Football Regulations
CLICK HERE for a printable pdf of the 2009 football regulations.
New for 2009:
A Division – Inter-region play beginning in the first round of the play-offs
9-Man – Beginning in 2010-11 the regular season deadline will be a Tuesday and play-offs will begin Saturday (See the 2-year calendar http://www.ndhsaa.org/files/NDHSAA_2yr_Calendar08-10.pdf)
9-Man ONLY:
The NCAA tiebreaker system will be used when a game is tied after four periods with the following exceptions:
a. Immediately after the conclusion of the fourth quarter, officials will instruct both teams to retire to their respective team areas. The officials will assemble at the 50-yard line and review the tiebreaker procedures.
b. The officials will escort the captains (Rule 3-1-1) to the center of the field for the coin toss. The referee shall toss a coin at midfield in the presence of not more than four field captains from each team and another game official, first designating the field captain of the visiting team to call the coin toss. The winner of the toss shall choose one of the following options:
1. Offense or defense, with the offense at the opponent’s 25-yard line to start the first series.
2. Which end of the field shall be used for both series of that overtime period
Note: The winner of the toss may not defer the choice.
c. The loser of the toss shall exercise the remaining option for the first extra period and shall have the first choice of the two options for subsequent even-numbered extra periods.
d. Extra periods: An extra period shall consist of two series with each team putting the ball in play by a snap on or between the inbounds lines on the designated 25-yard line, which becomes the opponent’s 25-yard line. The snap shall be from midway between the inbounds lines on the 25-yard line, unless a different position on or between the inbounds lines is selected before the ready-for-play signal, the ball may be relocated after a charged team timeout, unless preceded by a Team A foul or offsetting penalties.
e. Team series: Each team retains the ball during a series until it scores or fails to make a first down. The ball remains alive after a change of team possession until it is declared dead. However, Team A may not have a first and 10 if it again possesses the ball after a change of team possession.
GENERAL REGULATIONS
1. The season is determined by the NDHSAA Board of Directors
2. High school teams may schedule 9 games and one pre-season scrimmage.
3. JrHi school teams may schedule 8 games and one pre-season scrimmage
4. Nine daily practices (counting only one per day) are required for teams and individuals prior to the first interscholastic competition. The first three days for each individual are for conditioning and while shoulder pads and helmets can be worn, there shall be no inter-player contact.
5. No more than 2 games may be played by a team in any seven day period or more than 8 quarters(high school) 6 quarters (JrHi school) by an individual (The penalty for violation is; forfeit the game in which the violation occurred and the student who violated must sit out the next scheduled day/night of competition)
6. Overtimes are to be played at the varsity level only.
7. 9-Man overtime ONLY: The NCAA tiebreaker system will be used when a game is tied after four periods with the following exceptions:
f. Immediately after the conclusion of the fourth quarter, officials will instruct both teams to retire to their respective team areas. The officials will assemble at the 50-yard line and review the tiebreaker procedures.
g. The officials will escort the captains (Rule 3-1-1) to the center of the field for the coin toss. The referee shall toss a coin at midfield in the presence of not more than four field captains from each team and another game official, first designating the field captain of the visiting team to call the coin toss. The winner of the toss shall choose one of the following options:
3. Offense or defense, with the offense at the opponent’s 25-yard line to start the first series.
4. Which end of the field shall be used for both series of that overtime period
Note: The winner of the toss may not defer the choice.
h. The loser of the toss shall exercise the remaining option for the first extra period and shall have the first choice of the two options for subsequent even-numbered extra periods.
i. Extra periods: An extra period shall consist of two series with each team putting the ball in play by a snap on or between the inbounds lines on the designated 25-yard line, which becomes the opponent’s 25-yard line. The snap shall be from midway between the inbounds lines on the 25-yard line, unless a different position on or between the inbounds lines is selected before the ready-for-play signal, the ball may be relocated after a charged team timeout, unless preceded by a Team A foul or offsetting penalties.
j. Team series: Each team retains the ball during a series until it scores or fails to make a first down. The ball remains alive after a change of team possession until it is declared dead. However, Team A may not have a first and 10 if it again possesses the ball after a change of team possession.
