CYFFL 2016

Coaching Information Packet

Division Coach Contact Information: Coaching Coordinator

Dave

Murray

401-829-1774

[email protected]

A Division Head

Frank

Santos

401-726-6973

[email protected]

B Division Head

Gary

Lamora

401-578-6820

[email protected]

C Division Head

Eric

Goodrich

401-241-5424

[email protected]

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Dave Murray – CYFFL Coach Coordinator will oversee the coaches training and league flag football rules to ensure continuity throughout the league. All questions pertaining to coaches training, general coaching techniques or CYFFL rules should be directed to Dave.



For all Division specific questions pertaining to coaching techniques, clarification of specific Division rules, referee advice or help in resolving any issues that may arise, please contact the appropriate “Division Head” listed above. (They are available to assist you before, during, and after games).

Cumberland Youth Flag Football League Rules for CYFFL 2016 Content

Infraction

Penalty

Flag(s) not on the runner or receiver’s side, or flag(s) blocked by player’s shirt.

If the flag(s) shift during the play or are covered by the player’s shirt, the ball is spotted where the player is one-hand touched by any defender.

Equipment Use Pee wee footballs for C. B Division has the option of using Pee wee or Junior. C Division can use Junior or Youth. Generally, Pee wee ages 6-9, Junior 10-12 and Youth 12-14. We recognize kids have varying hand sizes and thus provide flexibility in what size ball is used. Footballs are NOT to be deflated after the league official inspects PSI. Flag belts must have 2 flags attached: 1. A Flag must be worn at either side of the belt 2. Flags will be 12” minimum 3. Flags must be a different color than the rest of the uniform 4. Shirts and the extra length of the belt must be tucked into pants 5. Flag Belts must be tightly fastened

Player is removed from the field of play and is unable to return until he/she has a mouth guard.

Mouth pieces must be worn Team Practices Maximum: one practice per week, minimum of one hour. Practices are not to exceed 90 minutes. Offensive Possession Time Each team on an offensive possession has a set time in which to call an offensive play and snap the ball: 1. C-Division: For the entire season, huddles longer than 60 seconds will result in a loss of down. 2. B-Division: For the entire season, huddles longer than 45 seconds will result in a

Delay of Game: Team gets a warning during the regular season for the first delay infraction. The second infraction during the game results in a loss of down, as will each subsequent infraction.

1st offense is a warning 2nd offense is a Loss of Down

No warnings issued during playoffs. A delay of game penalty will result in a loss of

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loss of down. During the first two weeks of the season they have 60 seconds. A-Division: For the entire season, huddles longer than 45 seconds will result in a loss of down. Time starts when players are in the huddle and ends when they break from the huddle. Encourage teams to call quicker plays to increase number of plays during a game.

down if the time limit is exceeded.

Delay of Game

Offensive players who fail to promptly enter a huddle following the end of a down may be subject to a delay of game penalty, resulting in an initial warning followed by a loss of down for each subsequent infraction.

Timeouts Each team has 1 time out per game. The timeout is 1 minute. Game Play Games have two 25 minute halves with the running clock method. When the horn sounds after 25 minutes, the team that is in possession of the ball may finish the drive. However, a new first down is not allowed after the horn sounds and the possession ends after the team scores or fails to score on fourth down. Halftime is approximately 5 minutes. The team who was on defense to start the game will have offensive possession to start the 2nd half. Overtime will only be played during playoffs.

Referees Each team will supply one adult referee 1. Referee must have a whistle and stop watch Coaches and referees will meet prior to the game and review the rules of play. Rules of the Game Winner of the coin toss will choose offense or defense. The other team will choose the side of field they wish to defend.

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Coaches need to ensure they do not interfere with live plays. C- Division: One coach for each team can stand on the sideline, one coach can be in the backfield, and seven players will be allowed on the field for each team. The coach on the sideline is responsible for calling “out of bounds” and monitoring defensive players to make sure the defense does not advance through the line of scrimmage until 3 seconds have been counted. Defensive Line Count:A coach from the Defensive team will call out, “One Mississippi, two Mississippi, three Mississippi,” immediately following the ball being hiked by the offensive. The coach will make the Mississippi count loud, clear, and intelligible, and following the end of the count the defense may pass through the line of scrimmage.

Interference/Play Disruption by a Coach:

Pass Interference:

Defensive Off sides:

Team negatively impacted by interference by a coach can request the down be replayed.

If the pass reception is complete, the offense can decline the penalty and take the ball where the catch was made, or the offensive team can accept the penalty (regardless of whether the pass was complete) and replay the down from the previous line of scrimmage.

