GAME DAY PROCEDURES

PRE‐GAME:

1) Head coaches must call the opposing head coach by the Wednesday before their game to confirm game time, day, location and jersey color. It is the head coaches responsibility if their team fails to show at the correct game time (set by NorCal scheduler) and his team has to forfeit the game.

2) Teams should arrive and be ready to weigh‐in 1 hour prior to game time. Home team weighs in first and chooses jersey color if both teams have two sets of jerseys. Disputes if both teams want to wear jerseys with color will be settled by the referee.

3) Participants are not allowed any weight loss activity such as running or sweating down, using extra clothing or plastics etc…on any part of the game field location on game day.

4) MPR should be exchanged between teams with copies given to the announcer, If a jersey number needs to be changed due to unforeseen circumstances the change will be hand‐written on the MPR with an explanation on the back.

5) Coaches are NOT allowed to make deals to let overweight kids play. If a child does not make weight he does not play. Do not jeopardize the SAFETY of another player or put yourself into the middle of a lawsuit by letting overweight kids play.

6) REPORT to the ENDZONE 15 minutes BEFORE the scheduled START of your game.

GAME:

1) See MPR National Rules Page 15. Key points include: 4 plays for 31 – 36 players. 6 plays for 26 – 30 players. 8 plays for up to 25 players. MPR must be completed by the end of the third quarter or players must immediately enter the game at the start of the fourth quarter. Two adults must be supplied to monitor the opposing teams MPR. Failure to complete the MPR by the winning team results in forfeiture of the game plus suspension of the coach on the second offense. Both coaches MUST notify the NorCal Fooball Director and President of NorCal in writing within 24 hours to avoid additional suspensions. Appeals may be considered if clear game film is provided to the NorCal Football Director or NorCal Vice‐President within 48 hours of the end of the game.

2) Follow all National and High school rules and AYF code of conduct for good sportsmanship.

POST‐GAME

1) If a team loses by 36 points or more and the losing head coach believes the opposing head coach INTENTIONALLY ran up the score, the losing head coach should file a complaint with the NORCAL football director within 48 hours of the end of the game who will investigate and determine the validity of the complaint (punishments covered in the National Rulebook).

2) Keep your completed MPRs in your Certification Book so they can be reviewed upon request.

RULES REGARDING NORCAL CONFERENCE

PLAYOFFS INFORMATION:

‐ All teams are Division 1

‐QUALIFYING ‐ Top 8 (Determined by best record) make the playoffs. Tie‐breakers for making playoffs or seeding purposes are (1) Head to head competition. (2) Better record against common opponents (if played an equal number of times or there is a clear distinction in common opponent record). (3) Coin toss. In the case of a three way tie if one team was beat by the other two teams the team that lost both games is eliminated or if one team gets eliminated through any of the 3 tiebreakers the remaining two teams go back to the first tie breaker. Byes count as forfeit wins.

‐ MATCH‐UPS ‐ (Oct 31/Nov 1, 2009) First round match ups (#1 is the team with the best record and is considered the highest seed, #2 has the second best record etc…): 1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, 3 vs 6, 4 vs 5.

‐HOME FIELD ‐ In the first round the top four seeds can play at their home field if they have a rain guaranteed field. In Semi‐finals the highest seeded teams play at home (or available field of choice if no rain guarantee). If a team eligible to host does not have a rain guaranteed field they can select where they play based upon open slots at other fields. Requests must be in by the Wednesday before regular season game #8 or will be assigned a field by the Conference. Highest seeded teams have first choice, if two have same seeding the one in the higher division of play (Midgets over JM etc…) gets first choice.

‐GUARENTEED FIELDS ‐ If a team claims to have a guaranteed field and is not allowed to play in the rain by their High School, the host team forfeits their playoff game(s) unless another field can be found that same weekend. EXCEPTION: where the NorCal Conference President postpones the playoff games for the safety of the children (thunderstorms etc…).

‐SEMI‐FINALS ‐ (Nov 7/8) Second round games are played according to the bracket teams are in. Winner of 1‐8 plays the winner of 4‐5. The winner 2‐7 plays the winner of 3‐6

‐SEMI‐FINAL FIELDS ‐ In the second round the Top 2 seeds have the option of playing at home or if no rain guaranteed field can select another site willing to host based on open slots at the requested field. Same method as round 1 is used to determine where that team would play.

‐NORCAL CHAMPIONSHIPS ‐ In 2009 the Nor Cal Championships will be held on Nov 14/15 at a site to be determined by the Conference

‐REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS ‐ Regional Championships will be held at St. Francis HS on Nov 21/22.

NORCAL RULES REGARDING TINY MITES:

All normal football rules apply except as follows:

‐ One coach can be on the field behind his team

‐ NO kick‐offs. Ball is placed on the 30 yard line

‐ NO punting. Offensive team can run a 4th down play or can change possession by giving the opposing team the ball at their 30 yard line

‐ Each half is a 20 minute running clock.

