LOWER COLUMBIA FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION RULES – 2019
Pad practice for the 2018 season will begin on August 20, 2018. First game is Sept. 8th and last game is Oct. 20th.
Pad practice for the 2019 season will begin on August 19, 2019. First game is Sept. 7th and last game is Oct. 19th.
ALL GAMES MUST BE FINISHED WITHOUT EXCEPTION. IF A COACH QUITS A GAME EARLY FOR ANY REASON, THE COACH WILL BE TERMINATED FROM THE LEAGUE PERMANENTLY. THE TEAM WILL BE ALLOWED TO FINISH THE SEASON, BUT WILL BE TERMINATED FROM THE LEAGUE THE FOLLOWING YEAR, UNLESS APPROVED BY A MAJORITY OF THE REMAINING TEAMS. THIS RULE APPLIES TO INDIVIDUAL TEAMS, NOT SCHOOLS.
COACHES WILL BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE OPPOSING TEAM WITH A ROSTER AND WEIGHT FOR EACH PLAYER ON HIS TEAM, EACH WEEK. ANY PLAYER WITHIN FIVE (5) POUNDS OF WEIGHT LIMIT MUST BE WEIGHED BEFORE THE GAME. IF A KID IS OVER THE WEIGHT LIMIT, HE CANNOT BE IN A BALL CARRYING POSITION. WEIGHT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND VIOLATIONS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED, MOST LIKELY RESULTING IN TERMINATION OF THE COACH.
5th and 6th Grade Rules
1. All tournament game times shall be provided via a master schedule prior to the season. Teams must play all scheduled games without exception. If a team is short players, they may borrow a player(s) from another team.
2. When possible, a regulation field should be used.
3. A coin toss will determine who kicks off and who receives the ball to start the game. Visiting team calls the toss. Visiting team is the team who had to travel the farthest. The team that receives the ball to begin the first half will kick off to begin the second half.
4. Games will consist of two (2) forty minute halves. The clock will be a running clock. No time outs, except for injury. Five minute half time and five minutes between games. Clocks should be kept on each field separately. The clock should never stop running, with one exception. If there is an injury in the last two minutes of the game and the game is within seven (7) points or less. Very important to run tournaments on time!!!!!
5. All games should start on time. Games ending in a tie will remain a tie, no overtime. Each tournament should have one person in charge of running the games on time.
6. All kick offs will be from the 45 yard line on a 100 yard field. On an 80 yard field, the kick off will be from the 35 yard line.
7. Receiving team must have five (5) players on the line for kick offs. Intentional onside kicks are prohibited. If the official determines that an intentional onside kick has been attempted, the receiving team will take possession of the ball at the point where the ball was kicked.
8. When an official time out is called for an injury, regardless of the injury, the injured player must remain out of the game for three (3) consecutive plays. Any bleeding must be stopped and cleaned before a player returns to a game. No bleeding wounds shall be visible on any player involved in a game.
9. Any player or coach who swears, fights, or “cheap” shots another player may be removed from the game by the referee. The decision of the referee is final! Team coaches are asked to deal with any parents (from their team) that may behave in a disrespectful manner.
10.The home team shall provide the referees. Referees must be made aware of all rules prior to games. Coaches and referees should meet prior to the game to discuss and potential problems. All games must have a minimum of three referees, and at least two must be adults.
11.Each team is responsible for providing a legal, game ball when their team is on offense. The two teams can agree to use a single game ball or each use their own.
12.DEFENSE RULES:
a. Defensive lineman must line up head to head (no shading to one side or the other) with offensive lineman, as long as line gaps are reasonable. Guards and tackles must line up head to head and must make contact with the player head up to them. No defensive player shall line up over the center on the line of scrimmage (linebackers can lineup over center as long as they are back one (1) yard behind the lineman). Defensive ends must be lined up head to head in the down position to rush, covered or not. If the offensive team does not have a tight end then the defensive end may rush as long as he is in the down position.
b. Linebackers must line up at least one (1) yard behind the defensive lineman.
c. Lining up in the gaps on the line will not be permitted.
d. There shall be no blitzing or stunting from any position!
e. Cornerbacks must read run before crossing the line of scrimmage.
13.Offensive teams may use any formation that is legal. They must have exactly seven (7) players on the line of scrimmage during all offensive plays. Quarterback sneaks are permitted without limits.
14.Punts must be declared by the punting team. There shall be no rushing until the ball is kicked. All players shall hold their positions until the ball is kicked on punts.
15.Extra point kicks are allowed and shall count as one (1) point. The kick shall be declared and no rushing is allowed. If there is a bad or mishandled snap then the play will be ruled dead and no kick will be allowed. Running/passing extra points are also allowed, and shall count as one (1) point.
