Quote:
Originally posted by WhatWuzThatBlue
I just received an interesting email form someone who thinks that Carl knows not what he sayeth:
The very first page of the NFHS Rule Book thusly reads:
To maintain the sound traditions of this sport, encourage sportsmanship...
(pay attention to the end of the paragrpah here)
...Member associations of the NFHS independently make decisions regarding compliance with or modification of these playing rules for the student athletes in their respective states.
I knew I had seen it before, I don't claim to know this rule book well, so I appreciate the help from a friend.
I believe an apology is in order.
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This is a standard "don't blame us" notification. In its expanded form, it appeared this year for the first time.
The NFHS grants permission for states to modify the rules in certain explicitly stated areas, which I listed earlier. If that were not true, why would the book name rules that can be modified?
In 1984 the Texas state association (UIIL) refused to adopt the no-metal-spikes rule. We lost our admission slip to the annual rules meeting. We didn't get it back until the NFHS removed the ban on metal spikes in 1989. The message: If you modify in areas other than those permitted, you may suffer consequences.
But individual associations within a state do not have that right of modification, and state associations that do modify the rules circularize in writing all umpires in the state.