8. Officials registered by the NDHSAA are required for high school games. High school juniors and seniors who are registered can officiate high school games below the JV level with a registered adult (for JrHi, it is recommended that the adult be a registered official).
9. No games may be played after the state finals.
10. The NDHSAA will select dates, times and sites (normally the home field of the higher seeded team) for all play-off games. When non-school facilities are used, the maximum fee to be paid by the NDHSAA is $500.
11. The higher seeded team will be designated as the home team. When like seeds play, the odd number region will be designated as the home team in odd number years and vice versa. (When like seeds and regions play as per an 11/21/06 coin-flip, the bottom line is “home”.)
12. A team that forfeits a game for reasons other than “acts of God” will be ineligible for play-offs. A team receiving a forfeit will receive a 17-point maximum in tie-breaking situations.
13. The NDHSAA will select all officials and assign jersey colors for play-off games.
14. For play-offs, eleven-man teams may dress a maximum of 50 players and nine-man teams may dress a maximum of 40 players. Only 50/40 can wear team jerseys
15. There will be no scheduled practices the day before the Dakota Bowl unless it is a non-school day for all schools involved. When allowed, all arrangements for said practices are the responsibility of the individual schools. (NDHSAA Board 8/11/2000)
16. The NDHSAA will provide suitable team awards for first, second and teams defeated in semifinals.
17. Individual participation awards will be provided for all quarterfinal and defeated semifinal teams with champions and runners-up receiving plaques (A max. of 41 per 9-man team, the schools will be billed for 7 and 51 per 11-man team, each school will be billed for 10). A container with all the awards will be given to the coach who shall organize team personnel for recognition of each and remind players that their game jerseys need to be worn for said recognition.
18. Teams will furnish their own game balls unless the coaches agree to use the same ball.
19. Headphones may be used during play-offs if provided for both teams.
20. The football running time provision in rule 3-1-1 will be implemented as follows:
After the first half, whenever the point differential reaches 30 or more, the clock will continue running when...
A. The ball goes out of bounds.
B. A forward pass is incomplete.
C. After a touchdown and during the try (unless it reduces the lead to less than 30 points).
The clock will be stopped on all other situations as specified in rule 3-4-4. Review official's timeouts 3-5-7.
Note: The use of this rule does not preclude rule 3-1-3, which reads: “A period or periods may be shortened in any emergency by agreement by opposing coaches and the referee. By mutual agreement of the opposing coaches and the referee, any remaining period may be shortened at any time or the game terminated.”
PLAY-OFFS Passes:
• No season passes are honored for the play-offs.
• Up to 52 passes may be issued for 9-man teams and up to 64 for 11-man teams may be issued. These passes are for players, cheerleaders, statisticians, student managers, trainers, etc. If a school requests extra passes, such request will be granted and the cost of an adult season ticket for each pass will be deducted from the school’s team payment.
• A maximum of eight complimentary game passes shall be afforded each participating team in the pre-quarter through semi-final rounds
• The NDHSAA gold metal pass is the only other pass honored
Play-off Qualifying:
9-Man:
The top four teams in each region as determined by region record will qualify for the play-offs.
A & AA:
The top four teams in each region as determined by region record will qualify for the play-offs.
AAA:
The top five teams in each region as determined by region record will qualify for the play-offs.
* If a tie occurs in any region, said region may use its own tiebreaker. Otherwise, the “optional tiebreaker” will be used.
Tournament Expense Allowance: Team payments will be made at the end of each fiscal year using the approved formula found on the NDHSAA home page, “Team Payment Plan”.
9-MAN: (Maximum 27 Players & 3 Coaches)
11-MAN: (Maximum 33 Players & 5 Coaches)
Optional Tiebreaker:
Step 1. Among tied teams, the region record (*head-to-head competitions) determines placement.
*Head-to-head competitions are defined as an overall collective record among tied teams.
Step 2. If a tie still exists:
(A). The team with the highest point differential (17-point per game maximum) among those tied teams is first. Remove the first place team from the group.
(B). Repeat Step 2A until the region record between the remaining tied teams can be used.
