Player Equipment Changes Highlight 2025 High School Football Rules Revisions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

INDIANAPOLIS – Four revisions dealing with player equipment in high school football were among the eight changes recommended by the NFHS Football Rules Committee at its meeting in Indianapolis last January. All recommended changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

The Football Rules Committee is composed of one member from each NFHS member state association that uses NFHS playing rules, along with representatives from the NFHS Coaches Association and NFHS Officials Association. 

One of the equipment changes next year will permit some additional electronic communication with players during games; however, in-helmet communication is still not allowed. A change in Rule 1-5-3c(2) will permit fixed electronic signs with play signals as well as non-audio methods. However, players between the numbers still are not permitted to watch video.

In the same Rule 1-5-3c(3), another new item was added to the illegal equipment listing. Any audio (microphone) or video (camera) device worn by a player during the game is not permitted. No player participating in the game is allowed to wear any device that would record or transmit audio or video. 

The remaining player equipment changes focus on tooth and mouth protectors and arm sleeves. The committee approved two new additional requirements in Rule 1-5-1d(5) for tooth and mouth protectors, which are required in high school football. Tooth and mouth protectors a) shall not include any attachment(s) that do not serve a purpose and function in protecting the teeth or mouth and b) shall not include anything that is a health or risk issue and could pose danger to themselves or other players.

A new item was added to Rule 1-5-2d regarding a change in arm sleeve specifications. The new language, effective with the 2027 season, states that “arm sleeves, whether attached to a shirt or unattached, manufactured to enhance contact with the football or opponent, must meet the SFIA specification at the time of manufacture. Arm sleeves must have a permanent, exact replica of the SFIA arm sleeve seal (meets SFIA specification), that must be visible and appear legibly on the exterior of the arm sleeve.”

The Sports and Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), in working with football arm sleeve manufacturers and the NFHS, has developed the new football arm sleeve performance specifications to be effective with the 2027 season. The new specifications closely align with the current NFHS rules for football gloves.    

"One of our responsibilities is to properly respond to advancements in equipment and technology. Through deliberate research, debate and input from the NFHS Sports Medicine Advisory Committee (SMAC) and engineers, we are confident the rule changes regarding equipment are a positive move for our game," said Chair of the NFHS Football Rules Committee and Arkansas Activities Association Associate Executive Director Steve Roberts.

In other changes approved by the Football Rules Committee, a new exception was added to Rule 4-3-1 regarding when a loose ball goes out of bounds. Previously, the out-of-bounds spot was the yard line where the foremost point of the ball crossed the sideline. Now, when a forward fumble goes out of bounds or is ruled out of bounds between the goal lines, the ball shall be returned to the spot of the fumble.

Bob Colgate, editor of the NFHS Football Rules Book and Director of Sports and Sports Medicine for the NFHS, said the committee made the change because the previous rule potentially provided an unfair advantage to the fumbling team.

The committee also approved a deletion in Rule 10-4-4b, which continues the committee’s revisions in the penalty enforcement rules to ensure consistency, particularly among illegal participation fouls.

Finally, the rules committee made a revision in the Six-Player Football Rules that clarifies that as long as there is a change of possession from the snap receiver to another player on offense, the ball can be advanced beyond the line of scrimmage.

For complete details, visit: https://ly.khsaa.org/d4nq

They forgot one... knee pads are now obsolete. 

10 minutes ago, VF111 said:

They forgot one... knee pads are now obsolete. 

I don't think the NFHS forgot it, knee pads were an area of emphasis last year:

3.  Player Equipment and Enforcement

To support the safety of all participants, players must wear equipment and uniforms that are properly fitted and worn as intended by the manufacturer. Before starting each game, the head coach must verify that all players are properly and legally equipped.

The use of knee pads is an area targeted for emphasis. Due to potential injury, it is essential that players only be allowed to participate if their pants and knee pads comply with the rules. Pants must completely cover the knees, and knee pads must be worn over the knee. In pregame duties, game officials should be watchful and proactive in addressing potential equipment, and more specifically, knee pad issues. Players often wear pants that slide up and expose the knee during movement. Game officials should communicate with coaches and/or players and ensure that only legally and properly equipped players are allowed to participate – noncompliance results in nonparticipation.

