2015

Pueblo West Parks & Recreation

Youth Tackle

Rules and Regulations

Book

Table of Contents

Administration…………………………………………………………………………………………………..4

Grade Divisions………………………………………………………………………………………………….4

Restrictions against Dual Membership………………………………………………………………..5

Coaches Requirements………………………………………………………………………………………..6

Referees………………………………………………………………………………………………………………7

Registration…………………………………………………………………………………………………………7

Refunds……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….7

Parental Consent………………………………………………………………………………………………….8

Formation of Teams……………………………………………………………………………………………..8

Mandatory Cuts…………………………………………………………………………………………………...8

Voluntary Cuts……………………………………………………………………………………………………..9

Retention of Eligibility………………………………………………………………………………………….10

Drops and Adds…………………………………………………………………………………………………….10

Practice…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………10

Important Point-Medical……………………………………………………………………………………….12

Protests…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………12

Mandatory Background Checks……………………………………………………………………………..12

Enforcement Policy (Police Powers/Hearings & Appeals)………………………………………13

Adult/Juvenile Offenses…………………………………………………………………………………………14

Team Offenses……………………………………………………………………………………………………….15

Initial Weigh-In; First Practice…………………………………………………………………………………15

In-season Determination of Weight………………………………………………………………………..15

Roster Size………………………………………………………………………………………………………………16

Mandatory Play rule……………………………………………………………………………………………….17

Official Rules………………………………………………………………………………………………………..17

Game Balls……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..18

Ejections and Suspensions………………………………………………………………………………………18

Required Equipment……………………………………………………………………………………………..18

The Field and Markings…………………………………………………………………………………………..19

Blocking and Tackling Restrictions………………………………………………………………………….20

Length of Periods ………………………………………………………………………………………………….20

Intermission Length………………………………………………………………………………………………..20

Time Clock……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….20

Time-Outs……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….21

Players…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….21

Regarding Ineligible Players……………………………………………………………………………………..21

Scoring Values………………………………………………………………………………………………………….21

Scores – Lopsided/Intentionally Run Up Scores………………………………………………………..22

Scouting……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………22

No Taxi/Reserve Squads……………………………………………………………………………………………23

Practices……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………23

Tie Ball games……………………………………………………………………………………………………………24

Rules & Regulations

Administration

All Pueblo West Parks and Recreation Youth Football Program (herein after “Program”) will be Parks and Recreation staff employees.

Team

Team is the universal, basic unit of organization. At minimum, a team consists of a group of participants organize under the direction of a coaching staff in a given Grade Based division.

Divisions

Divisions will be grade based for the 2015 season:

3rd – 4th Grade division

5th – 6th Grade division

Introduction to the Rules

The rules contained herein ARE REQUIRED to be enforced by each team in the program. Failure to do so shall be subject to the penalties defined herein by Pueblo West Parks and Recreation staff employees.

1A- For all purposes, the programs playing season shall be defined as the last week of June through October 31st or the last game/competition whichever comes first. All teams, coaches, participants, and family are subject to disciplinary action for violations of program rules and regulations at any time during a stated playing season. NO RULES WILL BE ADDED AFTER AUGUST 1ST, unless deemed necessary by Parks and Recreation administration.

Powers/Authority of Program

The Pueblo West Parks and Recreation department has among its powers, the obligation and authority to enforce all rules.

1A – The Pueblo West Parks and Recreation shall establish boundaries for participation teams. Boundaries will be set by a defined, readily recognizable format, (I.E., town limits, school districts, streets, etc.) Players found to be playing outside boundaries they reside, without proper release from Parks and Recreation, shall subject their team to forfeiture of all games they played in.

Restriction against dual membership

No participant/teams in the Pueblo West Parks and Recreation Youth Football Program may play any one of its teams into membership in any other youth football program or tournament and no adult volunteer may serve on the board of another youth football program, while concurrently serving on the board of this program. Any individual, or team found to be in violation of this rule shall be immediately dismissed from the program.

Waivers of rules/charter

The Pueblo West Parks and Recreation department is responsible for reviewing, granting, suspending or revoking the privileges and conditions of teams playing in the youth football program. When a team wishes to request a waiver of a specific rule or regulation, it must be submitted in writing to Pueblo West Parks and Recreation, who will then make a recommendation with the assistance of Pueblo West Parks and Recreation director.

