College Football will different this year

CFO and NFF team up to highlight the changes designed to improve the game in 2022. including the addition of the targeting of fouls false injuries as well as blocking above the waist. 

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In the 2022 football year, as college season draws near, it is time for the National Football Foundation (NFF) and College Hall of Fame to discuss the major rule changes that will come into effect this season. 

Since 2011 since 2011, the NFF has joined forces together with College Football Officiating (CFO) that is led by Steve Shaw and chaired by Mid-American Conference Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher, to help generate awareness about the rule adjustments in college football. The CFO functions as the professional body that represents all officials working on collegiate football games and has hosted its annual winter gathering of conference coordinators for football officials within the NFF headquarters in Irving, Texas for ninth time this past January. 

Shaw was appointed the CFO National Coordinator of Football Officials in March 2020, has previously worked for the Southeastern Conference and Sun Belt Conference as the coordinator of officials. Shaw also serves as Secretary-Rules Editor for the NCAA Football Rules Committee, a position critical to the creation of competition rules and guidelines. Shaw excelled as a head referee during 15 years of the SEC, earning 14 postseason assignments, which included two national championships. Shaw has been an innovator in revamping the sport’s refereeing mechanics as well as advancing the use of technology to aid officials. 

“The mission of the Rules Committee is to develop and evaluate rules changes that will enhance the sport, protect the image of the game, and enhance the student athlete’s health and safety,” Shaw said. Shaw. “Player safety is the main focus of the committee for many years, and has resulted in important changes that have improved the game’s chances of mitigating injuries. Specifically, it is the first time that there has been a change to Blocking Below the Waist rule, and the other modifications to the rules of 2022 will prove beneficial to the athletes, the fans and the game.” 

The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel approved the following football rule changes during their April meeting, and the rule changes will become effective in the 2022 season. 
 

2022 Rules Changes 

Targeting Carryover Appeal Process

In games that feature instant replay, if an intentional foul occurs during the second half in the second half, the carryover penalty (of not playing during the opening half-time of the player’s next game) can be appealed to for further appeal. The procedure begins with a conference sending a request to NCAA national coordinator of officials and they will review the video of the play. If it is obvious that a player has been incorrectly penalized for a targeted attack, the call will be rescinded, and the player will be cleared to play in the first half of the next game.

Deceptive Injury Timeout Investigation Process

To confront teams that have been given an injury timeout due to fraudulent actions, the panel approved a reporting and investigation procedure. Schools and conferences will be able to report questionable situations to the national coordinator of officials. The coordinator will look over the situation and report back to the conference to take further actions. Any penalties levied would depend on the conference office or school that is involved. 

The NCAA Football Rules Committee considered different options during games to tackle this issue, such as changing the injury timeout rule to remove the injured student-athlete for more than one game. Currently, an injured player has to miss one game. The idea was debated in length but members of the panel were concerned with the potential for additional problems to be raised and did not want to encourage players to continue to participate when injured. 

Committee members discussed how the pace of play is contributing to this issue. “We considered all options to address this issue, including allowing both teams an opportunity to substitute after a first down,” stated David Shaw, chair of the Football Rules Committee and coach at Stanford. “This is another step to consider in the future.”

Blocking Below the Waist

The panel approved a proposal to increase safety and reduce the rules governing blocking below the waist. The plan will permit blocking below the waist by linemen as well as stationary backs in the tackle box. Outside the tackle box , on the field, blocking below the waistline will be forbidden. Analyzing available NCAA injuries surveillance data shows an increasing decrease in knee injuries which coincides with recent rule modifications in this area.

Other Rule Changes 
If a ball carrier is seen to simulate a foot-first slide, officials will declare that the runner is down at the time. 

The defensive holding penalty will be an offense of 10 yards, but it will always be a guaranteed first down. 

The official who is replaying will discuss any clock adjustment and status only when a ruling is reversed in less than 2 minutes remaining in the 2nd or 4th quarter. 

Illegal Touching by an originally ineligible player will be penalized by five yards from the previous spot , and now also includes the losing down.