Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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FEBRUARY 28-MARCH 6, 2018 UCW 25 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Temporarily remov- ing players who are wearing improper equipment from the game is the biggest change for high school football rules this fall. e National Federation of State High School Associations recently announced the chang- es in the rules made by its football rules committee, which met in January. Under the new rule, players found to be missing proper equip- ment or not wearing it properly have to be removed from the game for at least one down. e exception to the rule is if the improper equipment is the direct result of a foul by an oppos- ing player. In a related change, the head coach must confirm all of his players are legally equipped and won't use illegal equipment during the game. e same penalty for violating the rule remains in effect, an unsportsmanlike conduct call on the head coach. On free kicks and scrimmage kicks, a new penalty option was added, allowing the receiv- ing team to accept a five-yard penalty from the succeeding spot. Another change clarifies that the defenseless player rule no longer applies to the passer until a forward pass is thrown. Once a pass is thrown, the passer is considered defenseless until the play ends or the passer participates in the play, like becom- ing a blocker. Neil Buie, regional supervisor of foot- ball officials for the Southeastern Athletic Officials Association, isn't surprised the rule changes weren't extensive this year. "I don't think they want to come out with anything major multiple years in a row,'' he said. "We did the targeting thing. Let's let that sink in and let the officials get used to it. e next thing you may see is to elimi- nate all blocks below the waist. at's knee injury city.'' ere has been much publicity lately about a national shortage of officials. Buie said it hasn't reached crisis proportions in North Carolina as far as he knows, but there is always a need for good officials at the high school level. What Buie fears is officials who get needed indoctrination to officiating in the recreation leagues are being scared off by disrespectful behavior on the part of parents. e recreation level is important to officiating because Buie said it's hard for new officials to break in at the high school level. "It's got to start at the recreation level,'' he said. "Having officials better paid, treated better and protected.'' Few major changes in 2018 high school football rules by EARL VAUGHAN JR. Lauren Moore Jack Britt • Basketball • Senior Moore has a grade point average of 4.6. This past season for Jack Britt, she eclipsed the 1,000 point mark for her career. She also has a career total of over 700 rebounds for the Buccaneers, who qualified for the state 4-A playoffs. Kelvin Armstrong Douglas Byrd • Basketball • Junior Armstrong has a 3.75 grade point average. He is a member of Douglas Byrd's Academy of Green Technology. Rocket Fizz Soda Pop and Candy Shop congratulates these amazing scholar athletes of the week and invites them to the Rocket Fizz Store at 1916 Skibo Rd. to receive a FREE gift recognizing their achievement! www.rocketfizz.com Neil Buie, regional supervisor of football officials for the Southeastern Athletic Officials Association MONDAY 10 20 30 40 40 30 20 10 50 10 20 30 40 40 30 20 10 50 10 20 30 40 40 30 20 10 50 10 20 30 40 40 30 20 10 50 10 20 30 40 40 30 20 10 50 10 20 30 40 40 30 20 10 50 10 20 30 40 40 30 20 10 50 10 20 30 40 40 30 20 10 50 FRIDAY WEDNESDAY 6-8pm Basketball coverage March 3rd (Sat.) to air on WCLN 105.7 FM @ TBA Regional Playoffs TBA Join Don Koonce & Trey Edge for the 1st Baseball Game of The Week Cape Fear HS @ Terry Sanford HS opening the season WED 28 FEB @ 7pm on 105.7 FM & WILL BE PRESENTING CUMBERLAND COUNTY BASKETBALL IN 2018 Athlete of the Month (January): Alexandria Scruggs (E.E. Smith - Basketball)