Rules

In its ongoing effort to minimize the risk of injury in high school football, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Football Rules Committee has expanded the penalty on unnecessary roughness to include contact with a defenseless player, one of six changes to the 2015 football rules the committee recommended and subsequently adopted by the NFHS Board.

Recommendations by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) designed to minimize the risk of concussions and head impact exposure in high school football, especially limits on full-contact practices, have been implemented by an increasing number of state associations.

In an effort to reduce contact above the shoulders and lessen the risk of head and neck injuries in football, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) has revised the rules governing high school football for the 2014 season to add definitions of "targeting" and "defenseless player." 

High school football players will be required to sit out one play if their helmet comes off during play unless the reason is directly attributable to a foul by an opposing player under a new rule for 2012.

Pop Warner amended its football and spirit concussion safety rules effective September 30, 2010 to provide for the immediate removal of a player suspected of having suffered a head injury or concussion and no return to play without the approval of a licensed athletic trainer or medical professional who is not the parent/guardian of the player.

A change in the definition of a chop block in high school football, along with a strong emphasis on proper use of the helmet to minimize risk of injury, highlighted the January 21-23 meeting of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Football Rules Committee in Indianapolis.

Grabbing the inside back or side collar of a runner's shoulder pads or jersey and pulling the runner to the ground (a so-called horse-collar tackle) will result in a 15 yard penalty in high school football beginning with the 2010 season.  The ban was one of 10 rules changes approved by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) in February 2009.

In its continuing emphasis on illegal helmet contact in high school football, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Football Rules Committee reorganized and clarified several rules with the intention of further reducing the risk of injury in the sport.