Tackle Football Rules Section I PLAYER ELIGIBILITY 1. The grade limit for each division within the Kids, Incorporated Tackle Football program will be as follows: a. Third & Fourth Grade Division – A child must be entering and/or currently enrolled in the 3rd or 4th Grade for the 2018-2019 school year. b. Fifth & Sixth Grade Division – A child must be entering and/or currently enrolled in the 5th grade or 6th grade for the 2018-2019 school year . 2. Proof of Eligibility: At any time during the season, Kids, Incorporated may request proof of eligibility (grade) for any participant. Section II WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS For safety reasons, Kids, Incorporated implements a restricted position policy for its tackle football program. Players will be weighed one time only. The restricted position policy applies to players as follows: 3rd & 4th grade: 100 lbs & up 5th & 6th grade: 120 lbs & up 1. Restricted players may not: a. Play the quarterback, running back, receiver position on offense, stand up end, linebacker, or any secondary position on defense. b. Restricted players may not line up in the nose-guard position on defense (head- up over the center) c. Restricted players will be allowed to participate on the punt team and punt return team, but may not advance the ball: 1. Except in the case of a fumble that has not hit the ground or interception. d. Restricted players are allowed to be the punter. e. Restricted players must be an interior lineman on the offensive and/or the defensive line. 2. Weigh-in: All players must be weighed on designated days prior to season beginning. 3. If your child is a restricted player, he/she will not be moved up to the next grade division. 4. All restricted players will wear a 90’s series number. Section III EQUIPMENT 1. Kids, Incorporated will furnish the following equipment to each player in our tackle football program: a. Helmet Kids, Incorporated Tackle Football Rules Page 2 of 8 b. Shoulder Pads c. Pants d. Mouthpiece e. Jersey 2. Kids, Incorporated will furnish the practice/game balls for your team. The footballs that each grade uses are listed below. a. 3rd & 4th grade – Junior b. 5th & 6th grade – Intermediate 3. During each play, the mouthpiece must be in the child’s mouth and the chin strap must be buckled. a. Officials will stop play and correct the player. Continued violation could result in delay of game penalty. 4. If you lose a mouthpiece or chin strap, see your coach for a replacement. 5. If any portion of your equipment is not fitting properly or needs repair, see your coach. 6. Only tennis shoes and rubber cleats are allowed. No metal spikes of any kind will be allowed. 7. Players are not allowed to switch jerseys. Violation of the rule is subject to suspension. 8. For the safety of all players, no hard or plaster casts are allowed to be worn by any player. Safety is #1 with Kids, Incorporated, so please make sure your equipment fits properly. Section IV RULES Kids, Incorporated will reference the most recent OSSAA and NCAA rules when needed, but will use the following rules as a point of emphasis. 1. Coin flip will determine offense and defense. Offense will start at their own 20-yard line. 2. Each participant is guaranteed minimum playing time. While our intention is not to force a child to play more than he/she is willing, we do want to provide each child minimum playing time. 3. Each player is entitled to a minimum number of 8 plays per half, (16 plays per game). Punt and punt returns will count as a play from scrimmage. 4. 3rd & 4th grade teams must line up in the standard 4-3 defense. a. 4 down linemen – Line up head-up over the guard, tackle or tight-end. i. No contact with the center. b. 3 linebackers – 3 yards off the line of scrimmage. i. Do not move inside 3 yards until the ball is snapped. c. 4 defensive backs i. 2 corners – 3 yards off the line of scrimmage. 1. Do not move inside 3 yards until the ball is snapped. Last Revised July 2018 Kids, Incorporated Tackle Football Rules Page 3 of 8 ii. 2 safeties – Make sure they are at least 3 yards behind the linebackers. 1. Do not move inside the linebackers until the ball is snapped. 5. 3rd & 4th and 5th & 6th grade offensive and defensive linemen must be in 3 point or 4 point stance at the snap of the ball. a. This does not include the wide receivers. b. 3rd & 4th grade will not have a nose guard. 