ELIZABETHTOWN AREA YOUTH FOOTBALL

FOOTBALL AND CHEERLEADING POLICIES

REVISED JULY 1, 2007

DIVISIONAL STRUCTURE

The division of teams will fall in line with conference structure of the National Football League, to the best of the EAYF Commission’s ability. The EAYF alignment and schedule will be announced at the time of the draft, and it will be consistent with the previous seasons, to the best of the EAYF Commission’s ability.

PRACTICE

A practice week is from Sunday to Saturday. Each team may assemble four (4) times a week for no more than two (2) hours each time prior to the end of the opening game week. The first two practices must be non-contact conditioning practices. At these first two practices, players may dress in full uniform, but there will be no contact of any variety. Contact includes, and not limited to, blocking of any type, tackling of any type; form touching of any type; and the use of any apparatus. All games count as team gatherings and after the end of the opening game week, each team may assemble no more than three times per week. A team may not warm-up for more than an hour prior to the start of a game. If a team has two (2) games in a week, that team may have an additional non-contact, two (2) hour gathering. A violation of these rules will be a suspension of the head coach for the next game and a 15-yard penalty assessed on any play from scrimmage at the opponent’s choosing during the violating team’s next game. All practice locations and times of the scheduled practices must be sent to the league representative before the end of the first week of practice. Practices are not allowed at Elizabethtown High School. Teams may not scrimmage other teams until after the first eight team practices and may only scrimmage twice before league approved scrimmages or games. The commission has the right to make any team found in violation to forfeit its next game.

PLAYING TIME

All football players will have a starting position on offense and/or defense. Players will play each series on offense or on defense, unless injury occurs, for each of the first and third quarters of the game. In the second and fourth quarter and any overtime, the coach can play players at their discretion. Disciplinary action could result in forfeit of that game. Each coach will notify the league representative or Commission member on site if disciplinary action will be in effect that day for any player. This rule applies for any games, including playoff games and Super Bowl.

SCORING

When a team is 18 points or more ahead of its opponent, the head coach of the leading team must change all backs on its next offensive possession. The team that is ahead by 18 points or more does not have to change the starting quarterback; however, the starting quarterback can not advance the ball forward. He may move the ball laterally at the line of scrimmage or behind the line of scrimmage. The starting quarterback can not forward pass the ball. If the starting quarterback finds himself in a broken play, the player should kneel or fall down, and the official will mark the play dead at the final point of movement. The offensive team can change its starting quarterback and can run its normal offense. Regardless who plays quarterback, the leading team must not run any trick plays as a way to accelerate the scoring process. No attempt will be made purposefully to run up the score. No players that were in the starting backfield after the backfields have been changed may advance the ball at anytime while that team is on offense. No trick or pass play intended to score quickly should be used when a team is 18 points ahead of the other team. If the other team closes to within 18 points, the team that is in the lead may return its starting backfield to its normal positions. At the point an offense must change its backfield, the offense will be given a 60-second “free” timeout to make the proper substitutions. The league representative will warn a coach if he does not comply with this rule. A 15-yard penalty will be assessed if, after a warning, a coach continues to use impact players in attempt to score. This rule will not apply during the Super Bowl games.

TEAMS

Each team will be designed to have an equal number of players. Amongst that, the Commission will assign the number of players each team will have by age group and it will announce it to the coaches prior to the beginning of the draft of players. The EAYF will create an equal balance for all teams based on the number of players by age on each team. In the event of uneven numbers by age, preference will be given to the teams that finished at the bottom of the standings during previous season. The total number assigned to each team will be kept in the range of 14-18 players per team. The Commission, at its discretion, may have teams “skipped over” for a round or rounds of the draft, however, no team will be required to be “skipped over” in consecutive rounds. Teams might be required to be “skipped over” more than once during the annual players draft. The purpose of the “skip over” is to help teams with fewer returning players to have an equal advantage to gain overall balance in the league during the annual player’s draft.

TEAM ASSIGNMENTS

Once a player has been assigned to a team, that player will remain with that team until the player moves to an older age group or if the team is dissolved. Players new to a division can request a team, but there are no guarantees that player will be placed on that team. All coaches will be notified of all players’ desire to play for a specific team; however, the coaches are under no obligation to honor the request. Once a player is assigned to a team, that player will be expected to remain with that team. A formal request to the Commission can be made regarding the relocation of a player to another team. The Commission will consider each request and issue a ruling. The acceptance of a request by the Commission should not be construed as an approval for the player’s relocation. All players that need team assignment will be required to attend Tryouts. Players that do not attend tryouts will be selected by a blind draw during the draft. Those players can not be selected until all other players within that age group that attended tryouts have been selected. Any expansion team added to the league will draft up to the minimum number of players of returning players per age group on a team. This supplemental draft will occur prior to the regular draft. Once the expansion draft team has drafted up to the minimum number of players returning on another team, it will then select last within the normal draft.

