Perspective: Football Rules Revisited
August 29, 2012
A number of new football rules were introduced during last week's season openers around the state.
In this week's MHSAA Perspective, we explain those regulations taking effect this fall.
"Football Rules Revisited" - Listen
MHSAA Perspective is a weekly audio commentary about the world of high school sports. The program runs from late August through mid March on over 60 radio stations across the state.
Click to see a list and listen to all of this school year's commentaries. Archived "Perspectives" can be heard on demand at MHSAAnetwork.com -- choose school year from the list on the right..
Be the Referee: Clocking From Shotgun
September 24, 2020
This week, MHSAA Assistant Director Brent Rice explains a change in football that gives teams another way to stop the clock while on offense.
Be The Referee is a series of short messages designed to help educate people on the rules of different sports, to help them better understand the art of officiating, and to recruit officials.
Below is this week's segment - Clocking the Ball from the Shotgun - Listen
One of the other visible rules changes taking place this year in football pertains to the quarterback spiking the ball into the ground after receiving the snap from center in an attempt to stop the clock.
Previously, clocking the ball in an effort to preserve time could only be done from a traditional hand-to-hand snap from the center to the quarterback – which actually worked to the disadvantage of teams which run shotgun formations all the time.
The rules change allows the quarterback from a shotgun formation to immediately spike the ball into the ground after receiving it to stop the clock with an incomplete pass, bringing the high school rule in line with the college and professional rules.