LEAGUE NAME: PAROCHIAL SENIOR FORMATIVE FOOTBALL LEAGUE (7TH-8TH GRADES) BASE RULES: TSSAA - NATIONAL FEDERATION OF STATE HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATIONS SEASON: AUGUST 1ST THROUGH THE LAST SATURDAY OF OCTOBER. PRACTICE MAY NOT BEGIN BEFORE AUGUST 1ST. CAMPS, NOT TO EXCEED 5 DAYS, ARE ALLOWED IN THE MONTH OF JUNE. ELIGIBILITY 1. Team rosters must be submitted to the DAD before the first regular season game. Failure to submit may result in forfeiture of the first game. It may also result in suspension of the coach and forfeiture of future games. 2. It is the coach’s responsibility to control fans and/or parents during the games. 3. Each player participating in the Senior Formative League must meet eligibility requirements set forth by the Diocesan Athletic Council. 4. The Senior Formative League will be limited to students in the 7th and 8th grades. No children in K-6 will be eligible to participate in the Senior Formative League. All eligible children in participating schools should be allowed to participate. The Diocesan Athletic Council admonishes “cutting” and encourages the participation of all students who wish to play. If a school fields more than one team, the teams would be formed as per guidelines at each individual school. Each individual school’s principal and athletic director will have to make the determination of what is best for their school. LEAGUE RULES AND REGULATIONS 5. Total weekly practice and game time shall not exceed a maximum of 8 hours. Any practice session shall not exceed 2 hours in length. A game shall count as 1 and 1/2 hours. The maximum number of game sessions and/or practice sessions shall not exceed 4 per week. 6. Officials shall be provided by the league. 7. There will be no “two a day” practice sessions. 8. Once league and tournament schedules are published, there will be no changes made. A team that is unable to participate on a given date may have to forfeit. 9. Each team will furnish a game ball for all league games. 10. A mouthpiece will be mandatory. Shoetops must be either a soft leather or canvas. If cleats are worn, the cleats are to be of rubber molded type only, permanently attached to the sole. Screw in or screw on types are forbidden. 11. There will be scales available at the playing site before the first league game for general weigh-in, in order to qualify as either offensive and defensive ends or a back for the season. Coaches, players, and the League Commissioner will be available 30 minutes before the start of their first scheduled game for the weigh-in. Offensive and defensive backs and ends are not to exceed 155 pounds, naked weight at the weigh-in. There will be no weight restrictions on interior linesman, either offensive or defensive. 12. No player in excess of weight limits, either offensive or defensive may advance the ball except by kicking or punting. Lateralling will not be considered advancement. Forward passes to receivers over the weight limit will be illegal. All players in excess of the designated weight limit have to line up on the line of scrimmage on both offense and defense between the tackles. To clarify for defensive purposes: All over-weight players must be on the line of scrimmage and must be a 3 or 4 point stance at the snap of the ball, When the ball is snapped, they must be lined down within the inside shoulders of the offensive tight ends or within the normal position of the tight ends when a wide-out is used. EXCEPTIONS: Offensive linemen may go from the up position on punts. All protests of a possible violation of this rule must be made prior to commencement of the next play. Penalty will be that of illegal procedure from the point of infraction, or the line of scrimmage, whichever will be greater. 13. Each team must start the game with eleven players. No less than ten will be permitted at other times. If a team is not present and/or ready to play within ten minutes of the scheduled starting time, the official shall award the game to the team that is ready to play, with the forfeited score of 2 to 0. 14. There will be a maximum of 5 coaches per team allowed in the designated coaching area. Each head coach is responsible to see that no one other than coaches, players and managers are on the player’s side of the field before and during the game. Exception: Physicians and official scorekeepers. All sideline personnel, including the cheerleaders, are to be on the same side as the bleachers. 15. On the extra point following a touchdown, the value shall be one point for running or passing the ball into the end zone or two points for kicking the ball through the upright. 16. It is recommended that good medical judgment be used when temperatures are extreme. It is further recommended that coaches consider temperatures and allow appropriate water breaks. 17. The playing field will be 100 yards in length and a first down will be 10 yards. 18. Trophies will be awarded to 1st and 2nd places in the regular season and awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in the tournament. 19. Any player or coach ejected from a game will be suspended for the next game. 20. Each quarter will be 12 minutes in length. |
| REVISED 8-11-09 |