Just noticed that the TAPPS board made a number of changes in various rules during their last board meeting.

The major one that I noticed that would affect 6 man football is that football teams are limited to 10 games over the 11 weeks of the season. In the past, TAPPS did not require you to take a bye week (we didn't last year). Now you must.

They did institute a mercy rule for 11 man football (running clock once a 40 point lead is achieved in second half) and basketball (running clock once a 40 point lead is achieved in second half). Something tells me that UIL has or may adopt a similiar rule, since TAPPS is historically hesitant to make a change that affects game rules (administered by game officials/referees). These are effective with the 2012-2013 school year.

http://www.tapps.net/PDF/Admin/WeeklyPu ... uary15.pdf

You do have to go through all the sections to find the changes.

Also, there's some changes to the August two-a-days routine:

Changes include:
1) Only 10 games allowed across the 11 playing dates
2) New practice limitations
a) No consecutive days of multiple practices (outdoors)
b) Minimum 2 hours between the 1st and 2nd practice in a day
c) A 2nd practice can have "no conditioning, contact activities or equipment"

I noticed these changes were only under Section 158 which is under 11-man. These changes also apply to six-man?

I think (and I'll verify this) that TAPPS has a clause that the 11-man rules apply to six-man unless otherwise specified.

Checked it out ... Section 158 states all football (6 and 11 man) is covered; TAPPS may be making a revision to the six man rules to remind us of that fact.

Thanks for info.

ESPN Dallas has a story on the TAPPS rule changes. Our good friend, John Bronkhorst (formerly at Cedar Park Summit, now at Dallas Lutheran) gets quoted a lot. And the Dallas Covenant girls' team win raises its ugly head once again.

http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/high-sch ... es-coaches

You'll note that Section 162-E (in the six-man football plan) now states:
General Football Rules found in Section 158 apply to 6-man and 11-man football rules.

http://www.tapps.net/PDF/Constitution/A ... ion162.pdf

Did I read the article right? TAPPS is going for a running clock in the second half after a 40 point lead and throw out the 45-point mercy rule?Lifegate, you are all-knowing, is this true?

The 40 point rule only applies in 11-man (aka crowded field) football and basketball. The game continues once a team reaches a 40 point lead, the clock only stops for time outs, injuries, and end-of-quarter. However, all four quarters are played.

Six-man football retains the 45 point rule. Once a team has achieved a 45-point lead after the first half, the game is concluded. A game could end as early as halftime.

Wish they hadn't called it a "mercy rule" in the rules. In fact, when I announce games and the 45 point level is in reach, I don't point it out (for example, "the game will end if East Bug Tussle Christian scores the next touchdown"). When the rule is invoked, I also don't call the game over by the mercy rule. What I say is this: "Under the rules of six-man football, the game is over once a team leads by 45 points at halftime or in the second half. This concludes tonight's game with the final score ..."

Thanks. If that was the case, I was wondering how it might change a coach's approach to the game. I think the 45 point mercy rule is probably a better fit for sixman with smaller rosters and, sometimes, large gaps between starters and younger players.

so if we were to have a day with two practices lets say on monday the first day for practice on tuesday we could only have one outdoor practice, could we lets say just take the boys inside to the basketball court for our second practice?and if so would helmets be permitted for the practice on the bball court
and also once the padded practices start if we would go about with using the basketball court we would have to wear full pads for the morning practice?

all this sound correct lol, i miss one season of football and everything gets changed on me

I guess so ... but maybe you'd want to get some clarification from powers on high.

All I know is that it's cooler outside our non-air-conditioned gym in August than inside it. And that TAPPS doesn't limit practice hours. So one long practice might be longer than two shorter practices ... and yes, with frequent water/rest breaks built in. Ain't like when I was a kid and we had big ol' buckets of salt tablets as snacks. And we used to jog uphill to and from practice -- both ways -- ten miles. Next year it'll be 11 miles.

i agree that it most likely would be cooler outside on many given nights than inside, BUT if the powers at be want to pull teeth. Going with the one long practice idea while i like it i think that it would be much easier to get the parents to go with two broken up practices then one grueling practice, also i like the time in between gives the staff sometime to evaluate and also if the kids come in sluggish for one practice we have another one to make up for it i wouldnt want a whole long practice full of sluggish players.
It just isnt like it used to be unfourtunatly, but if going inside is an option I can get a little creative with my surroundings and run bleachers etc.