UMAC FOOTBALL SPORT GUIDELINES Last Updated: March 28, 2017 I. Regular Season Schedule Conference Champion A. Each institution will play every member once. B. The start for all conference contests is 1:00 p.m. unless the contest is a North team vs. a South team contest, in which the game time is 12:00 p.m., or upon a mutually agreed upon alternative time. Athletics Directors of both participating institutions must agree to change in time and the UMAC Commissioner must give final approval of alternative game time. 1. If host team is unable to be in compliance with the guideline of 1 pm start time and the host team is not able to agree to an alternative time with the opposing team, the following should take place: i. The host team should attempt to arrange for alternative field site in the same general locale (city) that would allow for a 1 pm start time or a mutually agreed upon start time by both participating teams and meet NCAA field and game management requirements. ii. If alternative location is not available, than host team has the option to either defer hosting of the contest to the opposing team and relinquish hosting opportunity or remain hosting the contest at alternative time but be subject to providing financial compensation to opposing team as approved by the UMAC Executive Committee. The financial compensation would be to cover an increase in travel related expenses (lodging, meals, etc.) for the opposing team that would otherwise not have incurred additional travel related expenses had the game remained scheduled for 1 pm start time in accordance with guidelines. The UMAC Executive Committee will determine what is reasonable and appropriate for reimbursement expenses, subject to appeal iii. by the entire UMAC Athletics Directors Council. EXCEPTION: If the opposing (visiting) team does not agree to an alternative starting time, but the UMAC Executive Committee rules the alternative time proposed by the host team is reasonable and does not significantly disadvantage the opposing (visiting) team either financially or logistically (i.e. 2 p.m. start time), the Executive Committee may rule no financial reimbursement is necessary and determine the finalized starting time. C. The champion shall be determined by the regular season standings. If there is tie, all teams will be co champions. D. A regularly scheduled UMAC contest may only be changed if mutually agreed upon by the head coaches of the two competing institutions. All changes must then be
Page 2 mutually agreed upon by the directors of athletics of the two competing institutions and sent to the UMAC office. The conference office staff has authority to make a final decision to approve or deny the request. Please see the UMAC Schedule Change Policy in UMAC Bylaws for additional information and requirements related to schedule changes. II. NCAA Championship Automatic Qualifier ( AQ ) Determination & Tiebreaker Criteria A. Best conference record (based upon winning % of conference contests) B. If two way tie then head to head result C. If three way tie then head to head results amongst three (2 0 advances) D. If three way tie without 2 0 record, then record against rest of conference standings in descending order of finish (4 th place, 5 th place, etc.) E. Random draw (if three or more teams) or coin flip (two teams) by UMAC Commissioner III. All Conference Team/Awards A. The All Conference Teams will consist of first and second team. First team members will receive an all conference certificate. 1. Each all conference team will consist of the following: a. Offensive positions (16): 5 offensive linemen, 3 wide receivers, 1 tight end, 1 quarterback, 2 running backs, 1 kicker, 1 kick receiver, 2 open positions b. Defensive positions (16): 4 defensive linemen, 4 linebackers, 4 defensive backs, 1 punter, and 1 punt returner, and 2 open positions c. Most Valuable Offensive Player, Most Valuable Defensive Player, Most Valuable Lineman, Most Valuable Special Teams Player, and Coach of the Year will be awarded.
