Rule Changes

• 1

  Soccer Rules Changes - 2025-26

  March 26, 2025

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  3-3-1,2,3,2c (NEW): Removes redundant language and permits substitutions during a temporarily suspended game. 

  Rationale: Eliminates redundant language and allows substitutions during a temporarily suspended game. In hot weather, state associations often authorize stoppages within a half for water breaks. Under this change, teams would now be permitted to make substitutions during these stoppages. 

  3-3-2b(2): Clarifies that an injured player must leave the field if the referee beckons a coach or appropriate health-care provider. 

  Rationale: The rules change clarifies the current rule that if an official beckons a coach or appropriate health-care provider for any injured player, including the goalkeeper, that player must leave the field regardless of the reason the clock is stopped.   

  4-1-2: Clarifies that a number is required on the front of the jersey and/or the shorts. 

  Rationale: This language supports the rule prior to the reorganization of Rule 4 and adds clarification to the overall interpretation to clarify that a number is required on the front of the uniform which may be on the jersey and/or the shorts. 

  7-2-4 (NEW): Prohibits a coach or team personnel other than the team captain from speaking with a referee during interval between periods, unless beckoned by a referee. 

  Rationale: The time between periods of play is designated for rest for all participants, not for engaging with officials. This rule change introduces specific language and penalties for coaches who confront officials during these intervals, aiming to reduce unnecessary disputes and maintain a respectful game environment. 

  12-4-4: A misconduct penalty may be given to the head coach if team or bench misconduct occurs. 

  Rationale: To encourage and support sporting and positive bench decorum, the rule change reinforces the head coach’s responsibility for the conduct of their team and bench personnel within the team area. It provides officials with additional tools, allowing them to warn, caution, or eject the head coach if any bench personnel engage in misconduct. 

  Rule 18: Elimination of Rule 18. Incorporating the definitions into their corresponding rules while expanding the index to serve as a quick reference tool to streamline the rules, improve clarity, remove unnecessary duplication and eliminate conflicting definitions.  

  Rationale: This change relocates definitions into their corresponding rules, streamlining the rules book by reducing redundancies and contradictions. The expanded index at the back of the book continues to serve as a helpful quick reference tool, while definitions were updated and aligned in context with appropriate rules. 

   

  2025-26 Editorial Changes 

  3-3-2b(5), 3-3-3b(4), 3-3-3c(2), 3-3-3d(3), 3-3-7 4-1-1c, 4-1 Notes, 5-1-2, 13-1-5 

   

  2025-26 Points of Emphasis 

  1. Education Based High School Athletics 

  1. Courage, Character and Consistency 

  1. Team Areas and Bench Decorum 

  1. Player Uniform Equipment and Safety

• 2

  Football Rules Changes - 2024

  February 03, 2025

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  Clarified Home Team Uniform Requirement For Each Player [1-5-1b(3)] — The jerseys of the home team shall all be the same dark color(s) that clearly contrasts with white.

  2024 EDITORIAL CHANGES

  Football Helmet Warning Statement; 1-3-1b; 1-3-1g; 1-3-1i(5); 1-5-1a(1); 1-5-1b(2), (3); 1-5-1c(5); 1-5-1d(5)a; 1-5-2b; 1-5-3b(6); 1-5-3c(6); 1-7(7); 1-8; 2-8; 2-32-16; 5-2-4; 7-2 PENALTY; TABLE 7-5; 9-2 PENALTY; 9-5-1g; 9-8-1j; 9-8 PENALTY; 10-3-1c NOTE; 10-4; 10-5; TABLE 10-4; PENALTY SUMMARY; NFHS OFFICIAL FOOTBALL SIGNALS.

  2024 POINTS OF EMPHASIS

  1. Sportsmanship and Altercation Prevention and Protocol

  2. Player Equipment and Enforcement

  3. Formations

• 3

  Wrestling Rules Changes - 2024-25

  November 07, 2024

  2-1-3, 2-1-4, 5-24-1, 6-5-1, 6-6-6, 7-6-1 — The 10-foot circle in the center of the wrestling area is now optional. Wrestlers will continue to be encouraged to keep action in the center of the wrestling area.

  Rationale: The starting lines of each mat indicate the center of the mat, and the 10-foot circle is not relevant or necessary for awarding scoring or penalizing wrestlers during competition. With the new mat designs that have a large mascot or logos, it gives a refreshing look to the wrestling mats. Wrestlers and officials know where the center of the mat is located without the 10-foot circle. 

  5-10, 5-15-1, 5-15-2b, 5-15-2c, 5-15-3, 5-18, 5-22-1, 5-22-2, 5-25-1, 5-25-3, 6-4-1 — Modifies that only one point of contact by either wrestler meets the requirements of being inbounds.

  Rationale: This rule safely eliminates the subjectivity of the out-of-bounds call. The rule change also helps coaches and wrestlers understand more clearly what out of bounds is and help officials call out of bounds more consistently.

  5-11-2g, 5-11-2h, 5-11-3, 9-1-5, Scoring Symbols — Redefines how near-fall points are awarded by equating the number of seconds in which near-fall criteria are met to the number of points awarded. An offensive wrestler now earns two points for two seconds, three points for three seconds and four points for four seconds. Additionally, points awarded related to the defensive wrestler becoming injured and bleeding were also modified. As a result, the scoring symbols for near-fall points have been amended.

