While direct communication between the coaching staff and the quarterback is now allowed in college football, the memo that the practice is still illegal may not have made its way down to Mississippi’s high school ranks.
Ricky Neaves, executive director of the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA), said Monday that his office has received allegations of teams using electronic devices to communicate with the quarterback or other players on the field during games this season.
“There have been allegations that we are having where some schools in football have electronic communication between the sideline and the quarterback on the field,” Neaves said in a video released by the MHSAA. “This is illegal. If this is happening, please stop it immediately. If we find out that this has been going on, there will be a severe penalty for using electronic communications between the sideline and a player on the field.”
While Neaves did not clarify what the punishment would be if a team is proven to be using electronic devices for in-game communication between coaches and players, the MHSAA can levy fines, forfeitures, probation, and suspension for playoffs or upcoming seasons.
Neaves also used the video to address a rising number of player ejections taking place on the gridiron. Multiple games have had to be stopped due to on-field fights eight weeks into the season with police flooding onto fields to break the brawls up. As tensions tend to rise when region play begins, Neaves called the rising trend of player ejections “out of hand.”
“Another problem that we’re having at this time is we’re having far too many ejections for fighting in football,” Neaves said. “I believe the coaches need to take responsibility for this and talk to their teams about this and get it stopped … so I’m asking coaches and administrators to meet with your team and be very careful about this.”
Per the MHSAA, if a player is ejected during a game, they must sit out for the following week as well. The MHSAA can also enforce multi-game suspensions based on the situation.
“I know we have opened our region schedule, and games mean more at this time but so does next week. You won’t get to play if you get ejected from this week,” Neaves concluded. “Let’s address this with your teams and let’s finish this football season out.”