A defensive player(s) who crosses the line of scrimmage prior to the completion of the Line Count will result in the play being blown dead immediately and a replay of down.

Backfield coaches must be 10 yards back of the ball at the snap of the ball and must not interfere with the play. B Division: For the first 3 games, one coach for each team can stand on the sideline, one coach can be in the backfield, and seven players will be allowed on the field for each team. The defensive coach on the sideline is responsible for calling “out of bounds” and monitoring defensive players to make sure they do not advance through the line of scrimmage until 3 Mississippi’s have been counted. Backfield coaches must be 10 yards back of the ball at the snap of the ball and must not interfere with the play. After the first 3 games in B Division, coaches can be on the

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field to set up their offensive and defensive players; however, coaches must leave the field of play before the ball is snapped. A Division: Coaches are able to set up their offensive and defensive players; however, they must leave the field of play before the ball is snapped. This Division will be 7 on 7 with 3 linemen on offensive and defense. The 3 Mississippi Line Count applies to A Division, wherein the coach on the sideline is responsible for calling “out of bounds” and monitoring defensive players to make sure they do not advance through the line of scrimmage until 3 Mississippi’s have been counted. Fumbles: A play resulting in a fumble will be whistled dead at the spot where the ball hits the ground if the ball carrier is beyond the line of scrimmage. If a player fumbles behind the line of scrimmage, the play is immediately whistled dead, resulting in a loss of down and the ball being spotted at the line of scrimmage. The exception to this is in the “C” Division, where a fumble behind the line of scrimmage or failed delivery from the center to the quarterback will result in replay of the down. Each team is provided with 4 downs; however, if the offensive team reaches the 50 yard line they receive another 4 downs.

Offensive Plays Offensive team must have 3 players who remain on the line of scrimmage until the ball passes the line of scrimmage. None of

Not enough offensive players on the line Play is immediately whistled

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the offensive lineman may receive the initial pass or handoff from the quarterback, nor may an offensive lineman receive a ball behind the line of scrimmage.

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No offensive play can be carried through the middle of the offensive line, which is the area between the outside offensive linemen at the beginning of the play. Running plays must be carried around the spot where the outside offensive lineman is standing at the beginning of the play. If a play reverses itself and the offensive line has shifted or moved from the original line area, the runner can then run through the former offensive line area. An offensive ball carrier may not intentionally run over a defensive player. Such a play will result in a Personal Foul. An offensive player cannot “hand check,” hold onto, guard a flag, or issue a stiffarm. Any such plays will result in a Personal Foul. The offensive linemen are allowed to take one step over the line of scrimmage and engage with a defensive lineman to block the defender.

Handoff to or pass reception by offensive lineman

dead, resulting in a loss of down and play to resume at the previous line of scrimmage.

Play is immediately whistled dead, resulting in a loss of down and play to resume at the previous line of scrimmage. Running up the middle

Personal Foul

Offensive Off sides Illegal motion Illegal use of the hands

Play is immediately whistled dead, resulting in a loss of down and play to resume at the previous line of scrimmage.

Loss of down, with the ball placed at the same line of scrimmage as it was during the down that was lost.

The QB is only allowed to run one time per offensive possession. The QB cannot run if the ball is spotted at or inside the 5 yard line (“red zone”) or within 5 yards of the first down line. This is referred to as the hash line. Pass plays will be allowed and all players, with the exception of the offensive line, are eligible for passes.

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At the end of each play, the ball will be marked at the center of the field between the sidelines. If a flag falls off without the flag being pulled, the ball carrier is not considered tackled and can still advance; however, the player is considered “down” as soon as a defender touches the player with one hand. If both flags fall off, the play is immediately whistled dead at that point of the second flag falling off. An exception to this is a player running with no defenders in front to able to catch the offensive player that would result in a touchdown. Blocking technique is either blocking with the forearms, or flat hands. No closed fist or grabbing the other opponent’s body or uniform.

Defensive Plays The defense can only use a 3 man line.

Illegal Formation

Offense can either re-do down or decline penalty.

