2014-15 Sport Policies Football

I. RULES OF PLAY Rules governing Mid-South Conference regular-season and postseason play are the NCAA Football Playing Rules with NAIA modifications. Any modifications may be found in the Postseason Competition section of the NAIA Coaches Manual for Football.

II. GENERAL INFORMATION

A. Participating Members: 1. Belhaven University 2. Bethel University 3. 4. Campbellsville University 5. 6. University of the Cumberlands 7. 8. 9. Christian University 10. 11. 12. 13.

B. Sports Chair: Chris Oliver, Lindsey Wilson College

C. Conference Raters: 1. West Division: Perry Thomas, Campbellsville University (elected 2014) 2. East Division: Bill Cronin, Georgetown College (elected 2012)

D. Sport Fee: No fee for football

E. Official Ball: Rawlings ST-5

F. Video evidence must be submitted to the conference in support of any appeals

III. FALL START DATE Each institution may determine their own start date for pre-season football practices in the fall. Each team shall be limited to 29 practice opportunities (as specified by NCAA definition of practice opportunity) prior to the first game.

A. Teams must count two (2) practice opportunities per day, Monday thru Saturday, prior to the first day of formal college activities (e.g. freshman orientation). B. Teams may count one (1) practice opportunity per day after formal college activities have begun.

C. Practice opportunities on Sundays do not count toward total.

IV. REGULAR SEASON COMPETITION

A. The conference will be divided into two divisions (East and West) for the purpose of regular season scheduling and postseason qualification. The divisions will be as follows:

West Division East Division Belhaven University Bluefield College Bethel University University of the Cumberlands Campbellsville University Georgetown College Cumberland University KY Christian University Faulkner University Lindsey Wilson College Reinhardt University University of Pikeville Union College

B. Regular season competition shall consist of nine (9) conference games including a single round robin inside the division with three (East) or four (West) crossover games with teams in the opposite division. Every effort will be made in scheduling so that teams will play each opponent on a home-and-home basis in alternating years.

C. All games will be played on Saturdays with a 1:30pm kick-off (local time). Schedule changes may be made with approval from both participating head coaches and ADs. All changes must be submitted in writing to the conference office

D. Compensation for football officials will be as follows for 2014 season: 1. Officials for varsity games will be paid $185 per game (7-person crew) 2. Officials for junior varsity games will be paid $110 per game (5-person crew)

E. Ties in regular season games will be broken using the NAIA postseason tiebreaker rule.

F. The following procedures will be adhered to for all conference games: 1. Host institution will provide adequate, convenient and secure space for the visiting team to dress, conduct meetings, shower, etc. during pre-game, half-time and post-game activities 2. At least three (3) chairs and space for one filmier will be provided to the visiting team in the press box area. Visiting coaches will provide their own phone system. 3. The home team will furnish visiting team with ice, water, access to electricity, and access to press box. 4. Visiting team will be responsible for furnishing fans, misters and tents. Visiting team must give host institution at least 48 hours-notice if electricity and water will be needed on the sideline for fans and/or misters. 5. The officials must receive a minimum of four (4) footballs from each team one (1) hour prior to the game. The footballs must be delivered to the officials’ dressing room. 6. The home team for Mid-South Conference games is responsible for providing game stats. 7. Security is the responsibility of the home institution. Host institution will make every effort to provide a barrier that separates team personnel from non-team personnel. Duly authorized security personnel will be used for enforcement. a. Teams will be given secure access/egress to and from the field and dressing area with escort from duly authorized security personnel, if necessary and/or requested. b. Fans will be prohibited from post-game access to the playing surface until the visiting team has vacated the field. c. Officials will be provided with an escort to and from the field from duly authorized security personnel during half-time and post-game, if necessary and/or requested. 8. Three (3) hours prior to the start of the game, an official greeter from the host school will meet the officials and accompany them to the officials’ dressing room. Officials will be provided with soap, towels, refreshments, chalk boards, and other necessary provisions for game preparation. 9. Half-time may be extended to 25 minutes with approval by both head coaches prior to game-day, in order to accommodate special circumstances including field access/egress, half-time activities, etc. a. Teams will be given a minimum of five minutes warm-up time following the conclusion of any half-time activities.

