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 three quarters of the game. In the 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
VARSITY 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). The only article of clothing allowed to be removed at weigh in is shoes. All players on defense may play any position; there are no weight restrictions for any defensive position. Only a player under 140 pounds may be allowed to receive a pass, run or advance the ball on offense and defense. All players of 140 pounds and more will receive a red strip on their helmet. 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 a rejection of the head coach for the remainder of the game. It is the coach’s responsibility to be sure that the players maintain proper 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 Varsity Division is for youth ages 11 and 12 by or on July 31 of that year.
EAYF VARSITY FOOTBALL BASIC RULES
OFFENSE
The offense is at the discretion of the coach within KHSAA guidelines.
OFFENSIVE FORMATIONS
Seven of 11 players must line up on the line of scrimmage.
DEFENSIVE FORMATIONS
The defense is at the discretion of the coach, within KHSAA guidelines. All player lined up inside of the defensive ends must be in a three or four point stance. The defensive end positions are defined as the first, and only, players on the line of scrimmage, lined up beyond heads-up of the offensive tackle. The defensive ends must be in a two, three or four point stance. All defensive backs (linebackers, cornerbacks, safeties) must lineup at least three (3) yards off the line of scrimmage. Defensive backs may lineup on the line of scrimmage when the offense splits a player outside the tight end/tackle. 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. The penalty is ten (10) yards and an automatic first down.
OFFENSIVE BACKFIELD
All formations must be within KHSAA guidelines. 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 is still in play, the ball 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. Only players less than 140 pounds may advance the ball.
THE FIELD
All games will be played on a KHSAA regulated size 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 only during timeouts. All coaches are to be positioned on their team’s sideline.
PASSING
The only players eligible to receive the ball are players less than 140 pounds and are running backs, quarterbacks, or offensive ends. An incomplete forward pass is a dead ball and will return to 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 or kicking through the uprights. A two-point PAT may be executed from the five (5) yard line by gaining the ball into the end zone or kicking the ball through the uprights. If the team elects to kick, there will be no free kick on this attempt. All extra point kicks will be live.
KICKOFFS
Kickoffs will be lined up on the kicking team’s 40-yard line, unless the team has been penalized. The receiving team must always lineup at least ten yards from the spot of the kickoff. Onside kickoffs should only be used as a way for teams trailing in a game to try to gain a way back into the game. Onside kickoffs are not intended for stronger teams to exploit weaker teams. When the kicking team is trailing, or tied with the receiving team, the kicking team may attempt to regain possession after the ball has been kicked and traveled 10 yards or has been touched by the receiving team. When the kicking team is leading the receiving team by less than 18 points, the ball must travel 15 yards or be touched by the receiving team before the kicking team can regain possession. If the kicking team is leading the receiving team by 18 or more points, the kicking team touches the ball or recovers the kick prior to it traveling 15 yards, the ball will be granted to the receiving team where touched.
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 offense will be granted a “free” punt. There will be no rushing or blocking by the defensive team during a punt. The punter must punt from at least five yards behind the line of scrimmage. If the punter does not, the receiving team may elect to have the ball punted again. The receiving team must field and down the ball. The ball cannot be advanced after a punt. If a team knocks the ball toward the line of scrimmage, the ball will be marked at the site of contact. If the ball is not downed by the receiving team, then it will be marked dead at its furthest point traveled from the kicking team. 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 at the twenty (20) yard line and the kicking team will be given a free kick, which is returnable by the receiving team.
GAME CLOCKS
All quarters will be eight (8) minutes. The clock stops for incomplete forward passes, out-of-bounds plays, during penalty discussions with the officials, free punts, time-outs, extra-point attempts and change of possessions. 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 Varsity Division will be the Wilson TDJ Football.
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