Ontario Varsity Football League

Ontario Varsity Football League May 1st 2013 League Requirements for Officiating

Rules: The Canadian Rule Book for Tackle Football issued by Football Canada for Amateur Football.

Exceptions:  4 downs

Clarifications:  There is nothing worn between the helmet and the head. (No bandanna's or sweatbands or cloth of any kind). skull cap is allowed for religious purposes Coach to enforce.  Visors, by the rulebook. no tint  Uniforms, must be matching, including helmets and socks. Coaches to Enforce  OVFL has approved 1 football which the home team provides and both teams use the same football

Timing: Varsity & JV is15 minute quarters by the book. Bantam is 12 minute quarters. Remember a lot of the games will be on T.V. so we have to fill the time slot.

Overtime: All games must have a winner. Shoot out format in effect by the Rule Book

Lightning in area: delay the game immediately. Delay the game as long as necessary. Due to the distance travelled and limited time to play make up games try to get game in. Our Contract calls for an extra game fee under some circumstances if played

No Team at Park: If no team present at scheduled game time find out why if Bus broke down and team is still on its way wait it out. Our Contract calls for an extra game fee under some circumstances if played

Game Expulsions: All ejections must be reported first in writing on the game sheet and file report on Arbiter then by phone 905-562-7380 or e-mail to assignor at [email protected]

NOTE: 1ST ejection means player sits out the next game, no matter what. There’s no appeal. 2nd ejection means that the player sits out for next 3 games (this is subject to appeal). 3rd ejection means that the player is finished for life.

NOTE: ejected players are to remove their helmet and shoulder pads and sit on bench. Further sanctions will be leveled for any other involvement by ejected player including after game.

Rule Interpretations: will be the same as those issued by the OUA RIC.

Game Day: The pre-game meetings will be held 1½ hours prior to the scheduled kick-off. IF YOU CAN’T MAKE IT DON’T ACCEPT THE GAME.

Reports: the league penalty card will be used, THIS WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU BY THE HOME TEAM 1 Hour PRIOR TO THE GAME. It’s a 3-part form. Top copy goes to the scorekeeper for submission to the league, 2nd copy goes to the home team coach, and 3rd copy goes to the visiting team coach. Do not send a copy to me. They will also give the timekeeper a scoring summary sheet to record score and time of scores. Officials should instruct the penalty card person to keep track of penalties by individuals. Game Sheet. The Head Official MUST SIGN THE GAME SHEET & PENALTY CARD, review the rosters and return to home team game day convener.

Uniform will be as per CFOA manual: 1. Black pants with 1 1/2" stripe will be worn without exception. 2. Short-sleeve striped (1 inch stripe) sweater will be basic. In cooler weather carry both sweaters in case long sleeves are required. 3. The referee will wear a white cap with black piping. All other officials will wear black cap with white piping. 4. Black socks. 5. Black shoes (freshly polished) with black laces. 6. OFFICIALS TO WEAR THEIR OWN ASSOCIATION NUMBER. Please advise me of your association number (so that I will not assign two people with the same number. 7. Each Official must wear a number (if you don’t have one, get one before you hit the field) and the OFOA Crest 8. The OFOA crest should go on your pocket on the left hand side Please remove the Football Ontario crest from your uniform as we have no affiliation with them

Stick Crews and Timers: Will be provided by the local association from approved officials.

Fees: All fees will be paid to the OFOA and distributed to each member at the end of the season.

Drinks: To be provided by the home team.

Evaluators: We are going to provide qualified evaluators for as many of the games as possible.

Referees: Do game report on Arbiter or e-mail to [email protected] a report of any ejections and any comments pertinent to the game, also note any missing stick people, timers or officials.

Etiquette and Language: The language some of the benches are taking liberties with, is getting out of hand. We have zero tolerance for the players on the field and the benches are no exception. The Referee should make and enforce the following comment as part of his pre game with the Head Coach. " Coach” the League has a zero tolerance for Behavior and Language both on the field and on the bench, consider this your warning it will not be tolerated".

No abusive Language will be tolerated.

We have worked hard at making the field language acceptable and the players are doing an excellent job of controlling their emotions in a volatile environment.

It's time for the coaches to get their act together.

Bench Penalties: A reminder to everyone. A bench penalty is an Objectionable Conduct penalty. If a bench receives 3 in any game the Head Coach is finished in that game and must sit out the next game as well. He will be on the opposite side of the field from the Team and cannot communicate with the Team until after the game.

Headsets: Any team can use headsets and quarterback communication devices, equal consideration must be given the other team. We have reported incidents where equipment is being altered, mainly helmet speakers. Please remember, though helmet communication is legal, altering a helmet or shoulder pads, with a "homemade device" is not. Teams put themselves and the league at HIGH risk, by altering protective equipment and circumventing the warranty. Only factory installed helmets or helmet conversions approved by the helmet vendor can be used.

Coin Toss : A coin toss is used to start each game

Field Markings : Lines on the field will be played for the whole game, unless deemed impossible before game

Game Day Convener: It is their job to get to the officials before the game. Give the referee the penalty cards, and the score sheets and rosters of the two teams. Inform him then that you need to have the sheet signed at the end of the game. Make sure you have adequate liquid drinks for the officials in the change rooms. Many will be doing double headers.

Medical Personnel: Each team is responsible for their own medical person or trainer. League rule is that there must be a medical person present for each team. If both teams somehow have no medical person there is no game

Sidelines: sideline distance at the benches (from the 45 yd. line to the 15 yd. line)

Ejections: The referees please inform the bench of the #s receiving OC’s and UR’s during the game so if players get 2 of them they can be taken off the field and dealt with before they get ejected. A player receiving three unnecessary roughness and/or un-sportsmanlike conduct penalties in a game is to be ejected and the suspensions will be as per constitution.