4 rule changes to know for the 2022 SC high school football season

The 2022 high school football regular season begins next week across South Carolina, with the first games Aug. 18 and 19.

There will be a few rule changes either mandated by the National Federation of High Schools or the South Carolina High School League.

Here is a look at some of the top ones to know about for this year:

Intentional grounding rule tweaked

Quarterbacks will get a little relief this season as the NFHS revised its intentional grounding rule.

A player can now purposely throw an incomplete pass and avoid an intentional grounding penalty as long he’s outside of of the tackle box and as long as the pass goes past the line of scrimmage.

This rule is similar to the to what’s enforced in college and the NFL.

“The question (with this rule) has always been, ‘If the defense makes a good play, are we bailing out the offense by letting the quarterback throw the ball away?’ ” Richard McWhirter, chair of the NFHS football rules committee and assistant executive director, said in a statement about the rule changes. “This year, I think the committee felt the well being of the passers and not subjecting them to extra hits was worth changing the rule.”

Jersey No. 0 is now allowed in high school

In 2020, the NCAA allowed football players to wear the No. 0 jersey. Beginning this year, high school players will be able to do the same.

High school players can wear anything from 0 to 99. Any jersey number preceded by the digit zero will be not be allowed, such as 01 or 02.

Chop block rule amended

The definition of what a chop block is in high school football has been changed.

It’s now described as “a combination block by two or more teammates against an opponent other than the runner, with or without delay, where one of the blocks is below the waist and one of the blocks is above the waist.”

Before this season, the defensive player’s knee determined the high and low components of the chop block.

“This is going to strengthen the rule and it’s also going to help the game officials,” McWhirter said. “I think they’re going to be able to enforce this rule better than they have in the past because determining ‘below the knee’ and ‘above the knee’ is tough to do. I think it’s really going to improve the game.”

Mercy rule, running clock in football

In April, the S.C. High School League’s executive committee approved by a 12-0 vote to add a running clock “mercy rule” in football when a team leads by 42 points or more at any point after halftime, with some stoppages allowed.

According to the S.C. Football Coaches Association, the only times the clock can be stopped will be on timeouts, incomplete passes, penalties and scores. The SCFCA came up with the proposal. In the past, there could only be a running clock if both coaches agreed to it before the start of a game.

Now, it will be mandatory and enforced in the second half if a team leads by 42 or more points.