EAA FOOTBALL RULES FOR 3RD AND 4TH GRADE

 

I. WEIGHT LIMITS

 

A.       Offensive and defensive backs and outside linebackers - 85 pounds or less

         Offensive and defensive ends and middle linebackers - 105 pounds or less

         Players over 105 pounds must play an interior line position

 

B.      No end may be a ball carrier unless he receives a forward pass beyond the line of scrimmage or receives a kick-off.

 

C.      No interior linemen may be in a receiving position for kickoffs (behind the front five) or punts.  None of the front five may advance a kick-off.

 

D.      Ends (86 to 105 pounds) must line up no further than 20 yards from the line of scrimmage and outside the hatch marks on a kick-off.  They may return the kick-off if properly lined-up. 

 

E.      Middle linebackers (86 to 105 pounds) must be within 5 yards of the line of scrimmage on a punt.  They are allowed to return the punt if properly lined-up.

 

F.       A player may kick or punt without regard to weight limits.

 

G.      Official player weights will be those taken during the evaluation process.  Those players not officially weighed during the evaluation will be weighed during the equipment pick-up prior to the first game.

 

 

 

 

II.  EQUIPMENT

 

A.       Each player must provide an athletic supporter with cup.

 

B.      Players must wear tennis shoes or molded rubber cleats.  Football shoes with metal tipped cleats are not permitted.

 

C.      Each player must wear a mouth guard.

 

D.      Helmets must be EAA issue.

 

 

 

 

 

 

III.  PLAYER PARTICIPATION

(The intent of the rule is to ensure as equal playing time for all players as practical.) 

 

A.       Every player must start on either the offense or defense squad and play the majority of the game at that position.  If a player is rotated out of a position on an offense or defense squad, they should be inserted in a position on the alternate squad at the next change of possession.  As a general rule, all players that are on the sideline should enter the game at a change of possession.

 

B.      If a player has been playing both ways for the majority of the game, they may be rested for succeeding change of possessions.

 

C.      For kick-offs the starting defensive squad will be used, with the exception of the kicker if they are a not a defensive starter.  In that case, the player they replace will be used on the kick-off receiving team in place of the kicker.

 

D.      For kick-off receiving the starting offensive squad will be used with the above exception.

 

E.      For punts the normal offensive squad will be used, with the exception of the punter if they are not an offensive player.

 

F.       For punt receiving the normal defensive squad will be used.

 

G.      For extra points, the normal offensive and defensive squads will remain on the field.  No special teams are allowed.

 

H.      For overtimes, the existing participation rules will remain in effect.

        

I.        If a player has not participated in two full calendar weeks of practice, the amount of playing time is at the discretion of the coaches.  The intent is not to penalize the player, but to make sure the player is prepared.

 

IV.  LENGTH OF GAME

 

A.       Each quarter is 10 minutes stop time.

 

B.      Each team is allowed three one-minute time-outs per half.

 

C.      Half time is five minutes.

 

D.      At the quarter breaks two minutes are allotted for the change of goals.

 

E.      The referee informs both coaches when two minutes remain in each half.

 

 

V.  COACHES AND COACHES’ CONDUCT

 

A.       Head coaches must be at least 21 years old.

 

B.      Normally three coaches are allowed per team.  This rule may be waived with permission from the EAA football director.

 

C.      Only registered coaches are permitted in the bench area during a game.

 

D.       Along the sidelines, coaches must remain in the area between the 20 and 50 yard lines on their half of the field.

 

E.      Unsportsmanlike conduct will result in a 15-yard penalty.

 

F.       In the 3rd and 4th grade league, one coach per team is allowed on the field at all times

 

G.      All coaches should be certified through the National Youth Sports Coaches Association.

 

 

VI.  PLAYERS’ CONDUCT

 

A.       Along the sidelines players must remain in a 20-yard area between the 25 and 45-yard lines on their respective half of the field.

 

B.      Unsportsmanlike conduct on the part of any player will result in a 15-yard penalty.  An official may eject an offender from the game at his discretion.

 

C.      Fighting, intentional kicking, kneeing, or use of fists is cause for ejection from the game.

D.       Inappropriate language will not be tolerated and will result in 15-yard

           penalty for the first offense, and ejection from the game for the

           second offense.

 

VII.     GENERAL RULES

 

A.       Only one point is awarded for a successful extra point attempt.  Extra points may not be kicked.

 

B.      A game will be forfeited to the opposing team by any team which:

1.       Fails to field 11 players by the start of the game.

2.       Is unable, for any reason, to field 11 players at any time prior to the completion of the game.

 

C.      A penalty measurement may not move the ball more than one half the distance to the offending team’s goal line.

 

D.      On 80-yard fields, all 15-yard penalties will be 10-yard penalties.

 

E.      The 80-yard field at Goat Hill will be played as an 100-yard field by using the end zones as part of the regular playing field.  The officials will mark off the corners of the end zones with temporary cones.  The officials’ decision will be final if a play is outside the temporary end zone.  Coaches arguing will result in a 15-yard, unsportsmanlike penalty to be taken at the ensuing kick-off if on the defense or immediately if on the offense.

