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SQUIRT DIVISION RULES & GUIDELINES
PURPOSE
THE PURPOSE OF THE
SQUIRT DIVISION IS TO PROVIDE AN ENTRY LEVEL INSTRUCTIONAL DIVISION FOR
YOUNG PLAYERS WITH AN EMPHASIS TO BE PLACED PRIMARILY UPON TEACHING YOUNG
PLAYERS GOOD SOUND OFFENSIVE & DEFENSIVE FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS & NOT WINNING OR
LOSING.
SQUIRT DIVISION AGE & WEIGHT LIMITATIONS
ALL AREAS ENTERING THE
SQUIRT DIVISION, MUST BE WILLING TO ACCEPT 8 YEAR OLD PLAYERS.
SQUIRT AGE AND WEIGHT RULES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
AGE
WEIGHT
8 UNLIMITED
9
90 LBS.
THE SQUIRT DIVISION
CONSISTS OF BOTH 8 AND 9 YEAR OLD FIRST YEAR PLAYERS.
9 YEAR OLD PLAYERS CANNOT WEIGH MORE THAN 90 LBS.
NO 9 YEAR OLD FIRST YEAR PLAYER WILL BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE
IF HE/SHE TURNS 10 YEARS OLD BEFORE NOVEMBER FIRST OF THE CURRENT
SEASON.
ALL EIGHT (8) YEAR
OLD AND NINE (9) YEAR OLD FIRST YEAR PLAYERS MUST PLAY IN THE SQUIRT
DIVISION UNLESS THE FRANCHISED AREA IN QUESTION CANNOT FIELD A SQUIRT TEAM.
IN WHICH CASE, THEY MAY PLAY IN THE PEE WEE DIVISION.
NOTE - VERY IMPORTANT
ALL SQUIRT PLAYERS REGARDLESS OF THEIR AGE OR THEIR WEIGHT MUST BE
VALIDATED AT THE LEAGUE VALIDATION NIGHT.
THE SQUIRT DIVISION PLAY WILL BE
ADMINISTERED BY STANDARD I.H.S.A. RULES; WITH THE FOLLOWING RULES EXCEPTIONS
LISTED:
SQUIRT DIVISION RULES & GUIDELINES
PLAYING CLOCK & TIME-OUTS
THE SQUIRT DIVISION WILL UTILIZE A STANDARD TEN (10) MINUTE
I.H.S.A. CLOCK SYSTEM.
1. EACH QUARTER WILL CONSIST OF A STANDARD TEN (10)
MINUTE I.H.S.A. CLOCK THEREFORE A REGULATION SQUIRT DIVISION GAME WILL
CONSIST OF A STANDARD FORTY (40) MINUTE I.H.S.A. CLOCK
2. THERE
WILL BE A TEN (10) MINUTE INTERMISSION BETWEEN HALVES FOLLOWED BY A
MANDATORY THREE (3) MINUTE I.H.S.A. WARM UP PERIOD.
3.
TIME-OUTS. EACH TEAM WILL BE ALLOWED THREE (3) TIME-OUTS PER HALF, FOR A
TOTAL OF SIX (6) TIME-OUTS PER GAME. AS STATED IN I.H.S.A. RULES TIME-OUTS
WILL STOP THE REGULATION I.H.S.A. CLOCK.
4. NO
OVERTIME GAMES WILL BE PLAYED. IF AFTER FOUR (4) QUARTERS (40 MINUTES) THE
SCORE IS TIED, THE GAME IS OVER. IT IS DECLARED A TIE. THERE IS NO TIE
BREAKER FORMAT TO BE USED.
5.
OFFENSES WILL HAVE THIRTY (30) SECONDS TO SNAP THE BALL AFTER THE REFEREE
HAS MARKED THE BALL READY TO PLAY. CONTINUED ABUSE OF THIS THIRTY (30)
SECOND TIME FRAME BY THE REFEREE’S DISCRETION WILL BE ADMINISTERED BY THE
REFEREE AS A DELAY PENALTY.