No defensive lineman can drop back immediately after the snap of the ball. The lineman can move laterally along the line of scrimmage. After the ball has crossed the line of scrimmage the lineman can drop back in coverage. The defense must wait the 3 second Mississippi count before rushing past the line of scrimmage. 1. If the play is a running play, the defense can pursue laterally along the line of scrimmage but cannot advance beyond the line of scrimmage until the Line Count has been completed. 2. Defensive rushers cannot get a “head start,” (i.e. starting 5 yards back from the ball, and beginning their rush to the line of scrimmage during the

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3 count). If a defensive player pulls a flag for a safety, it is considered a turnover and the ball is placed on the opposite field hash with the defensive team that caused the safety receiving two points. There are no safeties for C Division. If a defensive player pushes a player out of bounds without the intent of pulling the flag, it will result in a touchdown if no other defensive player is in the vicinity or behind the defensive player. Interceptions can be run back for a touchdown. The ball will be marked at the spot of where the intercepting player’s flag was pulled, other than in the “C” Division. For the C Division, the ball will be placed at the 5 yard line for interceptions unless the player ran the interception back for a touchdown.

Pushing an offensive player out of bounds.

A touchdown will be awarded when a defensive player makes and intentional push of the offensive player out of bounds with no intent of pulling the flag. There also needs to be no other defensive player in the vicinity or behind the defensive player making the intentional push for a touchdown to be awarded.

To determine when the ball carrier is tackled, the defensive person will pull one flag from the ball carrier’s belt and stay in that spot. The official will blow his whistle and the play is ruled dead. The official will place the ball where the ball is located when the flag was pulled. Touchdowns; The touchdown is scored the instant the ball crosses the plane of the goal line—that is if any part of the ball is in the space on, above, or across the goal line— while in possession of a player whose team is trying to score in that end zone. The play is dead and the touchdown scores the moment the ball crosses the goal line in possession of a player. The slightest part of the ball being over the goal line is sufficient for a touchdown to

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score. However, only the ball— not a player's head, foot, or other part of the body—counts. Touching one of the pylons at either end of the goal line with the ball constitutes "breaking the plane" as well.

Special Teams There are no kickoffs in any division. At the beginning of the game, after every touchdown, and at the beginning of the 2nd half, the ball will be placed at the 5 yard hash mark of the offensive team’s side. Punts will be considered a free kick and must be told to the official prior to the kick. Once a punt is declared, players from both teams, excluding the center and punter, will leave the field. After the punter kicks the ball, the ball will be spotted where it first touches the ground. Only Divisions A and B will punt. The “C” Division will get the ball on the 5 yard line (or hash) following a completion of downs by the other team. Personal Fouls Unnecessary roughness Unsportsmanlike Conduct/Taunting Contact to the head, neck, or knees of a player Tackling Chop Blocking Blocking a player from behind or from the side Blocking a defenseless player (i.e. a player unaware of the impending block) Blocking contact with the intent of knocking the blocked player to

Any such infraction by a player(s) will result in the player(s) immediately being removed from the field of play for the remainder of the half. Two such infractions being called in a game on a single player will result in the player being immediately ejected from the game. A player subject to being ejected from multiple games may be subject to removal from the league. The Board reserves the right to take further disciplinary action against a player should the Board deem such action

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the ground

necessary.

Example of a Practice Agenda Time 6:00

Description Calisthenics/Stretching

Comments Jumping jacks, jog a lap, sit ups, push-ups, etc.

6:10

Throwing, catching, or blocking practice

Practice throwing and catching the ball. This can be done while running passing routes, as part of practicing offensive plays, or just having the players throw the ball back and forth.

6:25

Water break

6.30

Flag pulling practice

6:40

Water break

6:45

Practice formation/plays or scrimmage

7:15

Water Break

7:20 for 10 minutes and wrap-up

Fun Game

Divide kids into two groups (offense and defense) with cones about 10 yards wide by 20 yards long and have kids try to grab offensive player’s flags. Can be done as a 2 on 1 as well (2 on defense).

Can practice running any plays you might have or scrimmage with another team

Flag grab in a square. Last player standing

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Running Plays #1 Right Run (QB blocks after handoff) handoff)

#3 Right (QB Sneak Fake Handoff)

#2 Left Run (QB blocks after

#4 Left (QB Sneak Fake Handoff)

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#5 Statue of Liberty (Right WR goes behind QB grabs Ball)

Red = Running Back Green = QB Purple = Wide Receiver Blue = Line

Passing and Option Plays #6 Quick Pass to Left and receivers block block

#7 Quick Pass to Right and Receivers

#6 A = QB goes out for pass and WR passes passes

#7 A = QB goes out for pass and WR

#8 Pass Pick Left (Multiple receivers – be patient) receivers)

#9 Pass Button hook (Multiple

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#10 Option (Running back can run or Pass)

Red = Running Back

Green = QB Purple = Wide Receiver Yellow = #1 Wide Receiver Blue = Line

Blue = Line

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