16.No player who handles the ball may weigh more than 115 pounds. Players weighing more than 115 pounds must be designated by a stripe on their helmets. Weight is with game pants and pant pads only.
a. Offensive ends may weigh more than 115 pounds, but may not catch or handle the ball. If they do it will result in a five (5) yard penalty and loss of down.
b. No player in the offensive backfield may weigh over 115 pounds regardless of whether they handle the ball or not.
c. If a defensive player, over 115 pounds, gains possession of the ball, it will be declared a dead ball at the spot of the turnover and their team shall maintain possession.
d. All home teams shall have a scale available for weigh-ins before a game. A coach’s refusal to weigh a player shall make that player ineligible for the game or any part of the game after the request is made and the coach refuses. Players within five (5) pounds of limit must weigh before each game.
e. All players who are over the weight limit must have a stripe on their helmet, without exception. The stripe (black electrical tape works well) shall be from the front of the helmet to the back of the helmet. The stripe must be a different color than the helmet and be clearly visible from both front and back.
17. Only one coach from the offensive and defensive teams will be allowed on the field, unless agreed upon by both teams prior to the game. Except for huddles, coaches on the field must be at least five (5) yards behind their deepest player. During time outs more than one coach may be on the field.
18.No vocal coaching will be allowed, by the coach on the field, after the ball is snapped. Coaches may coach from the sidelines during the play. (First offense is a warning, second is a five (5) yard penalty).
19.Mouth guards must be attached to helmets (cannot be cut off). If cut off, referee’s cannot see and there is a risk of choking. Only exception is specialized mouth guards for medical reasons i.e. braces etc.
20.Schools with more than one team per age level shall not be allowed to have kids play on both teams during the same Saturday, no eceptions.
21.5th/6th grade shall use Youth or Junior sized ball. 3rd/4th grade shall use Junior or Pee wee sized ball.
22.Kids must play for the school within the school district they attend. If a school has no team or teams, then the child can play for any school. If a school attempts to get a team and they do not get enough kids signed up, ONLY the kids signed up can go and play for another school, no exceptions.
23.Teams must play in our league every Saturday. No fee for admission shall be charged. There is no fee for games to teams.
24.Each team is responsible for its own insurance coverage, including but not limited to, liability insurance and medical insurance.
PENALTIES
Coaches should meet with the referees prior to the games to determine if any warnings will be given.
Five yard penalties:
1. Off sides.
2. Delay of game. Taking more than 45 seconds to run a play after the spot of the ball. A ten second warning shall be given.
3. A player not having a mouth piece in or helmet snapped. Officials should remind players of this throughout the game.
4. Illegal motion. More than one back in motion or a back moving toward the line of scrimmage prior to the snap.
5. More than one coach on the field during a play, unless agreed to prior to game.
6. A player on the field over 115 pounds catching or handling the ball on offense. (Five (5) yard penalty plus loss of down). Fumble recoveries or interceptions do not count, ball is dead immediately.
7. Pass interference, from the spot of the foul or the line of scrimmage, whichever is greater. Defensive pass interference is an automatic first down. Balls must be determined to be catchable by the referee before pass interference is called.
8. Coaching by coach on the field after the play begins.
9. Illegal blocking down field. No blocking on pass plays past 5 yards from line of scrimmage. Results in a five (5) yard penalty and replay of down.
Ten yard penalties:
1. Illegal formation, offense with either too many or too few men on the line of scrimmage (i.e. less than seven (7) men on the offensive line of scrimmage).
2. Illegal defense. (i.e. lining up in gaps, blitzing).
3. Holding or grasping another player in such a way as to stop or impede their movement, offensively or defensively.
4. Blocking below the waist.
Fifteen yard penalties:
1. Head tackling or face masking. All tackles must be made at the shoulders or below.
2. Clipping or blocking an opposing player in the back. Penalty is from spot of the foul.
3. Unsportsmanlike conduct, swearing, fighting, arguing with the referee, unnecessary roughness. This shall also result in the player or coach being ejected from the game.
Variations in Rules for 3RD/4TH Grade Teams
1. Weight limit is ninety (90) pounds. (pants and pant pads only).
2. Field may be smaller.
3. Two coaches are allowed on the field.
4. On smaller fields all five and ten yard penalties shall be five yard penalties. All fifteen yard penalties shall be ten yard penalties.
5. No change of possession on kick-offs unless receiving team legitimately attempts to advance the ball with possession and then fumbles. In other words, if a receiving team attempts to get the ball, but a fumble occurs, no change of possession as long as he was just trying to pick up the ball. Must have clear possession and attempting to advance the ball for a fumble to result in a change of possession.
6. Games shall be same time periods as the 5th/6th teams. Very important to run on time. Clock should never stop!
7. Defense shall be a 6-2-2-1 at all times (except inside ten yard line, the safety can be brought up to linebacker position). Defensive line must make two (2) handed contact before rushing. Defensive ends must line up head up and be in the down position. If uncovered, they may rush.
8. Maximum of two (2) quarterback sneaks (meaning straight up middle over center) per game. Quarterbacks can still run unlimited sweeps, options, reverses, etc.