SQUIRT DIVISION RULES & GUIDELINES
ENHANCED OFFENSIVE & DEFENSIVE RULES: SQUIRTS
1. A 75 LBS. BALL CARRIER RULE HAS BEEN INSTITUTED FOR
THE SQUIRT DIVISION. THE 75 LBS. BALL CARRIER RULE IS DEFINED THE FOLLOWING
WAY: ANY PLAYER WEIGHING 76 LBS. OR OVER WILL NOT BE
ALLOWED TO CARRY THE BALL FROM SCRIMMAGE AND MUST BE VISUALLY IDENTIFIABLE
BY THE ADHERENCE OF THE J.F.L.O.C.I. LEAGUE PROVIDED RED AND SILVER
NBC (NON-BALL CARRIER) STICKER TO BE LOCATED AT EAR LEVEL ON THE
BACK CENTER CROWN OF HIS/HER HELMET. ONLY ONE STICKER PER HELMET IS
REQUIRED.
OFFENSIVELY, ANY PLAYER MAY ADVANCE (EVEN PLAYERS
WEIGHING 76 LBS. OR OVER) THE BALL DUE TO AN UNINTENTIONAL FUMBLE,
INTERCEPTION OR BLOCKED KICK.
DEFENSIVELY, ANY PLAYER MAY ADVANCE (EVEN PLAYERS
WEIGHING 76 LBS. OR OVER) THE BALL DUE TO FUMBLE OR INTERCEPTION.
2.
ON OFFENSE, ALL NBC STICKERED PLAYERS MUST PLAY TACKLE TO TACKLE
(INCLUDING EXTRA POINT, FIELD GOAL ATTEMPTS
AND PUNTS)) AND BE POSITIONED IN A
THREE (3) OR (4) FOUR POINT STANCE AT THE TIME OF THE SNAP. IN ADDITION, NBC
STICKERED PLAYERS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO CARRY OR ADVANCE THE BALL FROM
SCRIMMAGE.
3.
DEFENSIVE PLAYERS MAY NOT SHIFT UNTIL THE BALL IS SNAPPED. AFTER THE
BALL IS SNAPPED, ALL DEFENSIVE PERSONNEL ARE ALLOWED TO FREELY MOVE ABOUT
THE ENTIRE FIELD.
SHIFT DEFINED: A
SHIFT IS DEFINED AS DEFENSIVE PLAYERS MOVING TO A “NEW LOCATION” ONCE THEIR
DEFENSE HAS ALIGNED ITSELF AND THE OFFENSE IS SET.
SQUIRT DIVISION RULES & GUIDELINES
ENHANCED OFFENSIVE & DEFENSIVE RULES (CONTINUED)
4. ON DEFENSE, ALL NBC STICKERED PLAYERS MUST PLAY END
TO END ON DEFENSE AND THE DEFENSIVE LINE MUST CONSIST OF FIVE (5)
PLAYERS ON THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE AT THE TIME OF THE SNAP. IN
ADDITION, THERE MUST BE FOUR (4) PLAYERS ON THE SECOND LINE, THREE (3)
YARDS OFF THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE, AND TWO PLAYERS ON THE THIRD LINE,
SEVEN (7) YARDS OFF THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE. THIS TYPE OF DEFENSE IS KNOWN
AS A 5-4-2. ALL DOWN LINEMEN MUST BE POSITIONED IN A THREE (3) OR FOUR (4)
POINT STANCE. DEFENSIVE ENDS WILL BE ALLOWED TO STAND UP AS WELL AS ALL
OTHER DEFENSIVE PERSONNEL. NO PREVENT DEFENSE ALLOWED.
