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Arizona Football: New Rules for the 2018 Season

By Mark Barrera

7 Oct 2000: A shot of a helmet of the Arizona Wildcats and a football during the game against the USC Trojans at the Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. The Wildcats defeated the Torjans 31-15.Mandatory Credit: Donald Miralle /Allsport
7 Oct 2000: A shot of a helmet of the Arizona Wildcats and a football during the game against the USC Trojans at the Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. The Wildcats defeated the Torjans 31-15.Mandatory Credit: Donald Miralle /Allsport /
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TUCSON, AZ – SEPTEMBER 17: Safeties Carter Hehr #37 and Jarvis McCall Jr. #29 of the Arizona Wildcats warm up in jerseys to honor the U.S.S. Arizona and the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, before the college football game against the Hawaii Warriors at Arizona Stadium on September 17, 2016 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
TUCSON, AZ – SEPTEMBER 17: Safeties Carter Hehr #37 and Jarvis McCall Jr. #29 of the Arizona Wildcats warm up in jerseys to honor the U.S.S. Arizona and the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, before the college football game against the Hawaii Warriors at Arizona Stadium on September 17, 2016 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Will the referee’s become the fashion police now? You be the judge.

In case you’ve been living under a rock over the last decade or so, team uniforms are a big deal. You can thank the University of Oregon and NIKE for starting the major trend. What was once viewed as non-essential in any form is now what the kids want to see.

If you’ve been paying attention, you also have noticed the jerseys and pants getting smaller and tighter. As new technology is developed, performance wear and form-fitting is a scientifically studied aspect of any team sport now.

With football pants getting smaller, it seems the pads, specifically knee pads, have become tiny or non-existent. The NCAA has decided to step in and make a change to this trend.

All football pants now MUST have knee pads as part of the uniform. This is to protect the player from knee injuries, as well as any possible cuts/lacerations that can happen on the field. Also, all pants MUST fully cover the knee. College football refs are supposed to pay close attention this year, and any “illegal” pants could be costly for a team.

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The new rule is very similar to the helmet rule. If a players helmet pops off on its own, that is without a player ripping it off, said player must sit out one play.

This is now the same for those who are found in violation of the knee pads and pants rule. If a referee sees a player with “illegal” pants, this player must exit the game and sit out for one play. The player is not allowed to return to the game until their knee pads and pants are legal.

This will be a challenge for the referee’s, but you know after the first time they call this penalty on a team, if they don’t already, a coach will have to police the sidelines to make sure everyone’s knees are covered. Let’s hope this helps lessen injuries.

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