SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA YOUTH FOOTBALL & CHEER CONFERENCE

Transcription

1 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA YOUTH FOOTBALL & CHEER CONFERENCE ADMINISTRATIVE MANUAL

2 Preface To all Charter and Charter Board Members, Head Coaches both Football and Cheer, Asst. Coaches, Volunteer Staff Parents and Stakeholders: These guidelines, policies and procedures have been edited, ratified and approved as the The Administrative Manual or Rule Book for the Southern California Youth Football and Cheer Conference (SCC). These policies and procedures are intended to be a supplement to National, Regional Rules and the SCC bylaws only. These policies and procedures will have precedent if more stringent to the National and Regional Rules or SCC bylaws as currently adopted. They have been approved by the Board of Presidents to ensure the integrity of process, safety of participants, fair play and sportsmanship within the SCC. CONFERENCE for purposes in this Administrative Manual is the legal entity of the Southern California Conference. Charter or Conference is used to describe the acting Executive Board and Board of Presidents of the SCC. CHARTER for purposes in this Administrative Manual are defined as an area/city that currently holds membership in the Southern California Conference. These Charters are individual legal entities and membership is conditioned on SCC approval, guidelines and by-laws. The layout and format of this Administrative Manual will be edited annually in an effort to revise procedural errors, ambiguous language, contradictory references, and to ensure that policies and procedures appropriately and adequately address contextual situations. Annual additions or edits of rules etc. within this Administrative Manual or Rule Book must be submitted, in writing no later than December 25 th of the year, to the Executive Commissioner to be considered for ratification. All proposals must be presented and voted on by the Board of Presidents prior to the date of August 1 of the year. All decisions regarding the interpretation and enforcement of these policies and procedures is at the discretion of the SCC Executive Board of Commissioners, Board of Presidents and assigned designees as allowable and enumerated in the SCC bylaws. EVERY MEMBER INCLUDING COACHES, VOLUNTEERS, AGENTS, VENDORS AND ANY STAKEHOLDER WITHIN THE SCC COMMUNITY IS EXPECTED TO READ AND UNDERSTAND ALL STATED RULES IN THIS BOOKLET, AND ALL RULES AND REGULATIONS STATED IN THE NATIONAL AND REGIONAL RULES AND REGULATIONS. REGARDLESS OF ACTUAL CONSENT, NOTICE, AND/OR THE RECIEPT OF OR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO THE SCC, EVERY PARTICIPANT AS STATED ABOVE, WHETHER BY RIGHT OR ASSOCIATION THAT OPERATES IN THE CAPACITY OF A MEMBER IS SUBJECT TO THE GUIDELINES, RULES AND POLICIES WITHIN THIS ADMINISTRATIVE MANUAL. THERE IS NO EXCEPTION.

3 VOLUNTEERISM: By design the SCC and Charters are voluntary organizations. However, Members in these voluntary positions, are expected to act in a professional and competent manner in the operation of the programming of the SCC and their respective Charters. By rights established through the legal entity of the Southern California Conference Bylaws, SCC Executive Board Members (Executive Members) have been elected and given enumerated powers and duties for the operation of the youth football and cheer programming. These Executive Members are at the will of the Board of Presidents operating annually as the SCC. These positions are voluntary and must not be conducted to reap any inherent benefit or monetary gain through their operation. Any Executive Member deemed by the SCC or Charters, by any means reaping any monetary or tangible gain through their affiliation is inherently in a conflict of interest with the SCC and is subject to immediate dismissal and sanctions. Charter Board Members (Board Members) through local legal entities are elected officials and must abide by all charter/area bylaws, policies and rules of their own affiliation and of the SCC. In certain instances the SCC and Executive Members will adjudicate Charter operations where a conflict of interest is established between an individual Board Member or Members and the Charter. Charters by membership have given authority to the SCC to set individual requirements and guidelines of operation to Charter to ensure the integrity of the SCC Mission and Philosophy. By Registration in a Charter, parents and participants and are considered Members of the Charter and of the SCC. Members must abide by their Charter by-laws, policies and rules, the By-Laws and Administrative Guidelines of the SCC and any National affiliation rules and policies. This membership does not entitle parent/ volunteers to direct SCC or Charter operations without the proper legal and enumerated authority of the organization. All MEMBERS are expected to support the Mission, Philosophy of the SCC and to follow the proper Chain of Command or procedure for their respective Charter and the SCC. Any Member not following proper Chain of Command waives their right to due process guidelines and forfeits appeals to adjudicate inquiries or complaints. Because of the inherent affiliations between individuals within the SCC and Charters SCC Executive Members will automatically be deemed in a conflict of interest where an issue arises with a Board Member, Member or Charter of their original affiliation. These Executive Members will automatically be recused from their exercise of power and influence in the adjudication of penalties and sanctions of the individual Member or Charter and/or any decision made at the Executive level affecting a Charter organization. Page 3 of 74 Last Edited: 12/11/2017

4 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 4 of 74 Last Edited: 12/11/2017

