8 minute read
LOCKER ROOM NOW
by NSGA
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) and the NCAA held their annual rules meeting April 13–14 after a one-year hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s rules meeting was held virtually and NSGA attended all the sessions to provide a recap. The NFHS and NCAA are likely to try and minimize rule changes affecting uniforms and equipment unless they are related to a safety issue due to the financial crunch schools are facing from lost revenues as a result of COVID. Additionally, NSGA learned there are COVID-related rules toward safety that are likely to carry over into the 2021–2022 school year.
Football
Bob Colgate of NFHS shared a reminder that the rule regarding gray home jersey goes into effect with the 2021 fall season. Jerseys must be a 70 percent grade of gray or up to be permissible and white 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. NCAA points of emphasis for 2021 include uniform compliance regarding knee pads, pants, jerseys and T-shirts, according to NCAA 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.
Baseball
The NOCSAE requirements for baseballs and commotio cordis 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.
Softball
compression. If it does go through, the organizations will be looking at a timeline for when there are enough products meeting new specifications for a change to be made. NCAA bat testing of barrel compression before regular-season games goes into effect for all divisions in 2022.
Basketball
Regarding high school uniforms, Theresia Wynns of NFHS said “coaches and administrators must ensure legal uniforms are being ordered and purchased. NFHS rules dictate the design (and not vice versa).” For example, a large picture of a team logo is not allowed on the jersey front where the school name or nickname goes. There is a push from some corners of the sport to institute a shot clock throughout the country in high school basketball. The basketball rules committee was scheduled to meet the third week of April. “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 with a shot clock.”
Since this is an NCAA rule change year, Jon Levinson said there are 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.
Volleyball
NFHS and NCAA were both approached by a company producing 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 masks. NFHS’ Lindsey Atkinson also shared the reminder that the body of the number color will have to clearly contrast with the body of the uniform color when the 2023-24 season starts.
Lacrosse
NFHS did not publish new rules for 2021 season because of COVID, but Dr. James Weaver and Atkinson said changes to the 2020 rules will be implemented in the 2021 season. For girls lacrosse, equipment shall not be modified from its original manufactured state and shall be worn in the manner the manufacturer intended it to be worn. Also, girls’ eyewear on the playing field must be SEI certified. For both boys and girls this year, goalkeepers must wear a chest protector for lacrosse that meets the NOCSAE standard. For boys, beginning January 1, 2022, field players must wear shoulder pads that meet the NOCSAE ND200 lacrosse standard for protection. The NCAA’s Jay Fitzwater talked about upcoming changes to women’s jerseys that will begin in January of 2022. Fitzwater said jersey numbers must be a color clearly in distinct contrast with the color of the jersey, irrespective of any border around the number. The NCAA’s Andy Supergan also talked about two men’s changes that will begin January 2022. Supergan said all field players must wear shoulder pad protectors, or an alternative protective device, certified to the NOCSAE commotio cordis protective device standard. In addition, all institutions must have two visible shot clocks with the ability to set/reset the clocks to two different times.
Ice Hockey
Dan Schuster of NFHS does not anticipate any rule changes for the coming season when it comes to uniforms and equipment. Schuster mentioned Rule 3-4-2, recommended equipment which includes a throat/neck laceration protector, might be required in the future.
Wrestling
There were no equipment or uniform changes by NFHS for the 2020–21 season, but they have proposed new rules for the upcoming season during their annual meeting in early April. Hopkins also mentioned the need for officials is a priority. COVID has deterred many older officials due to the risks and wrestling needs to put efforts into recruiting younger officials and retention. Hopkins said the growth of girls wrestling has been great to see and he anticipates a steady growth of participation as more states continue to sanction the sport.
Track and Field
The 2020 NFHS rule book will be used this season. Julie Cochran of NFHS said there were no uniform changes in 2020 but there were changes regarding the exchange zone and the long jump pits. Cochran said the use of gloves in relay races will be permitted for the 2021 season. The NCAA’s Rachel Seewald and Cochran were approached with questions regarding the shoe requirements World Athletics pushed out this past year and whether the NFHS or NCAA will follow suit. Seewald and Cochran stated the NCAA and NFHS will not enforce shoe requirements or restrict any shoe for athletes, if it does not have technology incorporated into the shoe that would enhance performance for the athlete.
Field Hockey
There will be no changes to uniforms for the upcoming 2021 season. They did add the ability for a school to apply their logo to the goal boards if it does not dominate the goal board. Cochran mentioned the NFHS move this past year to recommend but not require goggles be worn during play in field hockey. She expects five of the 15 sanctioned states will require the use of goggles during play in the upcoming season.
Soccer
The NCAA said the use of electronic whistles by officials raised some concerns because they were not easy to hear and could be a safety issue if play continues. The NCAA views electronic whistles as a potential growth area if they become more audible.
NFHS Issues Memo on Baseball Cleats Causing Glare
NFHS was informed by two states about an issue where baseball shoes worn by pitchers with a mirror-like finish on the sole plate cause a glare that is distracting to hitters. Below is part of a memo sent to all state associations from Elliot Hopkins, Director of Sports, Sanctioning and Student Services for NFHS: “As we begin playing baseball, we would like to remind you that any uniform or player’s equipment that is reflective or has a mirror-like surface can be possibly distracting to both the batter and defensive players alike. We have several rules in place to address these areas. “Notwithstanding, it has been brought to our attention that certain brands of baseball shoes worn by the pitcher, that have a mirrorlike finish on the sole plate, have distracted batters with the light reflecting off the bottom of the shoe. We want to caution your schools that if that situation occurs, the umpire-in-chief would ask the pitcher to either replace the shoes or the coach would have to replace the pitcher. You certainly can understand the importance of protecting the vision of the batter while at the plate.”
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