EAST TEXAS FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Operating Rules and Policy Summary

1. LEAGUE ORGANIZATION (Subject to change by General Assembly)

a. The league will be primarily divided into four divisions.

b. The divisions will be primarily based upon age: Players may be eligible to play in a higher age group with parental and board approval.
i. Flag Football- 5 and 6 year old players.
ii. Freshman Division - 7 and 8 year old players
iii. Junior Varsity Division - 9 and 10 year old players.
iv. Varsity Division - 11 and 12 year old players. IF YOU ARE 12 AND IN 7TH GRADE , AND  PLAYING SCHOOL BALL YOU CAN PLAY FOR ETFL.

c. The age of record for each season will be the player’s age as of august 1 of that year.

d. Weight limits will be applied to each division as follows:
i. Flag Football- No weight limit.
ii. Freshman Div.: 85 lb ball carrier limit
140 lb maximum weight
iii. Junior Varsity: 110 lb ball carrier limit
170 lb maximum weight
iv. Varsity: 135 lb ball carrier limit
No maximum weight

Weights will be taken on calibrated scales at Field Trials

e. Game times will be based upon the following:
i. Flag Football:  22 minute halfs  ii. Freshman Div.: 7 minute quarters
iii. Junior Varsity: 7 minute quarters
iv. Varsity: 8 minute quarters

f. Players that are too heavy to play within the maximum weight limit of their age group will be moved to the next higher division.

g. No player whose official weight is above the ball carrier weight for the division in which he is playing may play at any backfield or flanker position. They can play TE, but not go out for a pass. If said player does, it is a 15 yd penalty & loss of down. Any player over the weight limit MUST have black tape down the middle of their helmet before they can play a game.

h. Practices will be scheduled based on individual head coach’s discretion, however each practice will not exceed two hours and not to extend past 8:00 PM. Only three activities can be held per week (Sunday through Saturday), with any game constituting an activity. For example, “skull sessions” “film reviews” or chalkboard talks would constitute an activity if two or more non-sibling players were present.

2. RULES OF PLAY

a. NCAA rules will apply in all cases not specifically covered by League rules.

b. A running clock will be used in Flag Football, Freshman, Junior Varsity and Varsity Division games  in which there is an 18 point lead starting  in the Fourth quarter.

c. Flag Football and Freshman Division games will be played on an 80-yard field, with mid-field being the 40 yard line. Possessions at the start of each half and after each score will start from the receiving team’s 30 yard line.

d. A Flag Football and Freshman Division offensive team can choose to be given an automatic punt. The punt will result in the line of scrimmage being advanced 20 yards down field with the change of possession to the receiving team. Any punt within 30 yards of the receiving team’s goal line will result in a punt of one half of the distance to that goal line.

Extra point, 1 point for run. 2 points for pass.

e. A Junior Varsity No fake punts allowed! The ball will be snapped to the punter (shotgun or receive directly from the center) There will be no rushing the punter or punt coverage. The ball will be kicked & the line of scrimmage will be where the receiving team gets possession of the ball from the kick. No punt return! Its dead where caught. If the ball hits the receiving teams body & goes forward it will die where it was touched 1st. Receiving team must have 7 men on the (LOS) line of scrimmage at the time of the punt.

Extra point, 1 point for run or 2 for pass.

e. Varsity. All punts & field goal attempts are live.

Extra point, 1 point for run or 2 for pass.

f. Rain-out Policy- Games will be canceled if at anytime during the course of a scheduled game one of the following conditions exist:
i. the temperature is below 55 degrees Fahrenheit and it is raining
ii. lightning is clearly visible
iii. any other dangerous weather conditions exist as determine by Trustees.

G. Nose guard cannot line up head to head on center, must be lined up on either side of outside  shoulder of center and in stance not standing. For all tackle divisions.No blitzing over the center or middle from  linebackers/ safety.

G1. Over time  will be played. No ties.

H. Makeup Game Policy- Canceled games will be made up at the end of the season. Except for games with playoff implications, only one attempt will be made to complete a canceled game. If the first attempt to make up the game fails, the game will not count in the record of the teams involved.

I. Play-offs- The top (4) teams in each Division will be in the play-offs for the championship of each division.
I. At the end of the season if teams are tied for a play-off spot(s), there will be a play-off for the seed positions by Monday of the next week.
ii. Format: #1 seed vs. #4 seed , #2 seed vs. #3 seed.
iii. The (2) winners will play for the Championship.

