Football Point Differential Rule Changes for 2014-15

Baseball & softball doubleheaders now permitted on school days; Ohio joining other states in adopting second-half running clock in lopsided football games

COLUMBUS, Ohio — For years, high school football games in Ohio could be shortened by mutual agreement of both head coaches. That will change this fall with the adoption of a football point differential rule as part of the 2014-15 sport regulations approved by the Ohio High School Athletic Association Board of Directors last week at its May board meeting.

The point differential regulation, which is already used in many states, is permitted by state adoption according to the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). The proposal was recommended to the board by the OHSAA staff after more than a year of consultation with the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association.

Unlike changes to the bylaws and constitution, which require a vote of the membership, changes to sport-specific regulations and the general sports regulations need only approval from the board of directors.

“First and foremost, this was proposed out of concern for player safety,” Beau Rugg, the OHSAA’s assistant commissioner in charge of football, wrestling and all officiating, said. “Lopsided games aren’t good for anybody.

The risk of injury goes up and it can be a tense situation for coaches and players. The length of games is also a topic of conversation at the national level. This is just the right thing to do.”

The football point differential regulation reads as follows:

After the first half, any time the score differential reaches 30 points or more for 11- man football, the following changes, and only these changes, will be made regarding rules determining when the clock will be stopped. The clock will be stopped when:

1) An official’s time-out is called either for an injured player or following a change of team possession

2) A charged time-out is called

3) At the end of a period

4) A score occurs

The clock will start again on the ready for play signal for the first play after the above situations.

Note: The clock will continue to run in all other situations.

Note: The use of this rule does not preclude the use of NFHS Rule 3-1-3, which reads: “A period or periods may be shortened in any emergency by agreement of the opposing coaches and referee. By mutual agreement of the opposing coaches and the referee, any remaining periods may be shortened at any time or the game terminated.”

Note: After the 30 point difference has been met, if the score drops below 30 points the clock reverts to regular timing.

“This takes the decision-making situation out of it for the coaches,” Rugg said. “That is often a tough situation for a coach to be in. Now, they can point to the rule instead of having to make that decision. Like all regulations, we will monitor this to see how it affects games.”

Other significant changes to sports regulations for 2014-15 include:

Sport-Specific Changes for 2014-15:

In baseball and softball, it was noted that individuals may participate in 32 contests, but teams are limited to play a maximum of 27 contests. Language has also been removed that currently prohibits teams from playing doubleheaders on school days. In addition, use of varsity officials was modified to indicate only Class 1 umpires can be used, and if only one umpire is available, the contest may be played if both coaches mutually agree.

In bowling, information was added that permits all-Baker games format tournaments as long as a minimum of five teams participate and no fewer than nine Baker games are bowled.

In football, a regulation on a second-half running clock when the point differential reaches 30 has been added. See details in release above.

In tennis, the modifications previously approved by the Board of Directors have been made: 1.) Contests are permitted to begin on the Friday prior to the currently scheduled Monday start date (for 2014-15: girls begin August 8 rather than August 11; boys begin on March 27 rather than March 30); 2.) The number of matches permitted has been increased to 22 from 20 (and the maximum number of tournaments permitted per season has been increased to four from three), and 3.) Coaches have the option of using a third set tie-breaker to 10 points when the match has been decided and both coaches mutually agree.

In volleyball, the modification previously approved by the Board of Directors has been made: Varsity tri-matches may be contested in the best 3-out-of-5 format if agreed upon in advance in the game contract(s).

In wrestling, it was noted that some calendar modifications have been made which were previously discussed with the Board of Directors.

General Sports Regulations Changes for 2014-15:

1.) Section 3, Mandatory Requirement for Rating/Voting for Tournament Officials. Some details were removed and instead readers are directed to the OHSAA Officials Handbook and/or coaches/officials manuals for more specific guidelines.

2.) Sections 7 (Non-School Programs or Teams), 8 (Participation in Camps, Clinics, Workshops and Programs Where Individual Instruction is Provided) and 9 (Conditioning, Weight Training and/or Physical Fitness Programs). These three sections all have been rewritten for clarity purposes and to make it simpler for readers to find certain regulations. Some of the changes reflect changes in terminology, and former Section 26 (All-Star Games) has been moved to new Section 7.6 since the regulation addresses coaches in all-star games and regulations for individual participants is covered under Section 7.3.

3.) Sections 13 and 14, Ejection Policies. Some of the information that was in Section 13 on coaches has been placed in Section 14.2.

4.) Section 16, Tournaments. The number of wrestlers needed for team designation has been changed to seven. Also, a statement has been added that indicates from where the numbers for team designation came. Other changes have been made for clarity.

5.) Section 20, Regular Season Participation Limitation Penalty. This clarifies that teams that exceed the participation limit will be denied the opportunity to participate in the OHSAA tournament. Clarification has also been provided that indicates schools will also be denied the opportunity to participate in the OHSAA tournament if they play in a contest prior to the first date that is permitted.

7.) Section 30, School Teams. The word “roster” was stricken since varsity and sub-varsity teams often do NOT have separate rosters. A note was added to make it clear that there are participation limits for individuals, however.

8.) Media Regulations. Part of the section was rewritten to make it clear that some sports do now allow for videos and photos to be used for coaching purposes.

9.) Comments to the News Media. Added “participants” to coaches and officials as those who are not to make derogatory public comments about officials, players, coaches or schools. Also added was that derogatory public comments may not be made through the use of social media.