TACKLE FOOTBALL
KIDSPORTS Tackle Football games will be played according to the official rule book approved and published by the National Federation of State High School Athletic Associations. Some of the Federation rules have been changed and/or modified by KIDSPORTS. These modifications are listed herein:
OFFICIAL BALL
6(a) Bantam League - Teams in this league will use a Junior Size Ball approved by Kidsports. Both striped balls and non-striped balls are legal.
6(b) Juniors/Major - Teams in these two leagues will use an intermediate size ball approved by Kidsports. Both striped and non-striped balls are legal.
ELIGIBILITY AND WEIGHT REQUIREMENTS
7(a) League - A player's league eligibility will be determined by their grade in school in the upcoming fall school year and their weight. Kidsports Tackle Football is available to boys or girls entering the 6-8th grade. Players cannot be more than 2 years older than their teammates, i.e. sixth grade players must be between 10 and 12 years old.
7(b) League Assignment - Players will be assigned to one of the respective leagues based on grade and weight as follows:
-Bantam 6th grade Unlimited play for any sixth graders weighing
130 lbs or less, players over 130 lbs on offense restricted to the interior line.
-Junior 7th grade Unlimited play for any seventh graders weighing
155 lbs or less, players over 155 lbs on offense restricted to the interior line.
-Major 8th grade Unlimited play for any eighth graders weighing
180 lbs or less, players over 180 lbs on offense restricted to the interior line.
7(c) Players not falling within the weight categories (ie: heavy players) as listed above will be eligible to play in the Kidsports program on defense or as an offensive interior lineman or they may petition to move up one division, but still follow weight limits in each division. Heavy players will not be allowed to play offensive end. There is no bottom end weight for any division. Light players in the seventh and eighth grades will not be allowed to play down a league.
7(d) Official Weigh-In
1. Each player in the tackle football program must be weighed by a Kidsports staff member at the time of registration and/or equipment issue.
2. The official weigh-in will be taken with the player wearing shorts only and no shoes or shirt. Once the initial qualifying weight has been recorded, a 5 lbs leeway gain will be allowed.
3. Players Official Weight - Shall be the weight that is recorded on a players equipment check-out form. If a player doesn't make weight on their initial try, they can re-weigh as many times as necessary until the deadline. (contact Kidsports for official deadline)
During the season, no player can exceed the maximum weight restriction for their respective league by more than 5 lbs. Kidsports reserves the right to re-weigh any player suspected of being in violation of weight limits. Re-weighs are not automatic at a coach’s challenge. (Players who initially meet weight requirements but are found to be in violation of the weight limits after games have begun will be declared ineligible to play any offensive position other than interior lineman until the player meets the weight requirements).
For all players, once they have met their appropriate weight, it will be their official weight for the entire season. A player who is trying to lose or gain weight to become eligible for assignment in a certain league cannot be re-weighed after 5:00pm of the official deadline date. If the desired weight has not been met by this deadline, the player must play in the league classification corresponding with their weight as of the deadline date.
PLAYER EQUIPMENT
8(a) Protective Equipment - All protective equipment will be issued by Kidsports. Individual players may not provide their own protective equipment in lieu of Kidsports issued gear unless specific written permission is granted by Kidsports.
8(b) Jersey Numbers - Any digit is permissible on Kidsports jerseys. Only jerseys issued by Kidsports may be worn unless specific written permission is granted by Kidsports.
8(c) Shoes - Cleated shoes are legal provided it is a shoe with a molded sole and has cleats which do not exceed one-half (1/2) inch in length. Removable cleats are legal provided they meet Kidsports’ and High School Federation rules.
LENGTH OF TACKLE GAMES/TIME FACTORS
9(a) Periods - All games will be played with four (4) ten (10) minute stop clock periods.
9(b) Half-Time Period - After completion of the second period a half time intermission of ten (10) minutes shall be observed with an additional three (3) minutes allowed for warming up prior to starting the third period.
9(c) Time-Outs - Each team may have a maximum of three (3) time-outs per half.
9(d) Tie Games - All regular season games that end with a tie score will continue with a Kidsports Tie-Breaker format (printed in this booklet) until a winner has been determined.
PLAYER SUBSTITUTION RULE
10(a) General Rule - Each player must play at least two (2) full quarters on either offense or defense during each game, pre-designated on the line-up cards before the game begins. Each player on your roster must only be listed once on your line-up card and only the player’s (2) designated quarters must be marked.
10(b) Each team will be allowed two (2) offensive position (4 players) and (2) defensive position (4 players) as play runners. Play runners in and out of the game must exchange places on every down that the unit is in the game for the entire game (all 4 quarters). This will satisfy the participation requirements for both of these players. Play runners are designated by placing a PR following their name for all four quarters on the line-up card.
10(c) Instructional Substitution - A coach may substitute for a player during that player's designated quarter(s) only one time each quarter for a maximum of two (2) plays. This substitution is intended for the purpose of coaching of the designated player only and should not be used for strategic purposes.
KIDSPORTS playing requirements for minimum playing time are not intended as recommendations for maximum playing time or to limit a player’s time due to ability. Do not sacrifice a child’s positive experience by not playing that child as much as possible beyond the minimum requirements in every game.
10(d) Penalty - Any time that substitution violations occur, the first step that should be taken is to CORRECT the violation. Plays will not be played over, and the correct players must be placed into the game. Repeat or flagrant violations MAY be penalized by KIDSPORTS with penalties including possible forfeiture of the game or suspension or termination of the coach. All decisions by KIDSPORTS staff as to the penalties for substitution violations will be FINAL. It is important that coaches learn and apply the proper substitution rules.
