RAEFORD — Reducing the number of contact related injuries has resulted in the blind-side block becoming illegal Sandhills Athletic Conference coaches learned during their annual media day.
The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) in the off season determined that a blind-side block will now draw a foul.
A blind-side block according to the NFHS is defined as a “block involves contact by a blocker against an opponent who, because of physical positioning and focus of concentration, is vulnerable to injury.”
Neil Buie, the regional supervisor for the Southeastern NC Sports Officials, LLC., was on hand to inform the coaches about the rule changes and how they could have a dramatic impact on the upcoming season.
In order to minimize the risk of injury to players, it was determined that unless a blocker leads with open hands the player will be flagged for excessive and unnecessary contact — outside of the free-blocking zone.
“Players must lead with an open hand, so it becomes more of a shove than a blow up,” Buie explained. “People in the stands have always gone ‘ohhh’ now they’re going to go ‘ahhh’ because it’s going to generate a flag.”
The other risky play the NFHS identified that will now earn teams a penalty is a pop-up kick.
“A pop-up kick is where the ball is sitting on a tee and the kicker strikes the ball on the top half and it immediately goes into the ground and bounces high in the air,” said Buie. “That’s now going to be a five-yard illegal procedure foul.”
On-side kicks are still permitted, but in order to be considered an on-side kick the ball must travel at least five yards.
Additional rule changes
The face guarding rule associated with defensive pass interference was eliminated, which means a defensive player can impede the line of sight of the receiver and it won’t draw a foul. The only way defensive pass interference is called now is if there is contact between the two players.
The other rule change Buie thinks will impact the game is that a team on will have the option in the final two minutes of either half to have the clock start on the snap for an accepted penalty.
“The offended team has the option of starting the clock on the snap in the last two minutes of either half,” said Buie. “Which could be big because prior to this a team could run out the clock and never have to run a play.”
Buie gave the coaches a scenario the new rule would impact, “we’ve got 45 seconds left in the game, the offense wants to run out the clock but the defense wants to ball back. The offense goes to the line of scrimmage, they get a false start at 45 seconds. Mark off the five yard penalty, the clock starts on the ready and they get a new 25 second (play clock). They can take it down to 15 seconds, false start again, move the ball back five yards and game over. The offense never has to run another play.”
With the new rule, the offended team will now have the option to tell the referee they want start the clock on the snap instead of the ready, which forces play to continue. The referee will still have the authority to start or stop the clock if a team attempts to conserve or consume time illegally.
Amber Hatten can be reached at 910-506-3170.