5 GENERAL CALENDAR - The general calendar is established annually to give a framework of dates for Charter notice, planning and process timing. These dates will be followed generally by individual Charters however, mandatory dates set by national criteria and/or any enumerated and voted on by the board or presidents or issued by the SCC must be followed. Voting and fiduciary penalties will be assessed against Charters and board members who operate outside dates voted and established by the SCC Board of Executives or established by the Board of Presidents. Dates are subject to change with or without notice. It is recommended that all participants and their parents regularly monitor their Charter websites for calendar updates and other newsworthy items. MISSION: The SCC will foster a culture of sportsmanship through youth football and cheer to develop participants to act with pride, integrity, personal accountability and social responsibility toward their communities. PHILOSOPHY: The SCC Football and Cheer Conference while taking great pride in winning will conduct all football and cheer programs as educational activities in accordance with local, regional and national guidelines. This obligates our Charters to provide safe social and physical environments for our participants. It requires our Charters to provide adequate equipment and facilities, provide well-trained and experienced coaches, as well as equalized contests with skilled officials. The SCC strongly discourages any pressure, which might lead to neglecting good sportsmanship or good physical and mental health. Conference and Charter policies will govern the spirit of competition while recognizing fundamental values in learning the spirit and game of football and in cheer competition. SANCTIONS & FINES: By definition a sanction is a penalty a party is given for committing an act that is contrary to the rule of law, policies of an organization and or the spirit of the intended guidelines. The SCC while taking consideration of individual circumstance will enforce sanctions, penalties and punishments that are enumerated or adjudicated through the procedures or individual controls enumerated within the Administrative Manual and/or the SCC By-laws. Fines by definition are a monetary penalty or punishment for Charter and individual offenses. All penalties, sanctions and fines are established to discourage rule violations and repeated patterns of behavior by organizations and individuals representing the SCC. Fines will be collected. All Charter and individual members will provide fines within 7 days of adjudication to the SCC. Failure to provide fines will result in the immediate suspension of the individual member indefinitely and loss of voting rights of the Charter Organization. All fines will be placed directly into the SCC travel fund for post-season National Representation. Page 5 of 74 Last Edited: 12/11/2017

6 SECTION I ADMINISTRATIVE POLICIES ARTICLE 1 - GENERAL EXPECTATIONS / RESPONSIBILITIES OF CHARTERS The general expectation of the SCC requires each city/area Charter to operate a professional and organized program. This requires that each charter be registered legally with the Federal and State government as a 501C3, have a comprehensive insurance policy, professional board of directors, be fiscally sound and have a local standard operating procedure reflecting SCC guidelines and policies. Failure to meet these general guidelines, expectations and policies can and will result in sanctions not limited to monetary fines, suspension of voting privileges, post season, local, regional and or national forfeiture of play and individual suspensions of members. It may also result in the discontinuation of affiliation with the Charter until guidelines and operations are met to satisfy the Executive Committee of the SCC. ARTICLE II CHARTER REQUIREMENTS / DUTIES A. INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS/ MANDATORY MEETING & CLINICS / ONLINE CERTIFICATIONS / 1. INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS - Charters shall be required to carry, either through SCC or by separate purchase the following insurances: a) General Liability - coverage to be for at least one million dollars indemnification of the SCC. Proof of such insurance must be on file with SCC within 30 days of coverage inception or renewal, without exception. There are no appeals and the SCC will severe all legal affiliations with Charters without Insurance. Failure to comply with this rule shall result in all events associated with Charter to cease until compliance is achieved. b) Errors and Omissions (sometimes called Board Insurance) - coverage for at least one million dollars. 2. MANDATORY MEETINGS & CLINICS - The following SCC Clinics/Meetings are designated as Mandatory : a) Presidents Retreat & Primer January / February; All Presidents or VP Representative must attend Presidents Retreat. First & Second year Presidents are required to attend the President Primer. Failure to attend will result in a $ fine and six (6) months voting rights suspended. b) Presidents Monthly Board Meeting ALL Presidents or designee must attend monthly SCC board meetings on the second weekend of the month. Failure to attend will result in a $ fine and suspension of the subsequent one (1) months voting rights. c) SCC Head Football Coach s Rules and Referee s Clinic July / August; The Head coach and one assistant coach must attend the SCC organized Head Coach s Rules and Referee clinic. Failure to attend as described above will result in the suspension until the head coach attends a SCC make-up meeting or meeting with the Executive Commissioner and/or Football Commissioner; Failure to make up the meeting will result in the suspension of the Head Coach for the first regularly scheduled game a $ fine and a $ fine to be Page 6 of 74 Last Edited: 12/11/2017

