2011 rule changes

[jayhawk]

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The TASO FOOTBALL DIVISION, as authorized by our President, would like to furnish you with the 2011 new Texas High School playing rules additions. We hope this will assist you during your Spring Training sessions in preparation for next years 2011 season. We wish all of you good luck and are available to you for any assistance we can offer. TASO FOOTBALL DIVISION The Texas Association of Sports Officials (TASO) Football Division has put together some preliminary information regarding football rule changes for the 2011 season. This is based on what we have received from the NCAA to date. It is likely there will also be some UIL and TAPPS exceptions made to these or other rules. TASO will pass those on 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 - (There WILL BE a UIL EXCEPTION for this change at least for 2011.) 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 for the field goal, 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 extra point 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. Players of the defensive team who at the snap are inside the blocking zone extended to the sideline may block below the waist inside that area until the blocking zone disintegrates (Rule 2-3-6-b) except against a Team A player in position to receive a backward pass. All other defenders are prohibited from blocking below the waist except if they are tackling a ball carrier.

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.
 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. (There WILL BE a UIL EXCEPTION for this change and the disqualified player will simply be required to stay in the team area for the remainder of the game or wherever the coach directs him to.)
 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.

[Hawkeye]

So glad any player can wear a towel now. That rule change was long overdue!

[Englebert]

I like that are marking Live Ball Unsportsmanlike Penalities basic live ball spots. I just wish they would make all Unsportsmanlike Penalities live ball spots.

[Guest octfeb]

Hmm.. No penalties for being late to the raising of the American Flag?  >:(  ;)

[u_dnt_kno_me]

Still dont like the NO celebration rule

[teeboan]

[quote name="Englebert" post="1007914" timestamp="1304949725"]
I like that are marking Live Ball Unsportsmanlike Penalities basic live ball spots. I just wish they would make all Unsportsmanlike Penalities live ball spots.
[/quote]
  Don't think I like the change. I don't want to take away a long touchdown run from a kid because 50 yds back one of his teammates was acting up. The 15 yarder on the kickoff was usually enough to get the coach to blow his stack. Now he's really going to go postal.

[bulldogs1990]

i like the no show boat rule a good coach want have a player taunting jmo