Huron Junior Athletics Inc.
League Objective
The object of Huron Junior Football Program is to promote, manage, and conduct an organized youth football program for the pre-high school youth in and around Huron, South Dakota. To teach the basic's of the game of Football, sportsmanship, discipline, and teamwork in a positive encouraging environmentthat will assist all participants in improving self-worth and confidence.
Coaches Responsibilities
1. Head coaches are responsible to remain committed to their duties as coaches. The success of this program relies exclusively with the coaches and to ensure that they are present at all practices games, & facility & organizational meetings. The coach’s commitment begins the moment they agree to be head coaches and ends when the season is completely over and all equipment is accounted for, turned in, cleaned, and stored.
2. Coaches are responsible to ensure that they have arranged for coaching coverage in the event that they will not be able to attend a scheduled practice, game, or meeting. Failure to comply with this responsibility will result in an immediate meeting with league officials to discuss the coach’s future participation in the program.
3. The head coaches are totally responsible for the team they are coaching and all equipment supplied by Huron Junior Athletics Inc. This includes the behavior of assistant coaches, players, parents, and fans. Verbal or physical abuse, profanity, use of any illegal substance, alcohol by coach's or players is prohibited at all team events (meetings, practices, and games).
4. At no time will a coach yell or verbally abuse a player. If a coach verbally abuses any player, he will receive one warning by a league official. Continuous abuse will be subject to an ejection from the current game and/or suspension for a period of time no less than one week and up to complete dismissal from the league. . All disciplinary action regarding this rule is solely the responsibilities of the league officials to implement.
5. All players will be given positive reinforcement from all coaches. If a player makes a mistake, that player will be treated with respect and will receive a positive explanation of their error. This is to teach players the game of football and encourage confidence & self-worth.
6. The league officials and head coaches will have periodic meeting to discuss various topics such as practice & game areas, schedules, coach & player's behavior, parent's behavior, & game rules.
7. All coaches must have a commitment to the best interests of all players and the Huron Junior Football League. Treat all players equally, and assure equal playing time whenever possible regardless of abilities.
8. Intentionally running up the score and not playing weaker players will not be tolerated. The league officials will review intentionally running up the score and not playing weaker players and that head coach will meet with league officials which may result in suspension for the next game.
9. One coach may be on the field at all times. When the ball is snapped coaches on the field must be 10 yards back from the line of scrimmage. Violations will result in a warning from game or league officials
10. Coaches should avoid grabbing a player and physically moving him into position or to get their attention.
11. Coaches are responsible to ensure that all players are rotated to various positions during each game. This will ensure that players are not being limited to positions that are less desirable than others are. If a player states he only wants to play a less desirable position such as offensive line, exceptions can be made. If a coach is recognized as showing favoritism to any player, he will receive one warning by a league official. Continuous favoritism will be subject to an ejection from the current game and/or suspension for a period of time no less than one week and up to complete dismissal from the league. All disciplinary action regarding this rule is solely the responsibilities of the league officials to implement.
12. At no time during practice or games will confrontations or arguments between coaches and/or referee’s be tolerated. Coaches are not here to win games, but rather to teach the game of football. Any confrontation of any kind will be addressed by the league officials for immediate action.
Weight and Position
1. No player will be discriminated against because of their individual size and/or weight. All players will be allowed to play any position regardless of their individual size and/or weight. All coaches will ensure that each player is rotated to various positions. It is exclusively the coaches responsibility to place players in the position of their choice (not the fans, parents, or players).
Equipment
1. League officials and head coaches will stress the importance of proper care and use of equipment at the league meeting. The parents signed on their registration forms that they would return all equipment issued at the end of the season or they would pay the replacement cost.
2. Unauthorized use of the league equipment is prohibited and will be strictly enforced. Authorized use of the equipment is exclusively during league practice & game times. All other times are unauthorized. Any player using the equipment during unauthorized time will meet with a league official and a parent to discuss potential dismissal from the league.
3. The equipment belonging to the Huron Junior Football League will be used only for local competition.
Game Rules
1. Each game day teams will be picked first in a random order by league officials and then re-assessed to ensure even teams are achieved. This method has proven to add diversity and fairness to each game.
