MIDGET FOOTBALL RULES OF PLAY
FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADE
31 JULY 2010
I. GENERAL
A. Overview of Rules
1. With specific exceptions Rules of Play for Midget Football shall be as listed by the South Dakota High School Activities Association (S. D. H. S .A. A.) covering High School Football. Exceptions to S. D. H. S. A. A. rules are specifically outlined herein and in the Bylaws of the Rapid City Midget Football Association. It is important to remember that unless a specific exception to S. D. H. S. A. A. rules is outlined herein then S. D. H. S. A. A. rules are the applicable rules in all applications.
B. Timing of the Game
1. No clock is used. Quarters are measured by number of plays. Each quarter for the 4th and 5th grade games shall include sixteen plays.
2. All plays shall be counted against the 16-play total including kick offs and extra points. Plays involving accepted penalties will not be counted. If a team scores on the last play of the half or the game the extra point will be allowed and will be not counted as a play.
3. The Offense must snap the ball within 40 seconds of the time the Official spots the ball ready for play. Delay of game penalties will be enforced.
C. Stripers
1. Stripers are designated by a black stripe on their helmets. Stripers are restricted to playing positions in the offensive and defensive lines. Stripers may not line up as Wide Receivers. Stripers are not allowed to advance the ball, with the following exceptions:
a. Stripers may catch a pass, beyond the line of scrimmage, and advance the ball as a Tight End.
b. Stripers may advance the ball if they intercept a pass or recover a fumble.
c. A Striper may be a Punter. Stripers may pass the ball as a Punter but may not advance the ball beyond the line of scrimmage as a runner.
II. FIELD OF PLAY - ALLOWANCES
A. 4th and 5th grade field of play shall be 80 yards in length.
B. End zones shall be 10 yards in length.
C. Field width shall be 40 yards with equally placed hash marks.
D. Normal S. D. H. S. A. A. rules shall be modified by 80% factor for ball placement and penalties to allow for the adjusted field size. Effects of this shall include the following:
1. Kickoffs shall be made from the 32-yard line.
a. The ball must pass the mid field line to become a live ball. (Better know as an on sides kick).
2. On safeties and touchbacks the ball will be placed on the 16 yard line.
3. A 15-yard penalty will be assessed as 12 yards.
4. A 10-yard penalty will be assessed as 8 yards.
5. A 5-yard penalty will be assessed as 4 yards.
III. OFFENSIVE FORMATIONS
A. Offensive sets are restricted to formations as exhibited on attachment 1.
B. Quarterback must line up under center.
C. One End only (Flankerback) may split more than one (1) yard from the Offensive Tackle. The Flankerback may not be a Striper.
D. No pre-snap motion is allowed.
E. Unbalanced offensive lines are prohibited.
F. Offensive line splits may not exceed one (1) yard.
G. The Halfback(s) cannot line up outside the Tackles.
H. Offensive lineman is required to block the player that is lined up head to head.
No double-teaming is allowed
IV. DEFENSIVE FORMATIONS
A. Defensive sets are restricted to 6-1 or 6-5 formations as exhibited on the attachment (two) 2.
1. The 6-1 defense shall consist of four down Lineman, two Defensive Ends, a Middle Linebacker, two Corner Backs and two Safeties.
2. The 6-5 defense shall consist of four down Lineman, two Defensive Ends, and five Linebackers.
B. The 6-5 defensive set may only be used when the Offensive is inside the ten-yard line or on fourth down.
C. Defensive players shall line up as follows:
1. The four interior Linemen must line up head to head with the corresponding Offensive Guards and Tackles. Down Lineman must use a three or four point stance. Interior linemen may not stunt on a pre-designed or premeditated play upon the snap of the ball.
2. Defensive Ends may line up in a standing position. The Defensive End may either line up head to head with the corresponding Offensive End or may “cheat” outside the Offensive End but the Defensive Ends foot closest to the Offensive Center must be no further outside than the Offensive Ends outside foot. In the event the Offensive End is split, the Defensive End may line up no further that three - (3) yards from the Defensive Tackle.
3. Linebackers and Cornerbacks may line up no closer the two - (2) yards from the line of scrimmage. Cornerbacks must line up outside the Defensive Ends.
4. Safeties may line up no closer than five (5) yards from the line of scrimmage.
5. Linebackers, Cornerbacks and Safeties may not blitz, scrap or stunt on a pre-designed or premeditated play upon the snap of the ball. Linebackers, Cornerbacks and Safeties may, however, respond to an offensive play i.e. a ball carrier and cross the line of scrimmage to make a tackle.
