EAST LANSING — The major football rules change in Michigan this season is a modification to the point differential rule, which provides for a running clock beginning with the second half of a game where a team has a lead of 35 points or more.

The original rule provides for the clock to stop after scoring plays, for called time outs, for penalty enforcement and for injury time outs. New this year will be a modification where the clock only stops for injury time outs once the point differential meets or exceeds 50 points.

Other gridiron rules changes include the following: any play resulting in a touchdown during which team commits an unsportsmanlike or non-player foul will allow the offended team to have its choice of the penalty being forced on the subsequent extra point or kickoff; horse-collar penalties can be called even if the act is completed after the ball becomes dead or the runner loses possession; if an official and a coach unintentionally collide in the restricted area in front of the team bench during a play, a 15-yard penalty will be called and a second penalty for the same infraction will result in the ejection of the head coach; and if a player, coach or nonplayer is in the restricted zone while the ball is live but no contact with an official occurs, the progression will be a warning on the first offense, a five-yard penalty the second time, and the third offense resulting in a 15-yard penalty and the ejection of the head coach.

The most visible rules change in girls’ volleyball is the addition of a blue-gray-white ball to the game for regular-season competition.  For MHSAA Tournaments, however, the solid white ball will be the only ball allowed. Schools conducting “Pink Out” contests to raise money for Volley For The Cure may utilize a pink ball.

In soccer, the overtime procedures have been modified for MHSAA Tournaments. Beginning this year, the two 10-minute overtime periods will be played to completion, rather than the game concluding with the first goal scored.

After the two overtime periods, penalty kicks will be used to determine a winner at all levels of the Tournament. Regular season overtime procedures are left to be determined by local leagues and conferences.

The 2010 fall campaign culminates with post-season tournaments beginning with the Upper Peninsula Girls Tennis Finals the week of Sept. 29, and wraps up with the Football Playoff Finals on Nov.26-27.