V. POST SEASON COMPETITION The two division (East and West) champions will receive the Mid-South Conference automatic berths in the NAIA National Football Championship per the conference qualification plan. Team must be ranked in the top 20 in the final regular season poll in order to receive automatic berth:

A. NAIA national qualifying deadlines and tournament dates:

Qualifying Opening Round National Champ 2014-15 Nov. 15 Nov. 22 Dec. 20 2015-16 Nov. 14 Nov. 21 Dec. 19 2016-17 Nov. 12 Nov. 19 Dec. 17 2017-18 Nov. 11 Nov. 18 Dec. 16

B. Ties for Conference Championship and NAIA Automatic Bid 1. In the event of a two-way tie for the conference championship, there will be co- champions. The team that won the head-to-head competition will get the automatic playoff bid. 2. In the event of a three-way tie for the conference championship, there will be tri- champions. The team with the highest ranking in the final national poll will get the automatic playoff bid.

C. Selection Process for NAIA Sanctioned Bowl Game other than Playoffs 1. The Second Placed Team, or highest placed team not making the NAIA Playoffs, (based on conference record only), will be the Mid-South Representative to compete in Bowl Competition. 2. In the case of a tie for representation to the Post Season Bowl Game, the following procedures will be followed: 3. Two-way tie: Head to head competition by the two teams involved will dictate the Mid-South Conference Representative. 4. Three or more teams tied: The team who has the best winning percentage of the teams involved based on overall record will represent the Mid-South Conference in the Post Season Bowl. 5. In the case of two teams still remaining tied after the previous step, then head to head competition between the two tied teams will dictate who represents the Mid- South Conference in Post Season Bowl Competition. 6. If three or more teams are still tied, then a flip of the coin will determine the representative of the Mid-South Conference in the Post Season Bowl Competition

VI. AERIAL LIFTS Aerial lifts may be used for filming, broadcasting or otherwise viewing a football contest. The Mid- South Conference encourages strict safety standards at all times when aerial lifts are being used.

A. The visiting team will be provided with a suitable location to film from the end zone and sideline.

B. The host institution will be responsible for providing an aerial lift for the visiting team’s use to film the game. It is the visiting team’s responsibility to contact the host institution in writing at least two (2) weeks prior to game day to request an aerial lift. If appropriate written request is not received within the time required, the host institution will not be required to provide an aerial lift for the visiting team.

C. It is the responsibility of the home institution to determine if weather conditions may create an unsafe situation, including but not limited to high winds, wind gusts, snow, ice, hail and rain. If it is determined that unsafe conditions exist, the aerial lift must be lowered and use discontinued immediately.

D. Minimum height for an aerial lift required for filming games from the end zone is twenty- five (25) feet.

VII. SCOUTING AND FILM EXCHANGE

A. All MSC teams will use Hudl.com for film exchange. Each institution is responsible for maintaining their own Hudle.com account. 1. The 2014 open library will begin on Sunday, September 21 at 12:00pm. After this time, all games must be available in the conference pool on Hudl.com. 2. In weeks leading up to the open library date, games should be traded via private Hudl.com exchange. If there is a discrepancy in the number of games played before open library, the most recent games will be exchanged on a 1-to-1 basis. a. EXAMPLE ONE: Team A plays 8/2, 8/9, 8/16 Team B plays 8/9 Team A & B play on 8/23 i. The exchange will be one (1) game for each team, and shall be the most recent game. ii. Team A will get the 8/9 game from Team B, and Team B will get the 8/16 game from Team A. iii. The exchange will take place on Sunday, 8/17. b. EXAMPLE TWO: Team A plays 8/2, 8/9, BYE 8/16 Team B plays 8/9, 8/15 Team A & B play on 8/23 i. On Sunday 8/10: Team A will get the 8/9 game from Team B, and Team B will get the 8/2 game from Team A. ii. On Sunday 8/17: Team A will get the 8/16 game from Team B, and Team B will get the 8/9 game from Team A.

