Pocket Rules Rules Applicable to All Divisions

Transcription

1 Pocket Rules 2014 Rules Applicable to All Divisions High School Rules: Unless otherwise indicated, High School Federation Rules govern the play of the game. Periods and Clock: Tiny-Mites play two 22-minute halves. All other divisions play four 10-minute quarters. Time-Outs: Tiny-Mite teams get two time-outs per half. Teams in all other divisions get three time-outs per half. Slaughter Rule: When a team goes up by 18-points or more, the coaching staff of the winning team is to take actions to prevent the score differential from reaching 28 points. When a team first goes ahead by 28-points or more, the official clock shall immediately become a running clock for the remainder of the game. Once started the clock can only be stopped for the injury of a player or at the discretion of the referee. The clock cannot revert to a game clock operation for the remainder of the game. Only when there is a 28-point or more differential between the two opponents, the following shall occur. A. The winning team cannot pass the ball, run sweeps outside the tackle, or run reverses. Each violation shall be a 5-yard penalty, and a loss of down. B. There will be no blitzing by either team. Each violation shall be a 5-yard penalty. C. There shall be no onside kicks by the winning team. Each violation shall be a 5-yard penalty. D. The winning defensive team cannot advance a fumble, or pass interception. The ball is blown dead immediately. The winning team starts play from this point. E. The winning team must make every effort to replace starting players with reserves. F. The losing team cannot place more than seven players in the box on defense. G. Any coach who employs types of plays without the intent to maximize the action of play shall be in violation of this rule. H. Both teams are still required to complete the Mandatory Play requirements. Game Ball: Tiny-Mites and Mitey-Mites: Under Armour PeeWee or equivalent; Jr. PeeWees and PeeWees Under Armour Junior or equivalent; Jr. Midgets Under Armour Youth or equivalent. No Numbering Requirements: There are no numbering requirements for positions of play. Players shall wear a number between 1 and 99. No duplicate numbers shall be permitted. Intermission: There is a one minute break between periods, and a 10-minute break at halftime followed by a three minute mandatory warm-up period. Forfeits: A game will be declared a forfeit against a team: (1) that does not have 16 certified players who are eligible by weight to participate; (2) that does not have 16 players available to play through the end of the game; (3) or against a team that is not prepared to start within 15-minutes after the scheduled start time, or at end of the previous game if the previous game ends 15-minutes or more after the scheduled start time. Once a game has been declared a forfeit, the participating teams may not scrimmage against each other. Weigh-ins do not constitute the start of a game. A team is disqualified from the league if it forfeits twice in one season. Point After Touchdowns: Two points shall be awarded for a successful point after touchdown when kicked. One point shall be awarded otherwise. The two inch block tee is the only tee permitted. Weigh-Ins: Weigh-ins shall begin 45 minutes prior to the scheduled game start time. Teams not prepared for weigh-ins at the scheduled weigh-in time will be penalized by forfeiting the right to receive the kickoff for both the

