High school football is evolving in 2023, with a series of notable changes to its rulebook. These modifications are primarily aimed at maintaining a balance between offensive and defensive plays, and enhancing player safety. The revisions were approved by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Football Rules Committee.

Spot Changes for Penalty Enforcement

A significant alteration has been made to Rule 10-4 (Basic Spots), which deals with penalty enforcement. Under the previous rules, offensive fouls behind the line of scrimmage could lead to excessively punishing penalties. Now, the basic spot for such fouls will be the previous spot, not the foul spot, minimizing the impact of the penalties and aiding a fairer game balance.

For example, under the new rule, a team committing an offense like holding at its own 30-yard line, 10 yards behind the line of scrimmage, would face a first and 20 from its 30-yard line, instead of the daunting first and 30 from its 20-yard line.

Improved Protection for Defenseless Receivers

Additional criteria have been approved to better identify defenseless receivers and reduce the risk of unnecessary or excessive contact. This change enhances player safety by clearly defining when a player is defenseless and ensuring officials can appropriately apply penalties.

Clarification of Intentional Grounding and Player Inbounds Rules

Last year's intentional grounding rule has been clarified to permit exceptions only for the first player to possess the ball after the snap ends. Additionally, a revision to Rule 2-29-1 provides clarity on when a player is considered inbounds after being out of bounds.

Adjustments to Player Equipment Regulations

Rule 1-5-3, which governs player equipment, has been revised. Player towels can now feature one manufacturer's logo and/or one school logo, provided they do not exceed 2¼ square inches. Towels must be a solid color, but it is no longer mandatory for all players' towels to match in color. However, towels cannot be the same color as the ball or the penalty flag.

Forward Pass Interference and Six-Player Football Changes

In Rule 7-5, the word "intentional" was removed from the language regarding forward pass interference, which now results in a 15-yard penalty. Lastly, an exception to Rule 7 for six-player football has been introduced, allowing a direct forward handoff during a scrimmage down before a change of possession, barring it's not to the snapper.

Final Word

The NFHS Football Rules Committee is continuously working to fine-tune the game rules for the best possible playing experience. These changes, unanimously approved and set to roll out for the 2023 season, are a testament to that commitment. For a complete rundown of these new rules, visit the NFHS website.