2. All half’s will be 25 minutes in length. Two games may be played simultaneously if necessary. During dual games the clock will run continuously unless a clock can be provided for each field. During a single game the clock will run unless a change of possession occurs, or the officials stops the clock for any reason.
3. Each team will be allowed 2 timeouts per half. All timeouts will be 2 minutes. Unless the timeout is taken inside of 2 minutes, the clock will continue to run. If a timeout is called with less than 2 minutes to go, the referee on that field will determine how much time remains to be played.
4. Head coaches will have 1 minute to call the next play. A five-yard penalty will be assessed after 1 minute.
5. All snaps from the center to the quarterback will be done by the quarterback placing the ball on the tailbone of the center and call the cadence. This is to protect the center and to reduce turnovers due to poor snaps.
6. All fumbles are considered live and can be advanced by either team.
7. All penalties will be 5 yards or half the distance to the goal.
8. Intentionally grounding the football will result in a 5-yard penalty from the original line of scrimmage and a loss of down. A player may throw the ball out of bounds in the direction of the line of scrimmage if he is out of the pocket (between the tight ends). Throwing the ball out of bounds while in the pocket will result in a 5-yard penalty from the original line of scrimmage and a loss of down. “Spiking” the ball to stop the clock is legal.
9. Flagrant fouls (blocking in the back, pushing, tripping, fighting, late hits, face-masking, clipping, blocking below the waist, etc.) will be 5 yards or half the distance to the goal for each occurrence and that player will need to leave the field for at least 2 plays. Two flagrant fouls by the same player will result in an automatic ejection from the game and that player will meet with a league official and a parent to discuss potential dismissal from the league.
10. Players must have their mouthpieces in at all times when on the playing field. During an active game, a player on the field will receive a penalty of 5 yards as soon as the quarterback begins his cadence (“down, set hut”). The official must blow the play dead before the snap of the ball to ensure the player in violation will not be injured. This penalty does not carry a loss of down. It is strongly recommended that players use mouthpieces that attach to the helmet/facemask.
11. The footballs used will be Size 4 (junior-size). The referees will provide game balls.
12. A coin-toss will determine possession.
13. During hot weather the game officials will allow official time outs for water breaks.
14. Head coaches may address game officials for a rules interpretation or clarification. Judgment calls are not to be questioned.
15. Players with illnesses or injuries will not be allowed to participate in games. This includes stitches, casts, and splints.
16. Extra points will be one (2) point for a run or pass. The ball will be spotted on the 3-yard line.
17. Each team starts at the 15-yard line at the start of the game, at halftime, and after the opposing team scores.
18. Punting can be done on any down. When a team elects to punt, the ball will be automatically spotted on the receiving team own 15-yard line.
19. In case of a tie, we will use the South Dakota High School Tie-Breaking system.
20. Mercy Rule: If a team is ahead by 35 points at half time or anytime after the half, the game is officially over and the team ahead is declared the winner. The game may be continued if both Head Coaches agree to continue play. The referees may end the game if they determine it to be unsafe to continue.
Unsportsmanlike Conduct Penalties
In addition to the playing rules of the game, unsportsmanlike conduct penalties will be called and are subject to action by the game & league officials. This penalty is 10 yards and a loss of down and the violating player will receive an immediate ejection form the game. If the unsportsmanlike penalty is called on the coaching staff, the Head Coach will be referred to the league officials for review and could be subject to game suspension or league dismissal. Potential unsportsmanlike penalties are as follows but not limited to:
1. Verbal abuse by the Head Coach, Assistant Coach’s, Players, or Fans on or off the field of play.
2. Use of profanity by the Coaching Staff, Players, or Fans either on or off of the field of play.
3. Any dangerous action from a player or coach.
4. Consumption or presence of any illegal substances or alcohol by the Coaching Staff or Players.
All rules and responsibilities are subject to review by the board members of the Huron Junior Athletics Inc. Changes to this document require board action from Huron Junior Athletics Inc.
Huron Junior Athletics Inc.
June 22, 2007