SPECIFIC REGULATIONS 2016 FOOTBALL PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS Note: In the event of any discrepancy between the French and English versions of these regulations, the French version shall prevail. Article 1 Age Categories... 2 Article 2 Official Regulations in Use... 2 Article 3 Moving up a Category... 3 Article 4 Composition of the Delegation... 3 Article 5 Student-Athlete Transfers... 3 Article 6 Provincial Finals... 3 Article 7 Timetable for Confirming Division 2 Level Games and Teams... 4 Article 8 Duration of the Games... 4 Article 9 Coin toss kick off, receive kick-off or choice of end of field... 4 Article 10 Regulation Ball... 4 Article 11 Uniforms... 5 Article 12 Team Responsibilities... 5 Article 13 Filming or Videotaping... 6 Article 14 Communications System... 6 Article 15 Official Commentator... 7 November 2016
2016 FOOTBALL Article 1 Age Categories * 1.1 Category Age in 2016 season Midget From October 1, 2001 to September 30, 2004 Juvenile From October 1, 1998 to September 30, 2001 Article 2 Official Regulations in Use 2.1 The official regulations in use are issued by Football Québec and the RSEQ. The RSEQ High School and Elementary Governing Rules must be respected. Nevertheless, the RSEQ Sport-Specific Regulations take precedence over the official regulations of Football Québec. 2.2 Participation in Civil Leagues Any contract concluded either within the school or civil jurisdiction, and signed on or before August 1 st, must be respected. Consequently, any player who has signed a civil contract (collegiate, junior, midget, bantam, pee-wee, atom, etc.) on or after this date may not play in the school leagues for the current year. This rule does not apply to students/athletes at the elementary level and first year bantam players. This rule does not apply to students/athletes in any spring season league between April 1 st and June 30 th of the same year. 2.3 Number of downs Games are played in sets of four (4) downs. At the start of play, there is no neutral zone (minimum distance between the two (2) teams). Penalties previously imposed in the 3 rd down will carry over to the 4 th down. The 3 rd down is included in the penalties received in the 1 st and 2 nd downs. 2
Article 3 Moving up a Category In the application of Article 1.1, the Provincial RSEQ will consent only to exemption requests that have been duly authorized by Football Québec and the acting regional body. Article 4 Composition of the Delegation Teams participating in a provincial final are composed of: Players: 60 (maximum) Coach / Chaperone 10 Maximum for the delegation 70 persons Article 5 Student-Athlete Transfers Any student athlete registered with a school sports teams and who was in the same sports discipline at that school the preceding year is required to have attended that same school during the entire school year between the two (2) seasons in that sport. Any contravention of this rule is considered an improper transfer. The student athlete deemed ineligible to continue in that sport will be immediately expelled from the championship and suspended for the following season, including the playoffs. Article 6 Provincial Finals 6.1 Division 2 level Provincial finals Midget and juvenile: Four regional leagues are accepted annually at the Division 2 level. Regional leagues accepted in each category (Midget-Juvenile) are determined annually by the RSEQ Comité technique provincial (CTP), based on the number of teams in the category. All remaining regional leagues are considered a Division 2b level or lower. N.B.: A region can retain the distinction of a Division 2 standing for the highest ranking game in its region. This does not automatically confer either provincial recognition or access to the Division 2 Provincial School Football Championship. 6.1.1 Access Access to the Division 2 Provincial School Football Championship finals in the midget and juvenile categories will be given to the winners of each provincial Division 2 level semi-final. Only those teams registered with accredited Division 2 level regional leagues may proceed to the playoff rounds leading to the Division 2 Provincial School Football Championship. 3
6.1.2 Types of finals Division 2 provincial finals (midget and juvenile) are structured (centralized) under the Division 2 Provincial School Football Championship. The RSEQ Commission sectorielle scolaire (CSS) decides annually who is responsible for organizing these finals. The host regions for the Division 2 provincial semi-finals are chosen annually by the CTP. The Division 2 provincial semi-finals and finals are subject to the regulations, jurisdiction and supervision of the Provincial RSEQ. 6.1.3 Individual awards Gold and silver medals are awarded to each of the players on the finalist teams. The organizing committee will elect and announce the most valuable player (MVP). One player per team must be nominated. 6.1.4 Team awards A provincial banner (46 x 72), identifying the juvenile and midget Division 2 provincial Champion, plus a trophy (Division 2 Provincial School Football Championship). Article 7 Timetable for Confirming Division 2 Level Games and Teams Comité technique provincial (CTP) in JANUARY: Composition of the accredited regional Division 2 leagues, identification and approval for semi-finals pairing is confirmed. Commission sectorielle scolaire (CSS) in FEBRUARY: Approval of specific regulations and the Football rules framework. Accredited regional Division 2 leagues for the following autumn are chosen. MAY 1ST: Deadline for registering teams in the regional leagues (specifically Division 2 teams). Article 8 Duration of the Games 8.1 Each provincial and inter-regional finals game consists of four (4) quarters, each lasting fifteen (15) timed minutes. 