W.C.S.S.A.A. Boys Football Playing Rules and Regulations 1. Date 1.1 The Waterloo County Secondary School Athletic Association Boys Football Schedule shall be played in the months September to November unless extraordinary circumstances dictate a change. 1.2 The W.C.S.S.A.A. Boys Football championship shall be held during the third week of November unless extraordinary circumstances dictate a change 2. Location 2.1 The locations of the regular season and play-off games shall be determined by available facilities and referees. 2.2 The locations of the games shall be as they appear in the W.C.S.S.A.A. Schedule unless extraordinary circumstances dictate a change. 3. Competitive Divisions 3.1 There shall be two (2) competitive divisions: Junior and Senior 3.2 Refer to WCSSAA Bylaw 2 Section 2 a(iii) for age requirements. 3.3 Junior teams are required to use a minimum of 20 players on the offensive and defensive units. The use of at least 20 starters does not include special teams. A team may use a different set of players in each half of a game. Changes in starters may occur for substitutions and because of injury. A player coming off the bench to substitute may only play again in that half on the same side of the ball (offense or defense) which he played prior to that time. An injured starter may be replaced by another starter from the opposite unit provided that this player s turn is replaced by someone not identified in the 20 man starting list. Two of the players identified to play both ways must be lineman on offence and defence. The other two players can play any position. These players must be identified to the opposing coaches at the beginning of each half. These players can be changed only at half time or in the case of injury. In the case of punting and field goal situations, the kicking team must be in kicking formation not under centre. 4. League Structure and Procedures 4.1 The league will have two pools. 4.11 The pools will be based on the combined junior and senior results from the previous years. - Pool A (1,4,5,8,9,12,13,16) Pool B (2,3,6,7,10,11,14,15) 4.12 Traditional rivalries will also be taken into account.
W.C.S.S.A.A. Boys Football 2 4.13 Each team will play within their pool. The number of teams may determine the need for cross over games. The cross over games will count in the standings for senior but not for junior. 4.2 All visiting football teams are to arrive dressed to play not more than thirty (30) minutes prior to game time. 4.3 The home team shall be responsible for: 4.3.1 playing fields must be in yards to be consistent with the rulebook. They also must indicate: (a) double lines at the 35 and 45 years lines (b) hash marks 22 yards in from each sidelines (c) end zones which are 20 yards deep (d) down chains are to be 10 yards long 4.3.2 provision of properly trained minor officials; 4.3.3 the reporting of game results on the day of the game; 4.3.4 crowd control which is appropriate for the circumstances. Spectators should not be allowed to stand near players benches; 4.3.5 the setting up of soft markers to indicate the intersections of the goal lines with each side line; 4.3.6 the provision of ball boys during wet game conditions. 4.3.7 if there is a conflict in jersey colour, the home team will be responsible for using a different colour. 4.3.8 The Home Team will provide, 2 game balls in good condition, which will be the Wilson CIS 2000 leather ball. 4.4 Teams will be allowed TWO weekend practices any time after Labour Day. 5. Play-Offs 5.1 The W.C.S.S.A.A. Championship shall be determined by a play-off structure involving eight (8) teams. 5.2 Quarter Finals Game A Game B Game C Game D A1 vs B4 A2 vs B3 A3 vs B2 A4 vs B1
W.C.S.S.A.A. Boys Football 3 5.3 Semi Finals 5.4 Finals Game E Winner A vs Winner C Game F Winner B vs Winner D Winner E vs Winner F 5.5 If a team forfeits a game or games, and if that team is tied with other teams at the end of the schedule, then that team would be relegated to the lower standing between the teams tied 5.6 Tie-breaking procedures in final standings if two (2) teams are tied: 5.6.1 The win-loss record of the tied teams against each other; 5.6.2 If still tied, the win-loss-tie record against common opponents higher in the final league standings; 5.6.3 If still tied, points against in head to head games; 5.6.4 If still tied, total points against in all games against common opponents; 5.7 If there is a tie between 3 teams or more; 5.7.1 A clear winner will be established using 5.6, and placed in the standing, and then the process starts over with the remaining tied teams. 6. Expenses 6.1 Referee costs when playing at a neutral site will be shared by the competing schools. 7. Eligibility 7.1 Each competitor must be eligible under all the rules and regulations of WCSSAA. Schools must be aware of and follow all WCSSAA. policy concerning transfer students. 7.2 Refer to WCSSAA Bylaw 2, Section 2 for individual eligibility. 7.3 A Junior football player may play in one (1) league game with the senior team and still retain his junior eligibility. A player listed on the roster for a given game is considered to have played in that game.