7 assessed against the Charter for each coach that failed to attend or make-up the meeting. d) SCC Head Cheer Coach Safety/Rules Meeting July / August; The Head Cheer Coaches must attend the Head Cheer Coach s Safety/Rules Meeting. The Head Cheer must attend the SCC organized Head Coach s Rules. Failure to attend as described above will result in; the suspension of the Head Coach for the first regularly scheduled game as well as the week prior, $ fine and is not allowed on the field until the head coach attends a SCC make-up meeting, and a $ fine to be assessed against the Charter for each Team that is not represented. e) Field Commissioner (Weight Master) / Player Administrator / Team Manager Meeting August; The Field Commissioner (Weight Master)/ Player Administrator Clinic must be attended by each Charter s Field Commissioner and the rostered Player Administrator/Team Manager. f) SCC Cheer and Football Championships Each Charter will be represented by their President and or designated representative and one (1) additional board member at each event in addition to their Cheer Director at the Cheer Competition. Failure to attend as described above will result in; the suspension of the Head Coach for the first regularly scheduled game as well as the week prior, $ g) Any other designated meeting mandated by the SCC. 3. ONLINE CERTIFICATIONS - All Charter Head Football Coaches and ALL rostered assistant coach(s) must take and pass the USA football online certification LEVEL 1 or the equivalent with concussion protocols. Coaches not completing certifications will not be allowed to be present/coach until certifications are completed. B. CANDIDATE / PARTICIPANT / REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION / PROOF OF RESIDENCY/ WAIVERS / 1. A CANDIDATE is a non-member of any Charter who has the intention to register and become a participant of one of the registered and accepted members of the Southern California Conference. 2. A PARTICIPANT is an official member of an Charter that pays all required registration fees and furnishes to the SCC (through League One/Administrative Program) all required documentation including but not limited to the following: a) SCC Contract / Parental Waiver; b) Physical Fitness & Medical History Form; c) Birth Certificate / Proof of Age Must meet SCC & National Rules and Regulations; d) Scholastic Report Card / Scholastic Fitness Guidelines; e) Proof of Residency (w/in 30 days of contract signatures); f) Proof of Identity (Color Photo Head Shot no older than six (6) months) Page 7 of 74 Last Edited: 12/11/2017

8 3. REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION - Eligibility documentation for all participants in any Charter shall be determined by receipt and payment to an affiliated Charter. The following paperwork is enumerated for Registration Procedures. a) SCC Contract / National Contract Player Registration / Parent Code of Conduct (NOTE: The contract must be filled in completely and signed and dated by the participant as well as the participant s Parent or Legal Guardian. b) Proof of Medical/Physical ability to participate - see National Rules 1) Any football player or cheerleader taken to a doctor or hospital while attending any SCC event or activity including practice and games MUST provide a signed doctors release to return back to "tackle football or cheerleading". A full clearance is required before the child is allowed to resume participation with his or her team. c) Proof of Age - at least one (1) of the following: 1) Copy of a State Certified Birth Registration accompanied by the Original or State Certified Birth Registration to verify for comparison (NOTE: Hospital Birth Records, Baptism Records, etc. are NOT acceptable) Photocopies are not acceptable. 2) State recognition of Adoption/Guardianship; 3) Military Identification, Alien Registration Card State photo I.D. card, 4) Passport; 5) Any other Proof of Age must be approved by SCC on a case by case basis by the Executive Commissioner or designees; 6) The Original Birth Certificate may be requested by SCC Executive Members to verify authenticity and proof of age. d) Proof of Scholastic Fitness - Last Scholastic Report card from the current school year at time of sign-up. (Not needed for Flag & Tiny Mite Divisions.) e) Proof of Residence within Charter boundaries - the permanent home address at time of sign-up unless waiver is granted* - See Residency Requirements Below. f) Proof of Identity - A photograph of the participant, no older than six (6) months. NOTE - Item a, b, c, & e listed above are mandatory by the first day of practice. No participant may be considered a member of a roster until the Contract, Proof of Age, Proof of Residency, and Proof of Medical / Physical Ability to participate is completed, signed and verified. Items d & e listed above are NOT required at time of sign-up BUT will be required at time of Certification. SCC recommends that these documents be reviewed at sign- Page 8 of 74 Last Edited: 12/11/2017

9 up to determine preliminary eligibility for participation. On-Line Sign-ups will require documentation to be collected and verified prior to participant to be placed on a roster/team and before the members first day of practice. g) Falsification of Official Documentation This includes but is not limited to enumerated documents in sub-section one through six. Falsification of documents will automatically deem the Charter liable for sanctions. The following sanctions will be imposed including but not limited to: 1) President will be suspended from voting rights for 1 full year; 2) Charter will be suspended from post-season play including regional and national bids; 3) The Charter Player Agent and / or Team Manager will be suspended for 1 full year; 4) The Charter will be assessed $ fine per ineligible player based on falsified documentation; 5) All games played will be forfeited and vacated that ineligible players; 6) The Charter will be placed on probation for 1 full year. 4. PROOF OF RESIDENCY/AREA - The permanent home address at the time of sign-up SHALL determine residency and must be within the Charter boundaries to be eligible to participate. Participants are only eligible to participate for the Charter in which boundaries they reside, except those in determined open areas. * a) It is required by SCC Charters to review a current utility bill less than 30 days from August 1 of the current playing season to determine and verify proof of residency. b) Grandfathering: When a participant s permanent home address has changed to within the boundaries of another Charter following a season of play, he/she shall with no waiver, have the option to: 1) Stay with the Charter he/she was last certified, or; 2) Certify with the new Charter; 3) If a contract has already been signed and accepted prior to the move, the participant shall participate with that Charter unless a waiver is granted by the receiving Charter. 5. WAIVERS While there is no requirement of the Charters within the SCC to grant or to sign a waiver, it is the stance of the SCC that Charters take into account the candidate s/participant s best interest and that of the parents/guardians to grant waivers. In individual cases the SCC will grant waivers only where it deems by Executive Committee that the Charter is acting in bad faith or the denial of the waiver will create a detrimental access to participate in Football and/or Cheer. a) Candidates registering with any SCC Charter requiring a waiver must be informed of the following at the time of sign up: 1) that they reside in another Charters boundary; Page 9 of 74 Last Edited: 12/11/2017

