Rules - South Carolina High School League

FOOTBALL
1. The League will sponsor championship play-offs in all classes.
2. National Federation Rules shall govern all contests and may be obtained from the League Office.
3. The head coach must attend a League sponsored rules clinic. All coaches must verify with their
principal completion of the online concussion course found at www.nfhslearn.com.
4. IMPORTANT DATES
Schedule Due............................May 1
First Practice .............................July 29 (Helmets only)
August 1 (May wear hip, shoulder, thigh & knee pads)
First Scrimmage ........................August 2
Eligibility Due.............................7 days prior to first game
First Contest..............................August 18 (week 0) Varsity Only
August 25 (week 1) Varsity Only
5. Practice Information:
a. A school shall not permit contact practice in pads or otherwise between its last game and
August 3. Pads include padding of any kind on the shoulders, hips or thighs.
NOTE: Schools are permitted three weeks of practice May 1-21.
The first three (3) days of spring practice (and the first three days of fall practice)
will be in helmets only.
During the first three (3) days of “helmets only” practices sleds and ground
dummies may be used.
No hand shields, arm shields, and/or stand up dummies of any kind may be used
during the first three (3) days of spring or fall (pre-season) practice.
During any practice(s) beyond the first 3 days of spring practice, a coach may
equip his players in any combination of pads that he prefers for a period of up to
ten (10) days. (Ten (10) days is the maximum amount of time in pads.)
Schools are not required to be in helmets only or in full pads only; any combination
may be used. During the time of practice in pads (full or combination of pads) the
use of all football equipment is permitted.
Middle school students may NOT take part in the high school practices, if players
are wearing any equipment other than helmets. If players are equipped with more
than helmets, middle school athletes must hold their practices apart from the high
school. (They could be on the same field, but away from the high school practices.)
Rising 9 th graders, (8 th graders), are NOT 9 th graders until school is out for the year,
thus they may NOT take part in contact drills of the high school.
Schools MAY NOT charge admission for a spring practice (game)
b. High school programs may practice in full gear and use all field equipment beginning
August 1.
c. Air type or foam filled dummies (no sleds) will be permitted during any practice between
June 1, 2012 and July 22, 2012.
d. All contests below the varsity level must end before the last regularly scheduled game of the
varsity team. Sub-varsity teams must complete their schedule prior to the day of the first
round of play-offs in that sport; exception: Class AAAA football.
e. A student taking part in an illegal football practice will be ineligible for the following football
season.
B-25