The horse-collar tackle has been added to the list of illegal personal contact fouls in high school football.

This addition to Rule 9-4-3 was one of 10 rules changes approved by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Football Rules Committee at its January 24-25 meeting in Indianapolis. The rules changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

Here's a quick review of the NFHS 2009 Football Rule Changes.

1-2-3b NOTE 2 (NEW): All required field markings must be clearly visible.

1-3-1c: Stripes located on the football must be adjacent to and perpendicular to the seam upon which the laces are stitched.

2-14-2; 7-2-5: The definition of a scrimmage-kick formation was clarified to differentiate formations that have been used traditionally for attempting a field goal or kick try from those used for a punt. The circumstances under which the numbering exception can be used have been changed to clarify what can be done on first, second, third and fourth downs.

Table 3-1; 9-8-1g: The mandatory three-minute warm-up period begins immediately following the conclusion of the halftime intermission. The head coach of each team is responsible for his team being on the field for the warm-up period.

3-3-4b5 (NEW): If a penalty resulting in a safety occurs on the last timed down of a period, the period is not extended.

8-2-2; 8-2-3; 8-2-4 (NEW); 10-5-1f: Three rules were refined and a new article created regarding penalty enforcement for dead-ball, non-player or unsportsmanlike fouls that occur during or after a touchdown scoring play. Now, the scoring team, in most situations, has the option of enforcing the penalty on the subsequent kickoff.

9-4-3h: It is now illegal to grasp the opponent's chin strap.

9-4-3k (NEW): The horse-collar tackle has been added to the list of illegal personal contact fouls, regardless of where it occurs on the field. It is illegal to grasp the inside back or side opening of the collar of the jersey or shoulder pads of the runner and subsequently pull the runner to the ground.

9-7-2 EXCEPTION: The kicking team cannot bat a scrimmage kick that has not yet been grounded unless it is toward its own goal line. Scrimmage kicks may only be batted by the kicking team towards its own goal line.

1-2-3g; 9-8-3: A restricted area has been defined where a maximum of three coaches may communicate with players and substitutes during dead-ball situations. The coaches must move into the team box before the ball becomes live. There will no longer be an allowance for three coaches to remain in an area adjacent to the sideline during play.

Editorial and Other Changes

1-2-1; 1-2-3d; 1-3-1f; 1-5-1c(5b, 6b); 1-5-1i; 1-5-3a, b, c; 1-5-3k, l, n, o (NEW); 2-11; 2-16-2h; 2-35; 2-41-1, 9; 3-3-4b; 3-3-4b NOTE; 3-4-3j (NEW); 3-5-10c; 6-2-1; 7-5-2; 7-5-6a; 8-2-2, 3; 8-5-2a EXCEPTION; 9-4 PENALTY; 9-8-1; 9-9 PENALTY NOTE; 10-2-2b; 10-2-3; 10-4-2c; 10-5-1f; 10-6; FUNDAMENTALS: II-5, II-6 (NEW), IV-6, IX-3, X-4; OFFICIAL FOOTBALL SIGNALS “ 15, 25 (NEW)

Points of Emphasis
1. NFHS Guidelines on Handling Contests During Lightning Disturbances
2. Illegal Personal Contact
3. Blocking and Illegal Blocks
4. Helmet and Face Mask
5. Uniforms
6. Sportsmanship

 Source: National Federation of State High School Associations