Mike Carey, the San Diegan who served as referee for Super Bowl XLII in February, was at Chargers Park with his officiating crew the past two days working with players and coaches on rules changes and points of emphasis for officials this season.

Two of the rule alterations could have the most significant impact on games.

First, the force-out rule has been changed so that if a receiver is pushed out after making a catch and before getting two feet or any other part of his body inbounds, it is an incomplete pass. It has previously been a judgment call by officials as to whether the receiver would have stayed inbounds.

“That's a plus,” safety Clinton Hart said. “If it's close, we know we can just get him out of bounds. Finally, something to benefit the secondary a little bit.”

Another new rule is that the team that wins the coin toss can defer its choice until the second half. Norv Turner believes coaches will most often defer to the second half.

Also, the 5-yard penalty for an incidental face mask has been eliminated. And field goals and extra points are now eligible to be reviewed by replay, except for kicks that cross above the top of the uprights.

Rivers sits

Philip Rivers sat out the morning practice, something he said he would do from time to time in order to rest his knee.

“Me and coach talked, and sometimes I need to take one off,” said Rivers, who had his ACL reconstructed in January and has looked impressive all spring and summer. “I haven't missed one since rookie camp. I could have gone today and been fine.”

The morning practice was extremely light, as starters Stephen Cooper, Vincent Jackson and Shawne Merriman and likely starter Jeremy Newberry all sat out. Rivers and the rest, except Jackson, practiced in the afternoon.

Luis Castillo rested the afternoon practice. Turner has said one of his priorities this camp is to keep players fresh.

Nuts 'n' Bolts

LaDainian Tomlinson has shaved his head and has been growing a beard, which coincidentally makes him look a little like all-time rushing leader Emmitt Smith. What is not a coincidence is the headband he is wearing, which is a tribute to his idol Walter Payton. Tomlinson said he only would wear the headband during training camp and not the season.

Nose tackle Jamal Williams worked some team drills for the first time in the afternoon.

FanFest is today at Qualcomm Stadium. The parking lot opens at 8 a.m., gates at 9:30 a.m. Players will sign autographs from 10:15 a.m.-11 a.m. and practice from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

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Kevin Acee: (619) 293-1857; kevin.acee@uniontrib.com