8.2 There is a fifteen (15) minute break at half-time. Article 9 Coin toss kick off, receive kick-off or choice of end of field * At the start of the game, the captain of the team that wins the coin toss must state his preference to have first choice at the beginning of the first or second half. Article 10 Regulation Ball * Every team must show the officials the two identical regulation footballs they wish to use in the match and obtain approval for their use. The ball must comply with 4
the size recommended by Football Québec and be appropriate for the Juvenile category. For the Midget category, authorized balls are Wilson F-3000, Wilson TDY or Baden SE-FX500Y. If a visiting team does not have regulation footballs available, the two balls provided by the local team will be the only ones used in the match. Article 11 Uniforms The home team must wear a dark uniform and the visiting team a light-coloured uniform, notwithstanding prior agreed upon arrangements between the teams. For the finals, the home team will be the team from the region that ranked the highest in the previous year s championship. Article 12 Team Responsibilities 12.1 Line-up Before the start of the match, teams must give two copies of the official line-up to the scorekeeper (names and player numbers), countersigned by the coach, for remittance to the scorekeeper and commentator. The coach or team leader must personally ensure that the name and number of each student-athlete on his team are written on the score sheet. 12.2 Noise restrictions The use of whistles and mechanical noisemakers (gas, compressed air, electric, battery, firecrackers, fireworks, etc.) is not tolerated within a zone of less than 50 meters from the playing field, grandstands and areas reserved for spectators and delineated by the organizing committee s security personnel. Moreover, these restrictions apply equally to the commentator and/or entertainment groups (cheerleaders, bands, music), who must cease all activity following the referee s signal (20-second notice). In the event there is no huddle, this rule will be enforced before the players line-up until the end of play. Pursuant to a notice given to offenders, security personnel or officials may impose the following sanctions: 1 st offense: Warning is given to the offending team s head coach, who must immediately notify spectators or the personnel concerned. 2 nd offense: The offending team receives a 10-yard penalty or half the distance remaining if it is less than 20 yards from the goal line. Security personnel and/or police will seize materials and offenders will be expelled. 5
12.3 Support personnel The teams coach or chaperone may not leave their students unaccompanied before, during or after the competition in order to ensure their orderly conduct at all times. 12.4 Changing facilities Teams must have access to adequate changing facilities, equipped with showers on the premises. Teams will ensure such facilities are kept clean. In case of breakage, theft, vandalism and/or leaving the premises excessively unclean, the offending team s school will be charged for the damages caused. 12.5 Compliance with the organizing committee s guidelines The teams undertake to respect the host organizing committee s internal regulations or the regulations of the site where the match is being held. Article 13 Filming or Videotaping A team is allowed to record a match, but access to restricted or privileged areas is forbidden. Article 14 Communications System 14.1 The organizing committee is not obliged to provide a communications system. This is the responsibility of each team; however, the organizing committee must help facilitate the hook-up of a communications system. 14.2 Headsets are forbidden. Players are not permitted to use headphones, headsets or any other electronic equipment on the playing field that might be used to receive communications. However, this rule does not prohibit coaches and even players themselves from wearing a headphone when such use is limited to the players bench zones for the purpose of communicating with coaching personnel who are off the field. An official may intervene at any time during a game should they believe a team has disobeyed this rule. If a team does not respect the RSEQ sports code of ethics and contravenes this regulation, it will be subject to the following sanctions: The accused team automatically loses the game. The coach found guilty is suspended for an indefinite period. The disciplinary committee must meet the coach in a hearing to determine a sanction. A $250 fine will be levied against the team, who will also have to pay an arbitrator s fee, rental fees and any costs incurred by the opposing team (refer to Rule 7.6.1 of the school sector regulations). 6
Any coach who delays the game after making an unwarranted request of the officials will receive a 10-yard penalty. Article 15 Official Commentator The official commentator must be neutral. Partisan comments of any kind made by the host team s commentator will not be permitted. 7