Page 13 - 2020 Sollenberger

New football rule changes for 2020 season
By Tyler Cerimeli
AIA Officials and Tournament Coordinator
It has been an up-and-down offseason, but the 2020 Football season is almost upon us.
Officials have been working tirelessly in order to prepare for com- petition. Every week for the last two months has been full of Zoom training meetings, seminars, video study, and rulebook study.
This year features some significant rule changes that officials must prepare for. The first rule change of note is an adjustment to how the play clock is administered.
Last year the National Federation of State High School Associations implemented the 40-second play clock. This rule change led to more consistent pacing and game time.
This season, there have been some clarifications to this rule in order to prevent a team from gaining a timing advantage in certain situations. Starting this season the play clock will be set to 40 seconds following
a legal kick and an injury or equipment timeout that is taken solely for a defensive player. A 40 second play clock on a defensive injury prevents the defense from feigning an injury to have the play clock reduced to 25 seconds.
Other than this specific example, the play clock goes to 25 seconds on all stoppages by officials. The second rule change from the NFHS Football Rules Committee is an expansion to the rule on how a team is legally able to spike the football in order to stop the clock.
In the past, the offense was required to spike the ball while taking
a snap from under center. This season the offense may spike the ball legally from the shotgun formation, provided this action is done imme- diately after the player received the ball (Without the ball hitting the ground or being bobbled).
The final major rule change is a reduction to the disconcerting acts penalty. Previously, it was a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for the defense to use acts or words to get the offense to commit a false start.
This included the defense stomping in toward an offensive player, mimicking the cadence, or making an abrupt movement to get the offense to flinch. This season the foul for a disconcert- ing act has been reduced to a 5-yard foul, bringing it in line with what the penalty is at other levels.
Those watching high school football this year will also see some modifications to make the playing environment as safe as possible for players, coaches and officials. Some of these mod- ifications include the wearing
of masks by sideline personnel, regular sanitization of game equipment, and the expansion of the team box to allow for more social distancing.
Tyler Cerimeli is an Arizona Interscholastic Association official and tournament coordi- nator and serves on the NFHS Rules Committee. He graduat- ed from Saguaro in 2008 and earned a degree in biological science from Arizona State. Cerimeli also serves as a replay official for the NFL.
GET INVOLED BY BECOMING AN OFFICIAL
Officiating is an unbelievably rewarding avocation. For those interesting in registering as a sports official in the sport(s) they love, visit our main website at: www.aiaonline.org under the officials tab or feel free to call our office at 602-385-3817 or 602-385-3818.
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