Officiating

Revised Intentional Grounding, Chop Block Rules

2022 High School Football Rules Changes

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (February 16, 2022) – A new rules exception that allows a passer to

intentionally throw an incomplete forward pass for the purpose of conserving yardage, and the

redefining of the term “chop block” – both of which are intended to minimize risk of injury – are the

two most notable rules changes coming to high school football for the 2022 season.


These changes stand out among the seven total recommendations brought forth by the

National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Football Rules Committee, which held its

annual rules meeting January 23-25 at the Conrad Hotel in downtown Indianapolis. The NFHS Board of


Directors subsequently approved all seven of the committee’s suggestions.

“With this year’s rules changes, the committee once again showed its focus on minimizing risk

in high school football,” said Bob Colgate, NFHS Director of Sports and Sports Medicine and liaison to

the NFHS Football Rules Committee. “By expanding the parameters for a legal forward pass and

redefining the chop block so it can be more easily officiated by game officials, the committee has taken

measures to mitigate two potentially risky situations within the game.”


Rule 7-5-2 EXCEPTION 2 now permits a player to purposefully throw an incomplete forward

pass without warranting an intentional grounding penalty provided the passer is outside of “the

pocket” (lateral boundary of the free-blocking zone) and the pass reaches the neutral zone or the

extension of the neutral zone beyond the sideline.

“The question (with this rule) has always been, ‘if the defense makes a good play, are we bailing

out the offense by letting the quarterback throw the ball away?’” said Richard McWhirter, Chair of the

NFHS Football Rules Committee and Assistant Executive Director of the Tennessee Secondary School

Athletic Association. “This year, I think the committee felt the wellbeing of the passers and not

subjecting them to extra hits was worth changing the rule.”


An alteration to Rule 2-3-8 addressed the new definition of a chop block, which is now

described as “a combination block by two or more teammates against an opponent other than the

runner, with or without delay, where one of the blocks is below the waist and one of the blocks is

above the waist.” Previously, the defensive player’s knee was used to determine the high and low

components of a chop block.

“This is going to strengthen the rule and it’s also going to help the game officials,” said

McWhirter. “I think they're going to be able to enforce this rule better than they have in the past

because determining ‘below the knee’ and ‘above the knee’ is tough to do. I think it’s really going to

improve the game.”


Players will be able to wear the number 0 as a jersey number starting in 2022, as the range of

acceptable numbers listed in Rule 1-4-3 was expanded from 1-99 to 0-99. However, any number

preceded by the digit zero will be illegal.


State associations now have the option to extend sideline team boxes beyond their traditional

50-yard expanse (between the 25-yard-lines) as long as both teams are allowed to use the same

dimensions. This new NOTE attached to Rule 1-2-3g also gives state associations the freedom to decide

which individuals can access the extended area.


Two minor changes involving game clock and play clock procedures were made to Rules 3-4-7

and 3-6-1a(1)e EXCEPTIONS, respectively.


In Rule 3-4-7, any foul committed within the last two minutes of either half will automatically

result in the offended team’s option to start the game clock on the snap. Prior to this change, the

offended team was required to accept its opponent’s penalty in order to gain control of the game

clock.



The committee edited the EXCEPTIONS to Rule 3-6-1a(1)e, which clarify the necessary

conditions for an abbreviated 25-second play clock after a stoppage in play. This rule now includes an

exception for Rule 3-5-7i, mandating that a 40-second play clock be employed following a foul

committed only by the defensive team.


The final rule change for 2022 is an alteration to Rule 1-3-3 regarding game equipment. Any

game official – not just the referee – may order the ball changed between downs.


2022 NFHS Football Rules News Release - FIN....pdf (141.2 KB)

Ball breaking the plane of the goal line is a national HS rule. Touchback Texas, Florida and some other states us a mix of NCAA and NFHS rules so they may be running the ball out. Cali is moving more towards the NCAA mechanics and rule set.

I have 5 keys at the snap, watching for a chop block is number 4 and by that time it's done. If it's at the point of attack most likely going to be picked up by R or U, maybe BJ. Flanks typically don't have a good view of it. Away from the point of attack, we probably don't see it. Under the rule change for chop blocks, the linemen are on notice, if you're going to double team, that you must be above the waist. If one of them doesn't, that's a foul, no matter what stance they start from. 

If they don't adjust, linemen will get flagged more on the double teams, linebackers and running backs will get flagged for the below the waist blocks now that the waist is used a a refence point on low and chop blocks. They won't get used to it for a couple of years. 

