Gateway Football League Rules

Download 2011 GFL Rules in PDF Format

 

GATEWAY FOOTBALL LEAGUE
2011 LOCAL RULES
 
I. General:
      A)  Roster:
              1. Maximum of 35 players (at final certification)
              2. Minimum of 15 players (at final certification)
              3. Final sign-up date is August 24, 2011.
              4. All players must be on final roster, (August 24, 2011)
              5. All players must be entering 8th grade or under.
              6. Minimum age is 6 years old.
              7.  Any player turning 15 years old in 2011 is ineligible.
      B) I.D. Cards:
              1.  All organizations must use the league issued/approved I.D. cards.
               2. All players must have a valid I.D. card with them during each pre-game check in.
                   Pre-game check in will be 5 minutes before game time in the end zone. (If a player   
                   is not present for pre-game I.D. check they do not play. Opposing coach may waive     
                   this rule.
              3. The I.D. cards must be certified on August 13, August 20, or August 24, 2011.
      C)  Certification:
              1. A player must be certified by a league official before he can play in a game.
              2. No player can be certified after the final certification date, August 24, 2011 (unless
                  an additional certification date is authorized by the Gateway Board).
              3. The weight a player weighs the day of certification will determine what weight class
                   he will be in for the season. (If he is too heavy to carry the ball the day of    
                   certification then he cannot be a ball carrier that season).
              4. There will be two certification dates:
                    FIRST DATE: August 13th, 2011
                    SECOND DATE: August 20th, 2011
       D)  Ineligible Player
              1. Any game that an ineligible player participated in will be a forfeit. -13
 
       E) Ball Sizes:
                                                                      Rawlings            Wilson               Nike
   2nd,3rd,4th,5th grades                       pro5pw / st5cpw            K2                 Pee Wee   
   6th,7th grade                                   pro5j / st5cj _             TDJ                Junior
   8th grade                                        pro5y / stcy / r5            TDY                Youth

1.     The home team will supply the game ball. The visiting team may use their ball if   
      preferred.
                  2. Only the designated football sizes or larger may be used.
        F) The player’s jersey number will not restrict him to a certain position as in high school
              rules.   
        G)  The first time a player is ejected for fighting it will be reviewed by the board to   
               determine if the player could be suspended for the season and/or permanently.   
        H) A younger player can be moved up to the next age bracket after the final sign up date
              with board approval only. Once the player is moved, he must stay there the rest of the
              season. The intent of this rule is to help fill a team that is down below 15 players.
 
II.   Games
A)  All games are eight (8) minute quarters
        B)  Half time: seven (7) minutes + three (3) warm up minutes
        C)  Chains: The home team is responsible for working the chains. The chains must stay on
              the home team side of the field.
        D)  Extra Point: Two points for a successful kick.
                                 One point for a successful run or pass.                    
        E) Tie Breaker: Each team gets four downs starting at the ten yard line. Your series ends
              if you score, fumble and the other team recovers, or you throw an interception. An
              extra point try should follow a touchdown. Field goal attempts are part of the tie
              breaker. If the score is still tied after each team has had the ball for a series, then the
              game is over and it is recorded as a tie. If it is a play-off game the tie breaker rule will
              continue until one team wins. Each team shall be permitted one timeout during
              each overtime period.
        F)  Continuous clock: Starts at 25 point differential, in the second half. If both coaches
              agree and the point differential is 25 the continuous clock can start in the first half.
              When the Continuous clock is in effect and after a score and try, the losing team will
              put the ball in play at their 40 yard line.  
        G)  Violations of the G.F.L. rules will be an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
                   1. * Unless otherwise stated in these rules.
 
III. Age, Weight and Helmet Stripes:
        A) Check in will be 5 minutes prior to each game in the end zones.
        B) If a player does not have an I.D. card he can not play in the game.
        C)  Any player can punt or kick the ball but may not advance or line up in a position to
              advance the ball when on offense if he is restricted by a stripe.
        D)  The following weights are without equipment:
 
                                         STRIPER                           RESTRICTIVE POSITION          
2nd grade                    
 
75 lbs. & under                    NO                                  None                                                 
76 lbs. & up                         YES                               Cannot play offensive back or end        
 
3rd grade
 
85 lbs & under                   NO                                          None
86 lbs & up                       YES                                        Cannot play offensive back or end
 
4th grade
 
95 lbs. & under                 NO                                         None                 
96 lbs. & up                      YES                             Cannot play offensive back or end     
 
5th grade
 
105 lbs. & under               NO                                None                                              
106 lbs. & up                    YES                             Cannot play offensive back or end    
 
6th grade
                                          NO                               None                                              
 
7th grade
                                            NO                                 None                                                   
 
8th grade
                                          NO                               None                                              
     
       E) Helmet Stripes:
             1.  ½ inch to 2 inch wide tape. The G.F.L. will supply the tape to be used for the stripes.
                  No other tape will be allowed.
2.     Stripes run from ear hole to ear hole, unless the helmet has a decal, then it runs from decal to decal across the top of the helmet, and along the bottom of the back.
 