 

F.       Face masking is a serious offense, and the offending team is penalized 15 yards.

 

G.      Pass interference results in a 15-yard penalty if on the offensive team, or 15-yard penalty plus an automatic first down if against the defensive team.

 

H.      No pass interference penalty may move the ball more than one-half the distance to the goal line.

 

I.        The failure to wear a mouth guard will result in a 5-yard penalty.

 

J.       During the last two minutes of the game, the clock will stop on making of first downs for moving the down markers.

 

K.      All offensive and defensive interior linemen must have ground contact with their hand prior to the snap of the ball.

 

L.        Offensive holding is a 5-yard penalty.

 

M.            Blocking below the waist will result in a 10-yard penalty.

N.       On-sides kicks will not be permitted unless a team is behind in the     

            score. It will not result in a penalty, but a rekick

           

O.      Minnesota State High School League rules will be followed except as specified in these rules.

 

 

 

VIII.  FORMATIONS

 

A.       Failure to comply with the rules in this section results in an illegal procedure penalty.

 

B.      The offense is restricted to running the balanced “T” formation, with the restriction that only one hand-off or lateral is allowed per play.  On a running play, the quarterback may hand-off or lateral.  The ball is allowed to change hands only once per play.  On a passing play, the quarterback may hand-off or lateral only once preceding one forward pass.

 

C.      A quarterback sneak (quarterback running the ball between the guards) is not allowed.

 

D.      The offensive line consists of 7 players, 3 on each side of the center.

         Interior linemen may not be more than one yard apart.

         Neither end may be more than 5 yards from the tackle.

         Halfbacks may not line up any wider than the outside legs of the tackles.

         The fullback is directly behind the quarterback and may not line up in front of the halfbacks in an I formation.

         No player shall be in motion at the snap of the ball

 

E.      On 1st, 2nd, or 3rd down, if the ball is snapped to any back other than the quarterback, the intent of the play is a punt. 

 

F.       On 4th downs, punts must be declared.  The player in deep punt formation must receive the snap.  No rushing is allowed.  The player must punt the ball at least five yards behind the line of scrimmage and may not roll out.  No member of the punting team is allowed down field before the punt.  Defensive players are not to make contact until the ball is kicked by the punter.  If the punt hits a player at the line of scrimmage (offense or defense) the ball is ruled dead, and the offensive team will kick again.

 

G.      A 6-3-2 defense will be used. 

 

H.      Deployment of the defensive line:

 

         Defensive linemen may line up from 1 foot to 1 yard off the line of scrimmage.

Defensive guards must line up head-to-head on the offensive guards.

Defensive tackles must line up head-to-head on the offensive tackles.

Defensive ends may line up no tighter than 1 yard outside the tackle.

 

          

 

I.        Deployment of linebackers:

 

         Linebackers must be no closer than 2 yards and no further than 4 yards from the line of scrimmage until the ball is snapped.

         The middle linebacker is restricted to lining up even with the offensive center.

The outside linebackers must line up outside the defensive ends and must be at least 2 yards from the line of scrimmage

Linebackers must hold their positions until the snap of the ball, at which time they may proceed in any direction.

 

J.       Deployment of defensive secondary:

 

         Safeties must be at least 5 yards behind the line of scrimmage.

        

K.      In a punt situation, the outside linebackers and safeties may be deployed in any manner, but must be balanced across the field.  (One side cannot be overloaded for blocking purposes)

 

L.       Defensive players are not allowed to move once the offensive team is in their set position.  Any movement prior to the snap of the ball is considered an illegal procedure penalty, and the defense will be penalized 5 yards.

 

 

IX.  PRACTICE SESSIONS

 

A.       No practice may exceed two hours in duration.

 

B.      Practice sessions are defined as any skill session, group conditioning or other form of training.

 

C.      Scrimmages are considered a practice session.

 

D.      No more than four contact sessions are allowed per week including games during the entire season.

 

E.      Once religious education classes start, Wednesday practice sessions should be avoided.

 

 

X.  OVERTIME SESSIONS

 

         No overtime will be played during the regular season.  Games will end in a tie.  During the playoff or championship games, overtime will be played according to the following rules.

 

         If the score is tied at the end of regulation play, an overtime session is played to determine the winner.

 

There is a five-minute rest period between the end of regulation play and the beginning of the overtime period.  The overtime begins with a coin toss called by the visiting team.  The winner of the coin toss has the choice of being either on offense or defense.  The loser chooses which goal they will defend.

 

The offense team gains possession of the ball with a first down and goal to go on the defensive team’s 10-yard line.  Play continues until the offensive team scores or losses the ball by loss of down or turnover.  If the offensive team scores a touchdown, an extra point is attempted.  Upon completion of the series the teams switch offensive and defensive positions and complete the new series. 

 

The overtime session is played according to the governing rules, except when the defense gains possession of the ball in which case the ball is dead and the offensive series is complete.

 

The overtime session is comprised of one or more sets of plays.  A set is defined as each team having played both offense and defense.  The overtime session is completed with the first untied set.  The winner of the game is the team scoring the most points in that set.