10 2) that they cannot be placed on a team or rostered until a waiver is signed by the league president of the candidate s residential Charter; 3) the residential Charter in any capacity is not required to grant a waiver, nor required to explain reasons for not granting waivers. 4) waivers are not in perpetuity and are only valid for one (1) year; 5) the candidate/participant cannot participate in practices etc. unless a signed waiver (releasing and accepting) is cleared by the SCC. 6) If a participant has been declared eligible by an Charter through a signed & accepted waiver for 2 consecutive years a waiver shall no longer be needed for that hosting Charter. (includes siblings) 7) The SCC is not obliged to grant waivers nor will it intervene in Charter decisions to grant or not grant waivers in releasing and accepting participants but are only witness to the waiver being agreed upon. b) Waiver Exceptions - For a non-resident candidate to be declared eligible for participation, a waiver must be signed by both Charters (releasing and accepting) and cleared by the SCC unless: 1) A Head Coach (Football or Cheer) takes his/her son/daughter (and siblings) into another Charter. The coach must be in good standing and not be avoiding pending or disciplinary sanctions from the previous Charter. 2) Any previously rostered participant that resided in an open area must remain with their previous Charter and remains at the same residence, is ineligible to play in another Charter without a waiver releasing the player from the Charter for which they played last. 3) When a previous participant moves their residence to a city/area which is an open area, the player shall enjoy the freedom of choosing the Charter in which he/she wishes to participate without a waiver being required. This exception shall apply, regardless if the city/area the player moved from was an open area. 4) When a new Charter is accepted into the SCC and their recognized boundaries now encompass an area that was previously an open area, previous participants in those open areas shall enjoy the option of participating in the new Charter or remaining with the Charter the participant was with the previous year. No waiver is required. c) Waivers are granted for one (1) year only for a candidate to participate in an Charter outside of their residential boundary. Once a waiver is granted the candidate is prohibited from seeking a waiver to participate in another Charter. C. DETERMINATION OF ELIGIBILITY TO PARTICIPATE 1. Charters shall have the authority to determine if a candidate/participant s eligibility for any event related to the Charter or the Conference. Determining factors shall include, but not be limited to the following as it relates to both the participant and participant's family/guardian's: Page 10 of 74 Last Edited: 12/11/2017

11 1) Compliance with all required documentation at the Charter and Conference level; 2) Compliance with local, state, and federal laws; 3) Pending or active disciplinary actions by the Charter and/or Conference; 4) Compliance with monetary payments and/or participation hours; 5) Compliance with any other Charter or Conference requirements; 6) Appropriateness based upon the situation. b) Additionally, Charters must abide by the following guidelines/policies in declaring a candidate / participant eligible to participate: 1) Candidates / Participants must provide complete and required documentation, cleared waiver process, if applicable and be rostered through League One to be declared eligible to participate with their Charter. 2) Participants must meet the age/weight requirements as described in the Age/Weight Division Determination Schematic for the division in which they wish to participate and pass certification protocols as enumerated by National Rules and local SCC protocols and procedures. There is no exception to the age matrix for players. 3) Players must meet minimal Scholastic Fitness and/or provide a Scholastic Eligibility Form as required for participation prior to being declared eligible. 4) Dual Charters it is prohibited for a participant to participate in a school tackle football or any other non-affiliated football program and the SCC in the same season. A participant may practice with a school team up until the first game, but not participate and/or be rostered with that school team once the first regular season game begins to be a participant in the SCC. If the student wishes to rejoin his SCC Charter team following the high school season, the participant must discontinue his football play at the high school level prior to practicing or playing for the Charter. The participant discontinue practicing and playing and must be re-activated and re-instated to the roster prior to the last Monday of October, regardless of the end of their high school football season to be considered eligible for SCC play. c) All complaints concerning eligibility/illegal player disputes shall be made in writing to SCC Executive Commissioners within seven (7) days of the Charter receiving notice of a violation. The SCC shall forward such dispute to the Executive President s Committee. The Committee findings shall be reported to the Board of Presidents at the next SCC meeting and sanctions issued if found to have merit. d) The SCC shall have superior authority to that of the Charter in determining if a candidate/participant is capable of participating in any event relating to the Charter or Conference as enumerated. Page 11 of 74 Last Edited: 12/11/2017

