There are many rule changes every year, but this year may have more of a positive impact than usual. The implementation of the concussion rule will have a profound effect on the health of players as referees can disallow a player from playing and forbid them from coming back into a game if they seem to have concussion like symptoms. Other notable revisions are; the horse collar rule being more clarified, braces and casts in baseball must be padded with at least a half-inch of foam, and track & fields rulings on jewelry being worn during an event. See the revisions/additions below from the NFHS (National Federation of State High School Associations).

Statement on concussions from the NFHS

The update on the concussion rule falls in line with similar changes made by the NFHS Board of Directors in the area of football.

According to NFHS rules adopted in 2010; officials are charged with removing any player who shows signs, symptoms or behaviors consistent with a concussion, such as loss of consciousness, headache, dizziness, confusion or balance problems, and shall not return to play until cleared by an appropriate health-care professional.

“Given that the vast majority of concussions do not include a loss of consciousness, but that athletes often show obvious evidence of concussion, the NFHS Sports Medicine Advisory Committee (SMAC) strongly believes that officials must continue to be empowered to remove these athletes from play, thus protecting them from further injury,” said Dr. Michael Koester, chair of the SMAC.

“Continued participation in any sport following a concussion can lead to worsening concussion symptoms, as well as increased risk for further injury to the brain and even death.”

The previous rule directed officials to remove an athlete from play if “unconscious or apparently unconscious.” The previous rule also allowed for return to play based on written authorization by a medical doctor.

FOOTBALL:

2010 Football Rules Revisions

1-5-2c: New football glove/hand pad standard implemented for the 2012 season.

1-5-3a: Restrictions removed on penalty-marker colored pads or gloves.

1-5-3b1, 2, Note 3: Illegal player equipment rule clarified.

3-1-2; 1-7: Point differential rule modified for member state associations.

3-2-2: Coin toss provisions revised.

3-5-10b: Concussion rule revised.

3-7-1: Replaced players – replacement timeframe clarified.

8-2-2; 8-2-3; 8-2-4 (NEW); 8-2-5; 10-4-5; 10-5-1f; 2-41-10: Penalty options for fouls on scoring plays expanded to include scoring team fouls.

9-4-3k: Horse-collar clarified.

9-4-8 (NEW): Penalty defined for unintentional contact between a nonplayer and an official in the restricted area.

Nine-, Eight- and Six-player Rules: Field markings in nine-, eight- and six-player rule differences adjusted.

BASEBALL

One of six new rules changes by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Baseball Rules Committee forbids the use of composite bats until they can meet the Batted Ball Coefficient of Restitution (BBCOR) performance standard.

  • Rule 1-3-2 through 5 was completely rewritten with the intention of creating a rule that preserves the intent and spirit of the old rule, but is better suited to products resulting from new technology. Under the new rule, bats with composite handles and tapers would still be legal. The stricter language applies primarily to the barrel of the bat.
  • Rule 1-1-2 now requires coaches to list all known substitutes on the lineup card before the umpire accepts it. Coaches will still be able to add a substitute without a penalty, but this should speed up substitutions and player changes during the game.
  • A change to Rule 2-16-2 was also made to clarify an existing rule and ease its application for coaches and players. The rule now reads: “A foul tip is a batted ball that goes directly to the catcher’s hands and is legally caught by the catcher. It is a strike and the ball is in play.”
  • Similarly, a “last-time-by” rule has been instituted. The new rule states that if a runner correctly touches a base that was missed the last time he was by the base, that last touch corrects any previous base-running infraction. This last-time-by practice is commonly accepted, but is now legally Rule 8-2-6l.
  • A change to Rule 1-5-8, all hard and unyielding items such as braces, casts, etc., must be padded with a closed-cell, slow-recovery foam padding no less than one-half-inch thick. Knee and ankle braces that are unaltered from the manufacturer’s original design/production do not require additional padding.
  • new rule, 3-1-5, puts strict constraints on players who may have suffered a concussion. The rule states that any player who exhibits signs, symptoms or behaviors consistent with a concussion, including but not limited to loss of consciousness, headache, dizziness, confusion of balance problems, must be removed from the contest immediately and shall not return to play before being cleared by an appropriate health-care professional.