5-4-2
DEFENSIVE
ALIGNMENT DIAGRAM
WITH EXPLANATION
ON FOLLOWING PAGE
5-4-2 DEFENSIVE
ALIGNMENT
Defensive End (DE)
cannot play wider than
the outside shoulder of
the normal tight end position

Normal
Tight End
Position
Normal Tight End Position
BUT, splits out

     
_ _ _ _ _
     40
Yard Line
#
1 # 2
43 Yard Line
    
  47
Yard Line
NOTE: Defensive
End(s)
(From Above)
# 1. Defensive
End on outside shoulder of Tight End.
# 2. Defensive
End on outside shoulder of Tight End, in normal position.
In this
example, Tight End splits out, DE Must stay in……...hence, normal
Position
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
·
Tackles and Nose Guard do
not have to play “Head Up.”
·
Four players on Level two
can play any alignment, but must remain three yards off the
line of scrimmage.
·
Two players on Level three
can play any alignment, but must remain seven yards off the
line of scrimmage.
SQUIRT DIVISION RULES & GUIDELINES
ENHANCED OFFENSIVE & DEFENSIVE RULES (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13)
(# 4, continued)
THE ONE EXCEPTION TO THIS RULE IS
THAT A GOAL LINE DEFENSE IS ALLOWED BETWEEN THE FIVE (5) YARD LINE AND THE
GOAL LINE. IN THAT GOAL LINE DEFENSE, THE DEFENSIVE TEAM IS ALLOWED TO USE
A SEVEN MAN FRONT ON THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE BUT FIVE PLAYERS MUST BE IN A
DOWN THREE (3) OR FOUR (4) POINT STANCE, WITH THE REMAINING FOUR (4) PLAYERS
BEING THREE (3) YARDS OFF THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE.
5. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THESE DEFENSIVE RULES WILL
RESULT IN THE FOLLOWING PENALTIES TO BE ADMINISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING
MANNER:
(1) 1ST OFFENSE -
VERBAL WARNING
(2) 2ND OFFENSE - DELAY
OF GAME PENALTY
(3)
SUBSEQUENT OFFENSES - MISCONDUCT PENALTY
6.
THE HOME TEAM WILL PROVIDE A J.F.L.O.C.I. SANCTIONED FOOTBALL (BADEN
MODEL FC 70 C PW OR WILSON K-2) AS A GAME BALL FOR INSPECTION
BY THE OFFICIATING CREW AND THE VISITING TEAM DURING THE PREGAME OFFICIALS
CONFERENCE. IF FOR ANY REASON THE VISITING TEAM
OBJECTS TO THE HOME TEAM BALL THEN
THE OFFICIATING CREW WILL INSPECT THE VISITORS BALL AND HAVE THE POWER TO
MAKE THE FINAL DECISION AS TO WHICH GAME BALL PROVIDED THEY PREFER TO USE.
SQUIRT DIVISION RULES & GUIDELINES
ENHANCED KICKING RULES
1. NO KICKOFFS WILL BE ALLOWED. THE OFFENSIVE TEAM WILL
START ON ITS OWN FORTY (40) YARD LINE. THE SAME PROCEDURE WILL BE FOLLOWED
AFTER A SAFETY.
2. NO PUNTS WILL BE ALLOWED. THIRTY (30) YARDS WILL BE
WALKED OFF FROM THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE OR ONE HALF THE DISTANCE TO THE GOAL,
WHICHEVER IS LESS.
3. EXTRA POINTS WILL BE SCORED THE FOLLOWING WAYS:
(A) TWO (2) POINTS FOR A KICK.
(B) ONE (1) POINT FOR RUNNING OR PASS PLAY.
4. NO FAKE EXTRA POINT KICKS OR FIELD GOAL ATTEMPTS WILL
BE ALLOWED.
