FLAG FOOTBALL (1st – 6th grade) Adam Mueller Sports and Rec Director 402.404.8439 Email: [email protected] 1 7 Pillars of YMCA Youth Sports 2 New for 2019 - Youth Sports Pledge This is the YMCA Youth Sports Pledge, and it helps guide our commitment to team building and personal responsibility here at the Norm Waitt Sr. YMCA. Sports are a valuable and vital part in building up a child’s ability to discipline themselves and learn to play with a team. At the beginning of each game, the Officials will lead the teams in reciting this pledge: Youth Sports Pledge “Win or lose, I pledge to accept and demonstrate the following positive values: CARING, HONESTY, RESPECT and RESPONSIBILITY. I will do the best to be a team player, to respect my: teammates, opponents, coaches and officials, and to improve myself in Spirit, Mind and Body.” Game Location All games will be held at: Jeffery Dible Soccer Complex 1300 Riverview Dr. South Sioux City, NE 68776 3 LEAGUE RULES Kickoffs: The HOME team will start on their 10 yard line. Play 8 Vs. 8 (minimum of 6 players on the field to play). o A team must have a minimum of 6 players to start a game or it will be considered a forfeit. If a team plays short-handed, the opposing team will play with the same number of players. The ball is spotted where the ball is when the flag is pulled. Fumble: anytime the ball is fumbled and touches the ground (except during a punt in 4th – 6th league) the ball is ruled dead and belongs to the team that fumbled the ball at the spot where it touched the ground. If a ball touches the ground from the snap of the center, the ball is dead where it touches. A ball that becomes dead behind the offensive team’s goal line will be ruled a safety. **With younger grades we will allow a re-snap if they fumble the snap A first down is gained when the offensive team advances from one zone into the next. The playing field for teams is 40 yards long and is divided into 10-yard zones. The games consist of 4 quarters, with each quarter lasting 10 minutes. Half time is 3 minutes in length. The clock runs continuously except for timeouts and the last 2 minutes of the 4th quarter. At this point, the official will stop the clock for out of bounds or incomplete passes. The game ball for players in the 1st & 2nd grade league is the PeeWee size ball. Teams in the 4th-6th grade league will use the Junior size ball. All grades- One coach may go out onto the field and assist the players in huddles during the game. Substitution Rules: o All grades: Substitutions can be made at the quarter break or at the change of possession between Offense and Defense. All players must play one quarter in the first half and one quarter in the second half. All boys and girls must play equal potions of each game. There are no overtime games Teams are allowed 3 timeouts per game. 30 seconds each. 4 GENERAL OFFENSIVE RULES All offensive players must be set for at least one second prior to center snaps. Exception: If you have a man in motion they may be moving at the snap. Before going into motion the player must comply with the one second motionless period. The backfield may not use more than 3 players and these players must be at least 1 yard behind the line of scrimmage. Exception: a man in motion will not be counted toward the 3-player limit in the backfield. Must have 5 men on the Line of Scrimmage Quarterback sneaks and dives are illegal if taking the snap directly from the center. In a shotgun formation the quarterback may advance the ball directly into the line (dives) but only from the shotgun formation and the correct distance from center at the snap of the ball. Quarterbacks who are in the shotgun formation must be 3 to 4 yards back from the center. Quarterbacks who take the snap directly from the center cannot dive directly into the line, but can do sweeps, end around, flea flickers, etc., as long as he/she is beyond the guard when they cut up the field. All offensive players are eligible to receive a forward pass. Flags must be worn on the hip and be worn on the outside of the jersey, with jersey tucked in. The ball is spotted where the ball is when the flag is pulled. The ball is dead when the player’s knee touches the ground. If a defensive man has position, the offensive player cannot run over him. The offense has 30 seconds to run its play. 1st & 2nd Grade Divisions has 45 seconds. Ball carriers cannot guard flags. Ball carriers can only spin once while running. Stiff-arms are illegal. Offensive lineman may be in either two or three point stance. The offensive player must keep their hands below the neck and head. Penalties will be assessed for blows to the head. PUNTING: Team must announce to the referee and opposing coach they are going to punt. Nobody can move until the ball has been kicked. 5 GENERAL DEFENSIVE RULES The defensive player cannot tackle, trip, push, hold or shove the ball carrier while trying to pull the flag. No sliding on knees to pull the Flag! A 5 yard ‘tackling’ penalty will be assessed from the end of the run. Linebackers must be at least 3 yards behind the cone. The defensive front line must have at least 3 players on the line of scrimmage, but no more than 5. **You cannot have more down lineman than offensive lineman The referee will drop 2 cones 1 yard apart. Defense and offense must line up behind the cones. Defensive lineman may be in either a two or three pt. stance. The defensive player must keep their hands below the neck and head. Penalties will be assessed for blows to the head. NO Blitzing by LB’s, CB’s or Safeties. Defensive lineman can rush on the snap. Once the QB has left the tackle box then he is fair game for all defensive players. EQUIPMENT For safety reasons, sneakers or soft-rubber cleats must be worn at all times. No metal baseball/softball cleats. Players may NOT wear any hard, potentially dangerous equipment, or baseball caps. The Y will furnish practice balls for each team, game equipment, and officials. The YMCA Sport Jersey is the official team uniform and must be worn so that it is visible to all players. The shirt must be tucked in at all times. Mouth guards are mandatory for every player on every down. SUMMARY OF COMMON VIOLATIONS LOSS OF 5 YARDS Delay of game (30 sec allowed to put ball in play) (45 sec in 1st/2nd). Offside, illegal procedure or illegal formation. Illegal motion. Illegal defensive formation. Leaving the line of scrimmage before the ball is punted. Spinning more than once while carrying the ball (point of foul). 6 Guarding the flag with hands or arms or illegal arrangement of flag (point of foul) Leaving the feet or diving in making open field blocks (point of foul) Stiff-arming (point of foul) Unnecessary roughness - tackle Quarterback sneak or dive taken directly from the center into the line (point of foul). Illegal use of hands by the offense (point of foul). LOSS OF 10 YARDS Interference by the kicking team against the receiving team to catch a punted ball (from the line of scrimmage or from point of foul). Unsportsmanlike conduct by player, coaches, and spectators located on their sidelines (this includes verbal harassment directed toward anyone, including opposing team players or referees). Defensive pass interference (10 yards from the line of scrimmage plus automatic first down). Blocking from behind/clipping (point of foul). Offensive pass interference OTHER PENALTIES AND MISC. RULES In accordance with National Federation of State High School Association, only one foot must touch in bounds in order for a pass reception to be considered legal. Any rules not interpreted by the Y rules, shall be administered according to the rules of regular football as stated by the National Federation of State High School Athletic Association rules. All decisions made by the league supervisors on rules interpretations are final. 7 NO TOLERANCE POLICY Trash talking, obscene gestures, spiking the ball or other unsportsmanlike behavior will not be tolerated. The Y staff reserves the right to suspend any player for unsportsmanlike behavior during games or practices. Referees and/ or staff will be allowed to assess 10 yard penalties on any player or coach for inappropriate behavior during games. Coaches who demonstrate this type of behavior will be required to meet with the Sports and Rec Director and other staff deemed necessary for the situation. Players will be removed from the game for a period deemed necessary by Y staff. CONCUSSION POLICY If you suspect that an athlete has a concussion, remove the athlete from play and seek medical attention. Do not try to judge the severity of the injury yourself. Keep the athlete out of play the day of the injury and that child will need to be evaluated by a health care professional before it is okay for them to return to play. The parents will need to show the coach a written note from the health care professional clearing them to play and the coach will notify the Sports and Rec department.