‐ Each team has 2 time outs per half but can only use one time out in the last 10 minutes of the game.

‐ No score is kept.

‐ Defensive linemen are NOT allowed to line up on the center and MUST hit another offensive player before hitting the center.

‐ There is no blitzing. Only defensive lineman can rush the ball carrier and a team may have no more than six (6) defensive lineman.

‐ Teams must have 22 different players starting and playing on offense and defense and they must switch sides of the ball after half‐time.

‐ If a team has less than 22 players, as long as all other players start, an appropriate number of players can go both ways. However a player is allowed to go both ways only for one half. In the second half different players are to go both ways (numbers permitting).

NORCAL RULES REGARDING LOP‐SIDED SCORES:

‐ 1) The game will go to a running clock when a team is up by 28 points or more. The clock stops only for injuries and each team can stop the clock once with a time‐out. The clock would continue to run if either team needed to call a second or third time out in a half.

‐ 2) NO kick‐offs. The ball is placed at the 50 yard line for the team that is trailing and the 25 yard line for the team that is leading.

‐ 3) The team that is behind can run a play on fourth down, punt or change possession by moving the ball to the leading team’s 25 yard line.

‐ 4) Once a running clock starts it will not revert back if the score drops below 28 points however kickoffs are reinstated if the score drops under 28 points.

‐ 5) When ahead by more then 28 points the leading team must remove all first‐string backs from their backfield.

‐ 6) Teams leading by 28 points or more are not allowed to pass but sweeps are permitted. If a pass is intercepted by a team leading by 28 points or more the ball is dead at the spot of the interception.

‐ 7) When one team is ahead by 28 points or more NEITHER team is allowed to blitz. Only defensive lineman can rush the ball. In this situation a team may have no more than six (6) defensive lineman.

NORCAL PROCEDURES REGARDING ALL‐STARS

2009 Conference ALL‐STAR games (JP – M or PW ‐ M ) will be held the weekend of Nov 28/29 at a site to be determined.

NOTE: This procedure does not apply to the Conference Midget all‐star team that competes at Nationals. That team is selected by the coaches named to the team by the Conference President or Board of Directors. Every team represented by a player must have a coach from that association on the coaches roster.

1) All‐Star games can be played on the JP through Midget levels.

2) Six (6) to nine (9) teams may participate on a given level. The Conference Champions of a level are not allowed to participate as they are participating in the Regional and National Tournament

3) Participating teams will be evenly divided by area. The all‐star team with the Conference Runner‐Up will be considered the HOME team. If an odd number of teams participate in the all‐star game than the HOME team will be the group with the smaller number of teams participating. The all‐star team without the Conference Runner‐Up will be considered the VISITING TEAM.

4) If three teams contribute players to an all‐star team the Conference Runner‐Up, considered to have the best record for the HOME team regardless of their regular season record and the team with the best record on the VISITORS side will name 10 all‐stars, the team with the second best record 6 and the third team will name 4 players. 50 % of all players named must be lineman. The other 50% must be backs.

5) If four teams contribute players to an all‐star team the breakdown per team based on best record will be 8‐6‐6‐4. 50 % of all players named must be lineman. The other 50% must be backs.

6) If five teams contribute players to an all‐star team the breakdown per team based on best record is 7‐ ‐ 4‐4‐3. 50 % of all players named must be lineman. The other 50% must be backs (adjusted appropriately when a team sends an odd number of players to the All‐Star games).

7) The head coach may select a 25th player after the first practice based on need (long‐snapper, Center or Punter etc…)

8)  22 different players must start. Players are not allowed to go both ways unless necessary due to injury and the total number of available players falls under 22. With a maximum of 25 players each player must get 8 plays minimum.

9) No blitzing. Only defensive lineman can rush the ball carrier. No more than 6 players can line up on the line of scrimmage and be considered defensive lineman.

10) The head coach of the Home and Visiting all‐star teams will be offered to the head coach with the best records in their grouping. If that coach declines than the coach with the next best record for the home or visitors side will be offered the position.

11) Coaches must declare at the ‘PLAYOFF HEAD COACHES MEETING” ON THE Monday after the last regular season game (7:30 pm Nov 2, 2009) their intention to be the head coach of the all‐star squad.

12) All head coaches must also provide a list of their all‐stars in order of selection (a form will be provided). Each head coach must fill out the form with a list of 12 players including their phone numbers in order of selection, alternating between backs and lineman and submit the information at the playoff coaches meeting (first Monday after the regular season ends). After a team is eliminated from the playoffs, they will be notified how many players from their team were selected

13) The Head coach selects his assistant coaches but must include one representative from each participating team. The head coach is also responsible for determining the process for naming the starters for his all‐star team. MPR rules apply.

14) Attempts will be made to find sponsors to purchase all‐star jerseys. If this is not possible, the Visiting teams will wear their WHITE jerseys. Home teams will wear their colored jerseys.