BASKETBALL

The changes cover sportsmanship, uniform standards, closely-guarded situations and perimeter play.

Rules 2-8-5; 3-3-8

  • Changed the guidelines and procedures for identifying and removing a player who exhibits signs, symptoms and/or behaviors consistent with a concussion.

Rule 3-5-3a T

  • The list of permissible headband and wristband colors was changed to include any single solid school color.

Rules 10-3-6i; 10-5-5

  • Specific rules were added to address the unsporting acts of a player leaving the playing court for an unauthorized reason to demonstrate resentment, disgust or intimidation and team members leaving the bench area and/or playing court for an unauthorized reason.

2010-11 MAJOR EDITORIAL CHANGES

Rules 3-3-1a NOTE;  4-34-2

  • Clarified that when a substitute is not properly reported, the players in the game at the conclusion of the quarter/when the time-out was granted shall begin play for the new quarter/after the time-out. During an intermission, all team members are bench personnel for the purpose of penalizing unsporting behavior.

Rule 3-4-2d

  • Clarified that a school or conference logo/mascot may be located at the apex/opening of the neckline, in the corresponding area on the back of the jersey and/or in the either side insert.

Rule 3-5-2

  • Clarified the requirements for guards, casts and braces and that a protective face mask shall be worn molded to the face.

Rule 6-1-2

  • Clarified that the ball becomes live on a throw-in and a free throw when it is at the disposal of the player and the official begins the count.

Rule 7-6-6

  • Clarified that when the ball is awarded to the wrong team, the mistake must be rectified before the throw-in ends.

WRESTLING

A revision in the appropriate dress for weigh-ins in high school wrestling was among four rules changes approved by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Wrestling Rules Committee at its April 5-7 meeting in Indianapolis. The changes, which were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors, will take effect with the 2010-11 season.

  • Regarding weigh-ins, previously both male and female contestants had to weigh in wearing “no more than a suitable undergarment.” Beginning next year, specific language has been added regarding what constitutes a “suitable undergarment.” Male and female contestants will be required to wear a suitable undergarment that completely covers the buttocks and the groin area. In addition, for female contestants the suitable undergarment must also cover the breasts.
    • The committee also addressed the process for an offensive wrestler assuming a legal starting position. The following statement has been added to Rule 5-20-9:
      • “Once the offensive wrestler has assumed a legal starting position and is stationary, the referee shall verbally say ‘set’ and then pause momentarily before starting wrestling.”
      • “This rule change will eliminate either wrestler gaining an advantage by using a rolling start,” Colgate said. “It also eliminates the need for the offensive wrestler using a specific sequence when assuming a legal starting position, including the optional offensive starting position.”
      • any contestant who shows signs, symptoms or behaviors consistent with a concussion shall be removed immediately from the match and shall not return to competition until cleared by an appropriate health-care professional.
      • added the “rear-standing, double-knee kickback” to the list of illegal maneuvers. Colgate said this maneuver, which is being used more frequently at the high school level, clearly puts the opposing wrestler in a dangerous situation and at a high risk for injury.

TRACK & FIELD

Rules changes approved by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Track and Field and Cross Country Rules Committee have more lenient penalties than in the past, including a team warning for the first jewelry violation when observed during competition. The changes, which were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors, will take effect with the 2010-11 school year.

