Lake Area Youth Athletic Conference 2018 Tackle Football Rules Rookie, JV, and Varsity Divisions

Lake Area Youth Athletic Conference 2018 Tackle Football Rules Rookie, JV, and Varsity Divisions

Table of Contents I. Scheduling Pg. 3 II. Practice Pg. 3 III. Participation Requirements Pg. 3 IV. Eligibility Requirements Pg. 4 V. Weigh In Procedure Pg. 4 VI. Eligibility Protest Procedure Pg. 5 VII. Playing Rules Pg. 5 A. Rules for all Divisions Pg. 5 B. Mercy Rule Pg. 6 C. Overtime Pg. 6 D. Coaches Pg. 6 E. Kickoffs Pg. 7 F. Punting Pg. 7 G. Offense Pg. 8 H. Defense Pg. 8 VIII. Sportsmanship Pg. 9 IX. 7th Grade Addendum Pg. 10

Scheduling: I. The LAYAC football league shall consist of 1 or more conferences composed of the "Rookie division" Junior Varsity (JV)" division and a "Varsity" division. II. The regular season and the playoff schedule will be the responsibility of the Lead Football Director with assistance from member football directors. III. LAYAC football coordinator committee will facilitate reschedules and rain-outs in accordance with each association. IV. Conference Standings A. Regular season conference standings will determine playoff seeding. 1. Tie Breakers: a) Total Losses b) Head to Head c) Points Against AVERAGE d) Coin toss will be used if the above process does not yield a result. (Coin toss to be held by Football Coordinator Committee at the playoff seeding meeting after last regular season game. V. All schedule conflicts must be addressed at the Football Coordinator Committee meeting in late July. VI. Football schedule will be finalized on or about second week in August. Practice: I. Pre-Season A. Summer workouts & conditioning shall be conducted and can be conducted using helmets only and will be used for conditioning, not football training and play making. B. Practice may begin on July 30 for JV and Varsity and August 6th for Flag and Rookie. C. Player must participate in total 6 hours of practice without full pads PRIOR to progressing to full pads/contact type practices. The non-padded practice time may include summer conditioning workouts. D. Time Limits: 1. Preseason practices are limited to total 6 hours per week for JV and Varsity and 4.5 hours per week for FLAG and Rookie. Practice hours may be divided as each coach/organization deems appropriate. a) A scrimmage is considered practice time. It too shall not last more than two (2) hours. II. In Season A. Following game 1, practice time limited to 4 hours per week for JV and Varsity and 3 hours per week FLAG and Rookie. Practice hours may be divided as each coach/organization deems appropriate. B. An additional 1 hour per week may be added to Varsity, JV and rookie levels for non-contact/no pads team activity. C. An additional 2 hours per week for JV and Varsity and 1.5 hours per week for FLAG and Rookie are permitted during bye weeks. Participation Requirements: I. Every player must play 5 plays per half on either offense or defense if 20 or less players on a team. II. If a team has 21-26 players then a player must play 7 plays per game. If a team has over 26 players, then a player must play 5 plays per game. III. Special teams play does not count as playing time at the JV level. IV. All players must attend at least 18 hours of practice time to be eligible to play in his/her first game. At least 12 hours must be in pads/contact type practices. V. To be eligible to participate in subsequent games, a player must attend one (1) practice session during the week preceding the games, unless excused by the coach in the event of injury, illness, or player's personal circumstance that prevents him/her from practicing.

