OPERATING
RULES
CONSOLIDATED FOOTBALL FEDERATION
(REVISED 2/15/2005)
1. GENERAL:
a. The rules and regulations, as set forth herein, constitute the operating rules of the Consolidated Football Federation.
b. As modified by the Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc. Official Rule Book variations, the Consolidated Football Federation teams shall play under the North Carolina High School Athletic Association rules.
c. The Consolidated Football Federation shall be governed according to the By-Laws and Constitution, with a Commissioner, Secretary, Assistant Commissioner / Treasurer, and Cheerleading Director, and Assistant Cheerleading Director. Each member Association shall have a minimum of one representative for Football and one for Cheerleading. Member Associations shall have their own Football and Cheerleading Commissioner(s), who are the highest Association authority.
2. DUAL PARTICIPATION:
The person(s) acting as the Association Commissioner / Cheerleading Director shall not be allowed to simultaneously coach in any capacity for a football team or cheerleading/dance squad.
3. FEES:
There shall be a fee, (dues), payable on an equitable basis by each member Association, to cover the costs associated with the proper operation of the League. Such fees (dues) are due and payable no later than August 15th of each calendar year.
4. PLAYER / CHEERLEADER ELIGIBILITY:
a. All football players / cheerleaders shall meet and maintain all eligibility requirements as set forth in the current edition of the Official Rules of Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc. This includes parental consent, proof of age, medical certification, scholastic fitness certification, and age/weight restrictions. THERE WILL BE NO MASCOTS ALLOWED FOR CHEERLEADING SQUADS.
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b. Any football player / cheerleader shall remain a member of the Association with whom he / she originally registered UNLESS: (1).
The player or cheerleader changes legal residence between seasons, (2), the Association with whom the player / cheerleader originally registered provides a written release of the player / cheerleader, OR, the player / cheerleader sits out one year ( season ) of eligibility with the original Association.
5. WEIGHT VERIFICATION:
Weight verification rules and procedures are outlined in the Consolidated Football Federation Weigh-In Rules and Procedures (attached ). Teams are required to be ready for weigh-in at the end of the third / beginning of fourth quarter of the game that precedes theirs. Late arriving players may be weighed in up to kickoff for their game. Any player arriving AFTER kickoff is ineligible for weigh-in or to play. NO exceptions allowed.
6. TEAM / PLAYER ASSIGNMENT: (INCLUDING DRAFT PROCEDURES):
Due to the significant differences in the sizes of Member Associations, one method of assigning a players to teams, ( drafting ), is not feasible. Some Member Associations have only one team per division, while others have multiple teams within the same division. Therefore, each Member Association will submit their player assignment procedures in writing to the League Commissioner for approval. Once approved, no deviation from those procedures is permitted. If numbers of teams within a Member Association changes from one season to the next, a revision must be submitted in writing for approval.
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7. TEAM FORMATION:
ALL TACKLE FOOTBALL TEAMS MUST HAVE A MINIMUM OF SIXTEEN (16) ELIGIBLE PLAYERS. IF A TEAM HAS LESS THAN 16 ELIGIBLE PLAYERS, IT MAY NOT FORM. A MINIMUM OF 16 ELIGIBILE PLAYERS IS REQUIRED FOR A GAME.
IF A TACKLE TEAM HAS LESS THAN SIXTEEN (16) ELIGIBLE PLAYERS FOR A PARTICULAR GAME, THAT TEAM SHALL FORFEIT AND NO SCRIMMAGE GAME IS ALLOWED. OFFICIALS WILL BE INSTRUCTED ACCORDINGLY AND WILL NOT OFFICIATE SUCH SCRIMMAGE GAMES.
FLAG TEAMS MAY FORM WITH 10 OR MORE PLAYERS
THERE ARE
ABSOLUTELY NO EXCEPTIONS TO THE ABOVE TEAM FORMATION AND MINIMUM NUMBER
FOR A LEGAL GAME RULES.
8. SCHEDULES
a. The Commissioner
of the Consolidated Football Federation shall be in charge of scheduling
all games within the League. Member Associations are required to submit
a written listing of all teams within their Association no later than
July 15th of the current year to facilitate scheduling.
c. All games must be played in accordance with the schedule unless otherwise
changed by the League Commissioner. The League Commissioner shall have
the authority to fix the time and place of all rescheduled games. Except
in cases of playing rescheduled games, only one game may be played by
any given team within one week. The League Commissioner may grant variances
to this rule if necessary to play postponed games. However, if a game
is postponed, and its outcome has no bearing on League standings, the
League Commissioner shall decide whether that game will be rescheduled.
