2012 GRANDVILLE ROCKET FOOTBALL RULES / REGULATIONS ______________________________________________________________________ THE GRANDVILLE ROCKET FOOTBALL LEAGUE FOLLOWS MHSAA RULES EXCEPT FOR DIFFERENCES OUTLINED IN THESE RULES. IN THOSE INSTANCES THE GRANDVILLE ROCKET FOOTBALL LEAGUE RULES TAKE PRECEDENCE. ______________________________________________________________________ NONE of the GRANDVILLE ROCKET FOOTBALL LEAGUE, INC. rules can be waived by any person for any reason. Anyone willfully violating any rule will be suspended for one (1) year. A. PLAYING TIME / ROSTER LIMITS 1. All players shall have the opportunity to start on either offense or defense for one of the halves. A strict “two platoon” system is to be followed. A “Specialty” position is defined as any offensive position NOT from tackle to tackle. a. If a team has 22 or less players, all players shall have a starting position for both halves for offense and defense. Any players playing a Specialty position one half may not play a Specialty position the other half (see #2 below for injury procedure). Players should play as equally as possible. b. If a team has 23 or more players, each player will have a designated half to play offense and the other half on defense. Players should play as equally as possible. 2. If injuries occur and there is not a backup player for that position for the current half of play, and it becomes necessary to play a player in a position of their non- designated half, a brief meeting shall be held in the center of the field with both head coaches, the head official and the Director. An agreement shall be made, by these individuals, for an appropriate substitute before play will continue. a. If the position in need of the substitute is either QB or RB, the substituted player is not eligible to score. 3. Team size; a maximum of 30 players and a minimum of 15. B. AGE GROUPS 1. A players’ grade for the upcoming school year shall determine his/her grade level of play for the season. Proper verification of birthdates must be furnished at time of sign-up, either a birth certificate, baptismal record or school record. 2. NO player may either practice or play who has not turned in a Hold Harmless Agreement signed by the player’s parents. ANY TEAM USING AN UNREGISTERED PLAYER OR WHOSE COACH ALLOWS A ROSTER SUBSTITUTION WILL FORFEIT ALL GAMES IN WHICH THE PLAYER WAS USED AND THE ENTIRE COACHING STAFF OF THE TEAM PERMENANTLY SUSPENDED. 1 C. WEIGHTS 1. The weight limits in the various age groups are as follows: rd th 3 /4 grade BALL CARRIER weight limit @ 105 lbs. rd th 3 /4 grade player weight: general limit @ 135 lbs. ● Any player exceeding 135 lbs. is restricted to offensive center or tackle and down defensive linemen. th th 5 /6 grade BALL CARRIER weight limit @ 130 lbs. th th 5 /6 grade player weight: general limit @ 155 lbs. ● Any player exceeding 155 lbs. is restricted to offensive center or tackle and down defensive linemen. D. CAST POLICY 1. No player wearing a cast of any type may participate in a game or contact practice. This policy is to be strictly enforced and CANNOT be waived by a doctors slip or by parental consent. E. FIRST AID - EMERGENCIES 1. Each team is to be equipped with a first aid kit, including ice packs, which is present at all team practices and games. This is in addition to the field site first aid kit. 2. If a significant injury occurs, either paramedics on site (if currently present) shall be asked to triage player or 911 shall be called. 3. CONCUSSION POLICY- ANY PLAYER VISIBLY SUFFERING FROM OR COMPLAINING OF A HEADACHE, BLURRED VISION, NAUSEA OR OTHER SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED WITH A CLOSED HEAD INJURY/CONCUSSION SHALL BE REMOVED FROM THE GAME AND UNABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY FURTHER ACTIVITY UNTIL RELEASED FROM MEDICAL SUPERVISION. See Concussion Plan for further details. F. EQUIPMENT 1. Pads, Mouth Guards, Visors, Misc. a. Every player must wear football shoulder pads, helmet with face mask and football pants with pads. ALL playing equipment must be NOCSAE approved. Every effort should be made by Director and coaches to see that no obsolete or over-aged equipment is used. If neck rolls are worn by a player, it is strongly suggested that it have a “proper fit.” “Proper fit” being defined as a neck roll that adequately protects the neck, but still allows movement of the head in all directions. b. All players must wear mouth protectors either clear or colored, and unless the player has written permission from his/her dentist ALL Mouthpieces must be attached to the helmet facemask and worn in the mouth while on the playing field. Following a WARNING, the referees will assess a 15-yard penalty for violation of this rule. 2 c. Visors, either clear or tinted may be worn, however the tint MUST not be so dark as to keep the players eyes from being visible. d. Do-rags, or skull caps (head covers), are acceptable as long as they DO NOT extend beyond the bottom rear lip/edge of the helmet. The same applies to ponytails, locks, etc. 2. Cleats a. Cleats must be of the plastic, rubber molded variety. There should be NO metal caps and any metal rivets MUST be submerged in the cleat and any shoe having metal protruding WILL NOT be worn. SHOES HAVING SCREW-IN CLEATS OF THE PLASTIC VARIETY ARE ALLOWED. 