POINT AFTER TOUCHDOWN
11(a) Attempts: All conversion tries will be made from the three (3) yard line.
Run: One (1) point will be awarded for a successful conversion by run or pass from the 3 yard line of scrimmage.
Kick: Two (2) points will be awarded for a successful conversion that is kicked from the 3 yard line.
SMOKING PROHIBITED
12(a) Smoking will not be allowed by coaches, players, or spectators during Kidsports play, including pre-game and half-time warmup.
DEFENSIVE ALIGNMENT
13(a) Kidsports will play by High School defensive rules.
OFFENSIVE PLAYERS ALIGNMENT MODIFICATIONS
14(a) Interior Linemen - Five (5) interior linemen (center, two guards, and two tackles) must adhere to spacing of approximately three (3) feet or less. Stance is optional.
14(b) Ends & Backs - Spacing and stance of ends and backs is optional.
14(c) Tackle Eligible - The tackle-eligible pass play is NOT legal.
14(d) Unbalanced line - The unbalanced line is NOT legal.
DISCIPLINARY ACTION
15(a) If any player, coach or spectator is removed from the game by disciplinary action of an official or KIDSPORTS staff, said person must leave the playing field. Ejected coaches or spectators may not sit on the team bench or in the stands.
Any player or coach ejected from a game will be suspended from the next scheduled game. Further ejections will result in further suspensions or termination from KIDSPORTS.
THE KIDSPORTS TIE-BREAKER PLAN
If, at the end of the 4th quarter, the teams have identical scores, the tie will be broken by playing overtime period(s). All game rules will apply except:
a. The line-to-gain shall always be the goal line.
b. No try will be made if the winner of the game has been determined.
c. If Team B gains possession, the down and series for A ends immediately.
d. If, after Team A has completed a series and not scored, Team B scores, the game is ended.
e. Only non-player, unsportsmanlike, dead ball fouls, or defensive fouls during a down which results in a successful touchdown or try are penalized from the succeeding spot.
When the score is tied at the end of the 4th quarter, the referee will instruct both teams to return to their respective team boxes. There will be a 3 minute intermission during which both teams may confer with their coaches. All officials will assemble at the 50-yard line, review the procedure and determine the number of time-outs remaining for each team. The linesman will go to the team on the side of the field where the line-to-gain equipment is located, and the line judge to the other team, to inform the coaches of the number of time-outs each team has remaining and escort the respective team captains to the center of the field for the coin toss.
At the coin toss, the visiting team captain shall be given the privilege of calling the coin while it is in the air. The winner of the toss shall be given the choice of defense or offense, or of designating the end of the field at which the ball will be put in play. The referee will indicate the winner of the toss by placing a hand on his shoulder. To indicate which team will go offense first, the referee will place a ball in that team captains's chest area while the player is facing the goal toward which this team will advance and give the 1st down signal. The other team captain will face the offensive captain with their back toward the goal which the player will defend.
To start the overtime, the offensive team shall put the ball in play from the officials spot, 1st and goal on B's 10-yard line. Team A shall have a series of 4 downs. The series shall be determined by any score by A or if B has possession at the end of any down. Team A shall be awarded a new series when the penalty for defensive pass interference is accepted.
If Team A scores a touchdown, it is entitled the opportunity to try for point(s) after touchdown. If the defensive team gains possession, the ball becomes dead immediately and A's series is ended.
After Team A has completed its series, Team B will become the offensive team with the ball in its possession from the officials spot at the 10-yard line. The same end of the field will be used for both possessions in order to insure equal game conditions and conserve time.
If the score remains tied after each team has been given one series, the procedure shall be repeated with another period(s) until a winner is determined. There will be an intermission of 2 minutes during which the loser of the coin-toss will be given first choice of the options. If an additional period is required, first choice of options will be alternated.
Each team shall be permitted one additional time-out for each extra period plus any unused regulation game time-outs. The team scoring the greater number of points in the overtime shall be declared the winner. The final score shall be determined by totaling all points scored by each team during the regulation game and overtime period(s).
TACKLE FOOTBALL CLARIFICATIONS
WEIGHT LIMITS :
Players who do not make the initial weight by the weigh-in date deadline are restricted to the offensive interior line (center, guard, tackle). There are no defensive weight restrictions for playing positions.
6th Grade Bantams - Over 130 lbs. restricted to interior lineman offensively.
7th Grade Juniors - Over 155 lbs. restricted to interior lineman offensively.
8th Grade Majors - Over 180 lbs. restricted to interior lineman offensively.
OFFENSIVE ALIGNMENT :
Interior offensive linemen stance is optional.
DEFENSIVE MODIFICATIONS:
Kidsports will play by high school defensive rules. If a starred helmet player gains possession of the ball on defense, the ball is dead at the point of possession.
ROSTER SIZE:
Minimum team size 16, Maximum team size 35. Roster exceptions must be approved by Kidsports.
PLAY RUNNERS :
Each team is allowed 2 offensive position (4 players) and 2 defensive position (4 players) as play runners. Play runners must be designated on the line-up cards for all four quarters. Play Runners must alternate each down their respective units are in the game for all 4 quarters.
TIE GAMES:
All games, except for the KIDSBOWL championship games, that end with a tie score will continue with a KIDSPORTS Tie-Breaker Plan until a winner has been determined.
