NCAA FOOTBALL RULES
CHANGES FOR 2014
Rogers Redding
Secretary-Rules Editor
National Coordinator of Officials
RULES CHANGES FOR 2014
Outline
• Targeting Fouls: 15-Yard Penalty Erased If
Disqualification Overturned
• Targeting Fouls Without Instant Replay:
Halftime Review by the Referee
• Low Hits on the Passer
TARGETING FOULS
NO INSTANT REPLAY: FIRST HALF
REVIEW BY REFEREE AT HALFTIME
• The MIAC and UMAC Conferences have decided
not to have a replay system set-up at half time
and will not review any targeting fouls during the
first half
• Playoffs only for MIAC/UMAC Crews
– Pregame Meeting: Determine Review Location And
Single Source Of Video (TV; Internet; Coach Video)
– Default Position: Ruling On The Field Is Correct
– Referee’s Decision Is Final And May Not Be Appealed
LOW HITS ON THE PASSER
ADDITION TO ROUGHING THE PASSER
(Rule 9-1-9)
• Illegal to Rush Unabated And Forcibly Hit “Passer”
At Or Below The Knee (Passing Posture)
– Includes Roll And Lunge
• No Foul If:
– “Passer” Becomes A Runner
– Defender Wraps Up In A Conventional Tackle
– Defender Is Fouled Into Or Not Rushing
Unabated
KEY EDITORIAL CHANGES
Jerseys With Non-Contrasting Numbers (1-4-4)
• Opportunity To Change Before Game And At
Breaks Between Quarters
• Charged Team Timeout At The Start Of Each
Quarter When Wearing The Illegal Jersey
Defenseless Player: In Position To Receive A
Backward Pass (2-27-12 And Note 2 At 9-1-4)
KEY EDITORIAL CHANGES (Cont.)
Players In Bounds and Out Of Bounds
• Player Is Inbounds If He Is Not Out Of
Bounds.
• An Airborne Player Remains Either In Bounds
Or Out Of Bounds Until He Otherwise
Establishes Himself.
More Than Eleven On Defense: Live-Ball Foul If
They Have Not Been In Formation At The Snap
• See Current AR 3-5-3-V
KEY EDITORIAL CHANGES (Cont.)
Targeting Fouls (9-1-3 And 9-1-4)
• Replace “Initiate Contact” With “Make Forcible Contact”
PERSONAL FOULS By Team B On Pass Plays (9-1 Penalty and
New 7-1-12)
• Enforce Penalty At End Of Last Run Unless Pass Is
Incomplete Or Intercepted, Or There Is A Change Of
Possession During The Down.
VIDEOGRAPHER in Team Area
Transmission of player of health and safety information
MECHANICS CHANGES
FLANK OFFICIALS
• First Half: HL/SJ Press Box Side, LJ/FJ
Opposite Press Box
• Second Half: SWITCH (Chain Always Stays
Opposite the Press Box)
• HL/LJ Both Attend Pregame Meeting With
Chain Crew
MECHANICS CHANGES
Change of Possession
• After any change of possession, the
offensive team’s game ball always
comes in from the press box side.
POINT OF EMPHASIS
MANAGEMENT OF THE SIDELINES
• Keep The Restricted Area Clear (6-Foot White)
While The Ball Is In Play.
• Allow Coaches To Come Only As Far As The
Sideline After The Play To Signal To Their Teams.
• No Reason For Anyone To Come On To The Field
During Dead-Ball Period Unless Allowed By Rule
(E.G., Injured Player).
– Coaches should not be on the field for excessive
celebrations
– Officials are expected to enforce the sideline rule
POINT OF EMPHASIS - cont.
Protection of Defenseless Player
Safety and Medical considerations
• Officials need to be diligent in insuring the players
are wearing mandatory equipment