Great Lakes Recreational Football League - 2017 Coaches Meeting Material GLRFL Administrative Rule Highlights GLRFL Game Rule Highlights 2015/16 MHSAA Major Rule Changes 2017 MHSAA Rules Changes 2017 MHSAA Points of Emphasis
GLRFL Administrative Rule Highlights Coaches to maintain control of Game and avoid excessive point spreads. a) Game ending with a 33-point spread or higher Head coach of winning team will receive disciplinary action unless (b) applies. b) Action of coach to deliberately force opposing team into violation of point spread rule (a) above shall result in Losing coach receiving disciplinary action. c) Any game ending in a Shut-Out will be discussed at League Commissioners Meeting. Disciplinary action may be taken on winning coach based on circumstances and final score Violation of A or B 1 st Automatic 1 game Suspension. Violation of C At total discretion of Board of Commissioners. Scouting of other Teams in League Prohibited a) Use of data collected by recording device on opposing team or Player prohibited. (Recording device Includes pen/paper, video recorder, audio recorder). b) Any Coach or rostered personnel at a game in which neither team is from their area must check in with Host FC and get Approval to remain. (Excludes arrival 1 hr before your teams game and up to 15 minutes afterwards for departure). Note: Approval means agreement of Host FC and Head Coach of BOTH teams on field.
GLRFL Game Rule Highlights Kicking a) No Rush on Kicks except for Varsity Division Punts After warning b) Fr and JV Divisions -- Must be 5 Defensive players on line of scrimmage and nobody blocks or breaks downfield until ball is kicked. c) No Return on Field Goal Attempts - On missed Field Goals Defense gets ball at their 20 yard line or where original spot of ball if kicked from outside 20 {whichever is further from goal line} NOTE: Violation for A and B 1 st Warning 2 nd 15 yard Unsportsmanlike Snapper Protection a) Freshman Division -- No defensive player may enter Deadman Zone until ball is snapped. Violation for 1 st Occurrence is Warning -- subsequent violations 15 yard Personal foul. b) Freshman Division -- QB (person receiving direct snap) may not carry ball between tackle positions inside the 10 yard line (even on broken play). c) JV and Varsity Division -- Snapper is given Snapper Protection same as on kicking plays in MHSAA. No direct contact on center until he has had chance to rise and protect himself. Note: Violation for A and C 1 st Warning 2 nd 15 yard Personal Foul Violation for B 5 yards and Loss of Down
GLRFL Game Rule Highlights On-Field Coach a) May NOT talk or give any instructions to players during play. b) Must remain out of play when snap is eminent and during play. {Officials Judgement and Discretion only typically behind official and/or last player} Violation 1 st -- Warning 2 nd 15 yards Unsportsmanlike {On-Field Coach} NO Two-way Communications Equipment may be used on field or sidelines by Coaches or Team Personnel. 21 Point Spread or higher Winning team must kick off to losing team. Minimum Plays Each Player must play minimum of 6 plays per half. Exception allowed for Injury or For disciplinary reasons provided Parent, Host Area FC, and Opposing Coach notified before game.
2015/16 MHSAA Rule Highlights Mouth-Guards: Rule Banning use of ALL White or ALL Clear Mouth-guards has been removed. Still must protect all Occlusal surfaces (Between Teeth including back molars) and Labial protection (tooth surface to lips/cheek). Clipping now illegal even in Free Blocking Zone: Rule 2-17 and 9-3-6 a) Block in the back in Free Blocking Zone still legal b) Blocking Below Waist Blocking in Free Blocking Zone still legal Kick-Off Formation Restrictions: Rule 6-1-3 and 6-1-4 a) No player, other than the kicker and holder for place kick, may be beyond his free-kick line b) NO K players, other than the kicker, may be more than 5 yards behind the kicking team s free-kick line. {No foot is on or beyond the line 5 yards behind K s free-kick line.} c) If one player is more than 5 yards behind the free-kick line and any other player kicks the ball it is a foul. d) At the time the ball is kicked, at least four (4) players must be on each side of the kicker.
