Page 141 - 2025-26 By-Laws

Rule 55 - Football

54-6 Special Pre-Season Events
a. During the pre-season a School:
(1.) may participate in One (1) Varsity fl ag football Controlled Scrimmage or in Two (2)
halves of One (1) Varsity fl ag football Jamboree, or
(2.) may participate in One (1) Sub-Varsity Controlled Scrimmage
b. Controlled Scrimmages. A School may participate in One (1) Controlled Scrimmage with
another IHSAA Member School no earlier than the day following the Fifth (5th) day of
Practice and prior to the First (1st) scheduled Season Contest (see definition of Controlled
Scrimmage).
c. Jamboree. A School’s Varsity flag football Jamboree can be played on Saturday of Week
6. Each School shall be limited to playing no more than Two (2) halves.
54-7
The last date for ninth grade and reserve fl ag football is Thursday, Week 16.

RULE 55 – FOOTBALL
See rule 9 which applies to all sports.
55-1
The National Federation Football rules shall govern except as so modifi ed by the Committee.
55-2
All regular season football games shall be limited to the period beginning with Friday of IHSAA
calendar week 7 for varsity teams (for junior varsity and freshmen teams, beginning Thursday
of IHSAA calendar week 7), and continuing until the start of the football tournament series.
(See rule 50, Note 2.) The season ends for these Schools when they are eliminated or when
they become state champions of their Class.
NOTE: It is assumed that any Member School which participates in an interschool football
game under the above rule before the opening day of school does so with the approval of
their Board of School Trustees through their Superintendent of Schools.
55-3
The maximum number of season football games in which any team may participate, excluding
the IHSAA Tournament Series, shall be Nine (9). See rule 50 for Practice and Contest Seasons.
55-3.1 Maximum Season Quarters
Interschool football participation by a player shall be limited to a maximum of:
a. Thirty-Six (36) Varsity season quarters, limited to Four (4) Varsity quarters per week; or
b. Fifty-Four (54) season quarters limited to Six (6) quarters during a week with no more than
Two (2) Varsity quarters included. No player can participate in more than Five (5) Sub-
Varsity quarters per week. It shall not count as a Varsity quarter if a player participates
only in a kicking down. A kicking down is defined as a kickoff, kick-off return, punt, punt
return, field goal and kicked extra point.
55-3.2
No player may participate in more than Four (4) quarters in one day. A record of the quarters

played by individual players shall be kept on fi le in the principal’s offi ce at all times for information
in certifying eligibility of players.
55-3.3
Schools shall be limited to the playing of one interschool Varsity football game in a Five (5)
day period, excluding Sunday. A junior varsity Contest may be played on a Monday and the
following Saturday, provided there is no junior varsity Contest played on Monday through
Friday following the Saturday junior varsity Contest. Exceptions may be made for inclement
weather when approval is obtained from the Commissioner.
55-3.4
All teams below Varsity level shall be limited to Two (2) overtimes.
55-4
All organized football Practices by players or teams shall be limited to the period beginning
Monday of IHSAA calendar week 5 and terminating on the date the team is eliminated from
the Football Tournament Series.
a. On the fi rst (1st) day of football Practice there cannot be full contact (any intentional
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