CASE I: A five-team tie. Step 1, compare the point differentials among teams A, B, C, D and E. Team A has the highest point total. RULING: Team A is first. Then, the region record among the remaining tied teams, B is 2-1, C is 2-1, D is 1-2 and E is 1-2. In this case B & C are 2nd & 3rd as determined by region record with B.
CASE II: When teams A, B, and C are tied:
(a) Team B defeated C and A.
RULING: Step 1 would determine B to be first and the region game between C and A would determine 2nd and 3rd.
(b) If A defeated B, B defeated C and C defeated A.
RULING: Step 2-A would be used to find the top team and step 2-B, the region game between the other two would determine 2nd and 3rd.
Step 3 If a tie in point differential exists after Step 2, the names of tied teams will be placed in a hat and drawn 1st, 2nd, etc. until steps 1 and 2 can be used among remaining tied teams. Head-to-head competition shall be used whenever possible.
RECOMMENDED VIDEO EXCHANGE:
• Teams involved in the first round are encouraged to exchange videos of the two previous games or suitable substitutes as determined by the coaches involved.
• Home teams involved in play-off games should video the games and distribute copies to the visiting team and to the opponent of the winning team for the next play-off game.
Team Areas
➢ REMINDER – Visiting team shall be opposite home fans’ primary seating area
Tests:
Online tests will be available and must be completed between August 26th & September 2nd.
* Watch the website http://www.ndhsaa.com/ for details and updates.
** Penalty for not completing the test within this time is: Coaches $25 which must be paid before any post season play and Officials will drop one classification.
SCHOOL RESPONSIBILITY
Each school is responsible for players and students attending tournaments. Suitable chaperones should accompany each delegation.
BANDS
The host school band or a high school band in the city where the tournament is held shall be designated as the official band. However, the manager may appoint bands from other schools if necessary.
* Only the appointed band is admitted free of charge for each session.
SPORTSMANSHIP
Please prominently place the following statement in Tournament Programs.
“Good sportsmanship is displaying a commitment to fair play, ethics and integrity. Please display good sportsmanship throughout the tournament. THANK YOU. Spectators displaying any unsportsmanlike conduct such as, but not limited to taunting, baiting, and profanity or carrying flags around the arena, will be removed”.
PROGRAMS
Program rights are awarded to the tournament manager who may sub-contract to other organizations. If sub-contracted, the tournament manager shall be responsible for approving the content of the program. Materials in the program should be primarily information relative to the tournament, the participating teams, tournament history, NDHSAA history, etc.
Tournament programs shall include information supplied by the NDHSAA office.
Program advertising shall be in good taste with NO ADS pertaining to gambling, alcohol, drugs or tobacco. Ads shall not take precedence over tournament or NDHSAA information.
The tournament manager keeps any profit realized from programs and is responsible for any deficit.
CONCESSIONS
Concession rights are awarded to the host school or building management. Concession merchandise shall be limited to soft drinks, popcorn, candy, coffee, etc. Enterprises tending to exploit students are prohibited. At State finals, the NDHSAA will provide T-shirts for sale. No other merchandise of this type is allowed.
HOST CITY RESPONSIBILITY
If provided, hospitality rooms, intermission entertainment, cheerleader supervision and outside bands are the responsibility of the host city.
INSURANCE
Region and state tournaments are protected by master liability, property damage, hold-up and burglary insurance. This policy does not cover damage to the premises.
PLAY-OFF FORMATS: 9-Man
2 #1
Bye
1 #3
3 #3
3 #2
Bye
2 #2
1 #4
1 #1
Bye
2 #3
3 #4
3 #1
Bye
1 #2
2 #4
6 #1
Bye
4 #3
5 #3
4 #2
Bye
6 #2
5 #4
5 #1
Bye
6 #3
4 #4
4 #1
Bye
5 #2
6 #4
A Division
1 #1
2 #4
2 #2
1 #3
2 #1
1 #4
1 #2
2 #3
3 #1
4 #4
4 #2
3 #3
4 #1
3 #4
3 #2
4 #3
AA Division
East #1
West #4
West #2
East #3
West #1
East #4
East #2
West #3
AAA Division First Round
East #1
West #4
West #2
East #3
West#1
East #4
East #2
West #3