Eligibility: I. New Players must play for a team which represents the school district that they live in and/or attend. II. If there are too few participants from a school to field a team, participation with the next closest school association is allowed. That school has right of refusal if team size exceeds 15 players. III. No other exceptions are allowed. IV. Age Requirements: (See attached age chart) A. Rookie DIvision: 1. Under 9 as of August 1 st..so it could be 6, 7, and 8 year olds B. Junior Varsity Division: 1. To be eligible for Junior Varsity football, child must be 8 but cannot be 11 by August 1st of current year. C. Varsity Division: 1. To be eligible for Varsity football, child must be 10 but cannot be 13 by August 1st of current year. 2. If child plays on a middle school football team, he/she cannot play for any LAYAC recreational league football team. a) NOTE: See Exhibit I on 7 th graders. V. A copy of participant's Birth Certificate and legal address of participant's parent or guardian must be verified by the Football Coordinator Committee before 1 st game. VI. Head Coaches that allow any players that are deemed unqualified to play will face Disciplinary action. Disciplinary action for both Head Coach and Player will be determined by Football Coordinator Committee. Decision is final and no appeals will be allowed. VII. Rule applies to age requirements and district requirements VIII. All kids that meet the eligibility requirements must be offered a chance to play. IX. Weight requirements: (See Weigh - In procedure) A. Rookie Division: 1. Eligible ball carriers may not weigh over 80 pounds. a) Players over 80 pounds must play on the line on offense and can play any position on defense. (Red Tape Players may be a Blocking Tight End) b) Players over 80 pounds must be marked with Red tape on helmet c) BALL SIZE- PeeWee B. Junior Varsity Division 1. Eligible ball carriers may not weigh over 100 pounds. a) Players over 100 pounds must play on the line on offense and can play any position on defense. (Red Tape Players may be a Blocking Tight End) b) Players over 100 pounds will be marked with Red tape on helmet. c) BALL SIZE-Junior C. Varsity Division 1. Eligible ball carriers may not weigh over 125 pounds at initial weigh in. a) Players over 125 pounds must play on the line on offense and can play any position on defense. (Red Tape Players may be a Blocking Tight End) b) Players over 125 pounds will be marked with Red tape on helmet. c) BALL SIZE-Junior Weigh - In Procedure: I. The LAYAC Football Coordinator Committee will announce official weigh-in dates and times prior to the Jamboree game. A. There will be a 3 pound allowance for the initial weigh-in and players within this allowance will be allowed to carry the ball during the Jamboree games. B. A 2nd weigh-in will occur during the week prior to opening weekend for those players in the allowance category or any players that did not weigh-in prior to the Jamboree. The ball carrier weight restrictions noted in section 4 must be met at this final weigh-in. C. There will be NO Mid-Season Weigh In (2018) II. All participants must weigh-in prior to the first game, at the official weigh-in, to be eligible to play in that football season.

A. If the participant cannot make the weigh-in prior to the 1 st game, he/she must be weighed in before he/she can participate in a game. III. The Football Coordinator Committee will appoint the Weigh-in Committee. IV. All teams participating are to show up at their assigned weigh in times with: A. A complete numerical order roster and birth certificates for each participant, 1. Roster must contain a) Participant's Name b) Participant's Uniform Number c) Participant's Date of Birth d) Participant's Grade e) Valid Permanent Address (P.O. Boxes are not allowed) f) School attending g) Weight V. The LAYAC Master roster will be put in Roster Notebook and will be kept in the announcer's booth throughout the year, VI. Failure to comply with assigned time or roster requirements will result in forfeiture of 1 st game. The score of a forfeited game shall be 1-0 in favor of the offended team. VII. Minimum attire allowed for weigh-in is athletic shorts. Undergarments only will not be allowed. VIII. NEW FOR 2018 SEASON...There will be a mandatory TEAM CHECK-IN with coaches and referees prior to each game. This will be to ensure roster/weight restriction integrity. Eligibility Protest: (Age & District Only) I. Protests involving judgment calls by an official or referee will not be considered. II. Any Head Coach can protest a participant's age and district. III. The Football Coordinators Committee will serve as the protest committee. IV. The Protest Committee shall have the full authority to rule on any protest brought before the committee, as long as: V. A formal protest is filed within 30 minutes by the head coach of the offended team to a LAYAC Football Committee member or site Director. VI. A $50.00 check accompanies the protest. Payable to LAYAC. VII. The Protest Committee receives, within 72 hours of the protest, the written protest and a $50.00 check from the member association. VIII. Once the Protest Committee receives a protest, the committee shall contact all parties involved to schedule a meeting. All parties involved must receive a 24 -hour notice of the scheduled meeting. IX. A protest may only be filed for violation of age or district. X. A valid birth certificate and current utility bill under the name of a legal guardian must be presented at protest committee meeting. XI. A protest will not be considered or heard if the $50.00 protest fee is not in the hands of the Protest Committee. XII. All protests upheld by the Protest Committee will result in a refund of the $50.00 protest fee. XIII. Upheld protests will result in a single game forfeiture, removal of the head coach or both. XIV. All decisions of the Protest Committee involving protests shall be final. No appeals may be made to the LAYAC board concerning the outcome of a protest hearing. Playing Rules: I. Rules for all Divisions A. F ields: All fields will be one hundred (100) yards long. B. TIme and Clock Rules: 1. Games will consist of four (4) eight (8) minute quarters. a) Rookie: Clock will stop on out of bounds, incomplete pass, and after a score for an untimed extra point b) JV and Varsity: Follow NCHSAA Rules. c) Clock will stop on a delay of game penalty until the ball is hiked. Note: Referees and site directors have authority to shorten game in order to speed play.

