08/15/23 – Reminder about Shortened and Interrupted Football Games

August 15, 2023 Football Blog Updates

As a new season begins and with the vast amount of turnover in athletic administrators and coaches, a reminder about the Competition Rules is in order for Football. Interrupted games are not new and have a defined procedure for football.

Within the football playing rules, in an emergency (such as inclement weather where advisories are placed against travel or to seek shelter), teams can mutually agree to shorten any remaining period or terminate the game at any point. If such termination is mutually agreed to, the game shall be recorded as the current score and the game cannot be replaced on the schedule.

Just a couple of reminders and probably the last sentence in the tournament rules is the main point to keep in mind, “All involved shall remember that this situation is caused by elements such as weather that are uncontrollable by anyone, and keep the discussions in that perspective.”

• Per the playing rules, there is no such thing as a “no-contest”. So if the contest begins, the interrupted game procedure is in place.
• Once a contest begins, then the game counts against the allowable number of games. Only if the contest does not begin can the game be replaced.
• Once the weather gets involved, and the contest is not played as contracted unless otherwise specified in the contract, KHSAA involvement in the contract is simply to enforce the contract, and all first option for decisions to resolve the conflict should allow for mutual agreement of the school Principals or the official Designated Representatives.

If the game begins, the following procedure is in place as has been in place for many, many years from the Competition Rules, is in place:

G) Interrupted Regular Season Games
1) Refer to NFHS Playing Rule 3-1-4 as KHSAA has the authority to determine the procedure for a game ending. The following procedure is adopted in accordance with that rule.
2) If a game is interrupted PRIOR to the completion of the first half, the following options exist-
a) Mutually agree to terminate the game with the score as it exists if mutually agreed by both teams;
b) Mutually agree to resume the game at the point of interruption on a specific mutually agreed date and time, a decision that shall be finalized at the site prior to team departure.
c) Mutually agree to declare the result of the game as a 0-0 tie, and the game cannot be replaced by either team.
d) If neither (a), (b) nor (c) are mutually agreed to, the teams shall resume the game on the following calendar day, unless there exists published, written Board of Education policies that prohibit such play, in which case it shall be played the following day. If one school fails to abide by (d) and there has not been a mutual agreement to (a), (b) or (c), the game shall be declared a forfeiture by the Commissioner for the purpose of records and standings.
3) If a game is interrupted AFTER the completion of the first half and cannot be resumed, the following options exist-
a) Mutually agree to terminate the game with the score as it exists if mutually agreed by both teams;
b) Mutually agree to resume the game at the point of interruption on a specific mutually agreed date and time, a decision which shall be finalized at the site prior to team departure.
c) If (a) and (b) above are not mutually agreed to, the teams shall resume the game on the following calendar day, unless exists published, written Board of Education policies prohibit such play, in which case it shall be played the following day.
d) If neither (a) nor (b) are mutually agreed to, and provision (c) is implemented, if one school fails to abide by (c), the game shall be declared a forfeiture by the Commissioner for the purpose of records and standings.
4) With respect to the game officials, if a game is interrupted
a) Same crew of officials is expected to return to complete contest
b) Substitute officials shall be paid the local policy board mileage add-on only
c) Local associations shall develop policies on the compensation of substitute officials, such as pooling game fees, etc.
d) Officials have no say in the postponement decisions, except to moderate discussion.
e) Officials and coaches should involve not solely coaches, but school administrators in the decision.
f) All involved shall remember that this situation is caused by elements such as weather that are uncontrollable by anyone, and keep the discussions in that perspective.

Best of luck this season.