Mark Dreibelbis– Associate
Commissioner/Supervisor of Officials
Action Items

 Officials Attendance Cards
 Coaches Sign-In Sheets
 Ejection/Disqualification Cards
 New Protocol/Procedure
 HUDL
 No Exchange = no complaints, no mark-offs, and no
appeals. Either help the officiating program or accept
it as status quo.
Leadership

Perceptions…How do you change?
1. By your actions…
2. By your actions…
3. By your actions…
The perception…”Your officials
are not accountable!”
Leadership

 What you don’t know _______ hurt you…
 NO!!! What you DON”T know will hurt you!
 IGNORANCE is _____ …
 Ignorance is NOT bliss…do you want to walk
around in life being happy and stupid?
Leadership

 Aptitude + Attitude = Altitude.
 Self-control precedes game control – must manage
yourself to manage the contest.
 Improvement starts with the belief that you need to
improve.
 Don’t get too “experienced” to learn new things
about officiating.
Leadership

 Decision making separates the house painter from the artist.
But, in officiating there is room for both the Rembrandts and
the Joes. The artist has a smaller window of opportunity to
make decisions…they get the play right and that is the
difference.
 Some are better than others and get to a higher altitude because
of decision making.
 Don’t be an officiating “Cannibal” – in officiating we eat our
own from jealousy and worry about them “taking our games.”
Help/mentor…don’t eat them up. Be a member of the
officiating family/fraternity and be a member of the officiating
journey and community.
Leadership

 Trainers
 Distribute info in a formal setting
 Mentors
 Make a connection with the individual(s)
 Travel the journey with the official
 Use personal skills and encouragement to take them
farther
 Difference is do you truly want other officials to
succeed?
Leadership

 Confidence comes from preparation – knowledge,
decision making, management.
 If you can’t cover the play, your experience and
knowledge won’t cut it.
 If your window of opportunity (the factor of making
a decision/call) is too large, you can’t get over it with
years of knowledge.
Leadership

