The Playing Rules Oversight Panel during its conference call on Wednesday approved recommendations from the NCAA Football and Women’s Volleyball Rules Committees that will be implemented in the 2009-10 academic year.

The changes include a progression system referees can use to resolve a score discrepancy in women’s volleyball matches. Referees can use the following sequence for review:

• The referee can consult with the alternate official, if one is being used;
• If an electronic system is being used, the referee can confer with the official statisticians;
• The final step is to check with the team’s bench statisticians or scoresheet to see if both benches/coaches agree with the score.

The previous rule stated that the only information available to the referees in resolving a score discrepancy was the scoresheet itself and first-hand knowledge of the officials. In many cases, current technology provides quick access to accurate information that may assist the officials ascertain the correct score recorded without significant delay.

In football, PROP approved redefined rules regarding roughing the kicker. Currently, if the punter carries the ball outside of the tackle box, he loses the protection afforded kickers. The kicker, much like a quarterback, remains protected from unnecessary roughness actions or late hits.

In other football changes, both teams will be allowed to wear colored jerseys in 2009, provided that each team has conference approval to do so and as long as the jerseys are clearly contrasting in color. If an agreement can’t be reached by the institutions/conference, then the visiting team shall wear white jerseys.

PROP also supported the Football Rules Committee’s call for officials to use strict enforcement regarding flagrant personal fouls in an effort to bolster rules relating to student-athlete safety and sportsmanship.

The committee is instructing officials to eject student-athletes more frequently when warranted. The group will distribute video examples to officials, coaches and conference administrators to educate and clarify what types of plays should result in an ejection.

Additionally, any flagrant foul will automatically trigger a review by the offending player’s conference.

PROP also accepted reports from committees managing soccer and water polo rules as part of the NCAA’s two-year process for rules changes. Additionally, the panel approved a memorandum to be distributed to the rules committees outlining the two-year rules process and expectations. Finally, PROP tabled a proposal from the Division III commissioners requesting a delay in implementing two rules with a financial impact (football referees wearing wireless microphones for all games to announce penalties; and implementation of three basketball rules changes planned for the 2010-11 season – recessed shot clock, tenths-of-a-second display and LED backboard lights).

PROP requested more information from the commissioners before making a decision on its next teleconference in June.