILL NOT USE THIS RULE" and are
noted to some rules. TASO will communicate any additional changes to you as soon as we learn of
them.
1) Unsportsmanlike Conduct Penalties for unsportsmanlike conduct fouls during live-ball play are now
enforced as live-ball fouls using basic spot enforcement instead of as dead-ball fouls using succeeding spot
enforcement. In other words, if a player is running uncontested to the goal line and taunts an opponent
or does something to draw attention to himself, the touchdown will be nullified and the penalty will be
enforced from where the foul occurred.
2) Illegal Wedge There can be no foul for an illegal wedge during a free kick that results in a touchback.
3) 10-Second Subtraction from Game Clock "TEXAS HIGH SCHOOLS WILL NOT USE THIS RULE". If the game
clock is running with less than one minute in either half and either team commits a foul that causes the
clock to stop, the officials may subtract 10 seconds from the game clock at the option of the offended
team. These types of fouls may be (but not limited to)...
* Any foul that prevents the snap.( i.e. false start, defense offside, etc.)
* Intentional grounding to stop the clock
* Backward pass thrown out of bounds to stop the clock
* Any other foul committed with the intent of stopping the clock.
The 10-second rule does not apply if the game clock is not running when the foul occurs or if the foul does
not cause the game clock to stop (i.e. illegal formation, illegal substitution, illegal shift, etc.) The offended
team may accept the yardage penalty and decline the 10-second subtraction. However, if the yardage
penalty is declined, the 10-second subtraction is also declined by rule. Following the distance penalty and
10-second subtraction (if any), the game clock starts on the referee's ready for play signal. If the distance
penalty and 10-second subtraction are declined, the clock starts on the snap. The fouling team may avoid
the 10-second subtraction by using one of its timeouts (if any). In that case, the game clock starts on the
snap.
EXAMPLE: A team is in hurry-up offense trying to score the winning or tying field goal in the 4th quarter.
They complete a pass to the B-25 with the clock counting down 11...10...9... They get set but with 8 seconds
on the clock, the RG false starts. If the offensive team is out of timeouts, the game is over.
4) Defensive Linemen on Place Kicks If a team is in a formation to attempt a place kick (field goal or try), it is
illegal for three defensive players on their line of scrimmage inside the blocking zone to align shoulder-to-
shoulder and move forward together after the snap with primary contact against a single
opponent.
5)Blocking Below The Waist New language has been written regarding the manner in which a low
block may legally occur. An offensive player that is (1) on the line of scrimmage more than 7 yards from
the middle lineman of the offensive formation or (2) in the backfield outside the tackle box, or (3) in
motion in any direction at the snap may block below the waist only along a line parallel to the sideline or
toward the sideline to which he was adjacent at the snap. This restriction applies anywhere on the field.
This sounds innocent enough, but a wide-out on the hash opposite the press box cannot drag across the
field to the press box side and block a corner back below the waist toward the sideline on the press box
side.
6) Blocking an Out Of Bounds Opponent It is illegal for a player to initiate a block against an opponent who
is out of bounds. The enforcement spot will be where the blocker crosses the sideline in going out of
bounds. (This will be enforced as a personal foul).
MAJOR EDITORIAL CHANGES
> Any player may wear a towel.
> "TEXAS HIGH SCHOOLS WILL NOT USE THIS RULE". A disqualified player must leave the playing
enclosure and remain out of view of the field under team supervision for the duration of the game.
> The game clock does not stop when the ball carrier's helmet comes off. However, the ball becomes
dead.
> The foul for 12-players on the field, whether live-ball or dead-ball carries a 5-yard penalty.
> After the ball is ready for play and before the snap, if the offense never has all 11 players set for a full
second, it is a dead-ball false start rather than an illegal shift. If they become set and then make an
illegal shift without re-setting before the snap, it is a live-ball foul at the snap.
> For Team A to avoid a foul for intentional grounding, it is no longer required that a receiver have a
"reasonable opportunity" to catch the pass. The receiver must only be in the area.
> Penalties for unsportsmanlike conduct by Team B include an automatic first down.
> 15-yard penalties are reserved for personal fouls, unsportsmanlike conduct fouls and pass
interference.
> Offensive linemen are allowed to interlock legs.