2017 NTX UNITED CONFERENCE FOOTBALL RULE CLARIFICATIONS & MODIFICATIONS

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1 2017 NTX UNITED CONFERENCE FOOTBALL RULE CLARIFICATIONS & MODIFICATIONS A. GENERAL CLARIFICATIONS (ALL AGE DIVISIONS) 1. Games shall be governed by the current version of the NFHS (National Federation of High Schools) rules, except where superseded by the current version of the AYF Official Rules and Regulations. ALL coaches are responsible for being familiar with the NFHS and AYF rules! NOTE: Start times - If the prior game finishes early the subsequent game may start earlier than scheduled ONLY if both head coaches are in agreement. MANDATORY PLAY REQUIREMENT (MPR) a) The AYF official rules and regulations has a mandatory play requirement during Regional and National competitions. NTX UNITED exercises an exception to this rule, however coaches are encouraged to consider this rule to ensure they are prepared to adhere to the rule during Regional and National competitions. b) The number of plays required to meet the MPR is established at the start of the game based on the number of players present. c) Tardy players will be certified at half time and allowed to participate in the second half of the game. The addition of the player to the game will not change the MPR established at the start of the game. d) Any MPR personnel shall not participate in coaching activities. GAME PLAY CLOCK 1. Change of Possession Following any change of possession (kicking or turnovers) a 25-second play clock will be started by the game officials. 2. Scrimmage Plays Once the ball has been placed signaled ready for play by the game officials, a 40-second play clock will be started by the game officials. OTHER RULES a) Mercy Rule - 35 points or 5 touchdowns differential, whichever comes first. The game will go to a running clock for the remainder of the game. The clock will only be stopped for injuries, official timeouts or timeouts called by the losing team. The clock will NOT return to normal operation once it has gone to a running clock. It will be the losing team s preference as to whether they will receive a normal kickoff or they may choose to take the ball on their own 40-yard line. b) Jersey Conflict - In case of conflict of Jersey color the Officials will make the final decision B. PROTESTS 1. Protests are permitted in accordance with the AYF Official Rules and Regulations, where Conferences shall have complete jurisdiction over protests concerning all games within their programs. 2. Protests of judgment calls by game officials are NOT permitted. If rules are not being properly interpreted, please contact the NTX UNITED Football Commissioner as soon as possible. Page 1 of 6

2 3. Protests of player eligibility are permitted. Eligibility would include non-rostered players, age, dualcertified players, etc. a. As soon as the player in question participates, request an official s timeout and inform the head official that you are protesting an opposing player due to ineligibility. Ask the official to notify the opposing coach. Please note that the game will continue as normal and the player is permitted to play. b. Within 24 hours of game completion, an must be submitted to the NTX UNITED Football Commissioner which should include game date, time, location, opponent, player protesting, and justification of protest (reason and knowledge why). c. If a team is found to be using an ineligible player, the team may be required to forfeit the games in which the player played. d. If a team is found to knowingly using an ineligible player, the Head Coach may face additional punishments. 4. The NTX UNITED Executive Board will review any properly submitted protest with seven (7) days and provide a decision. All decisions of the NTX UNITED Executive Board are final and no appeals will be heard. C. FORFEITS 1. It is required that each Tackle team must have the minimum number of 13 players eligible and able to participate to start a regulation or play-off game. If the number of players falls below11 players, the game will be forfeited. 2. It is required that each Flag team must have the minimum of 8 players eligible and able to participate to start a regulation or play-off game. 3. If either team fails to field a team within fifteen (15) minutes of the starting time, the head official shall declare a forfeit against the team which has failed to produce enough players to play the game in accordance with the rules. Any team that forfeits a game will be fined the cost of the officials, to be given to the host organization that paid for the officials for the game forfeited. D. PLAYING FIELD and FIELD EQUIPMENT 1. ALL game fields must meet NFHS regulations in their dimensions. The fields must have properly chalked or painted lines. 2. ALL game fields should have a working scoreboard with a game clock. 3. ALL game fields must have down and distance markers. 4. The VISITING team provide volunteers (16-years of age or older) to operate the down and distance markers. E. PLAYER EQUIPMENT 1. ALL players must be properly equipped. a) Mouthpieces are mandatory. b) Footwear must consist of one (1) piece rubber molded cleats. Metal or removable cleats are NOT allowed. Page 2 of 6