 People who feel they have the most to lose will be
the most resistant to change.
 People who don’t want to keep up with the journey
of success cannot get in the way of people who do.
10 – 80 -- 10
Game Officials’ Authority
Rule 1-1-7
Game officials have authority if a state association has a
policy that game officials’ authority begins more than 30
minutes before the game.
© REFEREE ENTERPISES INC. 2012
Game Officials’ Authority
Rule 1-1-7
Game officials have authority if a state association has a
policy that game officials’ authority begins more than 30
minutes before the game.
© REFEREE ENTERPISES INC. 2012
Game Officials’ Authority
Rule 1-1-7
Game officials have authority if a state association has a
policy that game officials’ authority begins more than 30
minutes before the game.
© REFEREE ENTERPISES INC. 2012
Targeting
Rules 2-20-2 (NEW); 9-4-3m (NEW)
EXAMPLE: SHOULDER TO THE HEAD
Targeting is an act of taking aim and initiating contact to an
opponent above the shoulders with the helmet, forearm,
hand, fist, elbow or shoulders. Targeting may be called for
contact against any opponent, including the runner.
© REFEREE ENTERPISES INC. 2012
Targeting
Rules 2-20-2 (NEW); 9-4-3m (NEW)
EXAMPLE: FIST TO THE HEAD
Targeting is an act of taking aim and initiating contact to an
opponent above the shoulders with the helmet, forearm,
hand, fist, elbow or shoulders. Targeting may be called for
contact against any opponent, including the runner.
© REFEREE ENTERPISES INC. 2012
Targeting
Rules 2-20-2 (NEW); 9-4-3m (NEW)
EXAMPLE: ELBOW TO THE HEAD
Targeting is an act of taking aim and initiating contact to an
opponent above the shoulders with the helmet, forearm,
hand, fist, elbow or shoulders. Targeting may be called for
contact against any opponent, including the runner.
© REFEREE ENTERPISES INC. 2012
Targeting
Rules 2-20-2 (NEW); 9-4-3m (NEW)
EXAMPLE: FOREARM TO THE NECK
Targeting is an act of taking aim and initiating contact to an
opponent above the shoulders with the helmet, forearm,
hand, fist, elbow or shoulders. Targeting may be called for
contact against any opponent, including the runner.
© REFEREE ENTERPISES INC. 2012
Targeting
Rules 2-20-2 (NEW); 9-4-3m (NEW)
A blow to the helmet by two linemen in the free blocking
zone is not necessarily a targeting foul.
© REFEREE ENTERPISES INC. 2012
Targeting
Targeting
Rule 9-4-3m (NEW)
Illegal Personal Contact
Targeting is an act of taking aim and initiating contact to an
opponent above the shoulders with the helmet, forearm,
hand, fist, elbow or shoulders. Targeting may be called for
contact against any opponent, including the runner. Note
that the passer in this play is also a defenseless player.
Targeting is a 15-yard penalty for illegal personal contact.
© REFEREE ENTERPISES INC. 2012
Defenseless Player
Rules 2-32-16 (NEW); 9-4-3i(3)
A new definition for a defenseless player has been added. A
defenseless player is a player who, because of his physical
position and focus of concentration, is especially vulnerable
to injury.
© REFEREE ENTERPISES INC. 2012
Defenseless Player
Rules 2-32-16 (NEW); 9-4-3i(3)
EXAMPLE: OUT OF THE PLAY
B6 has chosen not to participate further and is obviously out
of the play. He is considered to be defenseless.
© REFEREE ENTERPISES INC. 2012
Defenseless Player
Rules 2-32-16 (NEW); 9-4-3i(3)
EXAMPLE: KICKER
After a kick (PlayPic A), a kicker who has not had a
reasonable amount of time to regain his balance after the
kick (PlayPic B) is a defenseless player.
© REFEREE ENTERPISES INC. 2012
Defenseless Player
Rules 2-32-16 (NEW); 9-4-3i(3)
EXAMPLE: PASS RECEIVER
A pass receiver attempting to catch a pass, or a pass
receiver who has clearly relaxed when the player has
missed the pass or feels he can no longer catch the pass, is
considered defenseless.
© REFEREE ENTERPISES INC. 2012
Defenseless Player
Rules 2-32-16 (NEW); 9-4-3i(3)
EXAMPLE: KICK RECEIVER
A kick receiver attempting to catch or recover the ball is
considered defenseless.
© REFEREE ENTERPISES INC. 2012
Defenseless Player
Rules 2-32-16 (NEW); 9-4-3i(3)
EXAMPLE: PLAYER ON THE GROUND
A player who is on the ground is considered defenseless.
© REFEREE ENTERPISES INC. 2012
Defenseless Player
Rules 2-32-16 (NEW); 9-4-3i(3)
EXAMPLE: FORWARD PROGRESS
STOPPED
A runner already in the grasp of an opponent and whose
forward progress has been stopped is defenseless. Contact
on the runner could also be considered targeting.
© REFEREE ENTERPISES INC. 2012
Illegal Kick Status
Rule 2-24-9
When the ball is illegally kicked, the ball retains its original
status. The player in PlayPic A fumbles and the player in
PlayPic B kicks the loose ball. The ball remains a fumble.
© REFEREE ENTERPISES INC. 2012
Untimed Down
Rules 3-3-3; 3-3-4
Team A commits a live-ball foul and time for the period
expires during the down. As shown in the MechaniGram, if
the penalty is accepted, the period is extended for an
untimed down.
© REFEREE ENTERPISES INC. 2012
Untimed Down
Rules 3-3-3; 3-3-4
Team B commits a live-ball foul and time for the period
expires during the down. If the penalty is accepted, the
period is extended for an untimed down.
© REFEREE ENTERPISES INC. 2012
Free-Kick Formation
Rules 6-1-3b (NEW); 6-1-3c (NEW)
After the ready-for-play has been signaled and until the ball
is kicked for a free kick, team K must have at least four
players on either side of the kicker. As shown in the
MechaniGram, K is guilty of a dead-ball foul.
© REFEREE ENTERPISES INC. 2012
Free-Kick Formation
Rules 6-1-3b (NEW); 6-1-3c (NEW)
On a free kick, from the time the ready-for-play is signaled
until the ball is kicked, no K player other than the kicker may
be more than five yards from his free-kick line. The
formation in the MechaniGram becomes legal when the ball
has been declared ready-for-play.
© REFEREE ENTERPISES INC. 2012
Free-Kick Formation
Rules 6-1-3b (NEW); 6-1-3c (NEW)
The formation in the MechaniGram becomes illegal when the ball has been declared readyfor-play. K3, K4, K5 and K6 are all more than five yards from their free kick line. No K
players, with the exception of the kicker may be more than five yards behind the kicking
team’s free kick line. A player satisfies this rule when no foot is on or beyond the line five
yards behind K’s free kick. If one player is more than five yards behind the restraining line
and any other player kicks the ball, it is a foul.
© REFEREE ENTERPISES INC. 2012
Force
Rule 8-5-1b (NEW)
K1 blocks R2 into the ball. The accidental touching of a
loose ball by a player who was blocked into the ball by an
opponent is ignored and does not constitute a new force.
The result of this play is a touchback.
© REFEREE ENTERPISES INC. 2012
Roughing the Passer
Rule 9-4-4
No defensive player shall charge into, or commit any illegal
personal contact foul listed in Rule 9-4-3 against the passer
who is standing still or fading back, because he is considered
out of the play after the pass and has not moved to participate
in the play. Grasping of the face mask is considered roughing
the passer.
© REFEREE ENTERPISES INC. 2012
2014 NFHS
Football Points of Emphasis
1. High School Football – State of the Game
2. Risk Minimization
Risk Minimization
RULE CHANGE
Helmet Comes Off
Rule 3-5-10d
Runner’s forward
progress stopped
Runner’s helmet
comes off as part of
subsequent deadball action;
official’s time-out
Player must leave for
one down if the helmet
came completely off
without being directly
attributable to a foul by
the opponent
Rules Reminders

