Timeouts, safety and sportsmanship dominated the work of the NCAA Football Rules Committee at its recent meeting.

The committee, chaired by Kansas State University Athletics Director Max Urick, met February 12-14 in Savannah, Georgia.

The committee approved a rules change to allow for a charged team timeout to be 30 seconds in duration, if so desired by the team calling the timeout. The previous rule was for charged team timeouts to be 90 seconds, unless the team calling the timeout wished to resume play within one minute and the opposing team agreed.

"There are situations when a team simply wants to stop the game clock to save time or to avoid a delay-of-game penalty before the play clock expires," Urick said. "This change will enable timeouts taken in those instances to be brief and not interrupt the flow of the game."

In another move related to the flow of the game, the committee voted to eliminate radio and television timeouts during overtime periods. "Once the overtime starts and the excitement builds, any extended breaks not related to normal game activity are detrimental to most parties involved, especially the teams and spectators," Urick said.

The committee determined that the vast majority of rules related to player safety and sportsmanship are in good order. However, the group believed that a firm message needed to be sent to student-athletes and coaches alike as to their importance.

"Good sportsmanship is the foundation of amateur sports, and extra effort is required from all stakeholders in the game to avoid any erosion in this regard," Urick said.

"The committee feels a sense of urgency about this as it witnessed an increase in the occurrence of taunting, excessive celebration penalties and personal fouls. It looks forward to working with officials at all levels of the game -- from youth organizations and high schools through professional leagues -- to develop the necessary measures that will restore a level of decency and respect the sport of football deserves."

Additionally, the committee expressed its concern over the level of dangerous play in college football, including the use of the helmet and illegal blocks. "The rules prohibit players from spearing, from intentionally using the helmet, including the face mask, to butt or ram an opponent, or to strike a runner with the crown or top of the helmet," Urick noted.

"As in previous years, the committee urges those responsible for instructing our student-athletes to teach them proper blocking and tackling techniques. This is another way in which good sportsmanship can be shown toward opponents."

In another measure related to safety, the committee recommended that technological enhancements to the NCAA Injury Surveillance System be made a budget priority and implemented as quickly as possible. The committee also wants all institutions to be required to report to the ISS once the upgraded system is in place.

Other rules changes

The committee approved the use of a camera, with no audio component, on the cap of the umpire during televised games. This change is subject to the approval of the NCAA Executive Committee in its oversight role on matters related to the image of the game. If approved, it would be used during games only with the prior permission of the umpire and the participating institutions.

"There is a fine line between enhanced coverage for the good of the game and unwarranted intrusion," Urick said. "The committee believes this camera can be a valuable teaching instrument for viewers, featuring the finer points and intricacies of interior line play."

Other rules changes approved by the committee include:

* Enforcing all penalties for offensive team fouls that occur behind the neutral zone from the previous spot;

* Deleting the exception that visual 25-second play clocks are not mandatory for games played on the home fields of NCAA Division III institutions, effective August 1, 2003. This change is subject to the approval of the Executive Committee in its oversight role involving matters of significant financial impact;

* Stopping the clock when a runner's helmet comes off. Previously, the play was blown dead immediately when a runner's helmet came off, but the clock was stopped only for administrative reasons (penalty, first down, charged team timeout, etc.);

* Exempting the runner from the rule prohibiting hurdling; and

* Assessing personal fouls against a passer during a successful two-point conversion try on the succeeding kickoff or from the succeeding spot in extra periods.

The committee also approved the addition of a rules book appendix on guidelines for game officials to use during severe weather with lightning.