Colloquial Rules to the MTFL for the 2004 Season

August 21, 2004

Colloquial Rules to the MTFL for the 2004 Season

• Rosters and Eligible players
• 5 plays vs. 3 minute rule
• Overtime
• Delay of Game—7 to start
• Multiple Objectionable Conducts
• League Demerits
• Player Safety: Referee’s Discretion
• Mercy Rule

Rosters and Eligible players (Rule 3—Team Members)

Rule 3.1.2 Players

Any person playing for a registered team in the MTFL must be registered by having their name on the official roster sheet submitted to the League prior to the start of the season.

A team, providing they purchased additional spots prior to the start of the season and the addition is made prior to August 1st, can make roster additions. Substitutions for a registered player can be made prior to August 1st providing that registered player has not participated in a game already.

Rule 3.1.3 Players

To be considered eligible for participation in the MTFL playoffs, a player must participate in at least six games during the regular season and have their name on the official roster for the team. A team that falsely records a players name on the roster is subject to a fine of $100 and will have 2 Demerits assessed to them.

5 plays vs. 3-minute rule (Regulation 4.4 Last 3 Minutes of Half)

Regulation 4.4 Last 3 Minutes of Half

The MTFL has elected to use a five-play rule to end each half instead of the “3-minute rule” outlined in Regulation 4.5 . The five-play rule comes into effect after 17 minutes of continuous time has expired in the second and fourth quarters.

Overtime (Rule 5 and Regulation 5.3- Overtime)

Regulation 5.3 Convert Attempts

The MTFL has elected to adopt Regulation 5.3 as the primary method of determining a winner when the score is tied at the end of regulation.

Delay of Game/ 7 to start (Rule 6- Game Procedures)

Rule 6.9.1.1 Delay of Game

A team that does not have 7 legal players on the field at the scheduled time for kick off will be penalized for delay of game (10 yards) and the non-offending team will have choice in both halves of the game. If choice was already made prior to the delay, the non-offending team may change their choice at the time of the delay of game penalty.

Rule 6.9.2.1 Forfeiture of Game

A team that forfeits a game are assessed a fine of $100 and will have 2 Demerits assessed to them. A team that defaults a game will immediately have two points deducted from their total points for their divisional standings. Currently a team receives 2 points for a win and no points for a loss. This means that not only does a team have a forfeit counted as a loss, but points are deducted as well.

Multiple Objectionable Conducts (Rule 22- Player Conduct)

Rule 22.3.3 Objectionable Conduct

A player who is assessed more than 1 objectionable conduct in a game will be immediately ejected from the game.

Other Rules

League Demerits

At the beginning of each season a team must have a performance bond of $250 dollars in their league account. This may be carried over from a previous season or must be “topped up” if the team has accrued fines over the past season.

Demerits can be assessed to a team by the MTFL. These are equivalent to a $50 loss from their performance bond. If at any time a team should be assessed a total of 5 Demerits, they are no longer eligible to play in the league for the remainder of the season. Demerits will be awarded as follows—

2 Demerits: Forfeiture of game and 2 points deducted from Teir Standings

2 Demerits: Failure to provide both linesmen for a scheduled game

1 Demerit: Only providing 1 linesman for a game

1 Demerit: Failure to have a team representative at a MTFL meeting

(new-Nov 2003) Player Safety: Referee’s Discretion

At any time during the game, if a referee feels that continuing to play the game at hand may jeopardize a player’s safety, the official may remove that player from the game immediately. An explanation should be included on the game sheet as to the reason why the player was removed. A referee’s decision in this matter is final and cannot be challenged by the player affected or his/her teammates. Teams/players wishing to protest an official’s decision must do so in writing to the League Executive within 48 hours of the conclusion of the game.

(new- Aug 2004) Mercy Rule

If at half time or at any time in the second half if the difference in the score is 40 points or greater, the official may ask the losing team if they wish to concede. The team may elect to play on, but the referee will then have the authority to end the game if the referee feels that play is becoming unnecessarily rough or there is unsportsmanlike conduct. If the official ends the game prematurely, the reason for doing so must be entered in the game comments section on the score sheet.