Things change a little bit every year in high school sports. A few weeks ago we told you about the group changes within the NJSIAA. Now, here are some of the rule changes for the high school sports year coming up.

Football: The horse-collar tackle has been added to the list of illegal personal contact fouls. Effective with the 2009 season, it will be illegal to grab the inside back or side collar of the runner's shoulder pads or jersey and subsequently pull the runner to the ground. The penalty will be 15 yards from the succeeding spot.

Another risk-minimization change will make it illegal to grasp an opponent's chin strap, in addition to the opponent's face mask or edge of a helmet opening.

Also a maximum of three coaches may be in the restricted area to communicate with players during dead-ball situations. Before the ball becomes live, however, the coaches must retreat into the team box.

Another change clarifies that the mandatory three-minute warm-up period begins immediately following the conclusion of the halftime intermission. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty will be assessed to the head coach if the team is not back on the field prior to the start of the warm-up period.

A foul will now occur for illegal batting by the kicking team if it bats a scrimmage kick that has not yet been grounded unless it is batted by the kicking team toward its own goal line.

Field Hockey: One of the most significant changes was the emphasis on the forehand edge hit. Players shall not hit the ball hard on the forehand with the edge of the stick.

In further attempts to minimize risk, at least one-half inch of padding shall be on all casts and splints. Also, braces must be worn as the manufacturer intends, and may be padded or unpadded.

In order to be consistent with other sports, if a team is playing short, an injured player may return to the game at any time. If bleeding occurs, the bleeding player is directed to leave the game until the wound is covered and any adjustments are made to the uniform. It is also permitted to play short if a player is rendered unconscious during a game; however, the player may not resume participation that day without written authorization from a physician.

The use of video monitoring, replay equipment or personal wireless communications devices during the game by officials, coaches or players is prohibited.

On a free hit by the attacking team within five yards of the circle, the ball shall be placed on the broken line circle nearest where the foul occurred. No player shall be within seven yards of the spot where the free hit is taken except attacking team members positioned outside of the broken line circle.

If fans misbehave, officials should suspend play, inform game management of the problem, and let game management resolve the issue. For the second offense, the official shall suspend the game on the first dead-ball situation and request assistance from the appropriate game manager/administrator. If, after resuming play, the problem continues, the officials shall declare the game a suspended game and shall follow state association procedures for reporting sportsmanship incidents. The offending spectator(s) should be removed from the venue.

Soccer: Because many "joint" ankle braces are designed to be worn over stockings or other material, a rule has been amended to allow players to wear braces outside the stocking, provided they are not made of metal or other hazardous material. Any braces made of metal or other hazardous material must still be worn under a stocking.

Another change will allow any member of the team to deliver the team roster to the officials at least five minutes prior to the start of the contest. Previously, the coach was required to submit the roster, but since coaches are very busy prior to the start of the game, they are now allowed to delegate the task.

The final change requires that the officials must be dressed in matching uniforms distinctly different from only the field players of both teams. This permits the referee to possibly wear a shirt similar to one of the goalkeepers' shirts, as long as it's unlike the field players' uniforms.

And starting in the 2012 season, rules will require the front of the shin guard to be permanently marked with the NOCSAE seal and height range. The delay in implementation is to allow manufacturers to supply these types of shin guards to retailers. There is also an emphasis on placing the shin guard no higher than two inches above the ankle to minimize risk of injury.

Basketball: Replay equipment may be used in state high school basketball championships next year to determine the final outcome of games. Officials may use a replay monitor to review field-goal attempts at the expiration of time in the fourth quarter or any overtime period, but only in games when the last-second attempt would affect the outcome of the game.

Although not directly linked to the replay change, the other rule change approved by the committee could enhance the reviews of end-of-game situations. Beginning with the 2009-10 season, if a red light behind the backboard or an LED light on the backboard is present, it is permitted to signal the expiration of time in the quarter/extra period. If no red light/LED light is present, the audible timer's signal will continue to signal the expiration of time. In the past, use of the red light/LED light was not permitted even in those facilities that had one.

Swimming: Participants in the backstroke event will be able to start the race with their feet placed on the end wall, without the requirement of the feet being under water.

In other changes, the committee established the requirements for the first leg of a relay to be recorded as an official time for an individual event when using fully automatic timing (FAT). As an example, the swimmer in the first leg of the 400-yard freestyle relay could record an official time for the 100-yard individual freestyle, providing all requirements for the start, stroke and finish were met.

It is no longer required, but rather recommended, that the meet score be posted and/or announced throughout the meet.

Swimmers are now required to wear one-piece suits. The committee noted that a two-piece suit, as originally allowed in the rules, is outdated as all competition suits are manufactured in one piece.

The use of a pistol capable of discharging live ammunition is prohibited for use as the sounding device.

Wrestling: As a part of the steps to assume the offensive starting position, the offensive wrestler's head must be on or above the opponent's spinal column, and both wrestlers must become stationary. The referee still must pause momentarily before blowing the whistle.

Two new tie-breaker options for dual-meet competitions have been added as well. In the first, the team whose opposing wrestlers or team personnel have been penalized the greater number of team point deductions shall be declared the winner. The second states the team whose opposing wrestlers were penalized the greater number of match points for unsportsmanlike conduct during a match shall be declared the winner.

If a designated, on-site meet physician is present, he or she may examine a wrestler for communicable skin disease or any other condition, either immediately prior to or immediately after the weigh-in.

Tournament weigh-in may proceed by team(s) with the lowest weight class to the highest and end immediately upon the completion of the highest weight class.

Softball: Hard, unadorned devices, such as bobby pins, barrettes and hair clips, no longer than 2 inches, may now be worn to control a player's hair.

There was also a change in the required number of innings pitched for a starting pitcher to be credited with a win to half of the total number of innings played in the game. The new language gives the starting pitcher the ability to earn a win even if she leaves the pitching position for another defensive position and returns as pitcher later in the game. It also allows greater clarity in determining the winning pitcher when a game is terminated due to the mercy-rule.

But the biggest change will take place starting with the 2011 season when the distance between the pitcher’s plate and home plate will increase from 40 feet to 43 feet. Although the new pitching distance is mandatory beginning with the 2010-11 school year, state high school associations may adopt the 43-feet distance in 2009-10, if desired.

Track & Field: Beginning next track and field season, officials no longer will need to interpret the intent of hurdlers who knock over a hurdle by foot during the race. The competitor must attempt to clear the hurdle, but will not be faulted for knocking over the hurdle with his or her foot.

In a change affecting pole vault competitors, it is no longer a foul when a team member clears the cross bar in the pole vault when the uprights are positioned incorrectly by the officials.

A final change affecting pole vaulters and high jumpers is that beginning January 1, 2013, the crossbars in these events must be circular, as opposed to being triangular or square with beveled edges.

Baseball: Effective January 1, 2012, a bat should be a smooth cylinder implement from the top of the cap to the top of the knob.

Another major rule addition applies to assistant coaches and their behavior during the game. The rule prohibits any member of the coaching staff who is not the head coach from leaving the vicinity of the dugout or coaching box to dispute a judgment call by an umpire. The penalty for this infraction is that both the head coach and the offending coach will be restricted to the dugout for the remainder of the game. If severe enough, the umpire also has the authority to eject the offending coach and/or the head coach.

The final adjustment was made to read that the batter is out if any member of the offensive team or coach other than the runner interferes with a fielder who is attempting to field a foul fly ball. The addition of the phrase “other than the runner” clarifies the responsibility of the runner and that the runner - not the batter - will be declared out for the runner’s interference.

Now you know how these games will be governed in the future.