SITUATION 2: The umpire notices that a player does not have protrusions indicating that hip pads and tailbone protector are being worn. Upon investigating, it is found that (a) the player is not wearing any padding or (b) the player is wearing a manufactured girdle with closed cell, "bubble type" protective padding that conforms and covers the hips and tailbone.





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RULING: (a) Hip pads and tailbone protector are required equipment. If required equipment is noted to be missing between downs, the player must be removed from the game. If the game officials are unable to detect the missing equipment and the player participates without the required equipment, a penalty is to be called. In (b), there is no padding criteria listed for hip pads and tailbone protector and, therefore, the pads are legal. (1-5-1b; 1-5-5; 1-5-6)