None of the Cape-Atlantic League schools will be changing NJSIAA groups in 2008-09. But there will be some changes worth noting in the CAL.

The most notable change will come in football. The NJSIAA has approved a rule that will change the way the game is timed when one team leads by 35 points or more in the second half. In that case, the clock will continue to run when a player goes out of bounds or when a pass falls incomplete. The clock will only stop when there is a timeout, when a team scores, if there is an injury or if a penalty is called.

Now, you can’t fault the thinking behind this rule change, which is similar to rules used in some other states. The intention is to prevent severely lopsided scores. But it probably won’t have much impact. First of all, most teams don’t throw the ball or run for the sidelines when they lead by 35. Maybe when they trail by 35, but not when they are ahead and the clock is on their side.

Most teams that roll up big scores do most of their scoring in the first half. And you can score as many points as you like in the first 24 minutes with no impact on the clock. The other problem with this rule, and the silly mercy rules they use in baseball and softball, is it may take away some of the time the backup players get to spend on the field. They are, in effect, making rules to govern those who fail to show good sportsmanship but actually penalizing those who do.

Anyway, it’s a rule starting in September.

In soccer, when a player is found to be wearing improper equipment, he/she shall be removed from the game and not replaced until such time as the player gets approval from an official that the uniform and equipment are in order. The first yellow card for this violation goes to the head coach. But all subsequent yellow cards for improper equipment will be issued directly to the players.

In field hockey, rules have been amended to give a little more freedom to the goalkeeper.

While on the ground, the goalie is now allowed to move the ball away from her body with a stick, protective equipment or any part of her body. The purpose is to reduce the risk of injury by eliminating the opportunity for attackers to drive the ball into the goalie’s body. In addition, a rule change now allows the goalie to propel an aerial ball with her body, hand or stick. But the new rules also create a foul if the goalkeeper strikes and/or kicks in an intimidating manner, plays the ball without the stick in her hand or places the ball after a hand stop of an aerial ball.

There have also been a few changes already approved in winter sports.

In basketball, the positions on each side of the foul lane that are closest to the backboard will now be left empty when a free throw is being attempted. Basketball courts will be re-lined to reflect the new arrangement. They experimented with this rule in Georgia last year and felt it was a success. There were less personal fouls committed during free throw rebounding but there was little effect on the percentage of rebounds controlled by the defense.

The areas of emphasis for officials during basketball season will include legal uniforms, rough play, timeouts, slapping the backboard and the mechanics and signals of the officials.

In wrestling, the back flip from a standing position has been determined an illegal maneuver in an effort to minimize the risk of injury to the wrestlers. Also, a wrestler’s hair in front shall fall below the eyebrows; a one-pound weight allowance is permitted when a match is postponed one day or more; and the referee now has the option to stop a match if there is no action at the edge of the mat and restart wrestling at the center of the mat.

Things will be just a little bit different next season in high school sports.