Comments On NFHS Changes

[JRutledge]

A lot of the uniform rules come right from other sports and the NF tries to develop consistency between sports when it comes to rules. For example the change that requires all sweatbands to be below the elbow. This was a football rule and was a pain in the behind to enforce by telling multiple players to move their sweatbands down. We have been enforcing these rules ever since I have been officiating; it just was the compression shorts when I started. These types of situations are not going to change how I enforce them.

I have come to grips with the coach calling timeout. I tell coaches I am not looking at them and they better get their players in the habit of calling timeouts if they want to be sure they will get one granted. I have learned not to turn around or turn away from a play just so I can grant the request based on the coach. If coaches are not smart enough to realize that, shame on them. The rules back us up on this not to grant a timeout if we do not see it. So the coaches better adjust.

Peace