RULE CHANGE
Illegal Participation
Rule 9-6-4g
If a player whose helmet comes completely off during a
down continues to participate beyond the immediate
action in which the player is engaged, it is a foul for
illegal participation.
RULE CHANGE
Illegal Personal Contact
Rule 9-4-3l
It is a personal foul if a player or nonplayer initiates
contact with an opposing player whose helmet has come
completely off.
Tra Waters – Director of Sports &
Championship
Football Information

1st Day of Practice
Earliest Day of 1st Contact (6th)
Earliest Day of 1st Scrimmage (9th)
1st Play Date
12th Play Date
1st Round of Playoffs
August 1
August 7
August 11
August 22
November 7
November 14
State Championships

December 12-13, 2014
1A, 1AA, 3A, 3AA – Carter-Finley Stadium, NCSU
2A, 2AA, 4A, 4AA – BB&T Field, Wake Forest Univ.
1 Game – Friday, December 12
 7:30 PM
3 Games – Saturday, December 13
 12:00 Noon, 4:00 PM, 8:00 PM
Conditioning
Requirements

 First (5) days of practice are required to be used for
physical conditioning
 Days 1 & 2: Headgear, non-padded shorts and
football shoes constitute acceptable dress.
 Days 3, 4, & 5: Shoulder pads may be added, but
ABSOLUTELY no body-to-body contact is permitted
(see Penalty Code for Violations).
 Practice during the first five-day period shall be
limited to three (3) hours, INCLUDING flex time
(stretching) and breaks.
Conditioning
Requirements

 Day 6: Full uniforms may be worn, and body-to-body
contact is allowed.
 Late starting tryouts--5 days of physical conditioning
still required
Practice Options

 Please refer to the calendar we passed out to you.
 This is posted on the website; football page
 Combines 3-hour practices with walk-throughs
 Note: cannot wear protective gear in
walkthroughs
 Contains specific information about Double Practices
Heat & Humidity

 Have a plan for stopping, suspending, and or
cancelling practice
 Consult and work with your athletic trainer or 1st
Responder
Inclement/Hot Weather
Guidelines

 The following should be considered when scheduling
practice:
- Time of day
- Intensity level of practice
- Equipment worn
- Environmental conditions
 High Temperature and high humidity create a dangerous
situation for athletes. High humidity and low temperature
can also cause serious heat-related problems.
 Water/fluid replacement breaks recommended each 20 or 30
minutes. (depending on practice conditions)
 Check with your AD on your LEA’s and school’s policy
pertaining to practice on days of extreme heat.
Board Approved
Changes