2015/16 MHSAA Rule Highlights Roughing the Passer reclassified: Rule 9-4-3 and 9-4-4 Roughing the passer reclassified as personal foul causes Impact on penalty. a) 15 yards and first down from previous spot, or 15 yards and first down from dead ball spot if beyond neutral zone and team A (offense) has possession at end of down. b) If personal foul for facemasking of passer than penalty is 15 yards and First Down from dead ball spot. c) If 5 yard Incidental Facemasking of passer penalty is 5 yards from spot of foul Does not include first down Dead Ball Fouls now can Offset : Rule 10-2-5 (except 10-2-5b) a) 15 yard Dead ball fouls by both teams can now offset each other in equal number of fouls. (not 5 yard) b) Dead ball fouls do not offset with Live Ball fouls Targeting Defined and Illegal: Rule 2-20-2 and 9-4-3m a) Taking aim and Initiating contact against an opponents above shoulders with helmet, forearm, hand, fist, elbow, or shoulder (Offense or Defense). Violation: Personal Foul 15 yards
2017 MHSAA Rule Highlights Blind-Side Block Defined and ILLEGAL : Rules 2-3-10, 9-4-3n Blind-Side Block defined as a block against an opponent, other than the runner, who does not see the blocker approaching. Executing a Blind-Side Block outside of the free blocking zone with forceful contact, unless clearly initiated with hands open hands only. ILLEGAL Violation is a 15-yard Personal Foul. Clock option after penalty with < 2 minutes in half : Rule 3-4-7 When a penalty is accepted with less then two minutes remaining on game clock in either half, The offended team will have the option to start the game clock on the snap rather than at ready for play {Only if clock would normally start at Ready for play}. If Prosthetic Limb comes completely off of the Runner the ball will be declared Dead : Rule 4-2-21
2017 MHSAA Rule Highlights POP-Up Kick Illegal : Rules 2-24-10 and 6-1-11 Pop-Up Kick defined as a kickoff that ball goes directly to the ground and bounces once into the air as if kicked. Illegal Violation Ball will immediately be blown dead and kicking team assessed 5 yard penalty and re-kick. Two or more short bounces is NOT a Pop-up kick and is still Legal Slapping at Ball or Centers Arms/Hands ILLEGAL: Rule 7-1-6 - b and c After the Ready for Play Signal and once snapper has placed hand on ball. A defensive player making contact with ball prior to the end of the snap... ILLEGAL A defensive player making contact with the hand(s) or arm(s) of the snapper prior to the snapper releasing the ball ILLEGAL Pass Interference Face Guarding : Rule 7-5-10 Non-Contact Faceguarding Obscuring vision of ball without making contact with receiver Is Now LEGAL
2017 MHSAA Rule Highlights Blindside Block defined & Illegal Defenseless Player Contact Rule Expanded : Rule 2-3-10 and Rule 2-32-16 and Rule 9-4-3 A Defenseless Player is a player who, because of his physical position and Focus of concentration, is especially vulnerable to Injury. A Player who initiates contact against a defenseless player is responsible for making legal contact. A blindside block is a block against an opponent, other than the runner, who does not see the block coming. Examples of Defenseless Player Contact include, but not limited to: a) Player in act of or just after throwing a pass. b) Receiver attempting to catch a pass who has not had time to clearly become a runner, c) Intended Receiver of a pass during or immediately after interception or potential interception. d) Runner in grasp of tackler and whose forward progress has been stopped, e) Kickoff or Punt Returner attempting to catch or recover kick, or one who has completed catch or recover but has not had time to protect themselves and clearly become a runner, f) Player on the ground or player who has given himself up and sliding feet-first, g) Player obviously out of play or not in immediate vicinity of the runner, h) Player who receives Blind-Side Block with forceful contact not initiated with open hands. Penalty for violation may be a 15-yard Personal foul OR Unsportsmanlike foul if ruled flagrant or deliberate and could result in 15 yard and Disqualification
2017 MHSAA Points of Emphasis 1) Responsibility of Players to AVOID Illegal Contact A. Blind-Side Blocks B. Defenseless Player Contact C. Targeting 2) ILLEGAL Helmet Contact A. Initiated with Crown of Helmet -- Butt Blocking B. Initiated with Front of Helmet / Facemask Face Tackling C. Initiated with Top of Helmet -- Spearing 3) Sideline Management and Control A. Enforcement of Restricted zone on Team Box on sidelines B. Professionalism in communications between Officials, Coaches, and Game Administration 4) Proper Enforcement of Penalties for Violation of Equipment Rules A. Failure to wear/use Required Equipment missing pads; B. Failure to properly wear Required Equipment mouth-guards out, loose chin straps, knees not covered by pad and pants, or Jersey not fully covering hard surfaces of pads; C. Wearing Illegal Equipment illegal cleats, sticky or slippery substances, illegal arm bands;