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Football Federation
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d. In cases of inclement weather, a representative from each team shall decide no later than two hours prior to kickoff whether a scheduled game shall be postponed. A representative from the HOME team of a postponed game shall notify the League Commissioner immediately of a postponement after first notifying the Chief of Officials and the Association contact for affected teams.. The League Commissioner will then decide if the game is to be rescheduled.
9. PRACTICES:
The Consolidated Football Federation follows the Official Rules of Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc. regarding practices. ( Date practices may begin, time limitations on practices, etc. ).
Under no circumstances may a Member Association team schedule, conduct, Or play a controlled or practice scrimmage, exhibition, pre-season, regular season, post-season, playoff, or bowl game outside of its weight division, or without the PRIOR consent of the League Commissioner.
10. GAMES:
a. The length of games shall follow the Official Rules of Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc.
b. Scoring: Scoring shall follow the Official Rules of Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc. Points after touchdown - run or pass - 1 point, Kick - 2pts.
11. OFFICIALS:
There shall be a minimum of four certified officials for each game within Tackle Division teams. There will be ONE paid and one volunteer official for Flag Division games. Qualified clock operators are required at each field. Responsibility for payment of officials lies with the home Association.
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Football Federation
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12. COACHES:
a. Each Member
Association may establish its own requirements for coaching staff, however,
all coaching staff for football and cheerleading must meet the requirements
as specified in the current edition of the Rules of Pop Warner Little
Scholars, Inc., and are subject to League approval. Beginning with the
2003 season, ALL volunteers are subject to mandatory background checks.
See attached memorandum.
b. Coaches may be removed when in the opinion of the Local Authority,
the coach is not capable of fulfilling the duties and responsibilities
of his or her position.
c. Consolidated Football Federation shall follow the current published National / Regional Rule regarding numbers of coaching staff allowed by Roster and on sideline
d. All official
coaching staff shall have and display official Pop Warner photo identification.
e. Each Member Association is responsible for the control and conduct
of their coaches.
e. Head Football
Coaches are responsible for actions of all assistant
coaches, players, parents, and fans during their games.
Cheerleading Coaches are responsible for actions of all assistant coaches, cheerleaders, parents and fans during their games.
13. PROTESTS:
Any coach that protests a game shall notify the Referee and opposing coach of his intent to protest. The referee and both coaches shall document the reasons for the protest, the point during the game the protest is entered, ball position, down, possession, time, period, and score. A written protest must be submitted to the Commissioner of the Consolidated Football Federation within three calendar days of the protested game. Protests revolving around judgement calls of officials will not be considered. Only protests regarding eligibility will be addressed
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The Commissioner of the Consolidated Football Federation will exercise one of three options in deciding protests: (1) Deny the protest and let the game outcome stand. (2). Uphold the protest ( penalty subject to severity of infraction. May result if forfeiture, or require game to be replayed ). (3). Form a Tribunal according to the Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc. Administrative Manual to hear both sides of the protest and render a decision. Decisions of a Tribunal are binding and may not be appealed.
14. PLAY-OFF GAMES: ( LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS )
In the event that two teams within a division have identical won-loss records, or in cases where there are more than one division of teams within a weight division, playoff games will be held to determine the League Champion. If three teams are tied and if time permits, a draw will be held for one bye, to play the winner of the game between the other two teams. If four are tied, pairings will be made by draw with the winners advancing to play each other for the championship. Home team will be decided by a coin toss. Final game site will be on a neutral field.
15. MISCELLANEOUS:
a. An admission fee (gate) is allowed for all games, at $ 3.00 per adult, $ 1.00 for students. Individuals presenting a valid Pop Warner Photo ID card will be admitted free.
b. The local Member Associations shall retain all monies collected for admission to games.
c. The Consolidated Football Federation will award a team Championship trophy in each weight division.
d. A team may film or videotape games. However, films or tapes may not be interchanged between teams. TV or videotaping will not be allowed on the playing field.
e. Scouting another Association's team practices is prohibited. Penalty for violation will be suspension of the offending coach(es) for a one year period. A second violation will result in permanent suspension.