3 F. PRE-GAME PLAYER ELIGIBILITY CHECK a) ALL players must have their eligibility validated ( book check ) prior to the scheduled kickoff time each and every regular season and playoff game by the opposing team before they are permitted to participate in a game. This procedure MUST take place either an hour before scheduled kickoff time or at half time of the preceding game. b) ALL players must have their player participation card signed or initialed by the opposing team s head coach or their designated team representative. This is required per AYF official rules and regulations and will be reviewed for any team that qualifies for AYF regional or national competitions. Protests are conducted in accordance with Paragraph B in this document. G. RULE CLARIFICATIONS AND/OR MODIFICATIONS 1. Flag Division a) Field Length The playing field shall be 80-yards in length. b) Game Ball Flag will use the Wilson K2 Pee Wee ball for ages 6-9 c) Clock Operation The game clock will be a running clock and will only be stopped during an official s timeout, team timeout and injury timeout. d) Automatic Punt - There is no punting on fourth down unless the team chooses to have a player attempt the punt. No rush rule applies in this case. Otherwise, for a change of possession, the offensive team tells the referee that they choose to punt, the ball is advanced 30 yards down field to be no deeper than the defensive team's 30-yard line, and the ball is turned over to the defensive team. e) Point after touchdown (PAT) PAT is one point for running and (2) for Kicking, or a Forward Pass. f) Uniforms - Flag players must wear matching jerseys and shorts. (Football pants with Hip, tail and thigh pads are optional.) g) Flags - Only flags certified by NTX UNITED may be used in this division. Any player who handles the football and has their jersey un- tucked is consider down at the spot of contact with the ball. h) Blocking - Linemen may block with arms extended and inside the shoulders of the opponent Page 3 of 6

4 2. 7U and 8U Divisions Game Ball 7U and 8U will use the Wilson K2 Pee Wee ball for ages 6-9 Kickoff There will NOT be kickoff or kick return at the 7U tackle level. The receiving team will get the ball on their own 30-yard line to start the game and after a scoring play. Clock Operation The game clock will be a running clock with the following rules of operations: a) The length of each quarter will be ten (10) minutes b) During the First (1 st ) and Third (3 rd ) quarters the clock will only be stopped following a first down, scoring play, change of possession, penalty and during an official s timeout, team timeout and injury timeout. c) During the Second (2 nd ) and Fourth (4 th ) quarters the clock will be stopped following a scoring play, at the 2:00 minute remaining mark as well as when a player goes out of bounds, after an incomplete pass, penalty, and timeouts (team, official or injury). Blocking Chop or Cut blocks shall not be permitted by any player at any time. Coaching a) Only one (1) coach from each team will be allowed on the field for both offensive and defensive plays. No other coaches or parents are allowed on the field. b) On-field coaches (offense and defense) must cease any communication with players on the field once the offensive team breaks the huddle. A huddle is defined as two (2) or more players gathered on the field prior to alignment. On field coaching includes, but is not limited to, giving instructions, positioning players and calling plays (both offensive and defensive). Violation of this rule constitutes DELAY of GAME. The penalty will be: 1st offense = warning; 2nd \ offense = 5-yard penalty; 3rd offense = 10-yard penalty; fourth offense = 10-yard penalty and coach ejection. c) The coaches must remain 15 yards behind their player that is furthest away from the line of scrimmage during each play. d) Coaches must make every attempt to avoid the play in progress. Any coach found to be interfering with a play will be removed from the playing field immediately. Play will not continue until the coach has left the playing field. e) 7U - On-field coaches will be permitted throughout the entire season. f) 8U - On-field coaches will only be permitted through the first three (3) regular season games. Punting a. Declared Punt On fourth (4 th ) down for a change of possession, the offensive team can declare a punt to the referee and the ball is advanced 30 yards down field to be no deeper than the defensive team's 20-yard line, and the ball is turned over to the defensive team. b. Player Punt The offensive team may elect to punt on fourth (4 th ) down by having a player attempt the punt. Page 4 of 6