12 D. SIGN-UPS / ROSTERS / TEAM ALIGNMENTS / STACKING ROSTERS / CUTTING OF PLAYERS/ TAXI SQUADS / RECRUITING 1. SIGN UPS - All players shall be signed up and assigned to a team on a first come basis until a maximum roster size of thirty-five (35) is reached. a) All players must be signed up in the lowest possible division for their weight and age, taking into consideration reasonable health and safety factors for a participant to add or cut weight. b) There is no exception to the age requirements for undersize players. There is no waivers or appeals for aging out of a division. Any Charter allowing a participant to play while overage in a division will forfeit all post-season play and be fined $1000 for each infraction. c) A player(s) following the 35 th assignment will be placed on a waiting list in the order in which they applied and be notified as to their position on the waiting list. d) As players voluntarily drop from a team roster, players will be added to the team roster from the waiting list in order in which they applied, not based on their athletic ability. e) Waiting List players may not be issued equipment nor participate in practice until they have been included on the roster. This would be deemed a Taxi Squad player which is not allowed. f) Any Charter that maintains a waiting list for any Team in any Division must submit a copy to SCC Executive Commissioner and SCC Player Agent of the existence of the waiting list(s). 2. ROSTERS - No Charter shall adopt a rule OR implement any policy, rule, or by-law - written or unwritten, limiting any tackle football team or Spirit squad roster to less than 35 players. a) Programs having 40 or more players at a single division may split into two teams. However, Charters must not stack teams. The teams must be split on a first come first served basis. Players 1-20 must be placed on team 1. Players must be placed on team 2. Players subsequently signing up must be placed alternately on roster 1 then roster 2 up until the 35 th player on each roster. b) Any Charter that maintains a waiting list must present to SCC a copy of the waiting list along with a policy statement that explains how the waiting list will be monitored and maintained. 3. TEAM ALIGNMENTS - Charters may declare teams as developmental squads or B squads. These squads will be monitored through league play. Regardless of their overall and/or league record teams determined and/or deemed by the SCC Executive Commissioner or Football Commissioner, to be of competitive equity with league play, following their designation will not be allowed to participate in any post-season play. Their status may be changed after the first week of tackle football play only following a formal request of the Executive Commissioner, Designated Scheduler and Football Commissioner. Page 12 of 74 Last Edited: 12/11/2017

13 4. STACKING ROSTERS - If Charters have more than one team, age groups must be equally distributed across team rosters by placement. No stacking of teams is permitted through distribution, tryouts, clinics, skill camps, practice or any other form of skill assessment. Any Charters engaged in tryouts or any activity deemed to be a tryout by the SCC will forfeit postseason play in local / regional playoffs and result in a Charter fine of $ Any Charters member found to be actively participating in this practice shall be suspended for one (1) year. 5. CUTTING OF PLAYERS - The SCC shall monitor all Charter/Team waiting lists. Charters/Teams shall report all movement of rosters to the SCC Executive Commissioner and SCC Player Agent to ensure that players of lesser athletic ability are not being cut or re-positioned on a roster or waiting list to provide room for potentially superior candidates on the roster. Any Charters engaged in cutting of players or any activity deemed to be a cutting of players by the SCC will forfeit post-season play in local / regional playoffs and result in a Charter fine of $ per cut. Any Charters member found to be actively participating in this practice shall be suspended for one (1) year. 6. TAXI SQUAD PLAYERS Taxi Squads are not allowed. No players are allowed to practice on a charter team that has not been certified or waived by the SCC to participate on an official roster. Any charter engaged in holding over of players or running a taxi squad will result in Charter fine of $ Any Charter member found to be actively participating in this practice shall be suspended for one (1) year. 7. RECRUITING - Soliciting, or enticing participants, either directly or indirectly, from previously affiliated SCC Charter rosters is strictly prohibited. Violations of these recruiting guidelines will subject the Charter to sanctions including but not limited to monetary fines of $ per player and 12 month suspensions for any person found in violation of this prohibition. E. CERTIFICATION / PLAYER CERTIFICATION / PLAYER IDENTIFICATION CARDS / ROSTER CERTIFICATION / TEAM NOTEBOOK / GAME CERTIFICATION 1. CERTIFICATION is the pre-season process by which the SCC confirms each Charter participant and complete team or squad roster for competition in the regular season of play. It is recommended that the Certification process commence at least ten (10) days prior to the Opening Game of the regular season. The appointed and approved Certification Commissioner(s) will conduct the certification process. Certification is completed in two parts Page 13 of 74 Last Edited: 12/11/2017

14 by: a) Player Certification (Age/Weight) b) Roster Certification (Player Identification Cards / League One Rosters) 2. Charters will be liable for player and team certifications. Charter teams must provide all required and necessary documentation for player certification, player identification card, team certification including online registration and entries into LEAGUE ONE or designated platform and Team notebook at enumerated dates set by the SCC. Failure of any Charter individual or team to provide this required documentation at scheduled certification dates and times will be fined $25 per individual player certification and $200 dollars per roster certification. The participant and/or team will not be certified until these fines are paid and will not be allowed and will forfeit the first week of league play. 3. PLAYER CERTIFICATION To be certified onto a team or squad roster, a participant shall qualify under the following: a) Eligibility according to Charter/ Conference guidelines, rules and policies including all required paperwork and documentation. b) c) Each participant must be certified to the lowest age/weight division unless they elect to play up and meet the age/weight of the division. d) Once certified for a particular age/weight division, a participant shall not be permitted to recertify to a lower division of play during the current season under any circumstances, but based on the information available shall be permitted to approve recertification to a higher division of play. e) At Weight/Age certification, a player who fails to make the weight for the team but has been practicing with, but falls into the weight bracket of another division, he may be moved to another division as part of certification. 4. PLAYER IDENTIFICATION CARD A player identification card will be created using the SCC template provided to all Charter Player Agents. The player ID card must include the following: a) Personal Demographics b) Divisional Demographics c) A current (w/in 30 days of certification) 2 inch by 2 inch size JPEG photo inserted via computer on the Player Identification Card 1) The picture must be taken and submitted by an Charter Official and cannot be taken or submitted by a parent/guardian. 2) The picture must be a standard headshot showing the entire face of the participant clearly; 3) No hats, sunglasses, headgear etc. may be worn in the picture. 4) The picture must be on a standardized white background; 5. ROSTER CERTIFICATION is that pre-season process whereby each Page 14 of 74 Last Edited: 12/11/2017

