Illegal Football FieldRule 1-2-3b NOTES 2

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Illegal Equipment1-5-3c(8)

Play cards must be worn on the wrist or arm.

LEGAL ILLEGAL

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© REFEREE ENTERPISES INC. 2012

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Illegal Personal ContactRule 9-4-3h

Grasping an opponent’s tooth and mouth protector attached to the face mask is a foul.

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National Federation of StateHigh School Associations

Take Part. Get Set For Life.™

National Federation of StateHigh School Associations

2013TSSAA INFORMATION

TSSAA Concussion Policy (Officials’ Protocol)

1. Determine prior to the start of the contest whether or not a school has access to a designated health care provider during the contest.

2. Continue to monitor players for possible signs of injury as usual. 3. Remove any player that shows signs, symptoms, or behaviors consistent

with a concussion per NFHS rules.

4. Inform the head coach that the player is being removed for showing signs, symptoms, or behaviors consistent with a concussion.

5. The school shall have the player examined by their designated health care provider. If the designated health care provider determines that the student has not sustained a concussion, the head coach may so advise the officials during an appropriate stoppage of play and the athlete may re-enter competition pursuant to contest rules.

6. The head coach is in charge of getting clearance from the school’s designated healthcare provider.

Officials’ Protocol continued..7. If the school does not have access to a designated health care provider, or if the school’s

designated health care provider suspects that the athlete may have sustained a concussion, the only means for an athlete to return to practice or play is for the student to be evaluated and cleared by a licensed medical doctor (M.D.), Osteopathic Physician (D.O.) or a Clinical Neuropsychologist with Concussion Training.

8. If signs, symptoms and behaviors consistent with a concussion are observed by an official , and a designated health care provider is not available to evaluate the student athlete, the “TSSAA Concussion Return to Play” form MUST be completed and signed by a licensed medical doctor (M.D.), Osteopathic Physician (D. O.) or a Clinical Neuropsychologist with concussion training, and shown to the official(s) by the head coach prior to a student-athlete returning to participate in a contest the same day.

9. If a player that has been removed by an official for showing signs, symptoms, and behaviors consistent with a concussion is allowed to return to play during the contest, an “Unusual Occurrence Form” shall be filed with the state office by the official within 24 hours of the incident.

10. Officials have no role in the diagnosis of a concussion. NFHS Rules do require that the officials remove players from the contest when signs, symptoms, or behaviors consistent with a concussion are observed and the above written protocol must be followed.

Designated Health Care Providers – Certified Athletic Trainer, Certified Nurse Practitioner, Physicians Assistant, Doctor of Medicine, Osteopathic Physician

TSSAA Heat Policy

Coaches and administrators must review the TSSAA Heat Policy at www.tssaa.org to make sure that all required accommodations are being made for practice or competition.

TSSAA Heat Policy

Modifications for Football Competition when the Heat Index is 95°-104°

Officials shall stop the game for a heat time-out at the first dead ball after the halfway point of each quarter. If either team has possession of the ball inside the other team’s twenty yard line,

officials may delay this time out until either the offensive team scores or the ball is turned over.

NFHS/TSSAA Lightning Guidelines TSSAA follows the NFHS Guidelines found in your NFHS

Rules Book

If lightning is seen or thunder is heard, IT IS CLOSE ENOUGH

TO STRIKE YOU!!

Follow the thirty minute rule. Once play is suspended, at least

30 minutes must pass after the last clap of thunder is heard or

the last flash of lightning is witnessed prior to resuming play.

Any subsequent thunder or lightning after the beginning of the

30 minute count requires the clock to be reset and another 30

minute count to begin.

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TSSAA ADJUSTMENTS

Coin Toss

Referee and Umpire (R face the scoreboard) will go out to the center of the field from the press box side just before the 3 minute mark. Referee will then signal to each sideline to bring out the captains.

At the 3 minute mark and after the signal from the Referee, all remaining officials will start walking out with the captains. LJ & ECO from the press box side. BJ and L from the side opposite the press box.

All officials will stop at the hash marks and the captains will continue to the center of the field.

Five-Game Official Positionsfor Kickoff

TSSAA Adjustments2nd Half Kick-Off Decision Procedure The Line Judge and Back Judge will seek their respective

team’s Head Coach at the beginning of the 3:00 minute warm-up period. The official getting the kicking team’s choice for kicking direction shall signal the opposing wing official as to the direction of the kick.

Thereafter, the wing officials will ask the Coach to note the warm-up time remaining on the game clock and have his team on the field following the warm-up period.