TEAM SPONSORS

The EAYF will work diligently to ensure that each football team and cheerleading squad has a primary sponsor. In the event that a team does not have a primary sponsor, the EAYF will request the team without a sponsor to help in the efforts to secure a primary sponsor. Once a team has a primary sponsor, it then can seek a secondary sponsor to help the team acquire approved accessories. If a team obtains a secondary sponsor to obtain approved accessories, and it does not have a primary sponsor, the team will be forbidden from using those accessories. Continued use of these accessories without a primary sponsor could force the Commission to refuse the team from participating in post-season activities. Teams are limited to $45 per player on secondary expenses.

TEAM PARENT

Each head coach shall seek a team parent and report the name and telephone number to each league representative. The Team Parent will be required to have an adult participation card. The Team Parent should be notified of her responsibilities to the EAYF. Those include, but not inclusive too:

a) helping the head coach coordinate concession stand schedules;

b) ensuring that those assigned to the concession stand report to duty;

c) help coordinate communication from Commission to Team to Parents, in any form;

d) assisting the coach in helping relay problems associated with the team to the Commission;

e) attend or assign a team representative to attend any Commission meetings associated with any impact to the teams.

UNIFORMS

All league teams will wear uniforms that conform to the styles selected and approved by the EAYF. Football teams may have decal helmets and issue performance stickers to players, but the coaches are responsible for the removal of all decals and stickers at the point of helmet returns. Any additions, alterations or deficiencies to the uniform style, selected by the EAYF, must be presented to and approved by the Commission. All players and cheerleaders will be allowed to keep their uniform jersey at the end of the season.

CONCESSION WORKERS

Each team will be assigned an equal number of responsibilities to operate the concession stand. It is the responsibility of the Head Coach of either the cheerleading or football team assigned concession duty for their assignments to provide four (4) adults to work the concession stand. If the team fails to provide for (4) adult workers when scheduled, the head coach of the football or cheerleading squad assigned duty will be suspended for the next game. If the team fails to provide workers for the second time, the head coach will be suspended for the next two games. A team responsible for Concession Stand duty can contract the assignment to a responsible group to perform the duty of working the Concession Stand. However, if the assigned group fails to perform, then the assigned team will still face the defined penalties mentioned above. Responsibilities at the concession stand will include: collection of money and issuance of tickets; stocking shelves; operating a grill; serving customers; basic cleanup. Teams need to report at the time assigned; not at the conclusions of games or team meetings associated with the conclusion of games. It will be the coach’s responsibility to communicate with those parents working the concession stand of any information relayed during team meetings following a game. Teams that are assigned the first and last games of each day need to be prepared to conduct basic preparations to open the concession stand or help clean the concession stand at the conclusion of the day.


ELIZABETHTOWN AREA YOUTH FOOTBALL
MINOR TACKLE FOOTBALL RULES
REVISED JULY 1, 2007


The Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA) Football Rules shall apply to all games associated with the Elizabethtown Area Youth Football (EAYF). The following are local rules and regulations that have been implemented for our league play that are in addition to KHSAA Football Rules

WEIGHT RULES AND REGULATIONS

Each player must officially be weighed by a member of the Commission and an official witness at the time of registration. There will only be one weigh-in permitted (refer to EAYF Constitution and By-Laws Article 21, Section 5). A player under 80 pounds may play any position on offense and/or defense and still have a jersey number under 50 or 80 and over. A player 80 pounds to under 95 will receive a BLUE stripe and must play center, guard, tackle or end on Offense. He is not allowed to receive a pass or advance the ball on offense. On defense, the play may play linebacker or a lineman position (defensive end, defensive tackle or noseguard). He may intercept a pass or recover a fumble and may advance the ball. All players in this group will have numbers in the 50s or 60s. Players 95 pounds or over will receive a red stripe and must play interior down lineman (Offense: center, guard or tackle. Defense: noseguard or defensive tackle). Under no circumstances is a red striper allowed to advance the ball. All red stripers will have the jersey number in the 70s series. Infraction to the rule of improper helmet markings will result in a fifteen (15) yard penalty and a warning to the bench. A second offense will be a penalty and an ejection of the head coach for the remainder of the game. It is the coach’s responsibility to be sure that the players maintain property helmet markings throughout the season. If it is discovered that the proper markings have not been maintained, the offending team will have to forfeit the game/games in question.

AGE REQUIREMENTS

The Minor Division is for youth ages 7 and 8 by or on July 31 of that year.

EAYF MINOR FOOTBALL BASIC RULES

OFFENSIVE FORMATIONS

Seven of 11 players must line up on the line of scrimmage with an equal number of lineman on each side of the ball. All players must be lined up within 10 yards of the ball. Only one back may be split out but within the 10 yard limit of the ball. There will be no split ends/wide receivers.