15 Charter will file with the SCC, a complete roster of players and a complete roster of spirit participants of each divisional team for the regular season schedule. a) The roster shall be a maximum of thirty-five (35) players. The minimum amount of players required to certify a team is eighteen (18). The minimum amount of players required to participate in any game is sixteen (16). b) For Certification weigh-ins - players SHALL be weighed in lightweight (gym type) shorts and t-shirts ONLY. No player will be weighed in uniform, street clothes, jackets, sweats, hats, shoes, etc. (exception players electing a stripped weigh-in) c) All rosters must be completed online prior to the enumerated date set by the SCC. d) Roster Certifications must be completed prior to the opening game of the regular season. e) The certified roster will be accepted by the Conference restricting the team or squad to the listed participants for the balance of the season of play. No exceptions will be made for certification of individual participants without the express approval of the SCC Executive Commissioner, and either the Football Commissioner or Cheer Commissioner following the enumerated certification date and make-up date. Exceptions will be made for rosters with less than 18 players. 6. CERTIFICATION NOTEBOOK The certification notebook shall be on the site, at all times, when the players are practicing, playing a game, or participating in any Pop Warner/SCC sanctioned event. Each team shall supply a 3 Ring Binder that must consist of the following items: a) Original Certified Team Roster b) Player Identification Card c) SCC Personnel Contracts Coaches Code of Conduct w/ Signature Pages d) SCC Parent Contracts Code of Conduct w/ Signature Pages e) Participant Contract 1) Numerical Order for Football 2) Alphabetical Order for Cheer f) Physical Fitness & Medical History Form g) Scholastic Fitness Verification 7. No make-up dates for player or roster certification can be established without the express permission of the SCC Executive Commissioner and the assigned Certification Commissioner. All certifications subsequent to enumerated dates established by the SCC will result in fines as posted above to each Charter requesting certification. F. SCC FINAL CERTIFICATION / MAKE-UP CERTIFICATION - Any Charter not providing forms / paperwork on designated time/date shall have their voting rights Page 15 of 74 Last Edited: 12/11/2017

16 suspended until paperwork is submitted and verified. Where extenuating circumstances exists, upon approval by the SCC Board of Commissioners, deadlines may be extended. 1. SCC FINAL CERTIFICATION - The SCC will designate a final certification date/time for all participant / team verifications setting rosters for the season. Rosters will become permanent and official upon final certification. No additions/omits or edits to the rosters are permissible by Charters without the express permission of the SCC Board of Executive Commissioners. Any violation of the roster being edited will result in the immediate suspension of the team in post-season play and Charter fine of $ There will be one (1) unpublished make-up certification date set by the SCC Executive Player Agent(s) in either or both regions. Failure of players/teams to attend make up certification date/time will result in the immediate suspension of the player / team from any practice or game play until an official certification. Charter teams / players missing the make-up certification will be scheduled individually at an additional cost of $50.00 per participant for certifications made outside normal dates / times of certifications and times. G. GAME CERTIFICATION / WEIGH INS / EQUIPMENT CHECKS Field Commissioners of hosting Charters or those assigned by the SCC for post-season play will conduct all league and playoff certifications. SEE ALSO Section II, Article II subsection Player ARTICLE III THE SCHEDULE A. SCHEDULING CRITERIA / LEAGUE DRAWS / SCHEDULE COMMITTEE / FIELD DECLARATIONS / SCHEDULE REQUESTS-CHANGES / TEAM DECLARATIONS / PERSISTENCE OF TEAMS / 1. SCHEDULING CRITERIA The SCC will make every effort to block Charters when scheduling contests to ensure continuity of programming and availability of volunteer supervision of facilities and participants. The scheduling committee will work to ensure this continuity, however restraints in scheduling occur and Charters may seek relief only when circumstances will be detrimental to the welfare of the teams or player s health, welfare or safety. Determinations of these circumstances is at the sole discretion of the SCC Executive Commissioner. Charter blocking for schedule will be designated by considering the following criteria: a) Divisional Team Numbers b) Geographical Location c) Charter Designation d) Competitive Equity e) Facility Attributes Page 16 of 74 Last Edited: 12/11/2017