3. TEAM SELECTION

a. Teams are selected by draft. Draft order will be chosen by lottery. The second and subsequent even-numbered rounds of the draft will be chose in reverse order of the lottery.

b. Only certified coaches can participate in the draft; one head coach and one assistant coach per team.

c. Lineman and Running Backs will be drafted separately, unless combined by unanimous consent of the coaches involved in the draft.

d. No player can be protected in the draft, except for the Head Coaches’ children. These players must be drafted by the 2nd  round of the appropriate draft for their weight. If not, any team can draft them from the 3rd round on. Assistants son must be drafted the 3rd round.  

e. Players signing up after the draft or do not participate in field trials will be hat picks.

f. Only one trade can be made per team before the draft is closed, and no player trades will be made after the draft is closed. No player will be moved from one team to another without written consensus of the Board of Trustees, the Athletic Director and all Head Coaches in the effected Division.

4. COACHES

a. A selection committee appointed by the Board of Trustees must approve all coaches each year. BACK GROUND CHECKS MUST BE DONE IN ORDER TO COACH.

b. Coaches will accrue seniority points based on past coaching service. Seniority points will be awarded based on 2 point for each year served as Head Coach and 1 point for each year served as an Assistant Coach. Seniority points will be used to determine coaches for the upcoming season, which order Head Coaches, will pick team names, team colors, and draft order.

c. All Head Coaches must be certified by the League before assuming duties as a Head Coach.

d. Each Head Coach should identify at least one Assistant Coach before the start of the season and that Assistant Coach must be certified by the League at the start of the season.

e.    Head coach or assistant cannot be associated  with two teams , one head coach and assistants per team only. f. Only League certified coaches are allowed on each team’s sidelines during games. A maximum of 3 assistant coaches can be on the sidelines at games. Parent participation at practices is encouraged, however.

g. A team cannot begin pre-game warm-ups more than one hour before their game time.

h. Each team’s coaching staff is responsible for cleaning up their assigned practice area after each practice, and cleaning up their sideline after each game. In addition, coaches for the first game of each day will be responsible for setting up their side of the field, and coaches for the last game of each day will be responsible for taking down their sideline after their game.

i. Score Control Rule- Coaches will be expected to not deliberately run up the score in any game. Upon reaching an 18 point lead in the fourth quarter, that team’s starting backfield must be pulled. When a starter is pulled for scoring reasons, they may not be assigned to a ball carrier or receiver position.

j.Play Rule- Coaching staffs will ensure that every player will start on either offense, defense.  No exceptions , the ETFL children who sign up to play will start and play in all games.   Any compliants about this rule will be addressed by the league. Each game may be audited to assure compliance.

k. Parent Meeting Rule- Each Head Coach must hold a parent meeting on the first day of practice. A minimum mandatory list of topics supplied by the League on a parent meeting form must be covered. Each Head Coach must return the parent meeting form signed by each parent in attendance to the General Assembly immediately after the first practice. Failure to comply will result in seniority point deductions.

5. DISCIPLINE

a. Substance Abuse- Illicit Drugs/Controlled Substances. Use and/or abuse of illicit drugs and/or controlled substances will not be tolerated at any time.

b. Alcohol- Alcohol use is strictly prohibited during practices and at games. First infraction of the alcohol abuse policy will result in immediate removal from the League activity; second infraction will result in suspension.

c. Tobacco- Tobacco use, included but not limited to cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco or snuff, is prohibited on the practice field and at games. Board members, coaches or parents using tobacco products at prohibited times will be immediately asked to discontinue tobacco use on the practice field or inside the game stadium. Coaching staffs are responsible for enforcing this policy within their designated practice areas, and on their sidelines during games. First infraction of this policy will result in a warning; second infraction will result in suspension for the remainder of the season for board members and coaches, and a ban from the field for parents.

d. Conduct- Physical abuse of a player will not be tolerated. Any incident of physical abuse will result in immediate removal from the practice or game field, and will be subject to General Assembly review for further disciplinary action by majority vote of the General Assembly. Physical abuse will be considered grounds for lifetime suspension.

e. Profanity- The use of profanity on the practice, playing field or stadium area is not allowed. Use of profanity will result in a warning being issued. Further use of profanity after being warned will result in removal from the field. Repeated violation of the profanity policy will result in General Assembly review and possible suspension.

f. Disorderly Behavior- Offensive, unruly, belligerent or disorderly behavior is not allowed. Any person failing to conduct himself or herself in an appropriate manner will be warned. Further unacceptable behavior will result in removal from the practice, playing field, or stadium area.

g. Refusal to Comply- Failure to comply with any board request to vacate the practice field will result in the intervention of the police and immediate ban from all League activities for the remainder of the season.

h. Rules Infractions- Repeated infractions will result in the suspension for the remainder of the season. Suspended coaches are not allowed to practice with their teams during the suspension.