League Rules
Pride of
2008
LEAGUE
The goal of this league is to teach our kids the fundamentals of football. We will teach them how to block, tackle, run, throw, catch, and the basic rules of the game. We will work equally as hard to teach them the value of teamwork, fair play, hard work, and above all, good sportsmanship. We want to instill the necessary skills to make each child successful in Jr. High and High School football. We will strive to keep the rosters at a level that will allow optimum playing time for all players.
We believe that any child who wants to play football should be given the opportunity to play. We will do our best to encourage as many kids as possible to become involved in this league and make it a fun, affordable, learning experience for the kids and their families.
1. Game Rules and Format-
A. I.H.S.A.A. Rules will be used. (Special Rules will be used and are listed below)
B. The gate fee will be $3 for adults and Students are free.
C. Game Ball- TDJ football.
D. Four coaches are allowed on the sideline during the game. Equipment managers, medical staff, and photographers must remain outside of the coach’s box during the game. The head coach will be responsible for these people.
E. Each game will have 4 quarters with a 15 minute continuous clock per quarter. The clock will stop for coach’s timeouts, official’s timeouts, and injury timeouts.
F. Each team will have 3 timeouts per half.
G. There will be a 5 minute half time.
H. There will be no kickoff. The ball will be spotted at the offense’s own 35 yard line to begin each half and after each score. The clock does not stop after the touchdown. Penalties will be assessed on kickoffs.
I. There will be no punting. When a team elects to punt the official will walk off 35 yards. The ball cannot be marked any deeper than the 20 yard line of the receiving team. The clock does not stop for a punt.
J. PAT-2 points will be awarded for a passing score. 1 point will be awarded for a running score. 2 points will be awarded for a kick. The defense can rush as soon as the ball is snapped. You can fake extra points and field goals. The holder and/or kicker may not advance the ball if they are over the skilled player weight limit. The clock does not stop for the PAT.
K. Safety-The team who scored the safety will get the ball at their own 35 yard line.
L. Overtime-I.H.S.A.A. rules will apply with these exceptions. The team who lost the opening coin toss will have choice of ball possession or end zone in the 1st overtime. High School rules will apply in the first overtime. If a second overtime is needed, the team who won the opening coin toss will have choice of ball possession or end zone in the 2nd overtime. The ball will be spotted at the 20 yard line and each team will have 1 play. If there is no score or a tie still exists, the team who advanced the ball the furthest will be declared the winner. For championship weekend seeding, the winning overtime winner will be awarded 1 point in the tie breaker system (13 point rule).
M. Penalties-The official will verify the captain’s decision with the head coach.
N. Game Sites-All game sites will provide a Scoreboard with operator, Concession Stand, PA system with announcer and spotter, 4 certified officials, and an EMT unit. The team opposite the press box will supply 3 adults to run the chains. The hosting team will pay the 4 certified officials a minimum of $30.00 each per game.
O. Championship Weekend-- Seeding will be decided by the I.H.S.A.A. rules. (The 13 point rule) (Alphabetical order). Check out www.iahsaa.org for more details. We will use mascot names for alphabetical tie breakers. Teams that use the same mascots will use their team color name. Championship weekend will be played at
2. Rosters-
A. Each team roster will consist of up to a maximum of 44 players. If you have more than 35 players you will pay for two teams. The junior squad will play first, followed by the senior squad, each squad playing a full game. Teams will be split with a minimum of 45% of the roster on one of the squads. It is advised that you field a roster of 30 total kids to maximize playing time.
B. The junior squad will be made up of all 4thgraders and smaller, less skillful 5th graders. The senior squad will be made up of larger, more skillful 5th graders and all 6th graders. It’s up to the head coach to make the final decision as to which squad a 5th grader will play on. No player may be over 12 years of age.
C. Your roster must first be filled by students from your own school district. If you do not have enough students, you may then go outside of your district to fill you roster, providing that the player’s school district’s team is full, is not in our league, or does not have a team. Smaller School districts (class A or eight man teams) may share a program.
D. No 6th grader will play on the junior squad. No 4th grader will play on the senior squad. The 5th graders playing on the Junior or Senior squads will be decided before the game. Once the 5th grader has been assigned to a squad on game day, said player will remain on that squad for that day. It may be necessary to move a 5th grader from one squad to the other from week-to-week because of increasing or decreasing skills throughout the season or injuries, illness, discipline issues.
E. A minimum of 20% of the roster must be 4th graders. It is not the intent to have all 5th graders on your junior squad and all 6th graders on your Senior squad. Any team found to be doing so may face penalties or expulsion from the league.
F. If you are forced to move players from one squad to the other because you are short players (12-13), they must be 5th graders. A player may only play in 1 quarter in the second game. 1 play equals 1 quarter. You must bring up 4 players to replace 1 missing player.
G. You must be able to fill a roster of 24 to be eligible to field a team. Exceptions may be made on game day in order to insure that a game will be played.
H. All players will play at least half of the game. If you fail to play all players a minimum of half of the game without good reason, you will forfeit that game. The coach will decide which players will play the entire game. Then the coach will decide which players will play half of the game. You will designate the half time players by offense or defense. Or you may designate them by quarter. You will give the opposing coach a roster before the game stating which kids are playing all of the game and which ones are playing half of the game. You will also state on the roster, how the half time players will be subbed into the game. If you do not exchange rosters with the other coach, you will receive on warning and then forfeit the next game you fail to provide a roster. If players are injured during the game, you will have to alter your plans. You must still play everyone half of the game. If a player is done participating in the game, it’s a good idea to have the player take off their shoulder pads.