DEFENSIVE FORMATIONS

The defense will be a 5-2 formation, with positions known as defensive ends (2), defensive tackle (2); noseguard (1); linebackers (2); cornerbacks (2) and safeties (2). The defensive end will line up on the outside shoulder of the offensive tight end. The defensive tackle will line up heads-up on the offensive tackle or offensive guard. The nose guard will lineup heads up of the center. There will only be one lineman between the noseguard and the defensive end on either side of the ball. All player lined up inside of the defensive ends must be in a three or four point stance. All red stripe players must line up inside an area which is defined as the area between heads up from the left offensive tackle to heads up of the right offensive tackle. The remaining positions may be played by either blue or non-stripe players. The defense is only permitted to have two linebackers, which must lineup over an offensive lineman and 3 yards off the ball. All defensive backs (linebackers, cornerbacks, safeties) must lineup at least three (3) yards off the line of scrimmage. All defensive players are to remain stationary until the snap unless they are adjusting laterally to an offensive player in motion. There will be no stunting of the linebackers, cornerbacks and safety positions. No player will be allowed to lineup in the gap and no stunting of lineman is allowed. The defensive ends must take a straight-ahead move first before slanting towards the center. The penalty is five (5) yards and an automatic first down. When an offense moves inside the 10 yard line, the defense may line up in a 6 man front (6-1) with one linebacker, as long as weight restrictions are followed, the defense is stationary at the snap of the ball and all players (except the ends) are lined up head to head. The 6-1 defense formation is as follows. Defensive guards will line heads up over the offensive guards. The defensive tackles will line up heads up over the offensive tackles. The middle linebackers will line up 3 yards off the ball and heads up with the offensive center. See attached 5-2 and 6-1 defensive formations. Defensive ends, safeties, and cornerbacks line up the same as the base 5-2 defense does. There are no exceptions to the defensive alignments for the minor division.

OFFENSIVE BACKFIELD

All formations must be within KHSAA guidelines. The offensive backfield may line up unbalanced so long as they are in the backfield. The penalty is five (5) yards.

BLOCKING

All blockers must be on their feet before, during and after contact. Blocking below the waist is illegal. The throwing of forearms by either team is illegal. Blockers may use their hands to block and may extend their arms during the block. The penalty for the above infractions will be a ten (10) yard penalty.

FUMBLES AND LATERALS

If the ball is fumbled either on the snap or during a run, the ball will remain in play and possession awarded to whichever team recovers the ball. If a player has gained possession and the ball within weight may be advanced. This includes fumbles, dropped or mishandled snaps, dropped or mishandles carries, stripped balls, laterals and any other situation as ruled a live ball by the officials.

THE FIELD

All games will be played on an eighty (80) yard field. The end zone will be ten (10) yards long. Coaches will be allowed to walk the entire length of the field, and one coach may be on the field during timeouts. All coaches are to be positioned on their team’s sideline. The coach on the field may not assist after the snap of the ball, but only to set formation up and play calling.

PASSING

The only receivers eligible are the ends or backs. An incomplete forward pass is a dead ball and will return to the line of scrimmage. The offensive team may pass the ball as many times as desired behind the line of scrimmage. An incomplete backwards pass is a live ball and must be recovered or possession must be gained by either team.


POINT AFTER TOUCHDOWN

After a team scores a touchdown, the head coach must decide to try for a one-point PAT or a two-point PAT. A one-point PAT may be executed from the three (3) yard line by gaining the ball into the end zone. A two-point PAT may be executed from the five (5) yard line by gaining the ball into the end zone. The offensive coach can not change the type of attempt after a penalty, timeout by either team or a dead ball.

KICKOFFS

There will no kickoffs in the Minor Division. The ball will be placed for play on the twenty five (25) yard line. The clock will start when the ball is marked ready for play, unless it is the start of a new quarter, after a timeout or after a score.

PUNTS

On fourth down, the clock will be stopped when the ball is marked ready for play, and the head coach of the offensive team will be asked if his team wants to punt or gain on fourth down. If the coach chooses to gain, the ball will be marked ready for play, and the clock will be managed depending on the result of the previous play. If the coach chooses to punt, the official will walk off a twenty five yard “free punt” and mark the ball ready for play with the opposing team gaining possession of the ball. The clock will remain stopped until the snap of the ball. If the fourth down line of scrimmage is on or inside the defensive team’s 25 yard line, the yardage of the “free punt” will be walked off at half the distance to the goal. The offensive coach may not change his decision to punt or gain. He may only change his decision to gain after a defensive penalty resulting in a replay of fourth down.

SAFETY

After a safety (2 points), the ball will be marked from the fifteen (15) yard line with a twenty five (25) yard punt, placing the ball on the forty (40) yard line.

GAME CLOCKS

All quarters will be eight (8) minutes. Halftime will be eight (8) minutes.

OVERTIME

A toss of coin will be done to determine which team gets the ball first. Each team will get four (4) downs to score from the ten (10) yard line. If one team scores more points during this overtime, that team will be the winner. If both teams score the same amount of points, or neither team scores during the overtime period, then the second overtime period will begin. Each team will be given an additional timeout with each overtime period.

TIMEOUTS

Each team shall have three (3) timeouts for each half. Timeouts may be called by players or coaches.

GAMEBALL

The official game ball for the Minor Division will be the Wilson K2 Football.