[JRutledge]

I have been an IHSA licensed official for almost 10 years and I have never seen an IHSA Rulebook. The test that I take for all sports comes directly from the National Federation of High Schools. It might seem like semantics, but it is a very important distinction. There are rules that the IHSA adheres to, but those are not in the NF Rulebook. And those rules apply to only IHSA Members. The IHSA has no say over what non-IHSA members do. There is also the Illinois Elementary School Association that governs member schools that play games at levels 8th grade and below. They adhere to NF Rules but also modify many of their practices. They give officials all kinds of information as to what those are.

I have worked some Pop Warner and Bill George Leagues in my time as a football official. I also work a Grade School Catholic League on Sundays and there are many rules they use that have nothing to do with IHSA. Timing rules are one of them. The clock in that league does not run to the letter of NF rules. And their mercy rule is totally different as well. I have never seen "stripers" in HS football as I do in youth football.

What I am saying it sounds like the guys know what they are talking about. If they used the NF rules for timing to a tee, the games would take so much longer. Usually the ready for play starts the clock in many leagues I have worked. It is possible that the officials knew exactly what they were talking about. But the problem is also we do not know the rules of the league. They might say they follow the IHSA rules, but then make exceptions as to who can carry the ball, what weight the players are to participate. There is all kind of rules that do not just apply. I know some leagues did not allow a team winning by a certain margin to run outside of the tackles (but never tell the officials how to exactly enforce the rule). It is very possible they know what they were talking about. You have to ask those that run the league, not us. I am just sharing my experiences and what I had to do. Your league could be totally different.


Peace