09/04/25 – Reminder about Shortened and Interrupted Football Games

September 5, 2025 Football Blog Updates

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After being blessed with fantastic weather for the first two playing weeks, the forecast for this weekend leads to again issuing this reminder around football contests. This is particularly important given 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, which has not changed in several years.

Within the NFHS 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 after the game has begun. 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.

Probably 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 NFHS 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, 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’s involvement in the contract is simply to enforce the contract, and all first options 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, 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, and this 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 the teams’ departure from the facility.
c) Mutually agree to declare the result of the game as a 0-0 tie if that is the score at the time, and the game cannot be replaced by either team.
d) If neither (a), (b), nor (c) is mutually agreed to, the teams shall resume the game on the following calendar day (including weekend days), unless there are 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 team failing to abide 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 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) is 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 team failing to abide by the Commissioner for the purpose of records and standings.
4) With respect to the game officials, if a game is interrupted
a) The same crew of officials is expected to return to complete the 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 only coaches, but also 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 as the season continues.

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