New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association - Football

The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) administers interscholastic football for member high schools in New Jersey. Its football programme publishes entry procedures, tournament and regular-season regulations, classifications, safety and equipment guidance, National Federation rule updates and committee minutes. For 2026, practice begins on 10 August, scrimmages on 17 August and Week 0 competition on 27 August; regular-season competition ends on 29 November. The public state tournament runs from first round on 30 or 31 October through sectional finals and state semifinals to state finals at MetLife Stadium on 28 or 29 November. The non-public tournament begins on 6 or 7 November and concludes at MetLife Stadium on the same final weekend. Public teams qualify through the United Power Ranking system, with the top 16 teams in each super section and group entering the state tournament; non-public brackets may contain up to 16 teams per group and are seeded by an NJSIAA committee. Schools must be varsity interscholastic programmes and must meet New Jersey-opponent, roster, schedule, reporting and eligibility requirements. Tournament competition follows NFHS Football Rules together with NJSIAA modifications. The programme sets maximum-game, contact and scrimmage limits, including a 15-minute weekly in-season full-contact limit, and applies a 33-point second-half running-clock rule. Its committee structure brings together an executive-committee representative, tournament director, state rules interpreter, state assignor, coaches and athletic administrators to review regulations, rule changes, officials and post-season administration.