17 No game time will be scheduled earlier than 8:00am and will start no later than 7:00pm. The ONLY exception will be SCC sanction Bowl Games or games starting late due to daily schedule running late. League play will conclude in sufficient time to permit the appropriate number of Conference play-off dates. 2. SCHEDULING COMMITTEE - The Committee will consist of The Executive Commissioner, a Northern and Southern Charter President, and a neutral Deputy Scheduling Commissioner. All scheduling meetings are open to the general public and any Charter Board Member. 3. LEAGUE DRAWS - Charter teams by division will be placed into the Northern or Southern League by designated geography or single league for Conference play due to minimal teams. a) Divisional League Draws will be selected AT RANDOM by a manual or electronic method. No consideration will be given for previous year s records, geographic location, team designation, Charter, coaching staff, etc. Not-withstanding, the draw may be adjusted to prevent same Charter teams in same draw where possible. b) Once determined League draws are final and may only be changed based upon League and/or Division Team counts Division being defined as - either Division of Play (Jr. Pee Wee, Pee Wee, etc.) Open Division/ Regional Division. c) The minimum amount of League games scheduled in any season shall be FOUR (4). 4. FIELD DECLARATIONS - All Charter scheduling requirements information MUST be furnished to SCC no later than July 15 th of the current season. (i.e. number of fields and their availability, game time availability, field down times, SPECIAL SCHEDULING CONSIDERATIONS, if fields have lights, etc. a) Confirmation of Contracts and/or User Agreements for facilities from the Charter to the Executive Commissioner are required. b) NO home games will be scheduled without contract/confirmation provided to the SCC. c) Loss of field availability by Charter organizations, unless by unforeseeable/emergency circumstances during the season of play, require the charter to secure new facilities at their own expense to ensure the schedule of contests. d) Loss of field availability by Charters during the season of play that cannot be re-assigned will automatically result in forfeits for the hosting Charter. The Charter will also become liable for the cost of the SCC and or any other Charters in securing facilities to complete weekly contests. 5. SCHEDULE REQUESTS/CHANGES - ALL requests for schedule changes shall be presented to the SCC Executive Commissioner and Deputy Page 17 of 74 Last Edited: 12/11/2017

18 Scheduling Commissioner, and will be submitted to by the Charter President ONLY, in writing at least 2 weeks prior to the requested change. Failure to comply with this notice and procedural requirement shall result in denial of the requested schedule change. a) No forfeited game shall be rescheduled unless approved by the Executive Commissioner and SCC Scheduling Officer. b) Unauthorized scheduling of games outside of the designated SCC scheduling Deputy Commissioner is considered a rule violation. The offending Head Coach, Staff Member or Board Member will be suspended for a minimum of two weeks and Charter fined $ per team. c) It is SCC policy to attempt to fill byes. Coaches are hereby placed on notice that they should anticipate that a bye in the initial schedule may be replaced by a scheduled game against a non-conference opponent. 1) Failure to fulfill that obligation is considered a rule violation, subject to the suspension penalties. 2) Any cost incurred by either, the Conference or the opposing team, as a result of the cancellation, will be billed to the offending team s Charter, and that team will not be permitted to participate in post-season play. d) Game time changes, location changes, or cancellations shall only be made with concurrence of the Executive Commissioner and Deputy Scheduling Commissioner. The SCC Deputy Scheduling Commissioner shall give any schedule changes to the Presidents, in writing by either hard copy notice or via . e) IT IS THE GOAL OF SCC TO PUBLISH A FIRM-FIXED SCHEDULE TO THE CHARTERS NO LATER THAN AUGUST 15th OF THE CURRENT SEASON. 6. TEAM DECLARATIONS - All Charters MUST assemble their teams and declare their team counts no later than July 15th of the current season. a) Team declarations MUST be accompanied by the most current Charter sign-up information (current team roster/sign-ups) listing all players assigned to each team including their age, their address, their Date of Birth, their sign-up weight, and their sign-up date. b) On July 31st of the current season, Charter Team counts shall be frozen. Any Charter wishing to drop teams after this date shall be fined $ for each occurrence. c) Any Charter that fails to certify a declared team shall be fined $ for each occurrence. d) No candidates or teams shall be added after July 31 st without express permission of the SCC Executive Committee. e) Charters failing to declare teams will forfeit any requests for scheduling accommodations and/or the minimum amount of four (4) league home games. Page 18 of 74 Last Edited: 12/11/2017

19 7. PERSISTENCE OF TEAMS - From August 1 until the Certification of the team, any declared tackle team must have at least 18 players on it that meet the age, weight (within the national allowable variances), and scholastic requirements of the team s division. a) Teams declaring at Certification must maintain teams for the agreed upon league and playoff schedule. Teams may declare b) Candidates / Participants cannot be on two teams or rosters at a time. No player on a team may also be on a cheer squad at the same time. c) Any declared tackle team must have the number of players specified by this section on the first game of the season. d) Only declared teams may be recognized by SCC for participation in conference activities, including, but not limited to, pre-season games, inseason games, scrimmages, post-season games. e) Any team not so qualified as noted in this section shall be dissolved for the remainder of the season and the Charter shall be fined for dropping a team. However, by a majority vote of the Board of Commissioners, a team may continue to exist if conditions warrant such existence. B. GAMES / CANCELLATION OF GAMES / NO SHOWS - FAILURE TO PLAY- FORFEITS / GAME SCORE REPORTING 1. GAMES - The term Games, used in this document, shall include both Regulation and Non-Regulation Games. A Non- Regulation game shall be played in place of a Regulation game when one or both of the teams have less than 16 players show up to a scheduled game, and both teams have at least 11 players that show up to participate at a scheduled game time. The following shall apply to Non-Regulation Games: a) The outcome of Non-Regulation games shall have no bearing on league standings or overall record, and shall not be recorded by the conference. This shall not constrain the conference from recording forfeitures as the result of insufficient players. b) Non-Regulation games must be played provided there are at least 11 players present on each team. c) Non-Regulation games shall not count towards any practice time d) Weigh-ins must be performed at Non-Regulation games e) No team staff may instruct players to not show up to a Non-Regulation game f) Mandatory play rules shall not apply to Non-Regulation games. However, it is strongly suggested that all players are afforded an equal opportunity to participate in the Non-Regulation game. g) Coaches, team staff, and players who refuse to play a Non-Regulation game shall be subject to suspension. 2. CANCELLATION OF GAMES - A 72-hour notice of cancellation prior to a scheduled game, scrimmage, pre-season or post-season game shall be required. Lack of said notice shall result in a $ penalty. a) This notice shall be made to the Executive Commissioner, Deputy Page 19 of 74 Last Edited: 12/11/2017