I disagree with this umpire. I refuse to finish a game because of a parent or some loudmouth. Mistake number one was engaging with a fan, skin needs to thicken up. I've become quite adept at not paying attention to anything outside the playing field. Ya kinda have to or you're in the wrong business. My superpower is I know what I'm doing and Mr DaddyBaller doesn't. But that is exactly the reason, some people just need to chill. New pay schedule goes into effect this season BTW.

Reading material for those who like to relax in their LaZ Boys and officiate ... we still need officials for anyone interested ... Bueller? Bueller? 

2023 NFHS Rules Changes - 2023 NFHS Football Rules News Release.pdf (142.4 KB)

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (February 2, 2023) – A notable change to Rule 10 of the NFHS Football Rules

Book will eliminate the excessive penalty enforcements for offensive fouls that occur behind the line of

scrimmage in high school football.


This change in Rule 10-4 (Basic Spots) is one of seven revisions recommended by the National

Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Football Rules Committee at its January 8-10

meeting in Indianapolis. All changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors for

the 2023 high school football season.


In a move to achieve one of the committee’s fundamental tasks of maintaining a balance

between offense and defense, this revision stipulates the basic spot for enforcement of fouls behind

the line of scrimmage is the previous spot rather than the spot of the foul. Current penalties for illegal

kicking, batting and participation fouls, as well as provisions for offensive fouls occurring in the end

zone that may result in a safety, remain intact.


As an example, with the change in Rule 10-4, a team on offense at its own 40-yard line that is

called for holding 10 yards behind the line of scrimmage at its own 30-yard line, would be faced with



first and 20 from its 30-yard line rather than the almost insurmountable task of first and 30 from its

own 20-yard line.


“This is an excellent rule change that the majority of game officials and coaches requested and

that our NFHS Football Rules Committee members approved unanimously,” said Richard McWhirter,

chair of the NFHS Football Rules Committee and assistant executive director of the Tennessee

Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA). “I believe this change will make the rule clearer for

coaches and easier for game officials to administer.”


In a change that addresses another goal of every NFHS rules committee – risk minimization –

additional criteria were approved to help identify players who should be defined as defenseless

receivers related to application of unnecessary or excessive contact.


An addition (d) to Rule 2-32-16 states that another example of a defenseless player includes a

receiver, as previously defined in the rule, including the person intercepting the pass, who is forcefully

contacted by an opponent that is not 1) incidental contact as a result of making a play on the ball, 2)

initiated with open hands, or 3) an attempt to tackle by wrapping arm(s) around the receiver.

The committee also approved a clarification to the intentional grounding rule change

implemented last year. The change in Rule 7-5-2EXCEPTION permits the exception for intentional

grounding to the first and only player to possess the ball after the snap ends.


A revision in Rule 2-29-1 clarifies when a player is inbounds after being out of bounds. While

the committee approved additional language for clarification, there is no change to any foul or

subsequent penalty provisions, or any rules related to illegal participation or the provisions regarding

eligibility to catch a pass.


One change was approved in Rule 1-5-3 regarding player equipment, specifically player towels,

which now may contain one manufacturer’s logo and/or one school logo, neither exceeding 21⁄4 square

inches. Towels must be a solid color, but now do not have to be the same color for each player. Towels

may not, however, be the color of the ball or penalty flag.


In Rule 7-5 (TABLE) regarding forward pass interference, the word “intentional” was removed,

which puts the rule in line with how it is already enforced, which is a 15-yard penalty.


A final change was approved in the rules differences for six-player football, which along with

eight-player and nine-player use the basic 11-player football rules with exceptions. An exception in

Rule 7 was approved for six-player football stating that “a direct forward handoff may be made during
a scrimmage down before a change of possession, provided both players are in or behind the neutral

zone unless it is to the snapper.” This change allows the ball to be handed forward on a running play, including to the

guards/ends, while prohibiting handing the ball to the snapper, provided both players are behind the

neutral zone.


“The NFHS Football Rules Committee continually strives to clarify the playing rules for optimal

game efficiency,” McWhirter said. “These changes exemplify that goal.”


The NFHS Football Rules Committee is composed of one representative from each of the NFHS

member state associations that use NFHS football rules, along with a representative from the NFHS

Coaches Association, NFHS Officials Association and NFHS Sports Medicine Advisory Committee.

A complete listing of the football rules changes will be available on the NFHS website at

www.nfhs.org. Click on “Activities & Sports” at the top of the home page and select “Football.”


According to the 2021-22 NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey, 11-player football is

the most popular high school sport for boys with 973,792 participants in 13,733 schools nationwide. In

addition, there were 34,935 boys who participated in 6-, 8- and 9-player football, along with 3,633 girls

in all four versions of the game for a grand total of 1,012,360.

It's a good change IMO.