MIDGET FOOTBALL RULES OF PLAY
6TH & 7TH 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.  The number of plays measures quarters.  Each quarter for the 6th & 7th grade games shall include 16 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 at the end of the game the extra point will be allowed and 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.  The 6th &7th grade games may be played on either a regulation 100-yard field or an 80-yard field.  Goal posts will be set up at the end of a 10-yard end zone. An intermediate size ball shall be used for the 7th grade games.

B.  When playing on a 100-yard field, Federation rules will apply as to the placement of the ball and penalty distances.

C.  When playing on an 80-yard field, the following will be used (80% of normal):

1.  Kickoffs are made from the 32-yard line.

2.  If the kickoff goes out of bounds, the ball will be placed on the 32-line yard line.

3.  On safeties and touchdowns, the ball will be placed on the 16-yard line.

4.  A 15-yard penalty will be 12 yards.

5.  A 10-yard penalty will be 8 yards.

6.  A 5-yard penalty will be 4 yards.

III.  OFFENSIVE FORMATIONS

A.  Quarterback positions

1.  Must be under the center unless the “Shotgun” offensive formation is used.

2.  Ball must be snapped to the Quarterback in any position.

B.  Per high school rules there must be 7 on the line of scrimmage.

C.  There shall not be three receivers on the same side of the ball.  If there are two receivers to one side the tight end must be opposite of the two receiver side of the ball.

D.  Split End and Flanker cannot be a Striper.

E.  Any formation can be used that does not result in three receivers to one side per rule.

C.  Also per rule A the ball must be snapped to the quarterback.

F.  Cross blocking, double teaming and all legal blocking schemes are legal in the free blocking zone.  No pulling and no chop blocks will be allowed. All double teams must be above the waist.

IV.  DEFENSIVE FORMATIONS

A.  Defensive sets are restricted to 6-1, 5-2 or 4-3 formations.

B.  Corners or Defensive Backs must align at least 5 yards off the line of scrimmage.

C.  Any blitz  must start in the basic formation.  No movement until the center comes over the ball.

D.  A goal line defense may be used when the ball is at the 5 yard line or less, or when the needed yardage for a first down is 3 yards or less.

1.  Goal line defenses allow the defensive backs to start 2 yards from the line of scrimmage

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 holding position, the kick can be attempted.  If the holder cannot field the snap from the holding position (One knee on the ground), he 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 or 4 point stance.

VI.  BLOCKING IN THE FREE ZONE.

A.  Definition:  The free blocking zone is a rectangular area extending laterally 4 yard either side of the spot of the snap and 3 yard 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 continued after the ball has left the zone.

VII.  UN-SPORTSMAN-LIKE CONDUCT

A.  Un-sportsman-like conduct can be called for swearing, 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 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 be taken by the Board against that parent’s 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 7th Grade Rules of Play are repealed and that these 6^th & 7th Grade Rules of Play are adopted and constitute the rules for the Sixth and Seventh Grade on 31st day of July, 2010.