20 Scheduling Commissioner by the Charter President ONLY. b) The home team Charter President shall have the authority to cancel all games on his playing field during or prior to the scheduled starting times if, in his judgment, either the weather or field conditions would be hazardous to the participants. c) All cancelled games shall be reported to the Executive Commissioner and Deputy Scheduling Commissioner within seventy-two (72) hours prior to the normally scheduled playing time. 3. NO SHOWS/FAILURE TO PLAY/FORFEITS - Both Presidents and Head Coaches are responsible for contact between their opposing teams, prior to the Wednesday before each game, to verify time, place, and jersey color. a) The AWAY team shall be responsible for changing jersey colors, if there is a conflict, and shall do so if requested by the visiting coach, prior to the date of the game. b) If the AWAY team is required to change jerseys, the jersey numbers will be put on the MPR form, prior to reporting for weigh-ins. If contact cannot be made or there is a problem, both coaches shall contact their Charter President who will in turn contact the opposing team s President. c) Failure to comply may result in either or both teams being charged with a forfeit. d) If a team has enough eligible players to play, but refuses to play them, either prior to or during a game, the Head Coach will be suspended, if an SCC investigation so warrants. However, nothing shall preclude the Charter President of the team refusing to play, or a Commissioner with personal knowledge of the incident, to issue a summary suspension pending the outcome of the investigation. e) For any forfeit that results in the game not being played as scheduled, the forfeiting team shall be responsible for the referee fees, and a $ snack bar fee/visiting team fee, which shall be collected by assessing the Charter of the forfeiting team, and crediting it to the SCC account of the offended Charter. f) The team who does not forfeit shall be awarded a win. The score for a forfeited game shall be recorded as 1 to 0 in favor of the winning team. 4. GAME SCORE REPORTING The SCC Administration shall determine the method and nature of game score reporting. All game scores shall be reported to SCC as prescribed. a) It shall be the responsibility of Home team's Charter to report game scores to SCC Executive Commissioner, Deputy Scheduling Commissioner and opposing Charter President. b) Game scores may be corrected by either the Home team's Charter, the Visiting team's Charter, or by SCC. SCC shall have the right to "lock out" alterations to game scores. c) Game Score reporting shall be done by the Charter's President, his designee, or a person designated by vote of the Charter's Board of Page 20 of 74 Last Edited: 12/11/2017

21 Directors. If the person reporting game scores is not the Charter President, then that person's name must be provided to SCC. d) The SCC may, at its sole discretion, may decline to accept the designated game score entry person should that person not be the Charter President. In this case either the Charter President or the Charter's Board of Directors shall choose another person. e) All game scores shall be reported no later than noon on the Sunday following a game. Failure to provide scores will result in a $ fine per day for late submissions and game scores not reported in a timely manner shall subject the designated Home Team of the game to forfeiting the game. f) SCC shall determine the reporting time constraints for games played on Sunday and communicate said time constraints to the Charters of the participants. g) Reported game scores for a team as of noon on Sunday prior to the commencement of play-offs associated with that team shall be, by rule, the correct game scores regardless of the actual outcome of the game. h) SCC shall use the reported game score statistics as they exist as of twelve noon on Sunday prior to the commencement of play-offs associated with a team to determine play-off statistics. i) SCC, at its sole discretion, may modify any reported game score at any time so as to comply with its own rules, bylaws, or other reasons as propriety demands. Said modifications may be used in the computations for play-off statistics. Said modifications shall cause the resultant game scores, by rule, to be the correct game scores. C. PLAYOFF ELIGIBILITY / QUALIFICATIONS FOR SCC PLAYOFFS / NON- QUALIFYING TEAMS / PLAYOFF STRUCTURE / SEEDING / PLAYOFF VENUES / PLAYOFF FORMAT / SCC CHAMPIONSHIOPS / DIVISIONAL DESIGNATIONS 1. PLAYOFF ELIGIBILITY - Only the following Divisions of Play participate in SCC will participate in Playoff games: a) Mitey Mite b) Jr. Pee Wee c) Pee Wee d) Jr. Varsity e) Varsity f) Unlimited 2. QUALIFICATIONS FOR SCC PLAYOFFS The following teams in each division, except Flag and Tiny Mite may qualify for playoffs: a) League s Champions; The top four (4) or eight (8) teams from each geographical league will represent the North / South leagues and be cross -seeded accordingly to represent the playoff bracket for regional / national playoffs. Sufficient additional Wild-Card teams may be added to complete eight (8) or sixteen (16) team brackets depending on the Page 21 of 74 Last Edited: 12/11/2017