1A – Waivers shall only be granted upon a written application executed and verified by Pueblo West Parks and Recommendation Sports Coordinator, attesting that the waiver sought is based upon good cause and can be shown to be in the best interest of the programs participants and assuring their safety.

Coaches Requirements

The coaching staff is in complete charge of the team whenever it is together on the practice or playing field, traveling as a group to and from practice sessions and games, or together for any team function, such as a banquet. The coaching staff is under the direction of the Head Coach; other coaches are called Assistant Coaches. The Head football Coach must attend a USA Football Coaching School or take and pass Level 1 or the online course. Head Coaches who fail to attend a USA Football School or fail to pass Level 1 of the USA Football online course shall be immediately removed from coaching until they have successfully completed the online course or attended one of the coaching schools. Successful completion of the Football Coaching Course is valid for 3 years from 2012 through 2014 renewing in 2015.

The following applies to all coaches:

C1: All coaches must take the concussion training online and give a copy of completion certificate to the Pueblo West Parks and Recreation staff. Test is located at nfhslearn.com.

C2: Head Coaches must be 18 years of age or older to supervise at all practices, games, and functions. The Head Coach can only be rostered as the Head Coach on one (1) team roster.

C3: An Assistant Coach must be 18 years of age or older. A football team may have a maximum of five (5) coaches including the Head Coach, plus a maximum of one (1) team coordinator.

C4: The Head Coach will determine the assignments of the Assistant Coaches.

C5: In the absence of a specialized, trained person affiliated with the team in the medical area (Physician, paramedic, specially trained volunteer, Certified Athletic Trainer), one of the coaches must be the holder of a current CPR and First Aid, or the P.R.E.P.A.R.E. course by the National Center for Sport Safety (www.sportssafety.org) or their equivalent.

C6: Coaches are to be selected by methods approved by Pueblo West Parks and Recreation and/or bylaws.

C7: Once approved for coaching, a coach is automatically terminated at the close of each season. To coach the following year, the same program approval is required. Any violation of the rules committed by a coach during the season is still under the jurisdiction of Pueblo West Parks and Recreation.

C8: Head Coaches can make team policies and provide a copy to Pueblo West parks and recreation, Head Coaches do not make program policy, rather they carry it out. However, on the playing and practice fields, the coaching staff is in complete charge and shall not be interfered with except in cases of rules violations and any other conduct deemed by higher authority to be contrary to the welfare of participants in Pueblo West Parks and Recreation Youth Football program.

C9: The Head Football Coach has final responsibility for his/her actions, those of his/her assistant coaches, players, staff and parents.

C10: Pueblo West Parks and Recreation makes all decisions regarding the placing of coaches with sons, daughters or siblings within its own boundaries.

C11: All Head Coaches, Assistant Coaches, and Team Coordinators must have a current and valid ID provided by Pueblo West Parks and Recreation. ID’s must be worn at any and all games and playoffs. If coaches do not have their ID’s, the team will receive one (1) warning the first time and if there is a second time the team will receive a 15 yard penalty on the first play of their game, excluding kick-off.

C12: All Head Coaches and Assistant Coaches must obtain and provide a copy of their USA football level 1 heads up certification.

Referees

Referees are to abide by the rules and regulations set in place by Pueblo West Parks and Recreation, including but not limited to proper ball size is correct for use of play during a game, keep track of time on field, penalties, and proper attire is expected (referee shirt, shorts/pants, tennis shoe, or turf shoes, flag, and whistle). During games the Referees are in charge of the game, the sports coordinator at this time does not have any interaction with the games penalty enforcement or policies, any complaint for game penalties will take place during the work week of Pueblo West Parks and Recreation hours of 7 am to 3:30 pm Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Registration

A candidate cannot begin practice with a team until he/she has officially registered with Pueblo West Parks and Recreation. Registration consists of, parent or guardian completion of program registration, which consists reports card of last completed grade level and registration fee. All candidates must furnish the prior requirements in order to participate and before starting practices.

Refunds

No refunds will be given after the start of official games on August 22nd, 2015.

Parental Consent

The Pueblo West Parks and Recreation participant contract and Parental Waiver form needs to be completed by either parent or guardian, stating that the participant has his or her permission to play prior to the start of the second conditioning practice.

