Index
- Age and Eligibility
- Roster
- Coaching and Player Placement
- Playing Time
- Abusive Language and Unsportsmanlike Conduct
- Downs
- Scoring
- Injuries
- Completed Games
- Major Penalties
- Cooling Down
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Age and Eligibility
Atom
Under 10 years of age
Peewee
12 years and under of age
Any Atom players who are released from their rep team “MAY” be placed on an Peewee team solely at the discretion of the Program directors. Directors will take into account, the size, ability, and experience of the players, along with the safety of all others in the program.
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Roster
The Atom divisions will play 12 on 12 man football, players will be developed to learn offence and defence.
The Peewee divisions will play 12 man football.
Any team who fails to dress the minimum number of players in any given game, may borrow players from the opposing team to ensure that a game is played.
A default will be registered against the team that fails to meet the roster minimum and a score of 8 – 0 will be registered to the winning team.
MERCY RULE – once a team is ahead by three major scores we ask that you do not advance the ball past the opponents’ one-yard line, please take a knee on the one-yard line. Blowouts do not follow MMFA policies geared towards providing a positive experience for all House League players.
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Coaching and Player Placement
One offensive coach will be allowed on the field during offensive plays for the first 5 games of the House league season for both age groups, but must not be in the way of the play and must remain no less than 15yrds behind the play except while in the huddle to give direction.
There will be an NFL TYPE DRAFT PRIOR TO THE LAST INDOOR PRACTICE. Each coach will be responsible for drafting his/her own player roster.
There may be some exceptions made prior to the “DRAFT” for players travelling long distances. These may be considered to facilitate car pooling and /or families with multiple players in the same age group. During the draft if a coach selects one of these exceptions then he is deemed to have made an additional selection for the extra player as well, and will skip his next pick in the draft order.
Before the draft, QB’s will be determined and allocated prior to the draft so that all teams have one. ALL other players will be evaluated by ALL coaches, before the draft, to help coaches determine their picks on draft day.
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Playing Time
A coach is responsible to ensure that all players on their roster must be allotted equal playing time during a game (or at least as close as possible considering player safety).
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Abusive Language and Unsportsmanlike Conduct
Any player, coach, team official, volunteer or parent who conduct themselves inappropriately by verbally abusing another player, coach, official, team official or volunteer through foul language, threat or assault will be subject to removal of themselves along with their participating child.
Should an incident occur during a game, the team for which the offending person is related to will be subject to a 15 yard penalty at the discretion of the field officials.
Second incident if called on a coach is an automatic ejection for that game, followed by an interview with the league director and the director of coaching. COACHES ARE EXPECTED TO SET A GOOD EXAMPLE FOR ALL THE CHILDREN AND PARENTS TO FOLLOW.
Any COACH ABUSING AN OFFICIAL WILL BE EJECTED; the officials work for us and without them we have no program. Remember this is house league, and the development of players is the priority.
Any incidents that involve an assault or a threat of assault will result in the immediate expulsion of the offending party off the field and a review of the incident will be investigated by the DIRECTORS of the PROGRAM AND THE ORGANIZATION.
A decision for any further penalties may be implemented with an agreement of the investigating BODY.
ONLY coaches, players, officials, training staff AND Club directors are permitted on the Bench side of field.
ALL spectators must be on the opposite side of the field. There will be no exceptions (NO SMOKING ANYWHERE AROUND THE CHILDREN OR ON THE FIELD WILL BE PERMITTED).
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Downs
Games at the Atom and Peewee Divisions will consist of 4 downs to obtain 10 yards for a 1st down.
In the case where a team is in a fourth down situation and opts to punt, the ball will be moved up the field 25 yards and a change of possession will be initiated.
No punting inside the opponent’s 30-yard line. Offence must attempt a first down, on fourth down.
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Scoring
Scoring is limited to 3 scores by any one player (on offence or defence combined).
In a situation where a player exceeds the maximum scoring, the score is nullified and the ball will be placed at the last line of scrimmage.
Once a player has scored 3 scores they cannot advance the ball beyond mid field.
If the player advances the ball beyond mid field or takes possession of the ball beyond mid field then the play is dead, ball is spotted at the original line of scrimmage and there is a loss of down.
If any player intentionally downs the ball or intentionally takes the play out of bounds to avoid the above 3 score rule, the team will be assessed a 15 yard penalty from the original line of scrimmage and loss of downs (at the discretion of the officials).
Coaches will be held accountable for the actions on the field, please be the good example we all know you are!
Points will be awarded- 6 points for touchdown, 1 point for a running conversion and 2 points for a passing conversion.
In the event of a tie, there will be no overtime except during playoffs.
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Injuries
Any player who is injured during a game should stay on the ground or on one knee to advise the referee.
The referee will motion the trainer to attend the field.
No coach, bench personnel or parent shall enter the field unless called upon by the game trainer.
Injured players must sit out the next play and must be cleared by the trainer to go back on the field.
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Completed Games
Games are completed when the head referee calls the game over.
A game must come to an end and the players, officials, parents and volunteers are to exit the field immediately if there is any visible lightning in the sky.
In the case where a game is suspended, the game will be deemed completed if a minimum of 3 completed quarters are played.
In the event that a game is suspended and the completed 3 quarters are not achieved, a new game will be rescheduled on the following week when possible, at the home team’s field location. The game will be replayed in its entirety.
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Major Penalties
Spearing, helmet to helmet contact, fighting or horse collaring.
Definition of a horse collar, the shoulder pad must be gripped during the tackle.
The above penalty will result in the ejection of the offending player(s) and a penalty of 25 yards will be assessed, the ejection will be noted on the game sheet.
In the event that a player is involved in a second event, the immediate expulsion from the field and a suspension of 3 games will be assessed.
The spearing, helmet to helmet contact and horse collaring must be deemed intentional by the officials to warrant an ejection, otherwise an Objectionable Conduct penalty will be assessed and the player will be warned and sent off to cool down (see below).
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Cooling Down
When a referee sends a player off the field to cool down, the said offending player must sit off for three plays.