II. III. IV. d) Halftime will be six (6) minutes in length. e) Any team not ready after halftime to begin play will be penalized 10 yards at the start of the half. 2. Play Clock - A 30 second Play Clock will be enforced C. Penalties: All penalties will be assessed according to NCHSAA Guidelines. D. Scoring will be as follows: 1. Touchdown - 6 points 2. Run or Pass point-after-touchdown - 1 point 3. Kick point-after-touchdown - 2 points 4. Field Goal - 3 points. a) Kicking team must declare that they are going to kick. (1) There are NO Fake kicks. b) For all extra point and field goal attempts there is NO RUSH allowed. (1) Players can only jump straight up in the air to attempt to block the kick with NO contact with the Kicking team. c) Kicking team must snap the ball and place the ball 7 yards from the snap to kick. d) Kicking team is allowed to use a block tee to set the ball on. E. Missed Field goals are dead balls and return to the line of scrimmage for change of possession. Mercy Rule A. A team behind more than sixteen (16) points shall always receive in a kickoff situation. B. A thirty (30) point deficit will result in a running clock (no called timeouts) with no additional scoring (or) end-of-game, at the losing Coach's discretion. Overtime A. In the event of a tie, overtime will occur at one end of the football field. B. A Coin Toss will take place to determine possession 1. The visiting team will call Heads or Tails 2. Coin Toss winner can decide whether they will go on Offense or Defense to begin the Overtime Period C. There are no timeouts allowed during the Overtime Period D. Overtime play will operate as follows: 1. The ball will be placed on the 10 yard line. 2. Each team has four (4) downs to attempt to score. 3. If no score, the ball is turned over on downs to the other team. 4. If there is a score, an extra point is attempted. a) One (1) point for run or pass. b) Two (2) points for a kick E. If the game is still tied after the first Overtime Period a second Overtime Period will take place. Overtime Periods will continue until there is a winner determined Coaches A. Each team is allowed one (1) head coach, five (5) assistant coaches. Coaches must be in team attire. The only other people allowed on the sidelines are two people to help with water. NO ONE ELSE. B. All Coaches must be HEADS UP Certified or have a High School Coaching Certificate. C. On Field Coach 1. Rookie Division a) One coach is allowed on the field during the game to call plays and to help align players in correct position. 2. JV Division a) Games 1-4: One coach is allowed on the field b) Games 5 - Playoffs: Coach must be on the sidelines at all times. (1) A player can call the play or the coach may call it in from the sideline out loud. No headsets are allowed