6. 5th & 6th grade may line up in any defensive formation they choose. a. If you have defensive ends, they may stand up and be no more than 2 yards off of tight ends shoulder. 7. The nose guard cannot be a restricted player. (5th & 6th grade) 8. Linebackers and defensive backs must be 3 yards off the line of scrimmage at the snap of the ball. 9. After the ball is snapped, the defense (3rd & 4th and 5th & 6th grade) can play regular football (i.e. blitzes, stunts, etc.) 10. 3rd & 4th, 5th & 6th grade may line up in any defensive formation they choose when the offense is inside your 5-yard line trying to score. a. In other words, this would be your Goal Line Defense. 11. Punts a. If you decide to punt, please tell the referee. § Teams have the choice to punt the ball or have the ball advanced 30 yards. b. No fake punts, no rushing the punter. c. The center may snap the ball to the punter or just hand it to him/her. d. There are no fumbles when punting the ball. e. Once the ball has been kicked, players may pursue the punt returner. f. You may return punts! g. No blocking below the waist. h. THE BALL WILL BE PUT IN PLAY: i. where the punt returner is tackled or goes out of bounds. ii. where an untouched ball comes to rest, goes out of bounds or the play is whistled dead. iii. at the 20-yard line, if the ball crosses the goal line untouched. a. Once the ball is touched, it is a live ball. b. Fumbles are allowed on the punt return. iv. The fair catch rule is in effect on all punts. 12. The offense must have 7 players on the line of scrimmage before the ball is snapped. 13. If you have an unbalanced line on one side or the other (guard, tackle, tackle or tight end), the inside tackle is not eligible for a pass. 14. On the other side of the line (guard, tackle), the tackle is eligible for a pass and does not have to be covered by a tight end or a wide out. Last Revised July 2018 Kids, Incorporated Tackle Football Rules Page 4 of 8 a. The jersey number of eligible tackles must be announced. 15. Tackle Eligible play: Coaches will need to let the officials know one (1) play before they are lining up in this formation. 16. The offensive lineman may extend their arms in front and stay within shoulder width, but cannot hold. a. Must be within shoulder pad area. 17. A team leading by 16-points or more, may not blitz on defense. 18. Offensive guards/tackles can pull. 19. Crack back blocks and blocks downfield must be above the waist and not in the back or below the waist. a. This is a safety issue. 20. No blocking below the waist in the interior offensive line. a. All linemen must engage the defensive lineman above the waist. b. This is the area between the tackles, which is known as “The Box”. 21. Sideline Control a. All players and coaches must remain between the 25-yard lines during the game. b. Parents may go all the way down the field and must be 10 yards off the sideline. c. If you are yelling and verbally abusing the officials, you will asked to step back to between the 25-yard lines or asked to leave by the officials. d. No one may be in the end zone. 22. Each team will be allowed 30 seconds in the huddle. 23. Two coaches from each team are allowed on the playing field at one time. 24. Once the huddle breaks, coaches must be 10 yards back. a. No coaching or running with the play once the play begins. 25. Each game will consists of two (2) twenty minute halves (running clock). 26. Halftime will be 5 minutes. 27. Each team will be allowed two (2) one minute time-outs per half, to be used at the coaches discretion. 28. Time-outs not used in the first half may not be carried over to the second half. 29. Time limit for all games is one hour. 30. Game time is forfeit time. 31. A new game is scheduled to begin every 60 minutes on each field. 32. A team must begin and end a game with a minimum of eleven (11) players present. 33. All games played through the third quarter will be considered official games, if stopped due to weather or any other reason. 34. If the game is tied at the end of regulation, the game will remain a tie (league play only). This is due to time constraints 35. Scoring a. Touchdowns will be worth six (6) points. b. Extra points will be spotted at the 3-yard line.