The NCAA Football Rules Committee has approved significant changes intended to enhance player safety by addressing rules relating to the opportunity to catch a kick and blocking below the waist.

The committee, which met February 8-12 in Key West, Florida, eliminated the rule prohibiting players of the kicking team from being within two yards of a player of the receiving team positioned to catch a free or scrimmage kick. The "halo rule," as it was usually called, was added to NCAA playing rules in 1983.

Players of the receiving team attempting to catch a kick, by rule, still must be given an unimpeded opportunity to catch the kick. They also are afforded protection from being contacted by the kicking team after the catch by signaling for a fair catch. The penalty for not giving a receiving-team player an unimpeded opportunity to catch the kick, and for contacting a player who has signaled for a fair catch, is 15 yards from the spot of the foul.

"Officials will be instructed to enforce these rules strictly and give receivers, who are often in the most defenseless position on the field, the protection they deserve," said committee Chair Donnie Duncan, senior associate commissioner of the Big 12 Conference.

"The two-yard restricted area provided a sense of false security for the kick receiver," Duncan said. "Eliminating it will not reduce the safety of kick receivers, but will clarify what they are to expect.

"In addition, if they signal for a fair catch, kicking-team members must honor the protection that gives the receiver and avoid contact, especially any acts of threatening contact."

Blocking rule changed

Backs who are positioned outside the normal tackle position, in either direction at the snap, are now prohibited from blocking below the waist when they are blocking toward the position of the ball at the snap in or behind the neutral zone, and within 10 yards beyond the neutral zone.

"Players who are being blocked below the waist by these backs are focused on where the ball is and do not see the backs approaching," Duncan said. "Consequently, they are not able to defend themselves adequately against a potentially dangerous block."

The committee also voted to start the game clock on kickoffs throughout the entire game when the ball is legally touched in the field of play. This change makes the rule the same as it was before 1997.

For the past six years, the game clock started when the ball was kicked, except in the final two minutes of each half, when it started when the ball was legally touched in the field of play.

The committee identified potentially dangerous blocks, protection of punt and kickoff returners, sideline control, and reducing unnecessary hits against players in defenseless positions (such as quarterbacks after releasing the ball, receivers extended for passes and kickers and punters in their follow-throughs) as points of emphasis for 2003.

In other action, the committee recommended that Herb Deromedi, athletics director at Central Michigan University, succeed Duncan as chair of the group when Duncan's term expires September 1.

Among the other rules approved by the committee are the following:

The team area shall be limited to squad members in full uniform and a maximum of 60 other individuals directly involved in the game. The individuals not in full uniform shall wear a credential marked specifically for the team area.

Giving the offended team the option of enforcing all penalties for unsportsmanlike acts occurring during or after a down that ends in a touchdown and before a try, either on the try or on the succeeding kickoff [Exception: during extra period(s)]. The rule is intended to curtail inappropriate behavior after scoring plays. The change was applauded by college athletics leaders who gathered in Dallas February 20 for a summit on sportsmanship and fan behavior (see story, page 1).

Giving the offended team the option of enforcing all penalties for personal fouls after a touchdown play and before the try, either on the try or the succeeding kickoff.