OHSAA adopts football point-differential rule

OHSAA adopts football point-differential rule

COLUMBUS

The Ohio High School Athletic Association has adopted a football point-differential rule for this fall that will provide for a running clock in most instances after a team takes a 30-point lead in the second half. The sanctioning body added the rule, intended to speed up lopsided games and already used by many other states, after consultation with the state’s football coaches association.

After the lead reaches 30 points in the second half, the only times the game clock will stop will be for a team or official’s timeout, the end of a period and when there is a score. The clock will start again for the next play and will continue to run in all other situations. If the lead drops below 30 points, the clock reverts to regular timing.

The opposing coaches still can reach agreement with the referee to shorten periods or even end the game should there be a shortage of players or any other emergency situation.

Other rules changes, which do not require voting by the member schools but only between the OHSAA and the respective coaches’ association, were also enacted. Softball and baseball teams are now permitted to play doubleheaders on school days. Start dates and other calendar modifications were made in boys and girls tennis and wrestling. And the number of wrestlers needed to have a team has been changed to seven.

Pac-12, Big Ten heads talk autonomy plans

SAN FRANCISCO

Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott and Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany believe it’s time for the NCAA model to change and for autonomy to be given to the five major football conferences. They’re not alone, either.

Two of college football’s biggest powerbrokers spoke out on the topic Wednesday during an event in downtown San Francisco to promote the bowl game at the new 49ers’ stadium. The upgraded bowl will be played between teams from the Pac-12 and Big Ten on Dec. 30 in Santa Clara.

Scott said there is “broad support” to let schools from the five major conferences — which also includes the SEC, ACC and Big 12 — decide how their own legislative process works in many areas affecting their athletes. Delany said “I hope we can develop some momentum and act, and act in a way that maybe we haven’t been able to act over the last 25 years.”

WNBA to market to LGBT community

NEW YORK

Amid a surge of public opinion in favor of gay rights in the U.S., the WNBA is launching a campaign to market the league to the LGBT community, becoming the first pro sports league to specifically recruit gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender fans to its games.

With the marketing campaign, the WNBA is capitalizing on what it has known for years: The community makes up a significant portion of its fan base. The difference now is that the league is talking about it publicly and making it a deliberate part of its marketing strategy.

The campaign, which begins with the debut of a website Wednesday, includes having teams participate in local pride festivals and parades, working with advocacy groups to raise awareness of inclusion through grassroots events and advertising with lesbian media. A nationally televised pride game will take place between Tulsa and Chicago on Sunday, June 22.

Associated Press