8-man teams allowed to use full width of 11-man football fields under certain circumstances

Colorado’s 8-man teams will be permitted to use the full width of 11-man fields under certain circumstances during the regular season, assistant commissioner Harry Waterman said Wednesday.

Colorado currently uses the following rule, available on page 17 of the football bulletin:

Rule 1: Size of A6 and A8 field — 100 yards for 8-man; 80 yards for 6-man (p.89-91 of NFHS Rules Book).

Part of that rule includes having an 8-man field’s width at 40 yards.

However, during the regular season, 8-man may use the full width of an 11-man field if 8-man widths are not an option, Waterman said. 11-man fields are 53.33 yards wide.

This decision does not affect the postseason. All playoff games must still be played on an 8-man regulation field, Waterman said.