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2020 Rule Changes


JustRules

Question

Coach Nowlin started a thread specifically about the QB legally spiking the ball in shotgun. Discuss the other rule changes here.

https://www.nfhs.org/articles/additional-timing-changes-on-play-clock-approved-in-high-school-football-rules/

  • Play clock set to 40 after a defensive injury or equipment issue (assuming helmet off, sending player out missing pads) - this prevent intentional acts prevented to save time at the end of a half but also prevents defense from gaining an advantage unintentionally. Let's a play ends with 37 seconds on the game clock but a defensive player is injured. With a regular 40-second clock the half would have ended. But because the official would reset the play clock to 25 once the injured player is off the field, the offense has to run at least 1 more play. The same issue existed before the 40-second play clock, but with the 40-second play clock option they have something to use to address it.
  • 25 second play clock following any legal kick - this is correcting an oversight when the rule was implemented last year. If the receiving team muffs the punt and the kicking team recovers, by rule the play clock is set to 40 and started immediately following the play. Since both teams will be swapping nearly full units it makes more sense to make that an administrative stop and start the 25-second play clock when everyone (officials, chain crew, ball, players) are ready. It was generally don't this way last year, but this codifies it correctly.
  • Spiking the ball to stop the clock in shot gun is now legal - not likely to happen very often but a logical change to allow it
  • Disconcerting signal now 5-yard rather than 15-yard penalty - an example would be the defense barking the cadence to try to cause the offense to jump. Not sure why they changed it because it doesn't happen very often, but a 5-yard penalty does seem to be consistent with similar fouls.
  • The coach can designate who will make penalty decisions - the rules previously only listed the captain could make this decision. Most penalties are obviously accepted or declined. But if you needed to ask the first thing the captain did was look to the sideline. Many crews had given up asking the captain and just went directly to the head coach. Now he can do that by rule.
  • Halftime following a weather delay can be shortened - very logical change. If you have a 30-minute delay with 2 minute left in the first half, that weather delay can essentially double as your halftime. Come back, do the 3-minute warm-up, play the last 2 minutes, have a 1-minute break (same as other quarter breaks), and then start the second half.

Nothing major that should impact most games.

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