Youth Football Rules Regulations

2015 FYFCL Youth Football Rules Regulations

Florida Youth Football & Cheer League (FYFCL) Football games are to be played under 2015 National Federation of State High School (NFHS) association’s football rules with the exception of the following FYFCL addendum. Each Club/League should have their own copy of the NFHS Florida High School rules as well as these FYFCL Addendum on hand at all games and practices. For a copy of the NFHS rules, Write to the National Federation at PO Box 690, Indianapolis, IN, 46206, web address: NFHS or to the NCAA at PO Box 6222, Indianapolis, IN, 46206-6222, web address: www.ncaa.org

I. AGES AND WEIGHTS

6U 4-6 No weight restrictions
8U 7-8 No weight restrictions
10U 9-10 No weight restrictions
12U 11-12 No weight restrictions
14U 13-14 No weight restrictions

A player may play in a division one level above his/her age but may NOT play in a lower division. This will be at the discretion of the Club. Once a player moves to a higher division they may NOT return to the league age division he/she transferred out of.

II. August 1st CUTOFF-LEAGUE AGE

The player’s age on August 1st of the current year shall be the player’s age for the coming season.

III. 6U RULES

Coaches may remain on the field, at the option of the League. A maximum of two (2) coach per team is permitted on the field. The coach must be 5 yds back from the closest player. Once the huddle breaks the Defensive coach MAY NOT physically move players. (verbally talking/coaching a player is permitted)

50 yd field
10 yd End Zone
The first offensive series will start at the 35 yard line
8 minute running clock (Only stoppage will be for injury and timeouts)
Last 2 minutes of 2nd and 4th quarters will be standard clock
9 players per side on the field
Minimum Mandatory of 3 Offensive and 3 Defensive players on the line when the ball is hiked
Starting QB can score two offensive touchdowns, everyone else just one Offensive touchdown. Penalty for QB scoring a third TD, Loss of down and 10 yards from the original spot. Defensive touchdowns do not count towards this rule
Two coaches allowed on the field for each side. Defensive coaches may not physically move players after the offense breaks the huddle. All coaches may coach as if they were on the sideline. PENALTY: Dead ball foul and 5yd. 2nd PENALTY: Unsportman like Conduct and 15 yds. 3rd PENALTY: Ejection
Fumbles are dead balls
Punts. 25 yards will be stepped off for a punt. A Punt will not exceed the 35 yard line of the opposing team.
Blocking is allowed (Hands must be close to body and inside elbows)
No stiff arming, flag guarding, jumping, hurdling or spinning to avoid having a flag pulled. (5 yd penalty, spot foul)
No Tackling, tripping, or stripping the ball by the defensive player
FLAG-A-TAG flags will not be cut or tampered with. 2 flags per belt per player
The flags must be a contrasting color to the team shorts. No shorts with pockets
Suction cup style. Flags must be on the sides, suction cups must stay down. (not inward or inverted)
In the event a flag falls off the ball carrier, the play is dead at that point
6 feet (2 Yard) neutral zone between offensive and line and defensive line
Three timeouts per half
No kickoffs – Play will begin on the 35 yd line

OT procedures are the same as all other divisions. Maximum of 3 OT periods. See XII. for the Mandatory Play Rules

IV. 8U Rules

8 minute quarters
1 coach allowed on the field. The coach must conduct actions as if coaching from the sideline. The on field coach may NOT physically touch or move players after the offensive huddle is broken and must remain at a distance so as to not interfere with the play or the officials. PENALTY: Dead ball foul and 5yd. 2nd PENALTY: Unsportmanlike Conduct and 15 yds. 3rd PENALTY: Ejection.
No lining up directly over the Center. Face mask must be in the “A” Gap. – 6 Defensive players are permitted on the line of scrimmage and must be in either a 3 point or 4 point stance if inside a 7 technique. Any player in a 2 point stance must be 6 feet (2 yards) off the line of scrimmage or outside the C” Gap.
NO Kickoffs. The ball will be spotted at the offense’s 35 yard line.
Declaration of a Punt. The offense and defense will leave the playing field. One player shall remain on the field for the purpose of punting the ball. The player punting the ball will line up 5 yards behind the spot of the ball. Upon lining up the player will be given the ball by the head referee and shall have no more than 5 seconds to punt the ball. The ball will be considered down where it stops or the point in which it rolls out of bounds.
No rushing of Extra Points (kicks)
A Pat is 2 points if kicked and 1 point if run or passed.
If a 2 point conversion is desired by not kicking, the offense must declare the intentions to the Head referee and the ball will be spotted at the five yard line. The offense may run or pass from the five yard line for a 2 point conversion.