  Rationale: The goal in wrestling is to pin the opponent. Changing the near-fall points awarded should motivate wrestlers to work for a fall and simplify the points awarded based on how long the wrestler is held in near-fall criteria.

  5-11-4 — Clarified that a technical fall has concluded when near-fall criteria are no longer met.

  Rationale: This change will consistently clarify when the technical fall has concluded in relation to the near-fall criteria being met. The offensive wrestler cannot be penalized appropriately after the technical fall has been earned.

  5-28-4, Official Wrestling Signals — Created a signal for a referee’s time-out when the referee needs to address a situation not covered by injury, blood or recovery time.

  Rationale: This signal is used universally in many other sports but has never been codified in the NFHS Wrestling Rules Book. An additional signal needs to be added to the Official Wrestling Signal making it signal #29.

  9-1-2, Summary of Scoring, Scoring Symbols — Increased the number of match points awarded for a match point takedown from two to three. As a result, the scoring symbol for takedown has been amended.

  Rationale: To promote more scoring activity when wrestlers are in neutral position.

• 4

  Baseball Rules Changes - 2025

  November 07, 2024

  1-3-2c1 – Modified that resin, pine tar or any other drying agent is permitted on the bat in a specific area.

  4-4-1c – Modified the definition of forfeiture.

• 5

  Softball Rules Changes - 2025

  August 15, 2024

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  1-8-6 EXCEPTION & PENALTY: A high school softball coach is now able to use electronic devices in the dugout for one-way communication to the catcher while the team is on defense. The penalty from Rule 3-6-11 was added to Rule 1-8-6 as well, with violators subject to ejection unless the offense is ruled to be of a minor nature.
  Rationale: The committee has made these changes to support the use of emerging technology within the sport of softball. Being a permissive rule, the use of this one-way electronic communication will allow those who choose to embrace the technology an additional option to communicate with the catcher while on defense.

  3-6-11: This rule change specifies that coaches are prohibited from using the device to communicate with any other team member while on defense or any team member while on offense and the coach cannot use the device outside the dugout/bench area.
  Rationale: Clarifies that a coach may us an electronic device for one-way communication to the catcher while the team is on defense.

  9-3-2b: When a baserunner who is declared out for being hit by a fair batted ball, the batter-runner is credited with a fielder’s choice in the scorebook.   
  Rationale: This change corrects an error in the rules book that awarded a base hit in this instance.  

  
  2025 SOFTBALL EDITORIAL CHANGES
  Figure 1-1, Figure 1-3, 1-3-4, 1-3-5, 1-6-6, 1-7-1, 2-47, 3-2-3, 3-2-12 NOTE, 3-6-12, 5-1 Table, 5-1-1o, 6-1-2c, 8-1-2a EFFECTS 3, 8-6-4, 10-1-6

  2025 SOFTBALL POINTS OF EMPHASIS

  1. Team’s Role in Pace of Play

  2. Situational Awareness

• 6

  Girls Lacrosse Rules Changes - 2025

  July 11, 2024

  4-1-2: Establishes that the clock will stop on the official’s whistle after each goal and when there is a foul called in the critical scoring area during the last minute of each quarter.

  Rationale: Provides consistency in clock management at the end of each quarter and eliminates the potential for time to expire before a free position can be administered when there is a foul in the CSA at the end of each quarter.

  5-2 PENALTIES 1 & 2: Moves the free position from the center line to the spot of the ball when one player draws illegally and maintains that a re-draw will occur at the center line when both players draw illegally.

  Rationale: Improves the flow of the game by eliminating the need to bring the ball back to the center for a re-draw when a player draws illegally.

  9-1 PENALTIES for Violation of 9-1a, b and e-r: 4a, b; 13 Definition of Terms: Eliminates the indirect free position for a minor foul by a defense player occurring in the 12-meter fan and allows the player who is fouled to shoot from a free position on the 12-meter fan.

  Rationale: Simplifies the penalty application for minor fouls in the critical scoring area while maintaining a balance of offense and defense.

  10-1p, 13 Definition of Terms: Establishes player body and crosse positioning for a legal pick.

  Rationale: Clarifies the body and crosse positioning a player must have when setting a safe and legal pick.

  10-1r(1): Expands the definition of a major foul for Illegal Stick Contact to include contact with the opponent’s crosse when a player’s crosse is held in a horizontal position.

  Rationale: Clarifies that it is illegal for a player to make contact with an opponent’s crosse or body when the player’s crosse is in a horizontal position.

  10-1v(2): Expands the definition of a Rough/Dangerous Check to include checking an opponent’s hand.

  Rationale: Clarifies a player’s hand is part of their body and should be protected against rough and dangerous checking.

   

  2025 Girls Lacrosse Editorial Changes

  2-2-4; 2-5-2e; 2-7-5a; 2-7-7 NOTE; 2-9-4; 3-5-3g (NEW); 3-6-1; 4-3-3b, c; 4-7-1; 4-7-5a; 5-3; 5-4-4; 8-1-1 NOTE (NEW); 9-1m(6); 10-1 PENALTIES 6; 10-1 PENALTIES 13 (NEW); 12 NOTES 1 & 2 (NEW); 12-8 TEAM CARD PENALTIES

   

  2025 Girls Lacrosse Points of Emphasis 

  1. Use of the Green Card / Delay of Game

  2. Managing Safe Play in the 8-Meter Arc

  3. Offensive Fouls Inside the Critical Scoring Area