I’m not savvy enough to find and also post the updated rules for the 2025 season. I figured football starts this week for some schools it be a good time to start a discussion on the new/updated rules.

There was a change on the fumble rule and where it is spotted. Basically you can’t fumble the ball forward to gain a first down. There is more to it than that. 
 

You can only have one mouth piece and it can’t cover the mouth. 
 

http://redirect.viglink.com/?key=71fe2139a887ad501313cd8cce3053c5&subId=1138134&u=https%3A//nfhs.org/media/7213598/2025-nfhs-football-rules-changes-final-march-2025.pdf

Here is the link to the rule changes. 

49 minutes ago, Breds82 said:

I’m not savvy enough to find and also post the updated rules for the 2025 season. I figured football starts this week for some schools it be a good time to start a discussion on the new/updated rules.

Football starts this week to they start practice this early now when I played we started fall practice like the middle of July.

2025 NFHS FOOTBALL RULES CHANGES

Committee Clarifies and Restricts Attachments on Tooth and Mouth Protectors Effective with the 2026 Season 1-5-1d(5)a - 4, 5 (NEW) – Items that are attached to the tooth and mouth protector that do not serve a purpose and function in protecting the teeth or mouth will not be allowed. Items that are a part of the tooth and mouth protector that are a health or risk issue to the player and can pose a danger to themselves or other players, will not be allowed.

Arm Sleeve Specifications Developed to Guide Manufacturers, Players and Coaches Effective with the 2027 Season 1-5-2d (NEW), 1-5-3c(5) – The Sports and Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), in working with the football arm sleeve manufacturers and the NFHS, has developed new football arm sleeve performance specifications to be effective with the 2027 playing season. These new specifications closely align with the current rules for football gloves.

Electronic Equipment Approved to Permit Non-Audio and Still Images to Assist with Relaying Plays from the Sideline to Players 1-5-3c(2) – This change allows for the use of some additional equipment, but continues to preclude in-helmet communication. This would allow for fixed electronic signs with play signals as well as nonaudio methods but still would not permit the players between the numbers to watch video.

Rules Additions Further Prohibit the Use of Video and Audio Devices by Players 1-5-3c(3) (NEW) – No player participating in the game will be allowed to wear any type of audio or video device in order to record or transmit audio or video.

Forward Fumbles Out of Bounds to be Returned to the Spot of the Fumble 3-4-3, 4-3-1 EXCEPTION (NEW) – A situation potentially giving an unfair advantage to a fumbling team was revised. 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.

Further Clarifications Made to Rule 10-4 in Specific Situations 9-6 PENALTY, 10-4-4b (DELETED) – The committee continues its revisions and clarifications within the penalty enforcement rules to ensure consistency, particularly among illegal participation fouls.

Rules for 6-Player Football Revised to Permit Advancement of a Fumbled Snap Six-Player – Rule 2 and 7, Six-Player – Rule 7 – The committee clarified 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.

2025 EDITORIAL CHANGES

1-5-1b(2)b(1); 1-5-1b(3)b(1); 2-32-16d; 2-33-1, 2; 2-41-9b; 6-1-9; 7-2-5b EXCEPTION 2; 7-5-12; 9-4-3 (NEW); 9-5-1g; 9-8-1g; 9-8-1j; 10-3-1, 2; 10-4-2b; 10-4-2d; 10-4-4a; 10-5-3; NINE-, EIGHT-, AND SIX-PLAYER RULES DIFFERENCES; PENALTY SUMMARY.

2025 POINTS OF EMPHASIS

1. Illegal and Improperly Worn Player Equipment
2. Sportsmanship
3. Defenseless Player / Targeting

 

**As of March 3, 2025

Sportsmanship has been a point of emphasis for years. Has anyone seen it improve? 
 

The illegally worn equipment is not evenly enforced. Example the Scott Co vs Cooper playoff game two seasons ago. 
 

I like the mouth piece rule. It was silly to have more than one on the face mask any way.

 

is there a way to get a copy of the rules book? On the KHSAA website it seems like you’d have to print the whole thing off.

On 5/27/2025 at 1:50 PM, Breds82 said:

Sportsmanship has been a point of emphasis for years. Has anyone seen it improve? 
 

The illegally worn equipment is not evenly enforced. Example the Scott Co vs Cooper playoff game two seasons ago. 
 

I like the mouth piece rule. It was silly to have more than one on the face mask any way.

 

is there a way to get a copy of the rules book? On the KHSAA website it seems like you’d have to print the whole thing off.

Sportsmanship has not improved, illegally equipped players in every single game.

As the shortage of officials continues to rise, the quality of officiating continues to decline.  And it's in every sport, and the excuse is essentially there's nobody else so many, not all obviously, officials are just mailing it in, especially below varsity level.

I’ve talked to numerous officials that say they are very frustrated with the lack of rules enforcement. If you enforce the knee pad rule for example you are made to feel foolish, etc. So instead of being that “one crew” who is to by the book, they just say whatever. 

2 minutes ago, Breds82 said:

I’ve talked to numerous officials that say they are very frustrated with the lack of rules enforcement. If you enforce the knee pad rule for example you are made to feel foolish, etc. So instead of being that “one crew” who is to by the book, they just say whatever. 

Inmates running the asylum...

50 minutes ago, theguru said:

Inmates running the asylum...

They really are.  I believe I mentioned it in a different thread, but I've had to ask officials to have opposing players remove their tinted or mirrored visors on more than one occasion in youth games.  The response is always, "you can't be serious", or "give me a break Coach."  One game two years ago I was persistent and then kicked out of the game because I told the official that they make too much money to not enforce the rules.  The visor remained on the player for the game.

The proper enforcement of rules lies with everyone that plays the sport. From the KHSAA Commissioner to the AD/League president(s), head coaches and finally to their staff. If the Commissioner isn't holding anyone accountable then you have these issues. There in the mandatory meeting every year for coaches and officials by the Commissioner and yet the problems persist at the high school level. This feeds into their feeder programs and so on and on. If I as official can’t get the 1st grade coach to get his players properly padded, then it’s a lost cause from the get go. 

2 hours ago, Breds82 said:

The proper enforcement of rules lies with everyone that plays the sport. From the KHSAA Commissioner to the AD/League president(s), head coaches and finally to their staff. If the Commissioner isn't holding anyone accountable then you have these issues. There in the mandatory meeting every year for coaches and officials by the Commissioner and yet the problems persist at the high school level. This feeds into their feeder programs and so on and on. If I as official can’t get the 1st grade coach to get his players properly padded, then it’s a lost cause from the get go. 

Yes, but as an official you have recourse to make sure players are properly equipped.   Throw a flag, don't let the kid in the game until he's legal.  

Last year was absolutely pathetic with NFHS "rules of emphasis" that nobody emphasized. 

If you don't like the rules, then try to be a part of the process to get the rules changed.  Enforce the rules you are charged with enforcing and head coaches need to start having backbones again and reign in their players with all of this nonsense.