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Football Federation
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RULES GOVERNING
POST-SEASON PLAY
FOOTBALL AND CHEERLEADING COMPETITIONS
1. GENERAL POST SEASON PLAY:
a. To be eligible for post-season play, (invitational Bowl games), a football team must have a season winning record percentage of not less than .500 (50%)
b. Teams desiring to compete in invitational bowl games must submit a Request to Travel to the League Commissioner for approval
c. If there is a cheerleading squad associated with the football team, the cheerleading squad MUST accompany the team to the game site and participate.
d. Upon completion of the bowl game, each coach MUST complete the Pop Warner Bowl Report form and submit to the Vice Regional Director. Failure to submit this Report will result in a $ 100.00 fine and suspension from post season play for one year.
NOTE: ALL FORMS REQUIRED ABOVE MAY BE FOUND IN THE CFF/MID-SOUTH REGIONAL SOP MANUAL. FAILURE TO COMPLETE THE CORRECT REQUIRED FORMS WILL RESULT IN DENIAL OF REQUESTS TO PARTICIPATE IN POST-SEASON PLAY.
2. POP WARNER LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL COMPETITION
It shall be MANDATORY that Member Associations of the Consolidated Football Federation having cheerleading squads/dance teams in performing divisions ( Jr. Peewee, Peewee, Jr. Midget, and Midget) compete at the Local Cheer Competition. If a Member Association is unwilling or unable to fulfill this mandatory requirement, cheerleading squads will NOT be allowed to form. ( Member Associations will not be allowed to roster cheerleading squads for regular season games without competing at Locals ).
If a cheerleading/dance squad places at Local Competition, Member Associations have the option at that point of NOT advancing to Regional Competition with no penalty. In those cases, the next place squad will be given the opportunity to advance. Once a commitment is made, a Member Association shall not fail to proceed. PENALTY: $ 500.00 fine AND suspension from competition eligibility for a three year period.
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Football Federation
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Upon being declared regular season football champions, a Member Association's football team must commit to advancing as far as possible in playoffs up to and including participating in the Pop Warner Little Scholars Superbowl in Orlando, Florida. Once committed, team shall not fail to proceed as far as possible. PENALTY: $ 500.00 fine AND suspension from ANY post season play for a three year period.
CONSOLIDATED FOOTBALL FEDERATION
WEIGH IN RULES AND PROCEDURES
Rule 3 in the Pop Warner Little Scholars Football and Cheerleading Complete Set of Official Rules states that: "Each team will have its players checked PRIOR TO EACH GAME during the season to assure that the weight standards are being maintained". The Rule Book also lists the two acceptable methods of determining player eligibility for each game. The IDEAL method, which can only be used when all playing facilities used throughout the league include dressing facilities. ( This method utilizes stripped weights; players weigh in shorts ). Because all of the Associations that make up the Consolidated Football Federation do not have dressing facilities, the CFF uses the ACCEPTABLE method. ( This method allows for weighing players in uniform and pads by establishment of an allowance for the uniform and safety equipment ). To ensure compliance with Rule 3 of the National Rules, the following procedures and rules shall apply to all Associations within the CFF:
1. Each Association shall have a CERTIFIED medical or beam type scale AND a test weight weighing 50 pounds in their designated weigh-in area at their home facility. For a scale to be certified, a sticker bearing the name of the certifying scale company, dated in the current year, must be affixed to the scale in a prominent location. ( W. B. Porter and Co. at 1721 Lake Wheeler Road in Raleigh provides Pop Warner scale certifications at no charge ).
Failure to provide a certified scale and test weight will result in the home team forfeiting each game that the certified scale and test weight is not available.
There will be NO PENALTY assessed to a team as a result of a coach's decision NOT to play a game in which the players' eligibility by weight cannot be determined for any reason. ( Scale failure, deviation from published minimum / maximum weights, absence of scale certification, etc ). IF COACHES FROM THE TWO TEAMS INVOLVED AGREE TO WAIVE ANY PART OF THE WEIGH-IN RULES, OR PLAY A GAME IN VIOLATION OF THE WEIGH-IN RULES, THE GAME SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE ILLEGAL AND BOTH TEAMS SHALL BE CHARGED WITH A FORFEIT. A LOSS WILL BE RECORDED FOR EACH TEAM IN THE OFFICIAL LEAGUE STANDINGS. NO PROTESTS WILL BE ALLOWED FROM EITHER TEAM, AS ALL PLAYERS FOR BOTH TEAMS BECOME INELIGIBLE WHEN ANY PART OF THE WEIGH-IN RULES ARE WAIVED OR BROKEN. ADDITIONALLY, COACHES PARTICIPATING IN AN ILLEGAL GAME ARE SUBJECT TO SUSPENSION FOR THE SEASON.