3. Varsity Division a) No coaches are allowed on the field and must stay on the sidelines at all times (1) A player can call the play or the coach may call it in from the sideline out loud. No headsets are allowed D. Once in place the coach must move back 10 yards behind the deepest player. The coaches may not have any physical contact with a player after the snap of the ball. This is a 5 yard penalty from the original line of scrimmage after the play is over. E. Coaches must not try to officiate or try to influence the game. F. After one (1) warning coach will be asked to leave the field and remain on the sidelines. Another coach may replace the original coach. V. Kickoffs A. Rookie Division 1. All Kickoffs are Dead Ball Plays a) At the beginning of each half and after a score the ball will be placed at the 25 yard line of the receiving team. B. JV and Varsity Divisions 1. All Kickoffs at the Varsity and JV level are live from kick return standpoint only. a) The kicking team CANNOT recover or advance the ball unless fumbled by the receiving team. b) A muffed ball is an unsuccessful attempt to catch a kickoff with a touch of the ball occurring in the process. (1) This becomes a dead ball at the spot of the muffed ball and will be the possession of the receiving team. Officials will be instructed to blow the ball dea on a muffed kickoff. 2. Kickoffs are live plays and will be made from the forty (40) yard line of the kicking team. 3. Receiving team must be at least ten (10) yards from the line of scrimmage. 4. On-side kicks are NOT permitted. VI. Punting A. Rookie and JV Divisions 1. Punts will be marked 35 yards from the 4 th down line of scrimmage if punting from outside the 40. 2. If punting from inside the 40 it is spotted half the distance to the goal. B. Varsity Division 1. All Punts at the Varsity Division are live. a) Punting Team (1) Team must line up in a punt formation. (a) 7 man line minimum. (2) Ball must be snapped in normal long snap position (3) Punter must kick the ball from the point where they gain control of the snap (4) There can be no movement from the other 9 members of the Punting Team until the ball has been kicked. b) Receiving Team (1) Team must line up in a punt return formation. (2) No more than two (2) players may line up deep to receive. (3) All others players must remain within 7 yards of the line of scrimmage until the ball has been kicked (4) There can be no movement or contact made with the Punt team until the ball has been kicked. (a) The play becomes live as soon as the ball is kicked and the return team can now block and return the punt. (5) Spotting of the bail

VII. VIII. (a) If caught and advanced by the receiving team, the ball will be placed at the spot where the receiver is tackled or taken out of the field of play (b) If the ball is not caught and advanced the receiving team will take over possession where the ball comes to rest c) Punts at all levels must be declared to the officials prior to beginning the play. (1) Teams at the Rookie and JV Divisions are allowed to use the entirety of the play clock (30 seconds) prior to declaring their intent to punt (2) There are NO fake punts Offense A. Rookie, JV and Varsity Divisions are all governed by NCHSAA Guidelines. B. Motion ia allowed at ALL levels. C. Taped Players 1. No taped players at any Division may advance the ball offensively. a) Any reception made by a taped player will be ruled incomplete and the play will immediately be blown dead Defense A. Rookie and JV Divisions 1. Alignments a) Defenses may line up in any Alignment so long as there are no more than six (6) players (Including Defensive Backs) within three (3) yards of the line of scrimmage at the snap of the ball. (1) A 10 yd. penalty will be assessed for any infraction of this rule b) When Inside their five (5) yard line, the Defense may line a maximum of eight (8) players up within three (3) yards of the line of scrimmage prior the snap of the ball. c) Cornerbacks are allowed to play up on Wide Receivers but will be counted as one of the six (6) or eight (8) players allowed to be in the box if lined up within three (3) yards of the line of scrimmage. d) Noseguards are allowed (1) At no time may a player line up head to head with the Center (a) Defensive players may line up in the gap between the Offensive Center and Guard so that the Defenders right shoulder pad is over the Center s right shoulder pad or their left shoulder pad lines up over the Center s left shoulder pad. (b) Crashing the center is not allowed. (i) Defensive players must move straight across the line of scrimmage and may slant away from the center but can NEVER slant toward the Center forcing or approaching helmet to helmet contact on the center. (a) A 15 yd. personal foul penalty will be assessed on the defense for any infraction of this rule 2. Movement a) Lateral movement by the defense is allowed b) No upright defensive player is to be moving toward the line of scrimmage prior to the snap. B. Varsity Division 1. Defenses will be governed by the NCHSAA Guidelines. a) Exception (1) At no time may a player line up head to head with the Center