6. Defensive lineman and linebackers are required to get into positions of alignment and not move. Defensive players are prohibited from deliberate pre-snap movement for the purpose of causing and offensive procedure violation. This rule also Applies to PAT and Field Goal attempts. Violation of this rule shall result in a defensive encroachment penalty.
V. SCORING
A. Scoring will be done in accordance with S. D. H. S. A. A. rules with the following exceptions:
1. Upon scoring a touchdown, the scoring team must declare to the head official their intent to either kick or run an offensive play for a PAT.
2. If the offensive team chooses to kick, the team must line up in a legal RCMFA formation and kick an extra point with the following exceptions:
a. The tee must be placed on the 8-yard line.
b. During the PAT-kicking attempt, the defense team is prohibited from crossing the line of scrimmage. Crossing the LOS will result in a penalty for defensive encroachment.
c. The ball must be long-snapped between the center’s legs and fielded by the holder. So long as the holder can field the snap without leaving his position, the kick can be attempted. If the holder cannot field the snap from the holding position (one knee on the ground), the ball is ruled dead.
d. The offensive team has ten (10) seconds after it is “set” by the referee’s whistle to execute the kick.
e. Extra points scored as a result of a kick will be scored as 2 points.
3. Extra points scored as a result of a running or passing play will be scored as 1 point.
4. A field goal attempt must be declared and executed as per the procedure specified for kicking an extra point.
5. Missed field goal attempt from inside the 20-yard line. The ball is spotted on the 20-yard line; a missed attempt outside the 20-yard line, the ball is spotted at the line of scrimmage. All players both offensive line and defensive line shall be in a 3 point stance or 4 point stance.
VI. PUNTING
A. When an offensive team wishes to punt the ball to the opposing team, the offensive team must declare to the head official that they are going to punt the ball.
B. The offensive team will line up in the split back formation with the following exceptions:
1. The player designated as the punter will take place of the quarterback and line up 7 - 1- yards behind the LOS to receive the snap. The ball must be long-snapped between the centers legs to the designated punter. If the ball touches the ground, the punter may field the ball and complete the punt.
2. Until the ball has been punted, the offensive team is prohibited from moving from their set positions. Moving from their set positions will result in a illegal motion penalty.
C. The Defensive team will line up in a 6-1 defense with the following exceptions.
1. The two designated safeties will line up deep enough to field the punt.
2. Until the ball has been punted, the defensive team is prohibited from moving from their set positions. Moving from their set positions will result in a defensive encroachment penalty.
D. Once the ball has been kicked, both teams will resume live play with the receiving team becoming the offense and the kicking team the defense.
E. No "fake" punts are allowed.
VII. BLOCKING IN THE FREE ZONE
A. Definition: The Free blocking zone is a rectangular area extending laterally 4 yards either side of the spot of the snap and 3 yards behind each line of scrimmage. A player is in the free-blocking zone when any part of his body is in the zone at the snap.
B. Blocking below the waist and crab blocking is permitted in the free-blocking zone when the following conditions are met:
1. By offensive players who are stationary and in the zone at the snap.
2. By defensive players who are in the zone at the snap.
3. All players involved in blocking are in the zone at the snap.
4. The contact is in the zone.
C. No clipping is permitted in the free-blocking zone.
D. The free-blocking zone disintegrates and the exception for a player to block below the waist or crab block is not to continue after the ball has left the zone.
VIII. UN-SPORTSMAN-LIKE CONDUCT
A. Un-sportsman-like conduct can be called for searing, fighting, and arguing with an Official or any act that detracts from the purpose of the game. When such conduct occurs, a major penalty will be assessed and the Player or Players involved will be ejected from the game. In those cases, a League Official should be notified immediately after the game so that proper action could be taken. This same rule also applies to Coaches and obnoxious Parents or Spectators. The discretion of the attending Officials will prevail. If Coaches or Parents demeanor warrants it, action can and will be taken by the Board against that Parents related team, as deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors.
B. Flagrant Fouls: Any participant that has committed a flagrant foul will be immediately ejected from the game and suspended from attending and participating in the next game. Subsequent infractions will result in review by the Board and possible expulsion from the league.
We, the Board of Directors, constituting a majority of the Association, certify that all previous 5-6th Grade Rules of Play are hereby repealed and that these 4-5th Grade Rules of Play are adopted and constitute the rules for the Fourth and Fifth Grade on 31st day of July, 2010.