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| President's Corner |
As we all know the MMRFL abides by the MHSAA regulations, policies, and guidelines. With that I find it important to post the changes approved by the NFHS and MHSAA board at this years meeting for 2008 season. Below is a summary of the changes made. These rules will be followed by the MMRFL and cannot be changed by the MMRFL.
* 1-2-3a --- White preferred color for field marking but other allowed when appropriate
* 1-2-3d and New 2-6-8 --- Restraining line may be solid or dashed and defines dimensions of the line alternatives. Only officials are allowed within restraining lines.
* 1-5-1b,d, h --- Hip pads, tailbone protector, knee pads and thigh guards must not be altered from the manufacturer's original design/production. Shin guards, if worn, must meet NOCSAE specifications.
* 1-5-2b --- A hand pad is now defined as a covering for the hand which may have separate openings for each finger and thumb, is absent of any web-like material between the fingers and/or thumb, and not covering each finger and thumb. The implementation date for a mandatory securely attached label or stamp has been changed from 2008 to 2012.
* Rules 2-16-2e and 10-2-4 --- were revised to state that a team must foul twice during the same down to commit multiple fouls. These changes allow for enforcement of both fouls when the opponent of the scoring team commits a foul on both a touchdown-scoring play and the subsequent try.
* Rule 3-3-4 --- clarifies issues at the end of the half if there is a foul by either team and the penalty is accepted for unsportsmanlike fouls, non-player fouls, fouls that specify a loss of down and fouls that are enforced on the subsequent kickoff as in Rule 8-2-2.
* Rule 8-2-2 --- stipulate that fouls by the opponents of the scoring team on the last timed down of the first half can carry over to the second-half kickoff; however, fouls by the opponents of the scoring team on the last timed down of the second half cannot carry over to overtime play.
* Rules 2-16-2e and 10-2-4 --- were revised to state that a team must foul twice during the same down to commit multiple fouls. These changes allow for enforcement of both fouls when the opponent of the scoring team commits a foul on both a touchdown-scoring play and the subsequent try.
* Rule 10-4-6; 10-4-7 --- The change to Rule 10-4-6 allows the same enforcement for either team by defining the basic spot as the 20-yard line fouls by the opponent of the team in possession when the team in possession puts the ball in the end zone and, subsequently, possession is lost.
* Rule 3-5-2a --- provides the head coach an option of designating another coach for the purpose of requesting time-outs. The appointed replacement shall remain in place for the entire game except in case of emergency.
* Rule 4-2-3 --- regarding the inadvertent whistle, which makes the choosing of an option an easier process to understand.
* 9-9 PENALTY --- Hiding the ball under the jersey will now be enforced as a basic spot foul using the all-but-one principle.
* Rule 9-9-4 --- No player shall use a kicking tee in violation of Rule 1-3-4. The use of an illegal kicking tee will now be penalized as an unfair act committed by the player. Acceptance of this foul on a try or field goal will nullify any points scored, with the penalty enforced as a basic spot foul using the all-but-one principle.
James Brown
2008 MMRFL President
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