(a) Defensive players may line up in the gap between the Offensive Center and Guard so that the Defenders right shoulder pad is over the Center s right shoulder pad or their left shoulder pad lines up over the Center s left shoulder pad. (b) Crashing the center is not allowed. (i) Defensive players must move straight across the line of scrimmage and may slant away from the center but can NEVER slant toward the Center forcing or approaching helmet to helmet contact on the center. (a) A 15 yd. personal foul penalty will be assessed on the defense for any infraction of this rule C. Taped Players 1. No Taped Player at any Division may advance the ball. a) If any players with marked tape intercept a pass or recover a fumble, the ball will be blown dead and marked down at that point and the Intercepting or recovering team will take possession of the ball at that spot Sportsmanship I. Game Filming A. Filming of your own team s game is permitted. This may be performed by the coaches, coaches designee or parents. Filming other teams games is prohibited and will result in forfeiture of (1) win per each occurrence. II. Scouting A. Scouting other teams is allowed, however, no there may be no filming as mentioned above. 1. Scouting from the press box will NOT be allowed.

7 th Grade Addendum 1. 7th GRADERS MUST MEET THE CURRENT LAYAC AGE REQUIREMENTS-HE HAS TO BE 12 ON AUGUST 1st. 2. PLAYER MUST TRY OUT FOR THEIR MIDDLE SCHOOL, GET CUT, AND BE INCLUDED IN A LETTER FROM THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AD OR COACH THAT THE PLAYER IN QUESTION DID NOT MAKE THE TEAM. 3. THESE PLAYERS MUST ATTEND A SCHEDULED MANDATORY SKILLS DAY ONLY SET UP FOR 7th GRADERS THAT IS ATTENDED BY AT LEAST ONE REPRESENTATIVE FROM EACH VARSITY TEAM IN LAYAC. 4. THE PLAYER MUST PRE-PAY THE NON-REFUNDABLE REGISTRATION FEE TO ATTEND SKILLS DAY AND AGREE TO PLAY FOR ANY VARSITY TEAM THAT THEY GET DRAFTED FROM. 5. THE COACHES ATTENDING SKILLS DAY FROM ALL VARSITY TEAMS, BY MAJORITY VOTE, CAN VOTE "OUT" ANY PLAYER AT SKILLS DAY NOT ALLOWING THEM TO PLAY IN LAYAC. 6. PLAYERS WILL ENTER A DRAFT. THE ORDER OF THE DRAFT WILL BE 'DRAWN BY NUMBER' 1-6, THEN BACKWARDS 6-1 FOR EXAMPLE THE 6 PICK WILL GET THE 7th PICK... 7. ALL PRACTICE REQUIREMENTS ARE WAIVED FOR 7 GRADERS. 8. INCLUDED SCHOOLS: MOORESVILLE MIDDLE, TROUTMAN MIDDLE, LAKESHORE MIDDLE, BRAWLEY MIDDLE, PINE LAKE, LANGTREE CHARTER. 9. 7th GRADERS WILL WEAR YELLOW TAPE 10. THERE CAN NOT BE MORE THAN 3 YELLOW TAPES ON THE FIELD AT ANY GIVEN TIME. 11. LAYAC RESERVES THE RIGHT TO LIMIT HOW MANY 7th GRADERS CAN PLAY.