LOCKER ROOM NOW NFHS-NCAA Rules Meeting Recap By Marty Maciaszek Director, Communications and Team Dealer Division and Tom Van Jacobs Marketing Coordinator The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS)
compression. If it does go through, the organizations will be looking
and the NCAA held their annual rules meeting April 13–14 after a
at a timeline for when there are enough products meeting new
one-year hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s
specifications for a change to be made. NCAA bat testing of barrel
rules meeting was held virtually and NSGA attended all the sessions
compression before regular-season games goes into effect for all
to provide a recap.
divisions in 2022.
The NFHS and NCAA are likely to try and minimize rule changes affecting uniforms and equipment unless they are related to a
Basketball
safety issue due to the financial crunch schools are facing from lost
Regarding high school uniforms, Theresia Wynns of NFHS said
revenues as a result of COVID. Additionally, NSGA learned there
“coaches and administrators must ensure legal uniforms are being
are COVID-related rules toward safety that are likely to carry over
ordered and purchased. NFHS rules dictate the design (and not vice
into the 2021–2022 school year.
versa).” For example, a large picture of a team logo is not allowed on the jersey front where the school name or nickname goes.
Football
There is a push from some corners of the sport to institute a
Bob Colgate of NFHS shared a reminder that the rule regarding gray
shot clock throughout the country in high school basketball. The
home jersey goes into effect with the 2021 fall season. Jerseys must
basketball rules committee was scheduled to meet the third week
be a 70 percent grade of gray or up to be permissible and white
of April.
jerseys can’t have any shade of gray. Vegas Gold-colored jerseys are currently permissible to be worn by the home team. And as of 2024 the entire body of the jersey number must be a single, solid color which clearly contrasts with the body of the jersey.
“We talk about a shot clock all the time,” Wynns said. “The basketball rules committee has considered the shot clock, but they haven’t been overly enamored by it, so it hasn’t passed at the high school level. We’ll have a discussion and see where the committee goes
NCAA points of emphasis for 2021 include uniform compliance
with a shot clock.”
regarding knee pads, pants, jerseys and T-shirts, according to NCAA
Since this is an NCAA rule change year, Jon Levinson said there are
national coordinator of officials Steve Shaw. Game officials have been instructed to remove players who are not in clear or significant compliance of related rules for one play initially. They also encouraged a review of uniform designs before they are ordered by a school.
some potential uniform and equipment changes anticipated at its rules committee meeting May 5–7. To avoid confusion, Levinson suggested that manufacturers let the NCAA look at the design before it is sent to a school.
Baseball
Volleyball
The NOCSAE requirements for baseballs and commotio cordis
NFHS and NCAA were both approached by a company producing
chest protectors are now in place for high school baseball by NFHS. Elliot Hopkins said the June baseball rules committee meeting will include a lot of talk about the future and how to best implement technology into the rules fairly and equitably for all schools. NCAA barrel compression testing of bats started in 2020 for Division I but was delayed for Divisions II and III until 2022.
a clear plastic shield that could be placed over the net to minimize the potential for spread of disease. The NFHS and NCAA medical advisory committees did not believe this was medically necessary and there were concerns it could impact the game. The NCAA anticipates officials will want to continue to use electronic whistles and is receiving requests by officials to continue wearing
Softball
masks. NFHS’ Lindsey Atkinson also shared the reminder that the
The NCAA, NFHS and USA Softball are looking to get aligned on
of the uniform color when the 2023-24 season starts.
a change on specifications of the softball that would impact the 24 | NSGA NOW ®
>> May/June 2021
body of the number color will have to clearly contrast with the body
