Y Flag Football
WE BUILD STRONG KIDS, STRONG FAMILIES, STRONG COMMUNITIES
Information
MONETT AREA YMCA INFO
PHONE 417-235-8213
HOTLINE
MAIL 205 Euclid Street.
MONETT AREA YMCA STAFF
Gordon Brown Executive Director
Larry Boswell Program Director
Monett Area YMCA
Mission Statement
To promote Judeo-Christian values through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind and body for all.
Welcome to
YMCA Youth Flag Football
Who Me…A Coach???
If you’re like most youth league coaches, you were recruited from the ranks of concerned parents, sports enthusiasts, or community volunteers. And, like many rookie and veteran coaches, you probably have little formal instruction on how to coach. But when the call went out for coaches to assist with the YMCA Youth Flag Football program, you answered because you like children and enjoy YMCA Flag Football.
Like many volunteers, you may not know everything there is to know about YMCA Flag Football, nor about how to work with children ages 5-12. Relax, this YMCA Coach’s Manual will help you learn the basics for coaching YMCA Flag Football effectively.
First of all, let’s look at the Goals and Philosophy of YMCA Flag Football:
· Teach youngsters the skills of YMCA Flag Football. Everyone who signs up for YMCA Flag Football, plays in every game.
· Help kids to have fun and enjoy playing YMCA Flag Football. Smiles, laughs, and good feelings are important.
· Put winning into perspective. Striving to win is an essential part of all sports, but winning is only one goals among many.
· Teach teamwork. Cooperate with teammates and help them to play as well as they can.
· Develop a positive attitude about fair play. Players learn to respect their teammates, opponents, officials and themselves.
YMCA Youth Flag Football coaches teach skills, fun and values; these are viewed as more important than winning and losing. This is the difference between YMCA Flag Football and other Youth Sports Programs.
YMCA Football Rules
Start of Play
· Teams must field a minimum of five (5) players at all times.
· A coin toss determines first possession (home team calls).
· The offensive team takes possession of the ball at its 5-yard line and has four (4) plays to cross midfield. Once a team crosses midfield, it has four (4) plays to score a touchdown. If the offense fails to score, the ball changes possession and the new offensive team takes over on its 5-yard line.
· If the offensive team fails to cross midfield, possession of the ball changes and the opposition starts its drive from its 5-yard line.
· All possession changes, except interceptions, start on the offense’s 5-yard line.
· The ball must be snapped between the legs to start play.
Game Timing
· Games consist of two (2) twenty minute halves. The clock will run continuously except for the last two minutes of the game in which it will be stopped on all incomplete passes, penalties, out-of-bounds, and scores.
· Halftime is five (5) minutes.
· Each time the ball is spotted a team has 30 seconds to snap the ball. Teams will receive one warning before a delay-of-game penalty is enforced.
· Each team has two 30-second time outs per half.
· Officials can stop the clock at their discretion.
· There is NO overtime. Ties will end in ties.
Scoring
· Touchdown: 6 points
· Extra point: 1 point (played from 5-yard line), 2 points (played from 12-yard line)
· Safety: 2 points
Running
· The quarterback is defined as the player that receives the snap.
· The quarterback cannot run with the ball beyond the line of scrimmage unless rushed by the defense.
· “No-running zones”, located 5 yards from each end zone and 5 yards on either side of midfield, are designed to avoid short-yardage, power-running situations which increase chance of injury. If a team moves across midfield the “no-running zone” on the other side of the midfield line does not apply to them.
· The quarterback can run while in the no-running zone if rushed. However, no handoffs or pitches are allowed in the no-running zone.
· Once the quarterback has given the ball to another player behind the line of scrimmage all defensive players are eligible to rush.
· Spinning is allowed, but players cannot leave their feet to avoid a defensive player (no diving).
· The ball is spotted where the ball carrier’s feet are when the flag is pulled, not where the ball is.
· If a player’s flag belt accidentally falls off, play stops and the ball is spotted at the point where the flags were last attached.
Receiving
· All players are eligible to receive passes.
· A player must have at least one foot inbounds when making a reception.
· A player that receives a pass after his flags have fallen off is down at the point of reception.
Passing
· All passes in the no-running zone must be forward and received beyond the line of scrimmage.
· The quarterback has a seven-second “pass clock.” If a pass is not thrown within the seven seconds, play is dead, loss of down.
· An interception is the only change of possession that does not start on the 5-yard line.
Dead Balls
· Substitutions can be made on any dead ball.
· Play is ruled dead when:
- Ball carrier’s flag is pulled.
- Ball carrier steps out of bounds.
- Touchdown or safety is scored.
- Ball carrier’s knee hits the ground.
- Ball carrier’s flag falls off.
- The ball is fumbled. The ball is spotted where the ball hits the ground.
Rushing the Quarterback
All defenders who rush the quarterback must be a minimum of seven yards from the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped. Any number of players can rush the quarterback. Players not rushing the quarterback may defend on the line of scrimmage. Once the quarterback distributes the ball to another player the seven-yard rule is no longer in effect and all defenders may go behind the line of scrimmage. The referee will designate seven yards from the line of scrimmage.
Blocking
· Contact blocking is not allowed. A player may “shield” block by placing their body in front of their opponent. An offensive player may move in any direction in order to stay in front of the defensive player. A blocker may not outstretch their arms in order to cover additional space. Blocking is in effect cutting off an opponent’s angle and thus slowing them down. Additionally, defensive players may not use contact to get around an offensive player. Incidental contact will be decided by the referee.
Penalties
All penalties will be called by the referee.