B. In addition to game film, SIDs will also exchange the following by 6:00pm on Monday of game week: 1. Copy of current season media guide or game program 2. Current roster 3. Current two-deep depth chart for Offense and Defense 4. Up-to-date game results, and team and individual statistics 5. If the information is available on the member institution’s website, it will be considered to be provided.

C. All teams (home and away) are required to upload a game ordered, intercut copy of their previous week game no later than 12:00pm on Sunday following the game. Requiring both teams to film and upload a copy of the game is intended to ensure that there is at least one good copy of the video, should something go wrong for one team. Teams that cannot meet this deadline due to long travel must notify their next opponent ahead of time.

D. All game film should include the following: 1. Scoreboard shot before each play, as well as between possessions. 2. Shot of the official during penalty announcements. 3. Videographers should try to get all 22 players in the frame pre-snap on normal Offensive/Defensive snaps.

E. The following information is required to be included when video is exchanged/added to the conference pool: 1. Offense/Defense/Kicking 2. Down & Distance 3. Yard Line (using + and – from the offensive/kicking team perspective) 4. Gain or Loss 5. Result of the play (mark ”Penalty” when applicable)

F. Teams experiencing quality issues with their copy of the video will notify their next opponent by 12:00pm on Sunday before the game, or as soon as the problem is discovered. Notification of video issues should be communicated by head coach to head coach.

G. MSC teams must not share film in any format with any teams outside of the Mid-South Conference, unless they are a non-conference opponent. Otherwise, providing video to teams outside the conference is strictly forbidden.

H. Tips for upload process: 1. Intercut upload should be one file instead of clips. Clips do not work well with all editing systems. 2. Before uploading file, convert it to .wmv file, which will help maintain good quality and speed upload. 3. Work with your IT Department to make sure that upload is at maximum speed. Networks may be able to free up bandwidth, if they are aware of specific upload times and specifics. 4. Windows Moviemaker can be used to intercut film. This is free software that is already loaded on most computers with Windows operating systems. Make sure that the time stamp on the camera is synchronized.

I. Coaches should attempt to resolve problems in film exchange among themselves. Any grievance not resolved between coaches should be registered with the Athletic Director of the aggrieved school. The Athletic Director will then register the grievance with the Commissioner. Failure to follow established film exchange procedures or meet deadlines will result in fines issued by the conference office. Repeated offenses will result in being suspended from the film exchange system for the remainder of the season.

VIII. SPRING PRACTICE Each institution may determine the official start date of spring football practice:

A. The official spring practice schedule will consist of fifteen (15) practice opportunities (one per day) held within a thirty-five (35) consecutive day calendar.

B. Only ten (10) dates may be conducted in full pads. The remaining five (5) dates may be conducted in helmets and shoulder pads.

IX. CONFERENCE AWARDS

A. Regular Season East Division Conference Champion (Tom Dowling Trophy): Presented each year based on best division winning percentage

B. Regular Season West Division Conference Champion (Tom Dowling Trophy): Presented each year based on best division winning percentage

C. Academic All-Conference: Presented to any student-athlete who has successfully completed at least 24 hours toward graduation and meets the established minimum cumulative grade point average.

D. First-Team All-Conference: Two (2) All-Conference teams will be recognized for offense and defense, one from the East Division and one from the West Division:

Offense Defense 5 Linemen 4 Linemen 1 Tight End 4 Linebackers 2 Wide Receivers 4 Backs 1 Slot Back 1 Kick Return Specialist 1 Quarterback 1 Punter 3 Running Backs 1 Place Kicker

E. Second-Team All-Conference: Same format as First-Team All-Conference.

F. Offensive Player of the Year: Presented to the top offensive player in each division selected by coaches.

G. Defensive Player of the Year: Presented to the top defensive player in each division selected by coaches.

H. Offensive Freshman of the Year: Presented to the top offensive freshman player in each division selected by coaches.

I. Defensive Freshman of the Year: Presented to the top defensive freshman in each division selected by the coaches

J. Ron Finley Coach of the Year Award: Presented to head coach in each division voted on by coaches.

K. Champions of Character: Presented to one male and female nominee who best displays the five core values of integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership. The Administrative Council will establish specific guidelines for the award and selection process.