3. Footballs a. rd th There will be two (2) football sizes for use in all games. The 3 /4 grade age th th group will use the #6 Intermediate size footballs and the other age groups 5 /6 grade would use the #7 Junior size. b. **PROCEDURE: ALL FOOTBALLS APPROVED FOR USE BY THE 8/9 yr. old age group MUST BE SO MARKED WITH A PERMENANT MARKER WITH THE CLEARLY VISIBLE “8/9” ON THE SIDES. 1. All footballs must be checked for proper size/age group by the Field Director or the Head Official prior to the start of a game. That football will be the only one used by that team in the game. G. COACHES 1. Certification/Training/ ID a. All teams are to be coached by a minimum of two (2) and a maximum of (6) coaches. b. ALL Head coaches must take and pass a Tackle Certification course their first year. Each subsequent year, ALL Head coaches must take and pass a Tackle Re- certification course or Age-based Coaching Certification course. All coaches, including assistants must be at least 21 years of age (See Coaching Intern Rules in section (e) below). c. ALL coaches must attend a Rules/Regulations pre-season meeting. d. ALL coaches will submit and pass a Michigan State Police background check as conducted by Grandville Community Ed. e. With prior approval of the Director, a team may have no more then one(1) assistant coach per team classified as a Coaching Intern between the ages of (18- 20). Under no circumstances will this coaching intern serve in any capacity other than as an assistant and NO interns will be added to coaching rosters AFTER the start of the season. 2. Field Behavior, Sportsmanship, Etc 3 a. ALL coaches must remain on the sidelines as in regular high school rules rd th (*see 3 /4 grade Rules for exceptions), and may enter the playing field to converse with their players only during called time outs. Coaches and players on the sidelines must remain within the 25-yard line markers. There shall be an AUTOMATIC 15 yard penalty for any member of the coaching staff, players or parents on the playing field and interrupting the normal progress of the game. b. ZERO TOLERANCE COACHING BEHAVIOR** ANY COACH OR ASST. COACH entering the field of play to argue an official’s call in an unsportsmanlike or hostile manner, or inciting his players or fans to harass the officials about a call and/or subsequently EJECTED FROM THE GAME SHALL BE IMMEDIATELY DISMISSED FROM THE PROGRAM. c. The Director is responsible for identifying violations of rules/regulations or conduct by coaches that require “off the field” discipline. d. Any player using profanity, degrading language, unsportsmanlike gestures or taunting of another player, coach or official shall be penalized 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct. This penalty shall be considered a team penalty and any subsequent such infraction from ANY player of the same team WILL RESULT IN AN IMMEDIATE EJECTION FROM THE GAME OF THAT PLAYER. e. Concerning the sportsmanship of spectators and fans, it will be explained at any/ all coach’s seminars/meetings and by the Director to the coaches; it is the coach’s responsibility to control their team’s fans (parents). If the coach CANNOT control their team’s fans, then the Director must step in and restore order. It should be explained that at the first such offense an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty will be enforced and 15-yards marked off against the offending team. A second offense will require the Director to stop the game and if the individual(s) causing the disturbance can be identified, they will be instructed to leave the facility or the game will be stopped and a forfeit awarded the opposing team. 1. ALL SPECTATORS MUST REMAIN AT LEAST 5-YARDS FROM ALL BOUNDARIES OF THE PLAYING FIELD. 2. ANY SPECTATOR ENTERING THE PLAYING FIELD FOR REASONS OTHER THAN A PLAYER INJURY SHALL BE IMMEDIATELY ESCORTED FROM THE PLAYING FIELD BY EITHER THE DIRECTOR OR HIS/HER ASSISTANT. 3. IF THE OFFENDING PARTY REFUSES TO LEAVE THE SITE, LAW ENFORCEMENT SHOULD BE CALLED.