Defense:
Offsides- 10 yards and automatic first down
Interference- 10 yards and automatic first down.
Illegal contact (holding, blocking, etc.)-10 yards and automatic first down.
Illegal flag pull (before receiver has the ball)-10 yards and automatic first down.
Illegal rushing (starting rush from inside 7-yard marker)-10 yards and automatic first down.
Offense:
Offsides- 10 yards and loss of down
Illegal contact (holding, blocking, etc.)-10 yards and loss of down.
Running play in the no-running zone – loss of down
Illegal forward pass (pass received behind the line of scrimmage in the no-running zone)-loss of down
Offensive pass interference (illegal pick play, pushing off/away defender)-10 yards and loss of down.
Flag guarding-10 yards from line of scrimmage and loss of down.
Delay of game-clock stops, 10 yards and loss of down.
· Referees determine incidental contact that may result from normal run of play. All penalties will be assessed from the line of scrimmage.
· Only the team captain and coach may ask the referee questions about rule clarification and interpretations. Players cannot question judgment calls.
· Game cannot end on a defensive penalty, unless the offense declines it.
Sportsmanship/Roughing
If the referee witnesses any acts of tackling, elbowing, cheap shots, contact blocking, or any unsportsmanlike act, the game will be stopped and the players can and may be ejected from the game. FOUL PLAY WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.
Trash talking is illegal. Officials have the right to determine offensive language. Trash talk is considered to be talk that may be offensive to officials, opposing players, teams, or spectators.
If trash talking occurs, the field monitor will give one warning, if it continues, the player or players will be ejected from the game.
Coaching
Coaches for K-2nd will be allowed on the field as long as they do not interfere with play. In all other divisions coaches will only be allowed in the huddle to call plays but must be off field before ball is snapped and remain off the field until play is dead. A 5 yard penalty will be given if Coach remains on the field during play.
Attire
· Cleats are allowed. No metal spikes.
· All players must wear a protective mouthpiece. No exceptions.
· YMCA game jersey must be worn during play.
· K-2nd will use a pee-wee size football. All other divisions will use a junior size football.
Coaching Tips
HAVE FUN – Have fun with the team while teaching them the fundamentals.
BE A MODEL – Show respect for other teams and the officials at all times.
BE POSITIVE – Stress the good points and don’t make a big deal over the little mistakes.
REMEMBER WHOM YOU ARE COACHING – These are kids… not professional soccer players.
BE A FRIEND – These players look up to you as a coach.
SUPPORT THE OFFICIALS – The officials are going to miss a call…they are human!
CONTROL – Keep control of yourself, your team and your fans.
HELP THE YMCA – Please stress to your parents and players to clean up after themselves!
YMCA Coaching Philosophy
Your Coaching Objectives
What is an appropriate coaching philosophy? YMCA Youth Flag Football is different because coaches are encouraged to think about their philosophy before they begin coaching. One basic decision you must make is to first decide your coaching objectives. These might include:
· Having a winning team
· Having fun – you and your players
· Helping young people develop
Which of these objectives is most important to you? When given these choices, coaches usually agree that development and fun should be the most important coaching objectives. However, during games, many of these same coaches scream at athletes who make mistakes and keep their less skilled players on the bench. Despite expressing concern for their players, these coaches obviously believe that winning is the most important objective. Coaches in YMCA Youth Flag Football support a philosophy which attempts to put winning in its proper perspective. This philosophy is simple to remember:
ATHLETES FIRST, WINNING SECOND
Winning is fun and exciting. But it is only fun and exciting if it is kept in perspective. Adults who expect their players to perform like the pros and who value winning above all other goals, spoil the pleasure in playing. Winning at all costs leads to an acceptance of cheating and a view of the other team as the enemy. Coaches in YMCA Youth Flag Football should try to remember that the children on their team have come to have fun, to learn new skills, and to participate in a program that will enrich the quality of their lives.
As you begin thinking of ways to put the philosophy Athletes First, Winning Second into practice, consider the following suggestions:
Help Every Player in the Program…Give all players equal attention and help regardless of their skill level. It is impossible to predict a child’s potential ability when given encouragement and assistance.
Help Develop Spirit, Mind and Body…Remember that the young people in your program are not just bodies to be trained, but also have minds and spirits. Physical fitness and skills are important, but so are mental attitudes and spiritual growth. The goal in YMCA Youth Flag Football is to bring these elements together in one experience.
Your Coaching Style
Once you’ve decided your coaching objectives, you need to plan how you will achieve them. How will you coach? There are at least 3 distinct coaching styles. Will you make all the decisions and expect players to follow your commands without question? You’re probably familiar with the authoritarian “do as I say; don’t ask questions” attitude of many of the “big time” coaches. Is this a style that will help your players develop? Probably not, unless your main objective is to teach young people how to follow orders.
A different style, which might seem attractive to you if you feel you don’t know much about football, is to let your players run the program. If you just throw out the ball and let the kids play, there’s no danger of YOU making silly or embarrassing mistakes! Unfortunately, with this coaching style you won’t really help the players develop skills and values, and with poor supervision there is an increased risk of injury.
A third coaching style, and the one which all YMCA coaches are encouraged to develop, is to let your athletes share in the decision making process. Unless young people are given the opportunity to express opinions and make decisions, they will not become responsible adults. Unfortunately, this coaching style – the cooperative style – is the hardest to develop. You face the difficult task of deciding how much you need to structure and organize the program and how much input you should encourage from your athletes. Cooperative style coaches give direction and provide instruction when it is needed, but they also know when to let athletes make decisions and assume responsibility.