I. Weight Limits-junior squad players may be no more than 150 pounds. The junior squad skilled players may be no more than 90 pounds. Senior squad players may be no more than 200 pounds. The senior squad skilled players may be no more than 120 pounds.
J. Skilled Vs Unskilled positions-The unskilled positions are all of the defensive positions and the Offensive line positions including the tight end. Skilled positions include the QB, HB, FB, WB, SE, or Flanker. The TE’s may only block or pass receive beyond the line of scrimmage, they may not take hand-offs or shuffle pass.
K. A finalized roster must be submitted to the League Officials 2 weeks before the first game. Before each game the coaches will exchange rosters, and discuss any players on the roster that will not be playing or who has forfeited playing time. Required information on rosters… players’ name, jersey number, grade, and weight. Coaches must also provide the game announcer with a team roster in numerical order.
3. Offensive and Defensive Guidelines
A. Offense---All offenses will consist of a standard set. TE LT LG C RG RT TE all on the line of scrimmage max splits of 1 yards. You must have 2 TEs on the line of scrimmage, they must each be next to a OT. They may stand up or be in a 3 point stance. The QB under center or in shotgun formation. You must have one RB 5 yards deep and between the outside shoulders of the offensive guards. One exception to this would be a pro set (a back behind each OT). The remaining 2 backs positions (non-standard set) may line up anywhere in the offensive formation providing they are not lined up on the line of scrimmage to the same side. If the remaining 2 backs are both lined up outside of the TE on the same side (Wing Formation), the inside receiver must be 5 yards outside of the last man on the formation (WB). If there is not a WB, the inside receiver is 5 yards outside of the TE, the outside receiver is 5 yards outside of the inside receiver. No unbalanced lines. TE’s are eligible pass receivers beyond the line of scrimmage and can not take a hand off or shuffle pass.
X X
X X X X X
O O O O O O O
O
O
x x x x x Wing Formation
O O O O O O O
O O
x x x x x Slot Formation
O O O O O O O
O O
B. Defense---All defenses will consist of a standard set. DE LT N RT,
all playing straight up. The DE must line up straight up or a max of 3 yards outside of the TE. 2 LB’s playing at least 3 yards back from the line of scrimmage across from the OG’s. The remaining 4 players will consist of a strong/wide side LB playing at least 3 yards back from the line of scrimmage on the strong side/wide side (straight up from the wingback or outside of the TE) of the formation. The strong side/wide side linebacker must be 5 yards deep if inside of the TE’s. 2 CB’s playing outside of the TE’s and at least 4 yards back from the line of scrimmage. 1 Safety playing minimum of 5 yards deep anywhere on the defensive formation. You may play 2 Safeties by replacing the strong side linebacker with a Safety. When an offense splits out more than one receiver to the same of the formation, the Strong/Wide side linebacker may line up straight up and a minimum of 1 yard back from the inside receiver and the CB lines up straight up and a minimum of 1 yard back from the outside receiver. If only one receiver splits out, the CB may line up straight up and a minimum of 1 yard back. A 6-2 defense will be allowed inside of your own 20 yard line. DE DT DG DG DT DE, 2 LB’s behind the OG’s 3 yards back, 2 CB’s 4 yards back, 1 Safety 5 yards back.
C. No bizarre or unconventional plays to exploit the weaknesses of the
Offensive anddefensive guidelines. Reverses and
D. No blitzing before the snap. No forward movement toward the line of scrimmage before the snap except for player adjustments.
E. The offensive and defensive standard sets are in place to simplify blocking schemes and help players recognize offensive and defensive formations.
4. Equipment—
A. The players will wear all protective equipment required by the I.H.S.A.A. Helmets must have the NOCSAE seal and must be up to date on their certifications. This will be the responsibility of the head coach. Any equipment not in good condition should be thrown away. No metal or screw in cleats. No hard casts will be allowed. Player’s safety is your most important concern.
5. Practices—
A. Practices may begin 3 weeks prior to your first game. The first week you may practice 4 times for 1 and a half hours, the first 2 practices without helmets and the second 2 practices with helmets.) The 2nd and 3rd weeks you are allowed 4 practices of 1 and a half hours each with full equipment. All following weeks of practices you are allowed 3 practices of 1and a half hours each. You may use game films to teach but not to scout an upcoming opponent; this time does count against your practice time. You may scrimmage once a week, but this does count as a practice. You may offer football camps as long as you are not teaching anything specific to your program. Any team found violating these guidelines may face expulsion from the league.
6. Weigh Ins—
A. These will be done on the first day of practice. These weights will be used for the whole season. Kids grow over a 2 month period so there will be no future weigh-ins during the season. Any coach found falsifying weights will be dismissed from the league. A coach from an opposing town must be present during weigh ins to verify weights. Record the weights and list them on the roster.
7. Competitive Adjustment—
A. When a team is leading by more than 24 points, there is a gentlemen’s agreement that said team will make adjustments. ( Move players around or let players try positions they might not normally play) When one team is far superior the coaches should work together to keep the score of the game respectable.
8. Coaches, Parents, and Spectator Conduct---
A. We are all role models for the children at the games and practices. No adults will argue or criticize any referee’s decisions or calls. The players must learn that they must accept the referee’s decision. Show good sportsmanship at all times.
B. No alcohol, smoking, swearing, or gambling are permitted at practices or games. This pertains to coaches, players, parents, and observers.
C. Coaches and parents should treat the players kindly and respectfully, remember they are children.
D. The head coach is responsible for the actions of his coaches, players, and fans. If the head coach feels it’s necessary to gain control of the situation, or remove someone from the premises, he may confer with the official and stop the game until the problem is resolved. The coach should resolve any problems discretely to save any embarrassment to players.
E. Post the conduct code around the game field to remind everyone of what is acceptable behavior.