  • Jewelry is still prohibited in all track and field events under Rule 4-3-3, the first violation witnessed by an official will now result in a team warning. The observing official shall report to the meet referee, who will then notify the coach of the offending school. All subsequent violations will result in a disqualification of the athlete(s)/relay team from the event.
  • Rules 4-3-3 and 9-6-7 were amended to allow additional means of hair control. Unadorned devices, such as bobby pins, barrettes and hair clips, no longer than two inches, may be worn to control a competitor’s hair. This rule was updated to reflect common practice in some states and achieve consistency throughout the rule’s application. These items for hair control are not considered dangerous for the contestant and are not considered jewelry or adornment.
  • Other rules changes allow more leniencies in what is considered a foul, primarily in high jump and pole vault. Under Rule 7-2-12, if improperly fastened supports slip downward when a jumper hits the crossbar, it shall be ruled a no jump and the jumper will get another trial, regardless of the initial jump’s result.
  • A note was added to Rule 7-5-29a that if a crossbar and/or uprights are placed incorrectly by the contest officials and the crossbar is displaced by the competitor, the trial is not recorded and the competitor receives an additional trial.
  • Rule 7-5-16 has been deleted and replaced with new guidelines for the warm-up of pole vault competitors who have passed three consecutive heights and not entered the competition. Those competitors are now allowed two minutes of warm-up jumps per competitor entering at that height. These competitors often sit out long enough that a proper warm-up is in order. Such a warm-up wasn’t being provided by the old rule that allowed only one warm-up jump.
  • Rules 7-4-11 and 7-5-18 have been modified to clarify protocol when there is only one competitor left in a vertical jump competition. Only after that person has been determined the event winner may he or she determine successive heights of the crossbar.
    • A significant editorial change that will affect all sports requires that any athlete who exhibits signs, symptoms or behaviors consistent with a concussion, including but not limited to loss of consciousness, headache, dizziness, confusion or balance problems, must be removed from the contest immediately and shall not return to play before being cleared by an appropriate health-care professional.
    • In addition, Rule 4-4-1 was added, stating that if a hard or unyielding item, such as a guard, cast, etc., is worn, it is up to the referee to determine if padding is required. Such padding shall be closed-cell, slow-recovery foam no less than one-half-inch thick. Unaltered knee and ankle braces do not require any additional padding.
    • Rule 4-4-2 clarifies the use of prosthetics in track and field. Each state association may authorize the use of a prosthesis, which in its opinion, is no more dangerous to competitors and/or equipment than the corresponding human body part(s) and does not place an opponent at a disadvantage.
    • New to the rules book but commonly practiced, a letter of authorization shall be provided by the state association for any modifications to uniforms or equipment due to medical or religious reasons. The letter shall be made available to the meet referee prior to the beginning of competition.
    • Rule 3-3-1 identifies the meet director as the official representative of host meet management; 3-3-2 makes that person responsible for handling unsporting conduct by spectators and other matters outside of competition rules.

DIVING

Many of the diving changes were administrative, such as an amendment to rule 9 stating that both coaches and swimmers must sign off on the dive sheets to ensure that the diver is in fact capable of completing the dives. This help responsible coaches keep their divers from sneaking in dives that they do not have the skill to complete, which can be dangerous.

  • A new rule, 9-7-4d states that a diver must at least attempt to come out of a twist for a dive to be considered successful.
  • Rule 9-7-5g takes this a step further by stating that a diver’s twisting must be within 90 degrees of what is listed on the score sheet, based on where the diver’s shoulders are when the diver’s hands or feet touch the water.
  • Rule 9-7-5h also deals with twisting, and says that a diver’s shoulders cannot rotate more than 90 degrees before the diver leaves the board. The final ruling regarding diving was that a diver will receive a half-point to two-point deduction for failing to stop the oscillating of the board immediately before or after the starting position is taken (Rule 9-8-2a).
  • The biggest rules change that pertains to swimming was an official declaration on “kinesio” tape that has been a growing trend throughout sports.
    • The NFHS decided to outlaw the tape, classifying the tape as a “device…worn to compress any part of the body to aid in speed…”
    • 3-3-2b(2)- Clarifies that suits worn in competition must be 100% permeable to air and water, except for the school’s logo, which is allowed to cover no more than a 9 square inch area.
    • 3-3-1 – Puts in writing that which had been the in-practice ruling that the FINA logo which adorns many suits, indicating that they conform to FINA suit standards, is not considered advertising and thus does not count towards the rules limiting suits to a single brand logo.
    • 8-3-8b – An expansion to the rule made last year, declaring that a leadoff relay split is nullified if a relay is disqualified for a conduct rule. In addition, if the relay is disqualified for an entry rule violation, such as a swimmer entered in too many events, the leadoff time is nullified.