CTK 2011 – High School Football Rule Changes

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, August 16, 2011 | 4:08 PM

With the 2011 high school football season quickly approaching, it is always best to know any rule changes for the upcoming season. The rule changes are made by the National Federation of High Schools, which governs almost all high school athletics, including the PIAA.

Here are a list of the changes for 2011:

* During an injury timeout, teams will now be directed to go to the area in front of the team’s sideline box, between the numbers and sideline to receive instruction, hydration and so on. This change will allow medical personnel to have more space to address the injured player.

* The definition of a chop block has changed. A chop block is when two players combine to block an opponent, where one blocker engages the defender high and the other engages low, with or without delay. The penalty remains 15 yards from the spot of the foul.

* Players will no longer be permitted to write symbols or numbers in eye black worn on the face. Eye black can only be worn below the eye socket. Players are also not permitted to wear face paint.

* No player may voluntarily go out of bounds and affect the play in any way, whether the player returns inbounds or not. This is an illegal participation penalty, assessment is 15 yards.

* The rules committee changed the enforcement of the penalty for a horse-collar tackle. Due to a loophole in the rules, the defensive team could have gained an advantage on a fourth-down penalty for such a tackle. That penalty will now be assessed as a live ball foul. The committee also changed the enforcement of a roughing the passer penalty, it will now be marked from the last spot where the offensive team possessed the ball, either by run or recovery. If the run ends behind the line of scrimmage or a change of possession occurs during the play, the penalty would be enforced from the previous spot (line of scrimmage).

* And the final major change should be one that is fun for the officials to determine. Teams will now be allowed to break the huddle with more than 11 players. The substituted players must begin to leave the field and head towards their team box (sideline) within three seconds. Previously, substituted players had to leave the field towards their team box immediately after being replaced. If a team broke the huddle with 12 or more players, it was an illegal substitution with a 5 yard penalty.

Those are the major changes, special thanks to John Yerage, the rules interpreter for the Lawrence County Football Chapter of PIAA officials for his help. Enjoy Countdown to Kickoff and the season, right here at your home for the 2011 WPIAL Football Playoffs and Championship Games, the MSA Sports Network.