Author Topic: Rules & Points of Emphasis for 2017 INFC Games  (Read 228 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Director of Officials

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 452
  • Karma: +10/-3
Rules & Points of Emphasis for 2017 INFC Games
« on: August 21, 2017, 11:21:34 am »
Coaches,  As we start another season of INFC Football I wanted to give you heads up on rule changes and points of emphasis for 2017:

Rule Changes:
1.) Open hands block on crack back & vulnerable players (other than the runner) - (except in the free blocking zone which normally only lasts for a couple of seconds) 
2.) No Pop Up Kick - No driving the kickoff directly into the ground to pop it way up in the air - this one is rarely tried in INFC but I wanted to make you aware.  - This does not change a standard onside kick where the ball might bounce up after a bounce or two yards down the field. 
3.) On a penalty during the last two minutes of either half the offended team may elect to start the clock at the snap or on the ready, it is their option
4.) Face Guarding is no longer pass interference, there must be contact. 
5.) Once the snapper has placed his hand(s) on the ball and the ball has been made 'ready-for-play', it will be a foul for encroachment if a defensive player makes contact with the football prior to the end of a legal snap OR if a defensive player makes contact with the hand(s) or arm(s) of the snapper prior to the snapper releasing the ball. The defensive player must avoid any contact with the ball or with the snapper until the snapper has released the ball during a legal snap. (Rule 7-1-6-b & c)
6.) Definition of Defenseless Players:  Examples include but are not limited to the following: a player in the act of or just after throwing a pass; a receiver attempting to catch a pass who has not had time to clearly become a runner; the intended receiver of a pass in the action during and immediately following an interception or potential interception; a runner already in the grasp of a tackler and whose forward progress has been stopped; a kickoff or punt returner attempting to catch or recover a kick, or one who has completed the catch or recovery and has not had time to protect himself or has not clearly become a runner; a player on the ground including a runner who has obviously given himself up and is sliding feet first; a player obviously out of the play or not in the immediate vicinity of the runner; a player who receives a "blindside" block with forcible contact that is not initiated with open hands.
7.) The ball becomes dead immediately and the down is ended when a prosthetic limb comes completely off a player who is in possession of the ball.


Points of Emphasis:
1.) Proper Equipment - especially proper length of pants.  We need those knee pads to cover the knees - this will be enforced. 
Back plates and other equipment must be covered by the jersey.  No knots in the jersey will be allowed. 
2.) Conduct of Assistant Coaches - We encourage game officials to allow head coaches opportunities to communicate & vent on the sideline as long as that venting doesn’t show you up. The games at times can be challenging because there are a lot of moving parts; we want to be the calming force when a head football coach becomes aggravated and frustrated. We also think it’s important that the game officials have excellent communication skills with the head coach (both verbal & non-verbal). We should have a cooperative spirit where we communicate potential problems to the head coach before the situation escalates and rises to the level of a foul. This is true of player conduct on the field as well as assistant coaches or players on the sideline.
With that being said, it’s important that we know this same privilege to vent with the officials on the sideline does not extend to assistant coaches.
Over the last several years we have had many instances where assistant coaches have entered the field to protest calls or no calls from the game officials. We have also had circumstances where assistant coaches were berating game officials from the sideline.
Our expectations are that when game officials observe this type of unsportsmanlike behavior from assistant coaches that we will immediately flag and penalize this type of behavior. This is NOT the type of conduct that we would want to warn the head coach about. These egregious acts are fouls the first time and every time when committed by assistant coaches. As always, game officials should use all available tools to manage the game. Good communication and warnings are intricate parts of game management. We always expect game officials to use good common sense when applying the rules and enforcing penalties.
3.) Illegal Helmet Contact - The No. 1 responsibility for game officials must be player safety. Any initiation of contact with the helmet is illegal; therefore, these fouls must be penalized consistently and without warning. Player safety is simply a matter of attitude, technique, attention and supervision. Proper coaching techniques and consistent enforcement of illegal helmet contact by game officials will be a positive step toward reinforcing player safety.

As always, if you have any questions about the items above or anything else, you are welcome to contact me via Private message here on the message board or email me at bkelleyok@gmail.com or text me at 918-607-2055.  You are welcome to call me as well but that one is a bit harder to get in touch with me as I have a full time job where I am on the phone a lot for work. 
Keep in mind the best way to explain a call that you disagree with or have questions about is via video.  I have a hudl account (my email) or I have set up a youtube channel where we can post those to as well.  Let me know if you need it during the season. 

Have a great season!
Bobby Kelley
Director of INFC Officials
bkelleyok@gmail.com
918-607-2055 cell

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter


guest3026

  • Guest
Re: Rules & Points of Emphasis for 2017 INFC Games
« Reply #1 on: August 21, 2017, 03:20:38 pm »
Rule Changes:
1.) Open hands block on crack back & vulnerable players (other than the runner) - (except in the free blocking zone which normally only lasts for a couple of seconds)  i see alot of wrist injury's happen this season... using hands up blocking while doing crack back blocking i believe shoulder would be the best blocking use