Pike Youth Football League Game and Operation Rules The Pike Youth Football League is comprised of three leagues, which are non-travel and full contact. The 3 leagues are divided by grades, (K-2 nd Grade), (3 rd -4 th Grade) and (5 th 6 th Grade). In general, the league follows IHSAA (Indiana High School Athletic Association) rules except for modifications noted for the respective leagues. Coaches All coaches must be certified and documentation must be on file with the Board of Directors. Each coach must wear a badge or medallion approved by the Board of Directors to be on the sidelines. As a representative of the league, the coaches are expected to assist in maintaining the integrity and goals of the league. The head coach is responsible for the conduct of players, assistant coaches and fans. Coaches will be penalized for their conduct by unsportsmanlike penalties (15 yards) and may be suspended by the league. A total of six coaches will be allowed on the sidelines during the game. During the games coaches and players must remain between the two 30- yard line markers unless there is time on the field. Before the first game the head coach needs to turn in a roster with jersey numbers. At the end of the season the head coach needs to monitor his team during equipment turn in. All Pike teams must run a form of Pike Offense or Defense approved by the Pike High School Coaching Staff. The Coaching Staff will provide a playbook and terminology. Games Schedules Games are typically played on Saturdays on the Pike Campus. Schedules and opponents are published at the beginning of the season depending on the number of teams in the league. The second team listed is the home team and is responsible for providing 2 adults to serve as a chain crew. The visiting team is responsible for 1 adult to serve as a chain crew. The Board will establish the start date of the league each year. All schedules will be posted on the website including game times. Equipment Helmet and shoulder pads are provided to players on a loan basis. No metal or metaltipped cleats are allowed. The league must inspect and approve all personal equipment. Helmets and shoulder pads are to be returned to the league at the end of the season. Replacement cost of equipment will be billed to the parents for any equipment not returned at the end of the season. The league will replace any defective or worn out equipment. Any lost equipment will be replaced at cost by the parents.
2 K-2 and 3-4 grade players will practice twice a week. 5-6 grade players may practice 3 days a week. Practice times will be from 6:00 to 7:30 pm. Saturday prior to the first game may be used for practice or scrimmages. No additional practices are allowed. The length of practice is limited to 1hour and 30 minutes in duration for grades 3-6 and 1 hour and 15 minutes for K-2. Practice for all Pike teams must be held on the Pike Campus located on Zionsville Road. Locations are the Pike High School Practice Fields, the Lincoln Middle School Practice Field or the open lot next to the Lincoln Football Stadium. For the K-2 league, no contact is allowed for the first 2 practices. For the 3-4 and 5-6 leagues no contact is allowed for the first 2 practices. Scoring, Overtime and Mercy Rule Points after touchdown: 1 point from the 3-yard line (run, pass), 2 points if kicked from the 3-yard line and spotted on the 10, 2 points from the 5-yard line (run, pass). If a kick is attempted, it is live on the referee s whistle. Ties are determined by an equal number of series starting from the 10-yard line. A maximum of 3 series are played. The scoreboard will only show a 18 point differential between teams. The actual score will be recorded and used for tiebreakers at the end of the season for standings. A running clock (with no stoppage) will be instituted when there is an 18-point differential. Records The regular season champion and tournament seeding will be determined by the final won-loss record of the teams. In the event of a tie the following criteria will be used to break the tie. 1) Head to head record 2) Head to head point differential 3) League point differential Rosters/Draft Draft order is assigned after a determination has been made, as to the number of returning players each team has. The team with the fewest returning players will pick first (1st). Draft order and priority is given to the teams with the fewest returning players. The team with the most returning players will have the last pick. In the event that teams are tied in the number of returning players, then a tiebreaker in the form of a blind draw will be employed to determine the draft order. Catch up picks will be designated at the end of the second (2nd), fourth (4th), sixth (6th), eighth (8th), tenth (10th), etc., rounds to allow teams with fewer returning players to fill their roster from earlier round picks rather than the last or the ending rounds of the draft. All teams will be allowed one minute to make a selection in each round. After the expiration of said one-minute period, the League Commissioner shall make the current rounds player selection on behalf of the coach. The head coach will attend the draft after consulting with his assistant coaches.
