Football point differential rule now in play
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
The state of Ohio has now joined many other states when it comes to high school football this week. No, they aren't holding spring practices, but the OHSAA has adopted the point differential rule for the second half of games starting this fall.
In a press release by the OHSAA, it states the following about the newly adopted rule for Ohio high school football:
"After the first half, any time the score differential reaches 30 points or more for 11-man football, the following changes, and only these changes, will be made regarding rules determining when the clock will be stopped."
Paint Valley athletic director and head football coach Pete Hollon, whose team qualified for the Division VII State Playoffs last season, spoke about the new ruling.
"It's probably a good thing as many games do get lopsided and safety becomes an issue," Hollon told The Highland County Press. "Many will argue it's a time to get the younger kids playing time, but for schools with an already small roster, many are already playing young kids, and I guess that is why we have freshman and JV games.
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"Sometimes games are just mismatches, and when schools around the state continually score 70 points and more, it most likely played a factor in the OHSAA's decision.
"I think for many of us, this came out of left field and was forced upon us without the possibility of giving the option to let the coaches decide on a running clock when a game gets out of hand."
The release states that the clock will be stopped when: an official’s time-out is called either for an injured player or following a change of team possession, a charged time-out is called, at the end of a period or when a score occurs. The clock will start again on the ready for play signal for the first play after the above situations.
“First and foremost, this was proposed out of concern for player safety,” Beau Rugg, the OHSAA’s assistant commissioner in charge of football, wrestling and all officiating, said. “Lopsided games aren’t good for anybody. The risk of injury goes up, and it can be a tense situation for coaches and players. The length of games is also a topic of conversation at the national level. This is just the right thing to do.”
In a side note, after the 30-point difference has been met, if the score drops below 30 points, the clock reverts to regular timing.
In a press release by the OHSAA, it states the following about the newly adopted rule for Ohio high school football:
"After the first half, any time the score differential reaches 30 points or more for 11-man football, the following changes, and only these changes, will be made regarding rules determining when the clock will be stopped."
Paint Valley athletic director and head football coach Pete Hollon, whose team qualified for the Division VII State Playoffs last season, spoke about the new ruling.
"It's probably a good thing as many games do get lopsided and safety becomes an issue," Hollon told The Highland County Press. "Many will argue it's a time to get the younger kids playing time, but for schools with an already small roster, many are already playing young kids, and I guess that is why we have freshman and JV games.
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"Sometimes games are just mismatches, and when schools around the state continually score 70 points and more, it most likely played a factor in the OHSAA's decision.
"I think for many of us, this came out of left field and was forced upon us without the possibility of giving the option to let the coaches decide on a running clock when a game gets out of hand."
The release states that the clock will be stopped when: an official’s time-out is called either for an injured player or following a change of team possession, a charged time-out is called, at the end of a period or when a score occurs. The clock will start again on the ready for play signal for the first play after the above situations.
“First and foremost, this was proposed out of concern for player safety,” Beau Rugg, the OHSAA’s assistant commissioner in charge of football, wrestling and all officiating, said. “Lopsided games aren’t good for anybody. The risk of injury goes up, and it can be a tense situation for coaches and players. The length of games is also a topic of conversation at the national level. This is just the right thing to do.”
In a side note, after the 30-point difference has been met, if the score drops below 30 points, the clock reverts to regular timing.