V. 10U Rules

10 Minute quarters
No lining up directly over the Center. Face mask must be in the “A” Gap.
No rushing of Punts or Extra Points
A PAT is worth 2 points if kicked and 1 point if run or passed

VI. 12U Rules

10 Minute quarters
No Lining up directly over the Center. Face mask must be in the “A” Gap.
A PAT is worth 2 points if kicked and 1 point if run or passed

VII. 14U Rules

A PAT is worth 2 points if kicked and 1 point if run or passed.
10 minute quarters

VIII. PLAYER CHECK-IN

Teams will conduct a check in before each game. A board member of the opposing organization will check in each player during the half time of the preceding game. The board member will obtain the team player book which contains a photo of the player and certified hard card of the player information. The board member must ensure the hard card is certified, and the photo on the certified hard card is the player being checked in. Players maybe checked in up to the beginning of their respective game time. After the players respective game has begun, the player will NOT be checked in, and is considered an Ineligible Player for that game. (See XX. Ineligible Players)

IX. CERTIFYING PLAYERS

A player shall qualify under the following:

A player shall meet the age requirements as specified on the applicable age schematic.
A player shall meet the academic requirements set forth by the FYFCL. (2.0 GPA)

X. MAXIMUM ROSTER SIZE

We recommend that not more than 35 players shall be certified onto a team roster. A team with less than 11 certifiable players will not be permitted to form and play. Exceptions to this rule will be made in a case by case manner with approval from the respective league’s governing board.

XI. MINIMUM ROSTER SIZE

A minimum roster of 16 players will be on a team roster (12 for 6U teams). The team roster will be frozen at Jamboree. If a team has less than 16 players on a roster, then a one (1) week exception will be given to that team to increase its’ roster size. Any players added to the roster within the week extension WILL NOT be eligible to play until week two (2).

Any league with a team with less than 16 players on their roster will meet with the Executive Board for review and possible sanctions to include forfeits, suspensions, and fines. These decisions will be made on a Case by Case basis.

XII. MANDATORY PLAY NOTE

FYFCL/AAU recommends that all players get 4 plays in every game. In the 6U division the Mandatory Play Rules (MPR) are as follows;

10-15 players on a roster
8 plays 16-20 players on a roster
6 plays 21-25 players on a roster- 4 plays

Each organization will devise a written system that shows how they will comply with the MPR at the 6U division. The written system will be turned into the FYFCL North or South Division Football Directors. After every game the Head Coach signs off on their MPR sheet as accurate, and turns it in to the appropriate North or South Division Football Director. Violation of the MPR will result in a forfeiture of the game and possible suspension of the Head Coach by the Grievance Board.

XIII. GAME BALLS

6U – Pee Wee ball
8U – Pee Wee ball
10U – Pee Wee ball
12U – Junior TDJ
14U – Youth TDY or Official High School Football

XIV. UNIFORMS & EQUIPMENT

Each player shall wear a number between 1 and 99 inclusive. Numbers “0” and “00” are illegal and shall not be worn. No duplicate numbers shall be permitted. The following items shall be worn by players in all divisions beginning with physical contact in practice sessions and during games.

The following items shall be worn by players in all divisions beginning with physical contact in practice sessions and during games:

Helmet: Only helmets bearing the NOCSAE Seal of Certification may be worn
Shoulder Pads
Pants: one piece or shell
Hip Pads
Tail Bone Pads
Thigh Guards
Knee Pads (Must cover the knee completely)
Thru G. Must be properly sized and un-altered from the manufacturers design
Jerseys (Must be tucked in, and have clear and visible numbers on front and back, unaltered from the manufacturers original design.)
Mouth Guard: must have a strap/lanyard that attaches it to the facemask. (Cannot be clear or white)
Shoes: molded rubber cleats (soccer or football style) no metal cleats
Non-Metallic frame sport goggles with safety lens are the only permitted glasses. Eye Shields must be clear without any tint. Eye Shields must be attached properly with manufacturers fasteners.
Additional protective equipment is at the discretion of each league, and game officials.
No Jewelry. (medical alert bracelets or medallions are permitted if taped securely and inspected by game official.

XV. BLOCKING AND TACKLING

Standard High School rules apply. It is the responsibility of every League coach to be fully informed of, and abide by, all such High school rules, as well as the USA Football Heads Up tackling program. No butt blocking, chop blocking, face tackling or spearing techniques shall be permitted. If such techniques or any other illegal techniques are taught by League coaches, said coaches shall be dismissed from the program, upon being found guilty following a hearing.

XVI. LENGTH OF PERIODS

6U – 8 minute running clock
8U – 8 minute standard clock
12U – 10 minute standard clock
10U – 10 minute standard clock
14U – 10 minute standard clock

Half time for each game will be the same time as a one full quarter, unless changed by the head referee.