3 Referees Referees are designated and recruited by the league. These officials are paid by the league and are expected to know the leagues rules and enforce league regulations and conduct policies as established by the league. Rules for K-2 Grade IHSAA and Pike Township rules apply except the note exceptions. 2. All players are expected to attend all practices and games. If players miss practice, their playing time can be reduced. If a player is late for a game and misses the warm-up period, his playing time can be reduced. Players and parents should communicate with the coach if there is any reason for absence or tardiness for a practice or a game. 3. All games will begin with a coin toss. Home team will call the toss and determine offense or defense. 4. Offense will start on the 20-yard line. All touchdown will total 7 points. No extra points will be used. 5. The running weight is 75lbs. All players above 75lbs will play on the offensive or defensive lines. 6. After each score, football will change hands and start from the 20-yard line. 7. The ball will be move 20 yards forward for the punt on 4 th down. The ball will change hands. 8. One coach is allowed on the field on Offense and Defense. All players are to start on offense or defense. 9. All injured players must come out of the game for a play before re-entering the game. 10. 6-minute running clock each quarter. Rules for 3rd and 4th Grade IHSAA and Pike Township rules apply except the noted exceptions. 2. When punting the coach needs to notify the official of his team s intent to punt. The official will notify the defensive team of the punt. The official will hand the ball to the punter. There are no fakes. There is no rush and play does not start until the ball is punted. For extra points and field goals there is no rush, players need to be in a proper stance (not laying down). Defensive players may not rush but can jump up to block the kick. 3. Games will begin with a kickoff from the kicking teams 40-yard line.
4. Eight minute quarters with a running clock except for time-outs, penalties, change of possession and injuries. 5. All players are to start on either offense or defense. Players are not to be substituted for except for injury, are 2 way starters, or the player requests to come out of the game. The only exceptions to the starting/playing time rule are situations in which the head coach determines in his discretion that a player should not start because either the player exhibited unsportsmanlike conduct or behavior that is detrimental to the team or the player has unexcused absences from practice or games. If a player s playing time is going to be restricted the head coach needs to notify the player, the player's parents and a league official before the start of the game. 6. The running weight will be 95 pounds. Players over 95 pounds are designated by an X on the back of their helmet and a stripe across the front. 7. X ball players may recover fumbles and interceptions but may not advance the ball. 8. X ball players may punt, kick off, kick extra points and field goals. 9. One coach is allowed on the field during the game. Once the offensive huddle is broken, the coaches on the field will give no further instructions except for alignment purposes. There will a 10-yard penalty for violation of this rule. 10. On offense X players may only play the following positions: center, guard or tackle. On defense X players can play any position except corner and safety. 11. Players who are injured must sit out at least the next two plays. 12. Filming, videotaping and photographing of upcoming opponents is not allowed. This includes practices and games. Enough said. Rules for 5th and 6th Grade IHSAA and Pike Township rules apply except the noted exceptions. 2. All kicks are live ball situations ball kicks. The referee will hand the ball to the punter or holder on extra-point kicks or field goals. The referee will then blow his whistle to start the LIVE play. Games will begin with a kickoff from the kicking teams 40-yard line. 3. Ten-minute running clock per quarter except for time-outs, penalties, change of possession and injuries. The last two minutes of the game will be played using high school clock rules. 4. Players are to play as close to ½ the game as possible. The only exception to the playing time rule are situations in which the head coach determines in his discretion that a player should not start because either the player exhibited unsportsmanlike conduct or behavior that is detrimental to the team or the player has unexcused absences from practice or games. If a player s playing time is going to be restricted the head coach needs to notify the player, the player s parents and a league official before the start of the game. 4
5. The running weight will be 115 pounds. Players over 115 pounds are designated by an X on the back of their helmet and a stripe across the front. 6. X ball players may recover fumbles and interceptions but may not advance the ball. 7. X ball players may punt, kick off, kick extra points and field goals. 8. NO COACHES WILL BE ALLOWED ON THE FIELD TO ASSIST IN THE HUDDLE. THERE WILL BE 30 SECONDS BETWEEN PLAYS. 9. On offense X players may only play the following positions: center, guard or tackle. On defense X players can play any position except corner and safety. 10. Players who are injured must sit out at least the next two plays. 11. Filming, videotaping and photographing of upcoming opponents is not allowed. This includes practices and games. Enough said. 5