COLUMBUS, Ohio — Seven new high school football rules, impacting various parts of the game, will be implemented in Ohio beginning with the 2022 season.

The changes come after the National Federation of State High School Associations Football Rules Committee suggested the seven changes, subsequently adopted by the NFHS Board of Directors.

Two of the suggestions, regarding intentional grounding and chop blocking, came with the primary focus being on player safety.

Intentional grounding no longer will be called if the passer is outside of “the pocket,” or the free-blocking zone, and the pass reaches the neutral zone or the extension of the neutral zone beyond the sideline.

The NFHS Board of Directors also accepted a new definition of a chop block. The act is now described as “a combination block by two or more teammates against an opponent other than the runner, with or without delay, where one of the blocks is below the waist and one of the blocks is above the waist.”

Previously, the defensive player’s knee was used to determine the high and low components of a chop block, according to the NFHS.​

Ohio High School Athletic Association Director of Officiating and Sport Management Beau Rugg, who also sits on the NFHS Football Rules Committee, said safety is one of the four main points of interest the committee takes into account when discussing rule changes.

The four points of interest are safety, being considered good for the game, being able to be officiated and providing balance of offense and defense.

Rugg said the OHSAA will immediately adopt the changes for the 2022 season, as the OHSAA has committed to play using NFHS rules, which allows the OHSAA to have representation on the rules committee.

Other rule changes included:

Jersey Numbers

Players will be able to wear the number “0” as a jersey number starting in 2022, as the range of acceptable numbers listed in Rule 1-4-3 was expanded from 1-99 to 0-99.

Sideline Access

State associations, such as the OHSAA, now have the option to extend sideline team boxes beyond their traditional 50-yard length, from the 25-yard line to the other, as long as both teams are allowed to use the same dimensions. The state associations also will be able to decide which personnel may access the extended area.

Play Clocks

Any penalty committed within the last two minutes of either half will automatically result in the offended team’s option to start the game clock on the snap. Previously, the offended team was required to accept its opponent’s penalty in order to gain control of the game clock.

The committee also clarified the necessary conditions for an abbreviated 25-second play clock after a stoppage in play. The rule now includes an exception mandating a 40-second play clock be employed following a foul committed only by the defensive team.  

Game Balls

Any game official – not just the referee – may order the ball be changed between downs.

For a complete list of football rule changes for 2022, click here.