PIEDMONT YOUTH FOOTBALL LEAGUE

7 – 8  YEAR OLDS

MITE FOOTBALL RULES

 

 

1.          No player can be added to rosters after the season starts.

 

 

2.          Any head coach using illegal players will be suspended from

the league for a minimum of one (1) year, and the team will forfeit all games that have been played. The recreation department could also be put on probation.

 

3.          No player will be allowed to play out of their residence.

Example: Players who live in Spalding County cannot play in Butts County. Exception: If that county doesn’t have a league for that age group. Example: Spalding County has no 7 – 8 year old league; player would play in the nearest county.

 

4.          Every player must play one (1) quarter (eight (8) minutes). If a

player is injured or facing disciplinary action, the scorekeeper and referee should be notified before the game starts. If a player isn’t injured or facing disciplinary action, and doesn’t play eight (8) minutes, team can forfeit ball game. This will be handled by the county of the team.

 

  

5.          Games will be played under GHSA rules, with the exception of local rules set up by the Piedmont Football League.

 

6.      When not in the ballgame, all players must sit on the player’s bench. EXCEPTION: Players entering the game may kneel in the box on the sidelines with the coach. All coaches must stay in the players and coaches box. (Penalty: 15 yards unsportmanslike conduct)  (Two (2) unsportmanlike, coach ejected.)

 

7.       Coaches and players must stay outside the twenty (20) yard

line. EXCEPTION: The offensive or defensive coach will be allowed on the field. The offensive or defensive coach must be fifteen (15) yards from line of scrimmage before the snap of the ball, and must stay fifteen (15) yards behind the original line of scrimmage until the play has been whistled dead and meets with team in the huddle (Penalty:  10 yards)    (35 seconds once football has been whistled in play.)

 

 

8.         Clock will stop on time-outs, official time-outs, and scores only, except

last two minutes of each half will go by G.H.S.A. rules. (Each team will have three (3) time-outs allowed per half.) Time-outs cannot be carried over. Field positions will change at half time only.

 

9.         Mouthpieces are mandatory and must be attached to the helmet.   (Five (5) yard penalty.)

 

10.    All penalties in the Mite League will come under G.H.S.A. rules, but will

          be changed to ten (10) yards with the exception of unsportsmanlike

          conduct (fifteen (15) yards). Played on 80 yd. Field.

 

11.    No Sunday, Wednesday or Friday practices.

 

12.      Any coach, player, or spectator ejected from a ball game will be

suspended from all practices, games, and Parks and Recreation facilities for a period of one (1) week. If games do not fall in that time period, suspension will last until the day after the team’s next game.

a.      Any coach or spectator ejected from a ball game could be subject to appear before the football committee. Any decision made by the football committee will be final.

b.      The agency that has a coach, player or spectator ejected must send the other agency copies of a letter stating the name and penalties.

c.      These games are for the football players, and as soon as game ends, players and coaches are to assemble at mid-field to shake hands. (OFFICIALS WILL REMAIN ON FIELD UNTIL AFTER THE TEAMS HAVE LEFT MID-FIELD.)  NO PARENTS OR SPECTATORS ALLOWED ON FIELD   (COACHES RESPONSIBILITY)

 

13.      Time and equipment: Games will be played in four (4) quarters of eight

(8) minutes. Clock will run continuously except the last two (2) minutes of the second and fourth quarters and will be played by G.H.S.A. rules. (Football will be leather or rubber: K-2 or Pee Wee)

    

14.      Two (2) points will be awarded to team that has successfully attempts to

Kick a point after conversion; one (1) point if runned or passed in.

a.      No defensive lineman may leave the line of scrimmage until the

Ball has been punted.

b.      If holder misses ball, the holder has to pick up the ball.  Kicker

Cannot touch ball.

c.       No defensive player may cross the line of scrimmage until the ball

Has been punted. Lineman must be in a three-point stance. Cannot lay or kneel down.

d.      The offensive team must declare if it will or will not punt.

e.      Mite League Only: If team does not want to punt, official can mark off twenty (20) yards. (Unless ball is on the 25 – yard line, then it will be half the distance to goal.)

f.        Any over- weight player not playing tackle to tackle will receive a 10-yard penalty.

g.      Any over weight player will have helmet taped at opening day weigh-ins and must be taped every game. Taped players must play tackle-to-tackle, see example under 14-D (Penalty: 10 yards). Under-weights can play the gaps. Any player or head coach who takes tape off helmets will be suspended from the game. Coach has to go to parking lot; player may sit on game bench.

 

 

 

15.      9+Age and weight specifications:

a.     Cut-off date is September 1st.

b.     Official weigh-ins will be at first ball game of the season. Anyone not weighed in opening day must be weighed by the next Saturday. (Game Day). If not weighed then, will have to play tackle to tackle. Players will have full uniform on for weigh-ins, except for helmet.

c.     Unlimited Weight: Anyone over 95 lbs. must play tackle-to-tackle position; 95 lbs. or less, backfield or end position. No weight restrictions on the punt and kick-off teams. Defensive and offensive lineman overweight must play tackle-to-tackle-three point stance. Underweight can play gaps.

d.     The player on defense must have his inside foot placed no futher than the offensive tackle’s foot. Example: Defensive foot must be to the inside of the offensive player’s outside foot. He/she cannot point of be in any position that does not line his/ her foot up with the offensive tackle’s foot. On offense, the overweight player must line up as a tackle guard or center. If there is an unbalanced line, he/she cannot receive a pass.

 

16.      All coaches will turn in a list of all players and their jerseys numbers before

The first game of the season.  Players must wear the same jersey all season. Any coach who changes a player’s jersey number without notifying the scorekeeper, official (white cap) and the opposing team will be suspended from the game. Coach has to go to parking lot, and player may sit on the team bench.  If teams who are playing each other have the same color of jersey, the host team must change jerseys.

 

17.      Blowout Rule: Anytime a team has a twenty four (24) point lead, the clock

will not stop for any reason, except time-outs. The team ahead can call a time-out, but if it is determined by the head official that it is solely for the purpose of scoring further, the clock will not be stopped during the time-out.

 

18.      Coaches shall refrain from continuously auguring with officials.  (Penalty: 15 yards, unsportsmanlike conduct and can be ejected.)

 

19.    Only four (4) coaches permitted on sidelines. ALL COACHES ON SIDELINE MUST BE NYSCA, OR ANOTHER PROGRAM APPROVED BY GEORGIA RECREATION AND PARK ASSOCIATION, CERTIFIED FOR FOOTBALL! Any coach who is in the coach’s box on the sideline and who is not certified will be suspended. All Coaches must wear certicfication card while in Coaches Box visible at all times.