Page 3 B. Nomination process 1. Each coach will nominate his players by position. Each coach will nominate the number of players he feels are worthy of All Conference. In their nominations, coaches should rank their student athletes only, and if multiple student athletes are nominated by the same institution at the same position, the coach should rank the nominated student athletes by position only not overall for entire team. 2. Only stats for conference games should be included on the nomination form. 3. Each coach can nominate a player for the Most Valuable Offensive Player, Most Valuable Defensive Player, Most Valuable Special Teams Player, and Most Valuable Lineman. C. The All Conference Team will be determined based upon the following process: 1. Coaches will vote by position and in rank order based upon the number of selections for each respective position including first and second team. Examples since there are five first team and five second team selections for offensive line, coaches would vote in rank order for the top ten offensive linemen with the first place vote receiving ten points, second place vote receiving nine points, etc. There are three wide receivers for first team and three wide receivers for second team so coaches would vote for their top six wide receivers in rank order with first place vote receiving six points, second place receiving five points, etc. a. After the first round of voting for first team all conference is concluded, the coaches will meet via video and/or voice conferencing on the Wednesday following the final regular season conference contest at 10 am. Each coach will then have a maximum of six minutes to speak on any nominations he would like to, including his athletes in contention for the final open positions for first team allconference and for second team all conference. Coaches will then continue with the regular voting and selection process as articulated in guidelines. 2. After the original voting is conducted and all regular positions are filled for the first team, the remaining student athlete who received the most points at each position will become eligible to fill the first team all conference open positions. Coaches will then re vote for the two open positions both offensively and defensively in rank order from the previously noted list of student athletes that were the top remaining at each position. 3. After the regular positions for the second team all conference are filled, the same process as defined in III. C. 2. will be used to determine the secondteam all conference selections for the two open positions both for offense and defense. 4. Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own student athletes. If there are any ties, all student athletes included in the tie will be recognized for the respective award (i.e. first team all conference, etc.).
IV. UMAC Football Sport Guidelines Page 4 D. The coaches will vote on an overall Most Valuable Offensive Player, Defensive Player, Special Teams Player of the Year, and Lineman of the Year, and coach of the year for the UMAC. Nominated player s coaches can not vote for their player. Game Regulations A. Head coaches must send current two deep rosters to each other via email on Monday morning by 10:00 a.m. prior to the game that week. Two deep must follow the UMAC standard template including athlete name, jersey number, position, year of eligibility, height and weight. B. The flip of the coin will take place 5 minutes before the start of the game and the national anthem 2 minutes prior to kickoff. A time schedule should be provided to the visiting team and officials upon arrival. All teams are to be on the field and sidelines for the national anthem. C. The home team will wear dark jerseys. D. Any Wilson collegiate approved football must be used for conference games. E. Facilities: 1. The home team will provide similar facilities for both teams for locker rooms, halftime, and protection from inclement weather. 2. The delay timer is mandatory and must be visible from both ends of the field. (Follow NCAA rulebook for placement of delay clocks). F. The UMAC will have an assigner for officials. G. Each team shall provide its own headphones. H. Trained students or adults shall be used for the chain gang, clock operators and ball persons. I. The head coach and/or athletic director shall be responsible for bench and sideline control. V. Scouting and Video Tape Protocols A. Game videos shall be exchanged between conference colleges and use a "wide view" of 11 on 11/all 22 players in shot on screen (includes players on the extreme ends of the field) from the side and a tight view (ends to tackles or ends) from the endzone. Uploaded game film to the conference library should include the wide view first followed by the tight view for each play. B. Game film must be uploaded to the Hudl website by midnight on Saturday of the day of the contest by the home team for conference contests. Non conference contests hosted by UMAC institution must also be uploaded by midnight on Saturday of the day of the contest while away non conference contests must be uploaded by 12 pm (noon) on Sunday. C. All games will be made available through the conference library and will follow an open library policy with all contests available to conference members. Each game film from UMAC member should include on the file (clipped and tagged): 1. Downs and Distances 2. Yardlines 3. O D K (Offensive Defensive Kicking/Special Teams)
Page 5 4. Hash 5. Gain/Loss The home team for every UMAC contest is responsible for tagging and clipping before uploading to Hudl. D. The videos to be uploaded include both the wide and tight for each game. For the first conference game, where two tapes are not yet available to send due to team s schedules, a school may only download the number of games they have made available to the opposing team. Coaches should communicate this to each other 3 weeks prior to the game. E. An adequate, raised location for filming from the sideline and spotting will be made available for visiting teams. In the case of inclement weather, a covered area should be provided for filming. F. The endzone video (tight view) will be shot from a raised platform height of at least the middle of the goal post (approximately 25 feet) and should be within 10 feet (left or right) of the end of the goal post. Do not zoom or include scoreboard shots. H. Exchange of information about UMAC teams to non conference teams is prohibited. I. Contact with other UMAC coaches for the purpose of the exchange of information about conference teams is prohibited. VI. Medical Assistance A. The home team will have a doctor or EMT and a NATA certified trainer present at all times. B. Medical transportation will be provided by the home team. VII. Professional Memberships A. Coaches are strongly encouraged to be active members of the American Football Coaches Association.