XVII.TIME CLOCK

The referee shall decide where the clock will be kept if the field is not equipped with a scoreboard timing device. In any event, the referee has final authority to have the clock kept on the field if, in his judgment, the home management’s clock operator is not qualified. Play clock will be 35 seconds.

XVIII. TIME-OUTS

Flag shall be permitted two (2) time-outs per half
All others shall be permitted three (3) time-outs per half

XIX. PLAYER / COACH EJECTIONS

While each club may elect to enforce their own disciplinary policy on ejected players, the ejected player is still subject to FYFCL rules. Any player ejected from a game is suspended for the next subsequent game. If a player is ejected a second time within the same season, the player’s actions will be reviewed by a grievance board for possible further sanctions or suspension for the remainder of the season.

Any Coach ejected from a game shall immediately leave the premises. The Coach is automatically suspended for the next subsequent game. All Coach ejections will be heard by a Grievance Board to determine if further action should be taken.

XX. INELIGIBLE PLAYERS

Forfeiture of all games in which the ineligible player was a member of the team shall be the penalty applied to the team involved. There shall be no exceptions. There are seven (7) unequivocal definitions of an ineligible player, from which there are no appeals:

Overage or underage.
Falsification of data concerning any of the above.
Participation in any other tackle football league, school league separate sanctioning group in the same season. A participant may practice with a school team up until the first game, but not participate and/or be registered with that school team once the first regular season game begins. Particpants can only practice with a school team or alternate sanctioned league, but not both simultaneously. If they are trying out for their school team they may not practice with the FYFCL team until they are removed from the school team and show proof of removal.
Failure to prove Academic eligibility. 2.0 GPA Particpation in Regional/National bowl games may also be prohibited upon recommendation of the league and approval of FYFCL Director.
No player may play two games in one day.
In order to be eligible to play in post season play (to include our playoffs) a player must have played in 60% of the seasons games.
Player not Checked-In before the start of their respective game.

XXI. SCORING

Touchdown = 6 points
Point after TD by run or pass = 1 point
Point after TD by kick = 2 points
Safety (awarded to opponent) = 2 points
Field goal = 3 points

6U & 8U- During a point after attempt, the team attempting the point after must declare their intentions. If they declare to go for 2 points, the ball will be placed on the 5 yard line.

XXII.TIE BALL GAMES

NFHS rules shall apply with the exception of the initial spot of the ball. The ball will be spotted on the 10 yard line with no possibility of a first down. If after the first attempts the score is still tied, then any additional attempts that result in a touchdown must be followed by that team attempting the two point conversion.

XXIII. MERCY RULES

Any time a team goes up by 25 points or more, the following will occur:

The official clock will become a running clock and once started can only be stopped for injury of a player, timeouts, or at the discretion of a referee. It cannot revert back to a standard game clock for the remainder of the game.
There will be no blitzing by either team once the clock becomes a running clock and the Mercy rule is in effect.
The team behind will take the ball on the opponents 40 yard line in lieu of Kickoff. If the deficit falls under 25 points, Kickoffs will resume.
The team leading shall make every effort to replace starting players with reserves. Failure to do so will call for an immediate investigation and possible one game suspension of the coach if found guilty.
Any game that ends with a score diffential of 28 points or more, the winning head coach is required to submit a letter, (E-mail) by the following Monday evening explaining the point diffential and the actions once the 28 point spread was achieved for review by the FYFCL Football director and/or Executive Board for compliance to the leagues intent for lopsided scores.

XXIV. SIDELINE PERSONNEL The sideline staff may consist of 8 adults and 2 Junior coaches. Junior coaches should be of high school age, hold a current AAU Athlete membership, and be in proper coaching attire. The 8 members of the sideline staff shall hold a current AAU Non-Athlete Membership and have proper tournament credentials for the sideline. This staff may include any combination of coaches, trainers, team mom, etc… All must be in proper coaching attire and match the team colors.

XXV. NO RADIOS AND COMMUNICATION DEVICES XXVI. SCOUTING

Scouting football teams is permitted in the form of video tape, film and written reports. Scouting is only permitted during a game situation. Scouting any type of practice is strictly prohibited.

XXVII. PRE-SEASON

For all Clubs, the first week of practice (10 hours) shall be devoted entirely and exclusively to conditioning, no contact drills, shorts and t-shirts only, however, helmets shall be permitted. Clubs may add more time beyond this required first week for the conditioning period. Practice for the first two weeks is limited to (5) five, (2) two hour practices. After the first two weeks, practices can be no more than (4) four days a week, (2) two hours per practice.

