Section 9.02 MMYFCL RED STRIPE RULE (8U thru14UDivisions):

 

A. The Red Stripe concept allows heavier players to play football with the children their own age, but in a restricted role. These players may weigh over the maximum weight for an unrestricted playeras specified in the chart above. Each Red Stripe player will be designated as such during weigh-in before each game based on his weight relative to the unrestricted weigh limit for that week. Players falling between the max unrestricted weight and the Red Stripe weight limit for that week must be marked with a red stripe (or contrasting color to helmet/pants) of tape on the front and back of their helmets, and with tape around their legs crossing their thigh pads. They must play between the tackles except as noted. There is no set roster limit on red stripe players; however, to avoid a forfeit, there must be four playersbelow the red stripe weight on the roster to fill out the team on the field to begin a game, and three players thereafter (see Article VIII. B.), and as long as the maximum roster size is not exceeded.

 

      B. Red stripe players must play as linemen. While on defense red stripe players  

      must remain in the free blocking zone while it exists, or must engage or penetrate 

      the offensive line before leaving the free blocking zone. They may not drop back

      into a linebacker role or a defensive back role on defense. While on offense, red 

      stripe players may pull, cross-block or perform any other task that an offensive 

      lineman typically performs.

 

     C. The red stripe player may NOT advance the ball at ANY time (e.g. a fumble, 

    interception, kickoff or punt return – the play will be blown dead when the red stripe

    player is in possession of the ball – the ball will be spotted at that point). A red

    stripe player may intercept passes and recover fumbles. Red stripe players must

    play from a two-,three-,or four- point stance in the tackle, guard or center positions

         on offense and from a three- or four- point stance either head-up on or inside 

         of the offensive tackles on defense as defined as follows:

 

         1. On offense, a red stripe player may play the Center position (the Center

         being defined as the player snapping the ball), the Offensive Guard position

         (defined as one player to the right or left of the Center on the line of scrimmage),

         or the Offensive Tackle position (defined as one player to the right or left of the

         Guard on the line of scrimmage); under no circumstance shall the red stripe    

             player ever be an eligible receiver, even if he would be considered “eligible”  

             under normal football rules. Because he is ineligible, that player will be

             considered an ineligible lineman under normal football rules for all intent and 

             purposes and be subject to any resulting penalty (e.g. in eligible receiver

             down field).

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          2. On defense, a red stripe player must lineup with his inside shoulder in line  

          with the outside shoulder of the Offensive tackle when viewed from the 

               endzone (“outside shade” of the tackle) OR between the Offensive tackles

               (the Offensive Tackle as defined in the preceding paragraph) no more than

               one yard off of the Line of Scrimmage. However, if the offense elects to

               employ an unbalanced formation (see Appendix A), the defensive red

               stripers may choose to line up anywhere along theline of scrimmage that

               they wish with no restrictions whatsoever (but still in a three- or four-point

               stance and no more than one yard off of the Line of Scrimmage).

 

      D.  Red Stripe players shall never play on kick off or kick return teams unless their

      absence would place less than nine players on the field at the beginning of a

      game, or eight players on the field thereafter (to avoid a forfeit).  If a team

      recognizes that a Red Stripe player is participating on a kick off or kick return

      team when another eligible non- Red Stripe is available, play shall be stopped and

      the Red Stripe player will be replaced by an eligible non- Red Stripe player prior to

      the kick. In the event that they must participate on kick off or kick return teams,

      they will be positioned on the interior front line of each team; they will not be

      permitted to kick or to advance the ball.  Specifically, and as a Special Teams

      “exception”, the red stripe player may serve as the Punter (when the offensive

      team is in a traditional punt formation–i.e. the red stripe player is set 7-15 yards

      behind the Center to receive the snap) or Place Kicker (in the case of a PAT or

      Field Goal attempt); however, in either case, if the football (after leaving the

      center’s hands) hits the ground at any point in time prior to the punt/kick, the play

      will be immediately blown dead and the ball is downed at the spot where it hit the

      ground.  After the ball is kicked, the red stripe player may operate as any other red

      stripe player in accordance with these rules.

 

            E.  Any violation of the above rules as they pertain to red stripe players will  

            result in the following:

 

            1. The assessment of a 15-yard Unsportsmanlike Conduct penalty against the

            offending team after completion of the play.  Penalty will be assessed from the

            previous spot and will result in a loss of down if the penalty is committed by

            the offensive team.  The only exception would be if the opposing team elects

            to take the result of the play over the enforcement of the penalty.

 

             2.  The offending team’s Head Coach will be reported to the MMYFCL rules 

            committee and will be subject to discipline up to and including a 1 game 

            suspension.  Any subsequent violation within the same season may lead to

            the Head Coach’s expulsion from the MMYFCL. The Rules Committee will

            also consider the effect of the violation in relation to the outcome and may 

            award a forfeit if warranted.