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CURRENT DESK2026-27Reviewed Oct. 11, 2026

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REFERENCE CARDS

Participation

4 answers

Participation

10 games; one per week; 60 hours apart

ON-AIR READ

A football team may play 10 regular-season games, normally one per week, with at least 60 hours between contests.

Rule detail

A player is limited to one game per day and per week, except for a valid eight-quarter exception.
A player may not dress for more than two contests in a calendar week, including postponed or suspended games and eight-quarter participation.
Contact practice should not be held between rescheduled games that fall inside the 60-hour turnaround.

Participation

Emergency depth exception for eligible JV players

ON-AIR READ

The eight-quarter rule lets a pre-approved JV player provide emergency varsity depth for up to eight varsity quarters across the season.

Rule detail

Any part of a varsity quarter counts as a full quarter. Once the eighth is reached, the player is immediately ineligible for further use under the exception.
Eligible grades are 9-11 in 1A-4A and 9-10 in 5A-8A. A team may designate no more than 10 such players during the regular season.
Pre-approval and postgame reporting are required. If the JV game is canceled, the exception cannot be used that week; if it is postponed, it may be used.
No player may dress for more than two football contests in the Monday-Saturday calendar week.

Participation

8 separate days; 3 in full pads with contact

ON-AIR READ

Before a scrimmage or game, a football player needs eight separate team-practice days, including three full-pad practices with body-to-body contact.

Rule detail

A scrimmage may occur on Day 9 of the preseason period.
A player who misses five or more days because of injury or illness must complete at least three separate practice days before returning to competition.
Days 1-2 permit helmets only; days 3-5 add shoulder pads but no body-to-body contact; full equipment and contact begin on Day 6.

Participation

15 minutes per week after the season begins

ON-AIR READ

After the regular season begins, each player is limited to 15 minutes of live-action contact per week in practice.

Rule detail

After preseason conditioning is completed but before the regular season begins, the limit is 15 minutes per day.
Only Level 4 full-live drills may take a player to the ground.
From August 17 through the end of the season, only the single-practice Option A is permitted.