2 first and second halves. When this infraction occurs, Ron Newton is to be notified immediately by the Game Day Manager. Communication Equipment: No communications equipment to relay information to coaches on the sideline is permitted during game situations. Team Box: Only the Must Play Monitors and those designated on the Official Team Roster are permitted in the team box. Three coaches are permitted in the coaches box until play becomes live. During live play, all coaches, players, and support personnel are to be in the team box two yards from the sideline. Game Postponement: Games postponed during the first half or at halftime will not be considered a complete game, and if possible, will be resumed at a later date with the position of the ball, and time clock as existed when the game was postponed. Games postponed during the second half will constitute a complete game at the time of postponement. All rescheduling of games is to be coordinated through the Executive Director. Chain Crew: Location for the chain crew is the home sideline. Protests: Only protests involving the eligibility of a player will be considered. Ties: In all divisions except Tiny-Mites and Mitey-Mites, ties shall be broken using the established high school tie breaker rule. Unsportsmanlike Conduct: Any player or coach ejected from a game is ineligible to play or coach in his team s next game, and is not permitted to participate in practices the week following the ejection. Coaches and players who receive three unsportsmanlike penalties during the season are suspended for the remainder of the season. Officials shall report the numbers of ejected players and the names of coaches who are ejected or receive unsportsmanlike penalties to RCB Sports. Unsportsmanlike conduct is defined in the High School Federation Rules, and also includes any violation of the Pop Warner Code of Conduct, or Pop Warner national or local rules, including such things as: 1. Using profane, insulting, or vulgar language, or gestures (including taunting designed to embarrass, ridicule, or demean others). 2. Disrespect toward officials or objections to an official s decision. 3. Having an uncooperative or obstructionist attitude. 4. Criticizing an opposing team, its players, coaches, or fans by words or gestures. 5. Inciting unsportsmanlike conduct among players. 6. Inappropriate physical contact with players (including grabbing a player s facemask). 7. Failure of the head coach to control the location or conduct of his fans after being warned by the official. 8. Verbal harassment of players or other conduct unbecoming of a youth football coach. 9. Engaging in any action which reflects negatively or causes embarrassment to the Pop Warner program. Lightning: When lightning is seen or thunder is heard, participants are to be removed immediately from the field to an appropriate shelter. Once play or practice has been suspended, wait at least 30 minutes after the last flash of lightning is witnessed or thunder is heard before resuming play or practice. For any subsequent thunder or lightning after the beginning of the 30-minute count, reset the clock and begin another 30-minute count.

3 Rules Applicable Only to Mitey-Mite Division On-Field Coach: Each team may have a maximum of one coach on the field (except during punts and kickoffs) to assist players in lining up and calling plays on offense and defense. Once the offensive team is set in formation, the coach must stay 10-yards behind the line of scrimmage, and not make any comments until the play is over. The Field Coach should always encourage and support players from both teams while on the field. For Point after Touchdown Attempts, and Field Goals: The snapper must snap the ball to a holder who holds the ball for the kicker. Once the ball is snapped, the ball must be kicked within five seconds. Defense: There shall be: 1. No blitzing 2. No rushing of punts, field goals, or point after touchdowns (while attempting a kick). 3. No more than six (6) defensive players can be on the line of scrimmage (sideline to sideline) or rush the ball. 4. Defensive players on the line of scrimmage must be in either a three or four point stance and may not line up over center. The penalty for violating any of the above: First violation = warning; Additional violations = 15-yard penalty. Ready to Play Signal: Once the Ready to Play signal is given, teams have 35 seconds to begin play. Ties stand: There will not be any tie-breaker for a Mitey-Mite game ending in a tie. Ties will stand as ties. Rules Applicable Only to Tiny-Mite Division The following are specific rules that must be followed for the Tiny-Mite Division. Players: Maximum 28, Minimum 16 Field Length: 80 yard field Coaches: Two coaches from each team are permitted to be on the field with the team. Once the offensive team is set in formation, coaches must stay back 10 yards from the line of scrimmage, and not make any comments until the play is over. The Field Coaches should always encourage and support players from both teams while on the field. No Kick Offs: Instead of kickoffs, the ball shall be placed on the 30 yard line. No Punting: On 4th down, a team has the option of (a) running or passing the ball from scrimmage or (b) moving the ball to the opponents 30 yard line and starting offensive play from there. Penalties: Major penalties are 10-yards. Minor penalties are 5-yards. Game Time and Time Outs: Each half is 22 minutes. Games will consist of two (2) halves. Half time will be10 minutes followed by a three minute mandatory warm-up period. All games will have a running clock except for clock stoppages on timeouts, change of possession and injuries. Each team is allowed two (2) time outs per half. Ready to Play Signal: Once the Ready to Play signal is given, teams have 35 seconds to begin play. No score will be displayed on scoreboard. No tiebreakers. No try for point after touchdown. Ball will be blown dead: if fumbled behind the line of scrimmage. However, ball will be live if fumbled beyond the line of scrimmage.

