NFHS rules only one pass per play legal

INDIANAPOLIS – Only one forward pass per down will be allowed in high school football starting next season.

Multiple passes had been permitted, as long as they were from or behind the neutral zone. But the infrequent use often led to confusion, said Jerry Diehl, assistant director of the National Federation of State High School Associations.

The new rule was recommended by the NFHS Football Rules Committee earlier this month and approved by the NFHS board of directors.

“Since teams rarely use this option, the committee determined it would be best to not allow more than one forward pass in an effort to reduce confusion regarding when pass interference rules are in effect for either team,” Diehl said. “This change should assist the offense, the defense and the game officials in determining when pass eligibility rules apply.”

The federation, based in Indianapolis, represents about 18,000 schools with about 13 million students in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Another rule adopted by the NFHS was designed to help officials keep better track of which offensive players are in the game and to prevent teams from hiding players near the sideline to deceive opponents during substitutions.

Marks will be placed on the 10-yard lines, 9 yards from each sideline, and all offensive players must stay within those marks prior to the snap.

“The previous rule requiring each offensive player to be within 15 yards of the ball was inconsistently applied, as it contained no easily verifiable fixed reference point for officials to administer,” said Brad Cashman, executive director of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association and the rules committee chairman.