Formation of Teams

Tryouts of any kind within the program are prohibited. Tryouts are defined as any means used to ascertain the level whereby a participant is placed on a team including assessments, evaluations, or any other method used to place a participant in the program. Parents choose which team they participate for during the registration process; unless during registration teams are capped then assignment of teams will be at the discretion of Pueblo West parks and recreation. Players will then be assigned to teams with the lowest number of registration until all teams are equally assigned. For example if team A has 20 and team B has 12; team B will be assigned players until roster is at 20, Pueblo West Parks and Recreation reserves the right to combine teams to meet roster cap if so required by the start of official practices; at which time a new team name will be required from the coaching staff with a player vote.

Mandatory Cuts

M1: Refuses or cannot furnish the 3 required items Parental Consent, Proof of Grade and Payment or scholarship form.

M2: Is found to be simultaneously trying out for a school tackle football team, or who, once the season starts, is found to be participation on a school tackle football team. However, participation in a school flag football program, if required by the curriculum of the school PE Program or participation in Non-program spirit squad tryouts only, during the Program’s season, is allowed. Exception for spirit squads: Participants who tryout and make a school squad for winter sport programs of the current season and are members of a traditional league squad will be permitted to simultaneously participate.

M3: Is a member of any other organized league football/ squad or non-league football.

M4: Attempts to intimidate fellow participants in practice by word and/or physical deed. No refunding of fees shall be given or required.

M5: Is a recurring discipline problem (and then, only with the concurrence of Pueblo West Parks and Recreation).

Voluntary Cuts

A participant shall be considered a voluntary or “self-cut” participant when he/she simply no longer shows up for practices or games of his/her own free will. While voluntary cuts are not charged to any team for the purpose of these regulations, a coaching staff may attempt to disguise its cutting pattern by arranging practices in such a ways as to discourage participants of lesser ability into quitting on their own. While these practices are not common, they have been known to occur and are considered intentional avoidance of the rules and regulations and are; therefore, punishable as a result of a hearing. If a team loses 20% or more of its assigned participants prior to certification, it is mandatory that Pueblo West Parks and Recreation investigate the causes for the participants voluntarily leaving the team and take whatever appropriate action that may be necessary. The results of this investigation shall be reported to the Pueblo West Parks and Recreation Director whom shall have final authority as to whether appropriate actions were taken.

Certification

D1: Certification is the process where the team will be certified with Pueblo West Parks and Recreation of which it is a member of the youth football program.

D2: Certification must be completed prior to the opening game of the regular program schedule. The procedures for accomplishing certification are discussed hereafter. To be certified onto a team, a participant shall qualify under the following guidelines:

A.  Eligibility according to residence shall be decided by Pueblo West Parks and Recreation when the candidate resides in an area other than that authorized for the association by Pueblo West Parks and Recreation and on file with Pueblo West Parks and Recreation.

B.  Once certified for a particular grade based division, a participant shall not be permitted to recertify to a lower division of play during the current season under any circumstances.

C.  Grades shall be verified by a copy of last grade completed.

D.  It is the responsibility of Pueblo West Parks and Recreation Staff to assign weigh-ins. Any and all coaches will not be allowed to officially weigh his/her team. Any and all coaches are required to weigh in opposing team.

E.  A Participant is not allowed on a roster unless the participant is officially registered. See Registration section.

Retention of Eligibility

Once certified, a participant must meet the following requirements to retain eligibility:

R1: Transfer policy in case of change of residence will be decided by Pueblo
West Parks and Recreation. Unless a written request by parent/guardian due to conflict of coaching/participant.

R2: Retain parental consent.

R3: Maintain sound physical condition.

Drops and Adds

A team may add participants to its certified roster as long as said roster was certified below the maximum number permitted, or to replace those originally certified and no longer on the team or squad for any valid reason.

Pueblo West Parks and Recreation Drops and Add cutoff date is 8/3/15 of the current season. No player participant may be added to any roster without permission from Pueblo West Parks and Recreation.

Practice

Definition: To prevent possible bending of the rules and as a protection for children practices are defined as a gathering of player’s participants, without minimum number, in the presence of at least one (1) coach, where one or more of the following activities take place:

A.  Chalk talk/skull session