In
general, the administrative and playing rules, regulations and procedures
pertaining to player participation and eligibility, structure of individual
league divisions, game and practice rules, cheerleading rules and other
football related activities are covered by the following sources, in this
order:
·
CFA By-Laws and minutes of Meetings for specific local rules.
·
The Official Football Playing rules and regulations as published
by the Virginia High School League for the current season.
Any
changes to the football or cheerleading guidelines will be coordinated through
the Vice President of that program and must be approved by the CFA Board.
Anklebiter League - Non-Contact Football Guidelines
Unless specified, flag football will
use traditional football regulations
1.
Coaches – The league will not permit more than two (2) approved coaches
per team on the playing field at anytime during the game. Coaches should position themselves so they
don’t interfere with the play.
2.
Flags – All players must keep flags on their sides, one on each hip.
3.
Football – a CFA approved football.
4.
Halftime – There will be a 10 minute halftime for all games.
5.
Helmets - All players must wear a league approved helmet.
6.
Home Field –
Yowell Meadow Park – Players’ bench will be the
one closest to the water.
CCC – Players’ bench will be the one closest to
Route 666 – Greens Corner Road – Scoreboard side of the field.
7.
Jerseys – All players must keep their jersey tucked inside the flag belt
and wear two flags at all times.
8.
Mascots – Must adhere to the
sideline spectator boundaries.
9.
Mouth Guards – All players must wear a mouth
guard that is attached to their helmet.
10.
Player Participation – 10 minutes per half and each player should be given the
opportunity to play at an offensive skilled position during the course of the
season. The Referee will give a 10 minute warning, to allow teams to make any
substitutions if needed.
11. Player Scoring - Once an
offensive player scores two touchdowns during a game, he/she cannot line up in
one of the skilled offensive positions NOR
can he/she carry the football for the duration of that same game. Defensive touchdowns do not count toward
this number.
12.
Players – Each team will field 9 players on both offense and defense.
13.
Playing Field – located at Yowell Meadow Park (YMP) & Culpeper Community
Complex (CCC) - 60 yard playing field
14.
Playing Time – Two 20 minute halves
with a continuous clock.
15.
Practice –
·
The 1st day of practice will be held approximately two
weeks prior to school starting.
·
Practices will be limited to 1 ½ hours. Team meetings with instructional intent are considered practices.
·
Prior to school, practices can be held up to 3 times a week.
·
After school starts, practices will be held only twice a week.
·
No practices will be held on the 1st day of school.
·
No practices will be held on Sundays.
·
There shall never be more than one (1) practice session allowed on
any day.
·
On hot days, coaches should use good judgment and keep all
participants hydrated.
·
When applicable, the cheerleading squad should practice close to
the football team.
16. Safety - No necklaces, bracelets, earrings,
long nails, durags or bandanas may be worn at practice or during games.
17. Score – No official score will be kept.
18.
Time Outs – Each team will have two 60 second timeouts per half.
19.
Visitor Sideline – responsible for the
chains
1.
The
game will begin with a coin toss to decide who will receive the ball first or
play defense first.
2.
The
offensive team will start the game from their ten (10) yard line.
3.
The
offensive team has four (4) downs from scrimmage to either score or gain ten
yards. If a team gains ten yards, then
they will be afforded four new downs.
4.
If the
offensive team fails to gain ten yards or score a touchdown after the third
down play, they may go for it on fourth down or may opt to “punt” the
ball. If the team decides to punt, the
ball is moved up field thirty (30) yards where the opposing team takes over on
downs.
5.
The
ball must be snapped from an offensive player before a play can be started. PENALTY - five yards.
6.
Offensive
players must keep their arms within their own body when blocking. They may not use their open hands to block
for a fellow teammate. PENALTY – ten yards.
7.
Offensive
players cannot protect his/her flags from a defensive player. PENALTY
- loss of down or fifteen yards.
8.
The
offensive team has forty-five (45) seconds in between plays. Each team will be given one (1) warning
during the game. Each subsequent
infraction will result in a five-yard PENALTY. Intentional delaying of game will result in
an unsportsmanlike conduct PENALTY.
9.
Once a
touchdown has been scored, the scoring team will have the opportunity to go for
a one point conversion from the three (3) yard line.
10. If the ball hits the ground during
an attempted run, pass or snap, the ball is automatically dead. The ball is spotted where the ball carrier
dropped the ball. If the ball doesn’t
hit the ground, it can be advanced.
11. All offensive players are eligible
to receive a pass.
12. The offense must have a minimum of
five (5) players on the line of scrimmage before each snap.
13. Stiff arm in torso area only
(shoulder to stomach).
1.
The
defensive team may not tackle or knock down any of the opposing players. PENALTY – 15 yards. If a player has two infractions during one
game, he cannot play defense for remainder of the game.
2.
The
defensive team can line up no more than six players within three yards of the
line of scrimmage. The coach is given one (1) warning. PENALTY
- 15 yards.
3.
Defensive
players may advance an interception and not a fumble. (Remember there are no
fumbles)
4.
No
defensive player can line up over the center or “shoot the gaps” next to center
(1 & 2 holes). One warning will be given to the team. The second infraction will result in a 10
yard PENALTY.
5.
Safety – There will be no safeties.
If the flag is pulled in the end zone or the ball is dropped in the end
zone, it is a loss of down and the ball is spotted on the 3 yard line.