IV.  Guidelines adapted for 2nd,3rd,4th,5th grades
 
        2nd and 3rd Grades:
           1. Two coaches will be allowed on the field.
           2.   When the quarterback starts his cadence the coaches must stop coaching (stop
                   talking and communicating to the players) and must be 10 yards behind the deepest
                   player or official, whichever is the furthest.
                    * Penalty – 5 yards
             3. All interior defensive lineman must be in a three or four point stance.
             4. Punts, field goals, and kicks for an extra point are dead. (NO RUSH). The ball must
                   be kicked within 25 seconds of the snap and between the offensive tackles.
             5. The snapper must snap between his legs on all kicks.
             6. NO BLITZ.
                   a)  Maximum of six (6) players on the defensive line. All other players must be
                          five (5) yards from the line of scrimmage on the snap. If the ball is at or inside
                          the five (5) yard line the rule does not apply.
             7.  The ready for play clock will be 40 seconds.
             8.  Illegal formation
                   * Penalty – 5 yards.
                       a) Examples, but limited to: a striper on the end of the offensive line and more
                           than 6 players on the defensive line.   
 
        4th Grade:
           1. One coach will be allowed on the field.
           2. When the quarterback starts his cadence the coaches must stop coaching (stop talking
                  and communicating to the players) and must be 10 yards behind the deepest player     
                  or official, whichever is the furthest.
                    * Penalty – 5 yards
           3. All interior defensive linemen must be in a three (3) or four (4) point stance.
           4. Punts, field goals and kicks for an extra point are dead. (NO RUSH). The ball must
                  be kicked within 25 seconds of the snap and between the offensive tackles.
             5.  The snapper must snap between his legs on all kicks.             
             6. No Blitz
                   a) Maximum of six players on the defensive line. All other players must be five (5)
                         yards from the line of scrimmage on the snap. If the ball is at or inside of the
                         five (5) yard line the rule does not apply.
            7. Illegal formation  
                  * Penalty – 5 yards.
                       a) examples, but limited to: a striper on the end of the offensive line or more than
                           6 players on the defensive line.   
 
         5th Grade
 
              1. All interior defensive linemen must be in a three (3) or four (4) point stance.
              2. Punts, field goals and kicks for an extra point are dead. (NO RUSH). The ball must
                   be kicked within 25 seconds of the snap and between the offensive tackles.
              3.  The snapper must snap between his legs on all kicks.            
             4. No Blitz
                   a) Maximum of six players on the defensive line. All other players must be five (5)
                         yards from the line of scrimmage on the snap. If the ball is at or inside of the
                         five (5) yard line the rule does not apply.
              5. Illegal formation  
                    * Penalty – 5 yards.
                        a) examples, but limited to: a striper on the end of the offensive line or more than
                            6 players on the defensive line.   
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
V. Misc.
      A)  Super Bowl Playoff Weigh-ins
           1. If a player does not make weight he must play a restricted (striped) position.
           2. All non striped players within 15lbs of the running weight will be weighed before
                  playoffs.
            3.  6th ,7th and 8th grade divisions do not need to be re-weighed  
            4.  The weights for the playoffs are as follows:
                        2nd grade            ---------------   83 lbs.
                          3rd grade            ---------------   93 lbs.
                        4th grade             --------------- 103 lbs.
                        5th grade             ---------------  113 lbs.
                       
            5.  There will be one weigh-in date for playoffs. Date, time and location to be
                  announced.   
 
B)    13 Point Scoring System
                   Winning team                       Point Difference                Losing Team
                         + 13                                  13 pts. or over                        -13
                     +1 to +12                              1 to 12 pts.                         -1 to -12
                                                                Overtime games     
                   Winning team                                                                  Losing team 
                            0                                             Tie                                     0
                            +1                                        Winner                                -1                      
                                                                    Forfeit games
                          +13                                                                                   -13
 
 
C)    Field Requirements
1.     Fields must be roped off on both side lines from the 15 yard line to the 15 yard line.
2.     The ropes should be 10 yards from the sideline.
3.     All fans must be between the 15 yard lines.
D)  Conflicting Jersey Colors
1.     The home team is required to change their jerseys if both teams have the same color jerseys. If they don’t have different jerseys then they must wear a different colored pull over.
E)    Post Season Playoffs
1.     Tie Breaker Procedure
a)     Overall record. Best % of wins: 7-1 (88%) is better than 6-1 (86%) or               4-3 (57%) is better than 4-4 (50%).  
b)    Head to head record. Only works with two teams.
·        If three or more teams are tied and one team has lost to both of the other two, that team is automatically removed from consideration. The remaining two teams will go back to (b) head to head record.
·        When three or more teams are tied and no team is eliminate do to the above (*) you must determine who the top seated team is by using the Tie Breaker Procedure which in this case starts at (c) Record against common opponents. After the top team is determined then take the remaining two teams and go through the Tie Breaker Procedure from the beginning (a) again.   
c)     Record against common opponents
d)    Scoring system against common opponents
e)     Total scoring system
f)      Playoff game, only applies when there are two teams (only to determine a place in the playoffs). Example: two first place teams 7-0 in the same division.
g)     Coin toss (Three or more teams-three coins odd man out. The remaining two teams will play a game to determine a place in the playoffs same as (f)).