4 Playing Time: All players must play a minimum of 15 plays per game. It is recommended that a 2 platoon system (offense/defense) be utilized to help teach the game. Each team must have three (3) captains per game. Every player on the team must be given an opportunity to be a captain. Offense: All offensive backs must be lined up behind the offensive line in some type of formation. Teams are permitted, to split one offensive back no more than five (5) yards outside the tight end. Defense: Defensive line must be one (1) yard back from the offensive line. Defense must run 6,4,1 set. Defensive players on the line of scrimmage must be in either a three or four point stance and may not line up over center. Player lined up over the center must be three (3) yards off the center. No more than six (6) defensive players can rush the ball. No blitzing. The penalty for violating any of the above: First violation = warning; Additional violations = 15-yard penalty. Game Ball: Under Armour PeeWee or equivalent. Mandatory Play Requirements: Requirements: All age/weight divisions other than Tiny-Mites shall follow the same Mandatory Play requirements. Tiny-Mites: All players must play a minimum of 15 plays per game. Mitey-Mites, Jr. PeeWees, PeeWees, and Jr. Midgets: Depending on the number of players available and certified by weight at the start of the game, the following minimum requirements shall be followed players 14 plays per game players 13 plays per game players 10 plays per game The following rules apply. A. The plays must be from the line of scrimmage. B. Kick-offs, point after touchdowns, quarterback intentionally spiking the ball, and free kicks shall not be used in fulfilling the must play requirements. C. A play shall not count toward fulfillment of the must play requirement if the play resulted in a penalty which causes the down to be replayed. D. All players shall be provided their Mandatory Plays by participation in active plays, without the intent to minimize the action or integrity of the plays. Plays such as, but not limited to, having the center snap the ball to the quarterback and then the quarterback falls to the ground, while substitutes are playing the other positions, shall NOT be considered as active plays. E. When the Lopsided/Intentionally Run-Up Scores/Slaughter rule goes into effect, teams must still complete the Mandatory Play requirements. F. All players shall receive their mandatory plays by the end of the third period, or they shall enter the game at the start of the fourth quarter, and remain in the game until they have received their required number of plays. G. Failure to adhere to the Mandatory Play requirements shall result disciplinary action including forfeiture of the game in addition to the head coach being placed on probation unless the violation is found to be intentional in which case the head coach is suspended for one week. Referee Conferences and Must Play Rules: Pre-Game Conference (All Divisions): The referee shall hold a pre-game conference with the head coaches of each team at midfield five minutes prior to the game. The referee will (1) confirm the division of play, and the rules that apply. (2) confirm that players are properly equipped (rubber cleats, no jewelry, no headgear with knots including beads and/or hair ornaments, etc. (3) confirm that the teams have exchanged the Must Play Forms, and that each team has two Must Play monitors ready. (4) remind coaches that they are responsible for their actions, and

5 the actions of their assistants, and spectators; and that unsportsmanlike conduct of any kind (including questioning of calls) will not be tolerated (5) determine if there are any questions before play begins. Halftime Conference: At halftime, the referee will meet at midfield with one coach from each team, and with the four must play monitors to allow the monitors to identify for the coaches, the players who need plays in the game. The referee shall ensure that the conference is civil, that coaches do not question the completed must play forms, and that the coaches understand that any players who have not met their minimum play requirements by the end of the third period will be required to enter the game, and stay in the game until their play requirements are met. End of Third Period Conference: At the end of the third period, the referee shall confer with the four must play monitors at midfield. If any players have not satisfied their play requirements as shown on the forms (which are the final word on actual play time), the Must Play Monitors shall notify their respective coaches of the players jersey numbers, and number of plays required. Any team having players who do not fulfill their Must Play requirements will forfeit the game. In addition, the head coach will be placed on probation unless the violation is found to be intentional in which case the coach will be suspended for one week.