5. EXTRA POINT KICKS & FIELD GOAL ATTEMPTS WILL BE
ADMINISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER:
THE BALL WILL BE HANDED TO THE HOLDER TO POSITION IN
FRONT OF, IN BACK OF, OR TO EITHER SIDE OF THE EXTRA POINT KICKING TEE AS
HE/SHE DESIRES. THE HOLDER WILL BE ALLOWED TO PUT HIS HANDS NEAR BUT NOT ON
THE BALL UNTIL THE REFEREE BLOWS HIS WHISTLE. AS SOON AS THE REFEREE
DETERMINES BOTH TEAMS ARE READY, HE WILL BLOW HIS WHISTLE TO SIMULATE THE
SNAP & THE HOLDER MAY PICK UP THE BALL & PLACE IT ON THE TEE TO KICK.
SQUIRT DIVISION RULES & GUIDELINES
ENHANCED GENERAL RULES
1. MINIMUM MANDATORY PLAYING
RULE
It is the intent
of the JFLOCI to see that all players listed on the official roster are
given a reasonable opportunity to play in every game, barring, sickness,
injury or disciplinary action.
All Directors
are in charge with the responsibility to ensure that all coaches are
familiar with and understand the playing time rule.
The following
shall be the Minimum Mandatory Playing Rule (MPR) for all teams. Each area
may set a higher limit, but never less than the minimum as set by the
JFLOCI. All MPR’s will be based on eligible players at the start of the
game.
Not abiding by
this rule shall subject the Head Coach to a one game suspension. A second
infraction shall result in disciplinary action with coach and area director
by the JFLOCI.
EACH PLAYER MUST PLAY A MINIMUM, OF
THE EQUIVALENT, OF ONE HALF OF A GAME, 20 MINUTES. THIS DOES NOT
APPLY TO PLAYER ON DISCIPLINARY ACTION.
FOR TEAMS WITH
MORE THAN TWENTY-TWO (22) PLAYERS ON A ROSTER, IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF
THE HEAD COACH TO INSURE EACH PLAYER RECEIVES EQUAL PLAYING TIME. “EQUAL
PLAYING TIME” IS DEFINED AS AN EQUIVALENT NUMBER OF MINUTES PLAYED BY EACH
PLAYER ON A ROSTER DURING EACH GAME.
All players
shall receive their minimum playing time by participation in “active” plays,
without the intent to minimize the action or integrity of the plays.
1.
The plays must be from the line of scrimmage.
2.
Kickoff’s, extra points shall not count toward fulfilling the MPR
requirement.
3.
Plays such as, but not limited to, having the center snap the ball to
the QB, and then the QB falls to the ground, while substitutes are playing
the other positions, shall not be considered active plays.
SQUIRT DIVISION RULES & GUIDELINES
ENHANCED GENERAL RULES (CONTINUED)
2. EIGHTEEN POINT (18) POINT SPREAD RULE: AN EIGHTEEN
POINT SPREAD RULE HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR USE BY ALL DIVISIONS (EXCEPT
SENIORS). THE INTENT OF THIS RULE IS TO ELIMINATE THE NUMBER OF OCCASIONS
ON WHICH TEAMS ARE DEFEATED BY EXCESSIVE SCORES. THE J.F.L.O.C.I. CAN NO
LONGER TOLERATE COACHES WHO THINK IT IS ACCEPTABLE TO DEFEAT AN OPPONENT BY
A 70 - 0 SCORE. THIS RULE IS INTENDED TO SUPPLEMENT THE FORTY TWO (42)
POINT SPREAD RULE & NOT REPLACE IT. THE EIGHTEEN (18) POINT SPREAD RULE
SHALL BE ADMINISTERED WITH THE FOLLOWING RULES OR GUIDELINES:
IF DURING ANY SANCTIONED J.F.L.O.C.I. GAME. A POINT
DIFFERENTIAL OF EIGHTEEN (18) OR MORE POINTS HAS BEEN OBTAINED BY A TEAM:
(A) THAT TEAM WILL HAVE
A “FIRST AND GOAL” ON ALL SUBSEQUENT POSSESSIONS AS LONG AS AN EIGHTEEN (18)
POINT OR MORE DIFFERENTIAL CONTINUES TO EXIST BETWEEN THE TWO TEAMS.