 Mercy Rule
 Once the score reaches a 42 point differential, or more,
at halftime or any point thereafter, the game will resort
to a running clock or will be terminated by mutual
agreement.
 8-Quarter Rule
 Clarified the rule to state that the rule is intended for
9th and 10th grade students only.
Board Approved
Changes

 All-Star Contests
 Eliminated rule limited student-athletes to two all-star
football contests during the school year
 Rule was based on NCAA rule which is no longer in
force
Board Approved
Changes

 Approved 2015-16 Football Calendar
 Posted on NCHSAA website – Information –
Calendars
 Approved clarification that:
 “Once seeding process is completed and the brackets
have been finalized, no other team or individual will
be substituted in or added to the brackets as a result of
a change in the reported record (incorrect or
adjusted).”
Playoff Seeding

 Dropped POD system for 1A seeding
 Seeding process for ALL classifications will now be as
follows:
1.
2.
3.
4.
64 Qualifiers are determined as in year’s past
Subdivide 64 qualifiers into A/AA by ADM
Divide 32 A/AA into East/West by Longitude
Seed East/West Regional Teams #1 - #16 by:
a.
b.
c.
d.
#1’s by 10-game winning percentage
#2’s by 10-game winning percentage
#3’s by 10-game winning percentage
All other teams based on 10-game winning percentage
MaxPreps

 Official Statistics Provider
 Records and standings for post-season qualifications
 2014-15: MaxPreps Record = Official Record
 Incorrect record subject to DQ from playoffs
 All game results MUST be entered by Friday,
November 7th at 11:59 p.m.
 Triple check your record!
 Instructions can be found on the NCHSAA website
14-15 Dead Periods

 WINTER
 October 29th – December 1st, 2014
 Last 5 Student Days of Fall Semester
 SPRING
 February 16th – March 15th, 2015
 Last 5 Student Days of Spring Semester
 SUMMER
 June 29th – July 5th, 2015
 NCCA Clinic Week
Coaches’ Education

 NFHS Fundamentals of Coaching Course
 Currently, all non-faculty and newly hired
coaches must take the Fundamentals of Coaching
Course; certificate of completion must be on file at
the individual school
 Complete prior to first contest; subject to a $500
fine; continuing to coach without completion =
another $500
 All coaches must have satisfied the requirement
to take this course by August 1, 2015.
Coaches’ Education

 Concussion Management Certification
 Effective August 1, 2014, the NFHS Concussion
Course (free on-line course) or an equivalent
course must be completed by all coaches
 Prior to the first date of practice for that sport;
subsequently, the certificate of completion must
be on file at the individual school; subject to $500
fine
Coaches’ Education

“Education is a journey, not a
destination”
Coaches’ Education

Accredited Interscholastic Coach
(AIC)
Requires completion of 4 courses:
Fundamentals of Coaching
1st Aid, Health & Safety for Coaches
Sport Specific Course or Teaching
Sports Skills
Concussion in Sports (Free)
Coaches’ Education

 Certified Interscholastic Coach (CIC)
 Completion of AIC requirements
 Plus:
Teaching & Modeling Behavior
Engaging Effectively with Parents
Sportsmanship
Creating a Safe and Respectful Environment
Strength & Conditioning
2 additional courses (User Choice0

Sportsmanship

Teaching & Modeling Behavior
Course
 Required for any coach ejected during a contest
 Required for any coach who has player (s) ejected for
fighting
NFHS Sportsmanship Course
 Replaces the Star Sportsmanship Course for any
ejected/disqualified player
 Free, on-line course (nfhslearn.com)
• All certificates must be sent to NCHSAA
Gfeller-Waller Concussion Law

Requirements of the Law:
 Concussion signs and symptoms
 Given prior to participation
 Parents/athletes sign indicating “receipt of”
 Return to Play (RTP) form signed by a physician licensed
to practice medicine
When in doubt, sit them out”
 An up-to-date Emergency Action Plan (EAP)
 Must be on-file
 Must be posted
 Must be updated annually