This past weekend storms moving through the DFW area impacted the ability of several teams to conclude their football games in the normal course as outlined in the NCAA and TAPPS governing rules. As a result, the TAPPS Executive Board reviewed the current governance for situations requiring games to be suspended or concluded early. Please review the following information that will apply to all outdoor sports including football, soccer, softball and baseball as the year progresses.
NONDISTRICT CONTESTS
Suspended Games
- If the officials suspend the game after initial kickoff and prior to the clock stoppage (end of game)
- Friday games must be completed the next day; Saturday games can be completed Sunday if both schools agree, otherwise on Monday.
- Agreement should be made in advance of the contest as to the following:
- Warmup Time prior to games resuming
- Game Time for the contest to resume from the point of stoppage regardless of quarter
- The game shall restart from the following
- Quarter and Time
- Line of Scrimmage
- Down and Distance
Canceled or Games not Suspended
- If the contest has not reached half time, the game shall be considered a no contest and be treated as if the contest had never begun
- If the contest has reached halftime or any point thereafter,
- The games shall be considered complete and official score at the time of conclusion shall be the final score
- A win or loss shall be applied as the official score dictates.
- If the score is a tie then the score should be recorded as a tie and any wildcard points required for TAPPS playoff accounting shall be distributed evenly between the two teams.
DISTRICT CONTESTS AND PLAYOFFS
Suspended Games
- If the officials suspend the game after initial kickoff and prior to the clock stoppage (end of game)
- Friday games must be completed the next day; Saturday games can be completed Sunday if both schools agree, otherwise on Monday.
- Agreement should be made in advance of the contest as to the following:
- Warmup Time prior to games resuming
- Game Time for the contest to resume from the point of stoppage regardless of quarter
- The game shall restart from the following
- Quarter and Time
- Line of Scrimmage
- Down and Distance
- If the contest has reached halftime or any point thereafter,
- The team behind on the scoreboard may elect to consider the score as final and not return for play at a later time
In order to avoid last minute end of game decisions TAPPS encourages all teams to meet prior to the contest to determine possible scenarios which might conclude or suspend a game early. We offer the following checklist to assist in that planning.
Please reach out to the TAPPS office as questions arise at [email protected] or 254-947-9268.