CFA Playing Guidelines

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.

Midget & Bandit League Contact Football Guidelines

1. Blitzing – Any defensive player that goes up to the line of scrimmage between the offensive tackles must be in a down position. Linebackers must maintain a position of 3 yards off the line at the snap of the ball. Failure to comply with the blitzing rule will result in an illegal participation penalty of 10 yards.

2. Exception – Inside the 5 yard line, linebackers may stack behind down lineman.

3. Coaches – Will not be allowed on the playing field except during a timeout or a player injury.

4. Extra Points –

If a team kicks (at CCC) or passes for the extra point, it will be a 2 point conversion.

If a team runs the ball in, it will be a 1 point conversion.

5. Field Goals – at CCC – 3 points

6. Football –

Midget – A leather Wilson Peewee Tacklified Football or any comparable football.

Bandit – A leather Wilson 1001 Football or any comparable football.

7. Halftime – There will be a 10 minute halftime for all games.

8. 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.

9. Home Sideline – responsible for the scoreboard.

10. Mascots – Must adhere to the sideline spectator boundaries.

11. Overtime – VHSL rules – one team gets the ball at the 10 yard line and they have 4 downs to score, then the other team gets its chance and this continues until a deciding victory. Each team will get the ball the same number of possessions before a victory is decided. CFA will provide one VHSL rule book for each Designated Manager binder on the field.

12. Playing Field – located at Yowell Meadow Park (YMP) and/or The Culpeper Community Complex (CCC). U.S. Standard regulation size football field, the length will be one hundred twenty (120) yards long including a playing field of one hundred (100) yards and two end zones of ten (10) yards each. The suggested width of the playing field will be fifty three and one-third yards (53 1/3).

13. Playing Time – Every play is a considered a play, including special teams (Kickoffs, kickoff returns, punts, punt returns, extra points and field goal kicks).

• Each Midget quarter will be 8 minutes and each player shall participate in 6 plays per half except for a coach or parental disciplinary action.
• Each Bandit quarter will be 12 minutes and each player shall participate in 10 plays per half except for a coach or parental disciplinary action.
• It will be the coach’s responsibility to turn in a rotation schedule (playing time sheet) for the amount of plays per player to the CFA Designated Field Manager after the game has ended.
• If there is disciplinary action, an injury or tardiness/absenteeism in which a player can not fulfill his minimum number of plays per half, this should be documented on the team’s playing time sheet.
• The Coaching Coordinator will take all issues, in which a coach has failed to get a player their required number of plays per half, to the board for penalty resolution.

14. Players – Each team will participate with eleven (11) players on the field each play during the game.

15. Practices –

• The 1^st day of practice will be held approximately two weeks prior to school starting.
• Practices will be limited to 2 hours. Team meetings with instructional intent are considered practices.
• Prior to school, practices can be held up to 5 times a week.
• After school starts, Midget practices will be held twice a week & Bandit practices can be held three times a week.
• No practices will be held on the 1^st day of school.
• No practices will be held on Sundays.
• There shall never be more than one (1) practice session allowed on any day.
• The 1^st two (2) practices will be helmets only. For the 3^rd practice helmets and shoulder pads will be worn. This applies to all players, even late arrivals.
• The 4^th day of practice – full gear can be worn.
• 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. Protests – No protests are allowed on game situations involving referee judgment calls. Protests must be in writing addressed to the League President within forty-eight (48) hours after completion of the game in question.

17. Punting/Kicking – (Midget Division Only)

• The Head Coach must declare a punt/field goal/point after kick to the Referee, no fakes allowed.
• The Offense & Defense will assume the traditional lineups and stances.
• No rush/no block punt/field goal/point after kick will occur.
• Once the ball leaves the punter’s/kicker’s foot, regular playing rules apply.

18. Safety - No necklaces, bracelets, earrings, long nails, durags or bandanas may be worn at practice or during games.

19. Slaughter Rule –

• If during a Midget game, a team goes ahead by 19 points or more, the slaughter rule is in affect.
• If during a Bandit game, a team goes ahead by 23 points or more, the slaughter rule is in affect.
• The Head Referee will meet with the Head Coach that is leading and say that the slaughter rule is in affect.
• All the leading team’s kickoffs will occur from their own 20 yard line.
• The leading team’s starting backfield must be removed from the Quarterback and Running Back positions.

Consequences for any Head Coach not adhering to the Slaughter Rule guidelines:

• 1^st Offense – Game in question will end in an automatic forfeiture and a two game suspension will be handed down, this includes all practices during this time period.
• 2^nd Offense – Game in question will end in an automatic forfeiture and the head coach will be removed from the team in a professional manner.

20. Time between plays – There will be only 25 seconds allowed between plays.

21. Time Outs –

• Each team will have three 60 second timeouts per half.
• Each team will have one timeout in overtime play.
• Only one coach will address the team on the field per timeout and water will be handled by a non-coach (that is an approved volunteer) or a teammate.

22. Two Minute Warning – At the 2 minute warning (before half & at the end of the game), notification will be given to both coaches from the ref & the game clock will stop for an official 30 second timeout. After the 30 seconds, the 25 second play clock will start and then the game clock will start with the snap of the ball.

23. Visitor Sideline – responsible for the chains.

24. Weight Rule –

• The weight limit for any eligible ball carrier (Quarterback, Running Back or Tight End) for the Midget Division has been set at 120 lbs.
• The weight limit for any eligible ball carrier (Quarterback, Running Back or Tight End) for the Bandit Division has been set at 150 lbs.
• All players that are close to this limit will be weighed when they receive their equipment in August and that will be their official playing weight for the season. The league will provide all coaches a card listing the team names and player names of those participates who fall in the weight restriction category.