skip navigation

Behind the Stripes: Rules differences between high school football and college/NFL

08/30/2016, 1:45pm CDT
By B.J. Ligocki, Special Contribution to WSN

"Behind the Stripes" is written by veteran WIAA official B.J. Ligocki, an active message board poster who has helped many people on the forum with rules questions and clarifications over the years. The purpose of this feature is to help educate readers on any rules changes, clarify procedures and rules, provide case studies and examples, and answer any questions people may have on officiating or rules.

Feel free to email any rules or officiating questions you have at flagthrow3r@gmail.com for inclusion in future articles.

B.J. Ligocki:  Football (Master Level - 10 yrs - State Championship); Basketball (Level 5 -18 years - Regional); Baseball/Softball (Level 5 - 18 years - Regional)

10 differences between NFL, NCAA, & NFHS football rules

  1. The Neutral Zone:  As we see on TV, in the NFL and NCAA if a defensive player jumps into the neutral zone (the length of the ball where no players are allowed to line up before a play) they have an opportunity to get back on side before the snap. In NFHS, however, once the defensive player moves into the zone, the ball is dead and he has committed a penalty.
  2. Intentional grounding:  Every coach and player knows what it means to be “out of the pocket.”  It basically means the passer has moved outside of an imaginary line created by the tackles on either side of the line. Once they are outside of this area, they are allowed to throw the ball away, as long as it reaches the line of scrimmage. Not so in high school. The ball must always be thrown to an area that has an eligible receiver.
  3. Defensive Holding/Illegal Contact:  This is an easy rule in the NFL – no contact on the receivers after 5 yards. NCAA and high school are different in this case. The defense is allowed to hit the receivers anywhere on the field, as long as the receiver is a “potential blocker.” This is where the judgment of the officials comes into play. Our philosophy is once the receiver has gone into his route or is at or beyond the defender going downfield, he is protected. The distances of these penalties also are different at each level.  Where NFL is always 5 yards and an automatic first down, NCAA depends on what happens during the play, and NFHS is always 10 yards from the previous spot.
  4. Personal Fouls:  These fouls are always an automatic 1st down in NFL and NCAA, but not in high school. Also in high school and NCAA, two unsportsmanlike fouls are an ejection, like technical fouls in basketball.
  5. Pass Interference:  While what constitutes defensive pass interference is the same at every level, the penalty yardage is different. NFL is a spot foul and an automatic 1st down.  NCAA is a spot foul with a maximum of 15 yards and a 1st down. NFHS is always 15 yards, but not an automatic first down.
  6. Completed Pass:  This is a well understood difference, but important. A receiver only needs to have one foot come down in bounds for a completed pass in NCAA & NFHS. Two feet are necessary for a catch in the NFL.
  7. Field Goals:  A missed field goal in high school is no different than a punt. If it goes in the endzone, the defense gets the ball at the 20 yard line, it is a touchback. If the missed kick doesn’t make it to the endzone, the defense can either return it, or they will get the ball wherever it stops rolling. NCAA and NFL teams get the ball at the original line of scrimmage or the spot of the kick, respectively, or the 20 yard line, whichever is better.
  8. Targeting: Targeting is the safety foul introduced in college football to protect defenseless players from contact to their head/neck or from players hitting with the crown of their helmet. After some initial changes, this is a reviewable play with a 15 yard penalty and an ejection. High school does have a targeting foul, but there is no automatic ejection.  It is at the discretion of the officials if the foul was flagrant. (“Severe or extreme that places the opponent at risk of serious injury and/or persistently vulgar or abusive.”) The NFL just calls these personal fouls, and has no automatic ejection.
  9. Clock Rules:  There are a few major differences regarding the management of the clock. In NFHS and NCAA the clock stops on a 1st down until the chains are set, while in the NFL the clock runs. The play clocks are different at each level both in length and when they start. NCAA & NFL rules have several instances of potential penalty runoffs late in each half. Also in NCAA & NFL the clock will restart after a play goes out of bounds, except late in each half, while the clock remains stopped in high school.
  10. Kickoff/Touchbacks:  Any kick that breaks the plane of the endzone in high school football is a dead ball and a touchback. NFL and NCAA players have the opportunity to return a caught ball out of the endzone.

These are some of the more common differences that are seen quite often during a game. Players, coaches, and officials can be easily confused by what level they are performing at and situations they have witnessed at other levels. Hopefully these examples will be officiated correctly in your games.

Tag(s): News Archive  News  Behind the Stripes