2. Each Association shall have a designated WEIGHMASTER who is in charge
of all weigh-ins at their facility. It is recommended that a secondary
weighmaster be appointed to act in place of the primary in his/her absence.
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES MAY A COACH ACT AS WEIGHMASTER IN HIS / HER DIVISION
OF PLAY. Additionally, NO WEIGHMASTER MAY ALTER OR "ADJUST"
THE SCALE UP OR DOWN FROM THE SPECIFIED MAXIMUM OR MINIMUM WEIGHTS ALLOWABLE
FOR THAT GAME DATE. ( The CFF provides a maximum/minimum weight chart
with the equipment allowance for each game date that appears on the schedule
). If any minor beam adjustments are required to achieve a balance of
the beam with the 50 pound test weight applied, ONLY the weighmaster has
the authority to make those adjustments. No coaches or other representatives
from EITHER team shall touch the scale at any time in an effort to assist
or to make minor adjustments.
Pop Warner
Little Scholars, Inc.
586 Middletown Blvd.
Suite C-100
Langhorne PA 19047
Phone: 215-752-2691 Fax: 215-752-2879
MEMORANDUM
TO: Association Contacts
Cc: League Contacts
Regional Administrators
FROM: Wynn
Jessup, Chairman, National Board of Directors, Pop Warner Little
Scholars, Inc.
DATE: January,
2004
SUBJECT: Parental Behavior
The National Board of Directors of Pop Warner has discussed with increasing
concern the number and severity of incidents of parental violence and
misbehavior in youth sports. We unanimously endorse parent meetings and
parental education in all local Pop Warner Associations. We strongly recommend
that every Pop Warner Association have at least one pre-season, or early
season, meeting with parents of all participants.
Pop Warner Leagues, and their member Associations, should make clear that
some behavior is unacceptable, and that there are consequences for such
inappropriate actions. At the minimum, unacceptable behavior includes
profanity, obscene gestures, verbal threats and physically threatening
action. All of us are aware of the tragic death of the hockey dad in suburban
Boston. None of us want to see any violent or profane occurrences in Pop
Warner. If not already detailed, each Pop Warner League should include
in their By-Laws one or more policies that specify possible penalties
for unacceptable behavior. Such penalties may include banning from practices
and
competitions of any parent(s) or other adult guilty of unacceptable behavior.
In some rare cases, it may be necessary to prohibit participation of a
child in Pop Warner due to repeated instances of inappropriate actions
or words by a parent, guardian or family member.
Several states have enacted laws that elevated any act of violence at
a youth sports event to felony level. This is a growing and disturbing
situation that all of us must manage.
It is sad and unfortunate that bad behavior has reached this level. As
a Board of Directors, we want all of you to be proactive in dealing with
this inflammatory issue. Let us all make our best efforts to allow the
children in Pop Warner to have fun without rude or intimidating interruptions
from parents and adults.
PARENTAL BEHAVIOR POLICY
This document
is incorporated into the CFF By-Laws.
Adult Behavior:
1. At any Pop Warner event, practice or competition, any adult who: 1)
verbally abuses; 2) attempts to intimidate; 3) is flagrantly rude, or,
4) cannot control their language or actions with an official, coach, or
Pop Warner volunteer will be asked to leave the Pop Warner event. He or
she will receive a written warning regarding their behavior. His or her
child(ren) will be immediately removed from the Pop Warner event.
2. Any adult that commits a second similar offense will be banned from
Pop Warner events for the remainder of that season and their child(ren)
removed from Pop Warner for the remainder of that season. Association
will refund registration monies pro-rated based on the percentage of the
season remaining.
3. Any adult who physically assaults an official, coach or Pop Warner
volunteer will be
banned from Pop Warner and their child removed from the Pop Warner program
for one
year from the date of the offense. The child(ren) may not participate
in another Pop
Warner Association during the sanction period. After one year, the parent
may apply for
re-instatement of his or her child. If the adult commits a second offense,
he or she will
be permanently banned from Pop Warner and the child(ren) permanently removed
from
Pop Warner.
The term physical assault includes, but is not limited to: hitting, slapping,
pushing,
spitting, kicking or striking in any way with any part of the body or
any physical
implement.
Coaches and
other Association officials are also subject to this policy. (Please see
Coaches Code of Conduct in the Official Pop Warner Rule Book )
©2003 by DENNIS FIELDS. All rights reserved.