Baseline New Zealand Rules

  1. Neutral balls provided by the Conference will be used for all games.

  2. During the Regular Season, each quarter will be ten minutes in length, stopping and starting in accordance with the rules. During the Post-Season, each quarter will be twelve minutes in length, stopping and starting in accordance with the rules.

    Half time will be twelve minutes long during the Regular Season, and fifteen minutes long during the Post Season.

  3. The NCAA tiebreaker system will not be used for the Regular Season, but will be be used for Post-Season games.

  4. The wording of Rule 7-1-3-c will be changed as follows:

    ... no other team A player may be in or beyond the neutral zone at the snap.

  5. Mandatory equipment requirements and illegal equipment provisions as specified in Rule 1-4 will be enforced except as follows.

    Rules 1-4-3-b and 1-4-4-b (hip pads with tail bone protector) will not be enforced.

    Rule 1-4-4-a-2 (helmet colour) will be enforced but in the event of a shortage of suitable helmets teams may be allowed to wear helmets that are in their unpainted colour.

    Rule 1-4-4-c (jersey) will be enforced. Jerseys must be full-length and tucked into the pants.

    Rule 1-4-4-g (shoulder pads) will be enforced. Note: Shoulder pads provided for use in Rugby Union or Rugby League games do not meet the requirements for mandatory equipment and are not acceptable.

    Rule 1-4-5-a-1 (jersey color) will be not be enforced. However, the Conference is to ensure that new teams or existing teams wishing to change their colours are not similar in any respect to other teams. If any existing teams have similar colours they must also have an alternative jersey.

    Rule 1-4-5-f (taped jerseys) will be enforced. Jerseys must not be taped or tied in any manner except on the sleeves. However, jerseys that have been taped to temporarily repair damage sustained during the game will be acceptable.

    Rule 1-4-6-b-2 (glove compliance label) will not be enforced.

    Rule 1-4-6-c (eye shields) will be enforced. Eye shields must be clear.

  6. In the event that the quarterback announces to the Referee that he intends to take the knee in an effort to allow time to expire in either half, the Referee will so inform both teams.

    1. Team A will not be permitted to run any play other than taking the knee. Team B is not permitted to initiate any significant contact with offensive players.

      PENALTY: Team A—Live ball foul. Unfair act. 15 yards from the basic spot and loss of down [S27 & S9]. Team B—Flagrant personal foul. 15 yards from the basic spot and disqualification [S38 & S47].

    2. Once Team A have announced that they are taking the knee, they must continue to do so for all remaining plays of that possession, unless Team A takes a timeout or incurs a delay of game penalty.

      PENALTY: Team A—Live ball foul. Unfair act. 15 yards from the basic spot and loss of down [S27 & S9].

    3. If the snap is muffed, then both teams can make an attempt to recover the ball, and Team B contact with Team A players is no longer restricted. If the ball is recovered by Team A then it is dead at the spot of recovery. If the ball is recovered by Team B then it remains live and play continues.

  7. Prior to the game, the Head Coach will be handed a Mandatory Equipment Certificate. This must be signed and immediately returned to the Umpire.

  8. The 2011-12 NCAA Football Rules and Interpretations shall otherwise apply.