BULLETIN #3AUGUST 13, 2017
Fall Scrimmages
We hope that each of you have had clinics in July or August that have helped prepare you for the upcoming season. This is a great time to get in a few fall scrimmages. It allows us to get back in the swing of things, hone some skills and begin to implement some of the mechanics and rules emphasis that we have been working on
Rule Clarification NAIA
Knee Pads and length of pants – The rule will not go into effect until the 2018 season. However this will not eliminate the need for officials to enforce pants that are pulled up or designed to appear as “shorts”. We encourage each NAIA conference to eliminate the wearing of shorts in our game. We will have a Coordinator’s call the week of August 21st and make sure that we are all enforcing this the same way
Leaping and Hurdling – There will be a training video coming out late next week with examples of what should not be allowed under this rule. Mr. Walt Anderson has shared 3 examples of play’s that have been clarified as correct by Rogers Redding.
Play #1: A 4&10 at B20. Team A attempts a Field Goal from the B27. B45 is lined up at the B15 yard line and prior to the snap, starts running forward. At the snap, B45 is at the B19 yard line where he jumps up and over the Left Guard A65 without touching him and attempts to block the kick, landing at the B23 without touching any player. The field goal is good. RULING: Leaping. FG is good, Kickoff at the A35 (decline LEA) or enforce LEA, A 1&Goal B10.
Play #2: A 4&10 at B20. Team A attempts a Field Goal from the B27. B45 is lined up at the B15 yard line and prior to the snap, starts running forward. At the snap, B45 is at the B19 yard line where he jumps up and lands on Left Guard A65 who is at the B22 yard line in an attempt to block the kick. The field goal is good. RULING: Leaping. FG is good, Kickoff at the A35 (decline LEA) or enforce LEA, A 1&Goal B10.
Play #3: A 4&10 at B20. Team A attempts a Field Goal from the B27. B45 is lined up at the B15 yard line and prior to the snap, starts running forward. At the snap, B45 is at the B19 yard line where he plants both feet at the B19 yard line, jumps straight up to attempt to block the kick, and comes straight back down to the ground at the B19 without making contact with any other player. The field goal is good. RULING: No Foul. Field Goal good; kickoff A35. In order to have a foul, B45 in this situation must either land on a player, or must jump over a player in an attempt to block the kick.
Walt
Horse Collar Tackle – Please remember that it is the nameplate area and does not include the top of the uniform numbers
Sideline Management – There is a very good video that has been published on the NAIA site that explains the intent of this rule. The NAIA is firm in making sure that coaches are not on the field protesting or objecting to an official’s call.
20 Minute Halftime – We do have some situations in NAIA leagues where halftime arrangements for may require Coordinators and Commissioners to make decisions that gives teams an extra couple of minutes to get off of the field before starting the clock. Conferences are still allowed to extend halftime to 25 minutes for Homecoming games. The emphasis on starting the second half on time regardless of whether it was 20 or 25 minutes should not be ignored.
The technology rule has been shelved and will not be implemented this season.
We hope that each of you enjoys your experience officiating this fall. Keep in mind that working a college football game is a privilege that many officials would like the chance to have.
Dan Harris
NAIA National Resource Advisor
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICSbulletin #3 / NAIA officiating
Last Modified: 8/13/171