Pre-Season Football Practice: The Central Board has approved limiting pre-season practice to one session per day in pads. Additional practices must be in only shorts and helmets.
Seventh Grade Contest Modifications: Permission has been granted by the National Federation to allow modifications to these two rules upon mutual agreement of opposing coaches in seventh grade contests only:
(1) A running clock in different combinations of periods and time. A maximum of 4 periods and a maximum of 32 minutes may be played.
(2) Kicking modifications, including kickoffs, free kicks and scrimmage kicks, may be used. The mutual agreement of the opposing coaches shall be made prior to the start of the contest.
Legality Of Girdle Shells With Built-In Pad
Questions have been raised regarding the legality of two types of girdle shells with built-in pads: the 757DD Dual Density Hex Pad Thudd Short produced by McDavid and the Nike Pro Defles Football Shorts (model #336705).
According to National Federation rules which the AHSAA follows, these products are illegal for use during an AHSAA member school contest. If these types of girdle shells are worn as produced without a traditional thigh pad on top, they would not comply with the NFHS rule. They can be worn underneath a traditional thigh pad and be legal.