5 i. There is a "no rush" punt rule allowing for the punter to receive the ball from the center and execute the punt, therefore allowing the offensive team to receive the "no rush" protection. The offensive team must tell the referee that they are going to punt. c. Fake Punt - There is no "fake punt" opportunity in this league. Defense must have 6 players on the line of scrimmage. Once the ball is punted the punting team may release for punt coverage. The clock does not start until the ball is touched. If a team does not declare a punt/kick, the defense may rush the punter/kicker but are allowed only to do so with raised hands. The referee may only ask the coach if they wish to declare, not if they are punting/kicking, and must do so prior to the offense-breaking huddle. The opposing coach may not ask. Good sportsmanship should be realized in this situation. Point After Touchdown (PAT) - PAT / Run or Pass will equal one (1) point and un-rushed Kick equals two (2) points. Defensive Alignment The defensive team may NOT align directly on the line of scrimmage (LOS) head up or shaded over the offensive Center. Interior defensive tackles may line up on the inside shoulder of the offensive Guards in the A gaps, but must be in a 3-point stance. This effectively means that you must run an EVEN front defense such as 4 or 6 man fronts. Blitzing - Defensively there will not be any blitz play called over the Centers head. Middle Linebackers must be a minimum of 3-yards from the positioned Center. The defense is allowed to blitz the B-gap or C-gap, but NOT the A-gap. Regular Season Overtime Following a coin toss where the winner decides if they want to begin on offense or defense: Each team will have one offensive possession from the 10-yard with 1 st and Goal. Each team will have one (1) timeout during each overtime period with NO carryover. If the score is still tied after the 1 st overtime period, a 2 nd and final overtime period will be conducted. If the score is tied after the 2 nd overtime period, total yards gained will be the determining factor for victory. If the total yards are equal, then the game will end in a TIE. 3. 9U, 10U, 11U, 12U and 13U Divisions Game Ball o 9U will use the Wilson K2 Pee Wee ball for ages 6-9 o 10U, 11U and 12U will use the Wilson K2 Junior or TDJ ball for ages o 13U and 14U will use the Wilson TDY ball for ages Clock Operation The game clock will be a regulation clock following the NFHS rules of operations. Page 5 of 6

6 Regular Season Overtime Following a coin toss where the winner decides if they want to begin on offense or defense: Each team will have one offensive possession from the 10-yard with 1 st and Goal. Each team will have one (1) timeout during each overtime period with NO carryover. If the score is still tied after the 1 st overtime period, a 2 nd and final overtime period will be conducted. If the score is tied after the 2 nd overtime period, total yards gained will be the determining factor for victory. If the total yards are equal, then the game will end in a TIE. Punting and Kicking a) ALL punts are live with rushing and blocking allowed. b) ALL PAT kicks are live with rushing and blocking allowed. c) No defensive player shall line up over the Center on punts or PAT attempts d) It is illegal to hit the Center on punts or PAT. A penalty will be enforced. Blocking a) Chop or Cut blocks shall not be permitted by any player at any time. b) Defenseless player rules are in effect as defined by NFHS rules. No crack back or peel back blocks. An automatic 15-yard penalty will be enforced. Injuries a) The injured player must leave the game for a minimum of one play from scrimmage b) Players from the opposing team must take a knee in a huddle away from the injured player until the injured player has been removed from the field of play. Coaches are not permitted to coach or provide instructions during an injury timeout. Page 6 of 6