The officiating crew shall gather from their half time duties at midfield with 0:30 remaining in the warm-up period. They will confirm the choices. The Back Judge shall place the ball on the appropriate kickoff yard line and point in the direction of the kickoff. The officiating crew will move briskly to their respective free kick positions when the warm-up period expires.

Mercy Rule

Beginning in the second half, if the point differential is 35 points or more, a continuous clock will be used. The clock will only stop for charged timeouts, injuries, and scores. The try will always be an un-timed down. The clock shall start when the ball is kicked on the kickoff. If the point differential goes below 35 points, go back to regular timing rules.

Microphone Mechanics Practice, practice, practice - Say the words even in games you

don’t have a microphone on you. Face the press box and STAND STILL. There is no need to yell, that’s why you have a microphone.

Speak in a conversational and unhurried tone. Be informative and concise, but not ridiculously brief.

“Rehearse” with the Umpire to know you have all the information before making a formal announcement (foul, down, ½ the distance, etc.)

Basic information includes: Foul, Offense or defense / Kicking team or receiving team, Yardage of the penalty, and Down

Use “Prior to the snap” or “After the conclusion of the play” rather than “Dead ball.”

Never say the number of the player or the player’s position, but when necessary you can say vaguely “the player involved.”

Never announce colors or team names.

Measurements

The linejudge will mark the spot for the clip with his beanbag. After marking this spot, he will hold the ball for the measurement.

The backjudge goes to the sideline to the box. If it is a first down, he will set the chains. If it is not a first down, he will return to the backjudge position.

TSSAA Adjustments

Back Judge Set Box: On measurements, BJ goes to the sideline to the box. If it is a 1st down, set chains. If it is not a 1st down, return to BJ position.

Back judge: set chains when linesman has spot. New Ball on incomplete passes in varsity games. Extra Point to kickoff: LJ and BJ go down

numbers or sideline. Not down middle of field. Close 4th Down Spots: The official with the spot

MUST put the ball down.

Reminders Incomplete Pass – If a pass is incomplete in your

area:

A. Sound whistle

B. Give incomplete pass signal (S #10) twice.

C. Get new ball and relay to game official nearest spot.

Middle School Football: Does not need NFHS Stamp.

Kentucky Experimental Free Kick Restraining Line Rule

The Kentucky Association is utilizing an experimental rule that deals with the free kick restraining line.

If your school plays a team in Kentucky, we recommend that you contact the Kentucky team to go over this experimental rule that will be used.

In its simplest form, the members of the kicking team, other than the kicker, can be no further than five yards from the kicking team restraining line after the ready for play is blown. It will be considered an encroachment foul, and therefore the play will be killed.

TSSAA Points of Emphasis

Referee.. Passing arm of the quarterback.

Umpire.. Move to line of scrimmage, when appropriate; drift to side zones (hashes do not act as boundaries). After snap umpire needs to take whistle out of mouth.

LJ and HL.. On scrimmage downs, after ball becomes dead and duties completed, move to the sideline for sideline control. Return to and assume pre-snap position: Approximately 9 yards outside widest player. If widest player is on numbers or out then you should be in the white on the sideline.(TSSAA Adjustment)

Back Judge.. Change in scrimmage kick mechanics, no TSSAA adjustment. Position: 10-12 yards wider than and 2-3 yards behind the deepest receiver.

ALL: Manage the Game!!!!

This is Not Managing the Game!

Game Management

Do the usual things well and consistently: Reporting & administering fouls correctly. Communicating to the bench the number of

the player who committed the foul. Getting the ball ready for play consistently. Being in the right position to rule on the play. Being a great “dead ball” official. Having your head “in the game” all the time.

Game Management

Being & showing confidence without being “cocky”.

Being “smooth & deliberate” in your movements – hustle without hurrying – officiate “under control”.

“Slowing down” when your unsure or something unusual happens.

Having fun --- remember, it’s a game!

Arbiter Information

Years of Service

Changing email

Testing

Unusual Occurrence Form is Now Found on the Arbiter

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Play-off Information

25 Second Play Clocks

In 2013 Play-offs, it is strongly recommended that the 25 second play clock be run by a registered football official.

In 2014 play-offs, 25 second play clocks must be run by registered football officials.

7 Man Crews

Starting in 2013 play-offs, 7 Man Crews will be used for quarterfinals, semifinals, and championship games.

Official Wilson Ball

Attendance Cards

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Thank You!

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