XXVIII. WARM WEATHER PRECAUTIONS

Teams must guard against serious heat problems, which in extreme high school and college cases have occasionally resulted in death. The training regimen of any team practicing under high heat and/or humidity conditions must take the following precautions:

Limit Laps. Do not assign laps for disciplinary reasons
Schedule practices for early evening, after sun is low in sky.
Give players all the water they want to drink, when they want it. Do not substitute soft drinks for water.
Each coach must keep an eye on all players and his fellow coaches for the slightest sign of heat exhaustion or fatigue
A fifteen minute break is mandatory in the middle of each practice, not to be counted against practice time.

MANDATORY BREAKS
A mandatory 10 minute break after each hour of practice shall be required as a minimum. Break time is not counted against the hours per week or per day allowed practice time.

XXIX. CONTROLLED INTER-SQUAD SCRIMMAGE After the first week of practice in pads (contact) has occurred (which cannot be any earlier than the second full week of practice-the first week being conditioning), teams are permitted to engage in joint practice sessions with other teams in what are called controlled inter-squad scrimmages.

In a controlled inter-squad scrimmage, there is prior agreement between coaching staffs that:

Coaches will be permitted on the field
Long time-outs are taken between plays so that coaching staffs can instruct and critique their players.
Coaching staffs may inform each other of the plays they are going to run so one team can concentrate on its offensive sets while the other improves its defense and vice-versa.
Officials can be present during scrimmages.
Game score is not kept; scoring is not the primary goal.
No official time is kept other than to assure the practice maximum is not violated. A mandatory ten minute break is taken at the end of one hour, said break not to be counted against the allowed practice time.
No player or team is permitted at any time to engage in a controlled scrimmage or any form of contact drills involving a player, players, or team from a different Age/weight division of play.

SCHEDULING PROHIBITIONS

Under no circumstances will a team be allowed to play a game, scrimmage, or practice against a team of another division (i.e., 8U vs 10U)
No team may schedule a game or a practice session with or against a team whose ages and weights are not fully in compliance with those printed in this rulebook.

ALL SCHEDULING
The following requirements apply to all scheduling beginning with practice and ending with post-season bowl games:

No team, on its own, may arrange a game. All games, regardless of type, must be arranged through or with the sanction of the League of which the team is a member.
Prior accounts will be taken of all local and state laws pertaining to the scheduling of athletic contests.
A period of at least four (4) full days (96 consecutive hours) will elapse between the end of any game for a given team and the beginning of the next game for pre-season exhibitions, regularly scheduled league games, post-season and bowl games. A league shall be permitted to waive the four (4) full days (96 consecutive hours) to 2 ½ days (60 consecutive hours) ONLY to permit the conclusion of the regularly scheduled season.

XXX. CONTACT WITH OFFICIALS, COACHES, PLAYERS,
PARENTS

Taunting or correcting opposing players by coaches, volunteers, or players is prohibited. If a player, coach, or adult should strike (hit), come in contact with a game official, the offender shall be subject suspension and further action by the disciplinary board. Chain gang shall be located on the Home sideline and staffed with volunteers from the Home team.

XXXI. REGIONAL/NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP ELIGIBILITY

Must be declared League/Conference Champions (runner-ups are eligible).
Must have filed a certified roster with the AAU Region and National tournament director by the specified cut-off date.
Highly recommended that football teams competing be accompanied by the corresponding spirit squads at all games, except when the region cheer championships are being held at the same time.
All teams must be accompanied with a copy of the certified roster, league registration forms with photo identification, birth certificates, medical release forms, and scholastic eligibility forms
A player must have been present in at least 5 regular season games to be eligible for post season/tournament play.

XXXII. FORFEITS

All Forfeits will incur a $250 dollar penalty, per forfeited game. Forfiet penalty to be paid by the Friday before the next game to FYFCL, No exceptions

XXXIII. GRIEVANCES-PROTESTS

The Football Director shall establish a Grievance Board to be made up of four persons neutral and independent of the team, club, protest or violation and actions from the league membership. Should a team/club see fit to Protest a ruling from the board/official, they must first put the Protest in writing to the Football Director within 48 hours. The Grievance board will either meet in person, conference call, or individual conversations in person or by phone, or communicate via emails about said grievance. The Grievance Board shall have a final determination by the Friday before the next scheduled game. The officials final ruling in games cannot be protested or overruled. All protest of official’s calls during the game come from the Head Coach only, who must call a timeout to plead his case one on one with the White Cap. If the ruling is upheld as called, the protesting team is charged for a timeout. If the protest is successful the timeout will be charged to the official.

Note that the Football Director will make the determination on what issues will be brought to the Grievance Board. Normal Officiating calls on the field will not be heard by the Grievance Board.