 

I like the fumble rule. It should be interesting to see the reactions of all the fans that don't want to know the rules.

23 hours ago, theguru said:

A new item was added to Rule 1-5-2d regarding a change in arm sleeve specifications. The new language, effective with the 2027 season, states that “arm sleeves, whether attached to a shirt or unattached, manufactured to enhance contact with the football or opponent, must meet the SFIA specification at the time of manufacture. Arm sleeves must have a permanent, exact replica of the SFIA arm sleeve seal (meets SFIA specification), that must be visible and appear legibly on the exterior of the arm sleeve.”

The Sports and Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), in working with football arm sleeve manufacturers and the NFHS, has developed the new football arm sleeve performance specifications to be effective with the 2027 season. The new specifications closely align with the current NFHS rules for football gloves.

I guess that does away with the days of seeing DBs and WRs playing in late October and November with a good old Fruit Of The Loom long-sleeve tee on underneath of their shoulder pads.

33 minutes ago, Colonels_Wear_Blue said:

I guess that does away with the days of seeing DBs and WRs playing in late October and November with a good old Fruit Of The Loom long-sleeve tee on underneath of their shoulder pads.

Somebody will be cashing in on all the new shirts/arm sleeves everyone will need to buy. I haven't been on the sidelines in a couple of years, but I guess those sleeves with the sticky material (like what's found on the gloves) have become pretty popular and they are just trying to standardize the grip enhancement that these sleeves can provide.

Love the fumble rule.  

I don't like the equipment rules, as the equipment rules aren't enforced by most crews as they stand now, despite being "points of emphasis" last season.  

Now, they want officials to go after the types of mouthpieces (the stupid pacifier looking ones, which I can't understand why anyone would want and why any sane adult would actually purchase for their child) when there are kids playing with their mouthpieces out completely (It's always kickers, WRs, and DBs).

Not one to usually hate on the trends but glad the double mouthpiece look will be gone with these changes.

1 hour ago, Colonels_Wear_Blue said:

I guess that does away with the days of seeing DBs and WRs playing in late October and November with a good old Fruit Of The Loom long-sleeve tee on underneath of their shoulder pads.

I used to wear an old Winston t-shirt under my pads that came with a carton of cigarettes back in the 80s. ?‍♂️

The rule I'd like to see changed is spotting a missed long field goal attempt at the 20, if it goes into the end zone.  There should be a risk to trying the field goal, not a reward for missing it.  The ball should be placed at the previous spot on a missed attempt.

I wish the fumble rule was for the whole field.  Why should a fumble out of the endzone be given to the other team, when it's not done this way the whole field?

12 minutes ago, En Fuego Hombre said:

The rule I'd like to see changed is spotting a missed long field goal attempt at the 20, if it goes into the end zone.  There should be a risk to trying the field goal, not a reward for missing it.  The ball should be placed at the previous spot on a missed attempt.

It's even worse if it doesn't hit the endzone.  If the attempted FG is downed by kicking team or rolls out of bounds at the 1 yardline, it's the other team's ball at their own 1.  

It really surprises me that more high school coaches don't treat FGs as a "punt." 

Whew. I was worried they would approve volleyball shorts for football.

34 minutes ago, New Colonel said:

It's even worse if it doesn't hit the endzone.  If the attempted FG is downed by kicking team or rolls out of bounds at the 1 yardline, it's the other team's ball at their own 1.  

It really surprises me that more high school coaches don't treat FGs as a "punt." 

They treat any kick past the LOS with the same rules, Punt/FG/Blocked kick. I remember in 2017-18 era when Franklin-Simpson didn't have a punt team at all and only used their FG team, even in the state championship games. 

7 minutes ago, AppalachianTactician said:

They treat any kick past the LOS with the same rules, Punt/FG/Blocked kick. I remember in 2017-18 era when Franklin-Simpson didn't have a punt team at all and only used their FG team, even in the state championship games. 

Very cool.  I only remember seeing a team utilize this strategy one time, and it was Cincinnati St. X in a playoff game.  They lined up for what was around a 70 yard FG attempt.  Everyone in the stands was losing their mind, and I just laughed as they purposely kicked the ball out of bounds at about the 12 yard line, kind of like coffin corner.  Everyone, including the opposing coach was livid when the ball was spotted there.