W.C.S.S.A.A. Boys Football 4 7.4 When a Junior football player plays his second senior league game, he forfeits his junior eligibility and must remain a Senior player for the duration of that season. 7.5 There will be no limit on the number of players a football team may dress. 7.6 For play-offs, a player must have been on the Junior or Senior team roster for at least one (1) regular season game in order to be eligible to play. Once eliminated, from post season play, a player may be eligible to move up an age category. 8. Rules and Officials 8.1 The official rule book governing play during the W.C.S.S.A.A. schedule and play-offs shall be the Canadian Amateur Football Rule Book. 8.2 Exceptions to the rules are as follows: 8.2.1 the seniors will adopt a 10 yard, 3 down system. The juniors will play four (4) downs for 10 yards 8.2.2 offensive players filling the positions centre, guard and tackle (ineligible receivers) must wear an approved marker such as a fluorescent arm band; 8.2.3 officials will be instructed to remove players not so designated from the field as outlined in 8.2.2; 8.3 The convenor shall be responsible for obtaining competent officials (preferably from the Waterloo-Wellington County Football Officials Association), and maintaining liaison with them in matters pertaining to the league. 8.4 Minor officials will be the responsibility of the home team (except in the championship games). These include a timer, a scorer (see 8.10), and a 3- person stick crew. These people should be trained adequately for their duties. 8.5 The length of games shall consist of four (4) twelve(12) minute quarters. All ties will be settled using the shoot-out format as per Canadian Amateur Football rules with the exception being after the 2nd overtime round, both teams must attempt 2 point converts following a touchdown until the outcome is decided (CAF rule is after 3rd OT round). 8.6 The flip of a coin will determine the option at the beginning of the game, of choice of ends or kicking - receiving the ball, or deferring their choice to the start of the second half.
W.C.S.S.A.A. Boys Football 5 8.7 Any player ejected from a game will be suspended for the next scheduled game of his team, in accordance with WCSSAA Bylaw 4, Section 6 c i) 8.7.1 Any player receiving 3 OC or UR penalties shall be removed for the remainder of the game, with no future games missed. 8.7.2 Any player ejected from a game will be suspended for the next scheduled game of his team, in accordance with WCSSAA Bylaw 4, Section 6 c i) 8.8 The scorer for each game must ensure that: a) all scores, scorers, and game ejections are recorded accurately; b) the 2 head coaches and referee signs the game sheet and notes any circumstances that may require his comments; c) someone reports the results to the prescribed person on time; a copy of the game sheet is sent to the convenor. 8.9 A team will be assessed a 5 yard penalty if a defensive player lines up over the centre in a punt, field goal or convert situation. 9. Awards 9.1 A W.C.S.S.A.A. plaque will be presented to the championship team in the A Division. 9.2 Each member of the championship and finalists teams in A Division shall receive a W.C.S.S.A.A. plaque. 9.3 The Doug Shuh Award To be presented to the Senior graduating student who will best represent WCSSAA Football in the future (ie. University level). To be eligible, a player must meet the following criteria: - be in his graduating year or beyond. (the intent being that a player is in his graduating year and can be nominated twice but only win it once). - be an exemplary citizen of his school. Each school who had a Senior football team shall be eligible to nominate one player from their school. Voting for the award shall be as follows: a) Every school who had a Senior football team shall have one vote at the year-end coaches meeting, and shall not be allowed to vote by proxy. There must be a representative from the school at the meeting. b) If after a first ballot, there is no clear majority (50% +1), then the nominee(s) with the lowest number of votes shall be eliminated and a second ballot will be called. Subsequent ballots will follow, each eliminating a nominee until there is a winner with a clear majority.
W.C.S.S.A.A. Boys Football 6 c) If the final ballot (ie. Only two nominees remaining), has a tie, then a discussion about the two players is to follow. After the discussion, one further vote will be called. If there is still a tie, then co-winners will be declared. 9.4 Senior All Star Selections The All Star allotment for each team is as follows: a) A Tier Championship teams (both finalists) 3 first team, 3 second team; b) All other A Tier playoff teams and B tier semi-finalists 2 first team, 2 second team c) All other teams 1 first team, 1 second team d) All teams receive 2 honourable mention All Stars 10. Deportment 10.1 A staff member from each school represented must be present and responsible for the behaviour of his students. 11. First Aid Procedures 11.1 It is the responsibility of each coach to provide for his own team medical needs in accordance with his School Medical Regulations. 11.2 Coaches shall provide all consumable medical supplies (e.g. tape, band aids) for their athletes. 11.3 Each school must have a First Aid Kit on site during competition. 12. Jury of Appeal 12.1 The procedure for all protests, complaints, suspensions is outlined in Bylaw 2, Section 5 of the W.C.S.S.A.A. Bylaws. 13. Length of Season 13.1 The training and competitive season for a school boys football team shall be from the first day of the school year in September to the W.C.S.S.A.A. football championships. 13.2 The maximum number of games a football team may play in a season shall be ten (10), excluding post season WCSSAA play. 13.3 There must be a minimum of 72 hours between games as per OPHEA rules.
W.C.S.S.A.A. Boys Football 7 14. Voting Procedures for Coaches Meetings 14.1 Voting at the boys football meetings will be limited to one (1) vote per team entered. Representatives must be present at the meeting to vote. Voting by proxy will not be permitted. 14.2 A simple majority of votes will rule. 15. Coaching Staff 15.1 It is strongly recommended that the minimum number of coaches required to operate a football program (at a school with two teams) is six.