In the spring of 2008, the NCAA Football Rules Committee met to discuss rule changes for the 2008 season. The main point of emphasis at the rules committee meetings was player safety. The NCAA, to better protect the players, passed several rule changes last spring. To promote player safety, the UIL has instructed the football officials in Texas to enforce mandatory or illegal equipment rules.

The following mandatory equipment rules are to be monitored closely for safety:

Rule 1-4 ARTICLE 4 (a.) Soft knee pads at least ? inch thick must cover the knees and be covered by pants. Point of emphasis by officials: Pants that do not cover the knee and do not have the proper knee pad are in violation of this rule. This rule is to be enforced not only to protect a players knees, but also to protect a player that receives a hit from an uncovered knee.

Rule 1-4 ARTICLE 4 (c.) Shoulder pads, hip pads with tailbone protector and thigh guards (pads). Point of emphasis by officials: All players are to wear and be properly equipped with hip pads, tailbone protector and thigh pads for the playerís own protection.

Rule 1-4 ARTICLE 4 (e.) The jersey must be full length and tucked into the pants. The UIL makes an exception to this rule allowing teams to wear a jersey that is waist length. Point of emphasis by officials: The length of jersey becomes an issue of safety when it does not properly cover rib protectors and/or back plates that are attached to the shoulder pads. A hard or abrasive substance that is not covered is an illegal equipment violation. If the length of the jersey continues to be a safety issue the only other option for the UIL is to follow the NCAA jersey rule.

The head coach or his designated representative must certify to the umpire before the game that all players are equipped according to the mandatory and illegal equipment rules. A team or a player that is in violation is subject to Rule 1-4 Mandatory and Illegal Equipment Enforcement ARTICLE 6 (a): Each of the first three infractions for failure to wear mandatory equipment or wearing illegal equipment requires a charged timeout. The fourth infraction in a half requires a five-yard penalty.

Coaches must ensure that all players are properly equipped to help make the game of football as safe as possible.