(B) AFTER COMPLETING
FOUR DOWNS WITHOUT A SCORE, THE ONLY WAY IN WHICH A TEAM WITH AN EIGHTEEN
(18) POINT OR MORE LEAD MAY REGAIN POSSESSION OF THE BALL IS FOR THE
TRAILING TEAM TO HAVE HAD THE BALL IN THEIR POSSESSION FOR AT LEAST ONE (1)
LIVE BALL PLAY.
3.
FORTY TWO (42) POINT SPREAD RULE: A FORTY TWO (42) POINT SPREAD RULE
HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR USE BY ALL DIVISIONS (EXCEPT SENIORS). THE INTENT
OF THIS RULE IS TO ELIMINATE THE NUMBER OF OCCASIONS ON WHICH TEAMS ARE
DEFEATED BY EXCESSIVE SCORES. THE J.F.L.O.C.I. CAN NO LONGER TOLERATE
COACHES WHO THINK IT IS ACCEPTABLE TO DEFEAT AN OPPONENT BY A 70 - 0 SCORE.
THIS RULE IS INTENDED TO SUPPLEMENT THE
SQUIRT DIVISION RULES & GUIDELINES
ENHANCED GENERAL RULES (CONTINUED)
EIGHTEEN (18)
POINT SPREAD RULE & NOT REPLACE IT. THE FORTY TWO (42) POINT SPREAD RULE
SHALL BE ADMINISTERED WITH THE FOLLOWING RULES OR GUIDELINES:
(A) ANY J.F.L.O.C.I.
FRANCHISED TEAM, DEFEATING AN OPPONENT BY A MARGIN OF VICTORY OF FORTY TWO
(42) POINTS OR MORE, WILL AUTOMATICALLY FORFEIT THE GAME TO ITS OPPONENT BY
A 1 - 0 SCORE.
(B) ADDITIONALLY, THE
COACHING STAFF OF THE OFFENDING TEAM WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE SUSPENDED FROM
COACHING THAT TEAM DURING ITS NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED GAME.
4.
ONE COACH PER TEAM WILL BE ALLOWED ON THE FIELD AT ALL TIMES TO GIVE
INSTRUCTIONS TO PLAYERS IN THE GAME. ONE (1) COACH FOR OFFENSE & ONE (1)
COACH FOR DEFENSE WILL BE PERMITTED. COACHES SHOULD NOT POSITION PLAYERS.
CALL THE OFFENSIVE PLAY OR DEFENSIVE FORMATION AND LET THE PLAYERS REACT
NORMALLY.
COACHES, BOTH OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE, MUST POSITION THEMSELVES A MINIMUM OF
TEN (10) YARDS OFF THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE.
FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS POSITIONING RULE WILL
RESULT IN THE FOLLOWING PENALTIES TO BE ADMINISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING
MANNER:
(1) 1ST OFFENSE -
VERBAL WARNING
(2) 2ND OFFENSE - DELAY
OF GAME PENALTY
(4)
SUBSEQUENT OFFENSES - MISCONDUCT PENALTY
SQUIRT DIVISION RULES & GUIDELINES
ENHANCED
GENERAL RULES (CONTINUED)
5. AREA DIRECTORS WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR OBTAINING
GAME OFFICIALS. THE J.F.L.O.C.I. MANAGER WILL SCHEDULE ALL SQUIRT REGULAR
SEASON GAMES. AT LEAST ONE (1) “PATCHED” I.H.S.A. OFFICIAL AND/OR
J.F.L.O.C.I. CERTIFIED LEVEL FOUR (4) OFFICIAL AND/OR AREA DIRECTORS AND/OR
AREA COACHES MUST BE PRESENT IN ORDER TO START A REGULATION GAME.
(AREA DIRECTORS OR COACHES MAY BE
USED AS ADDITIONAL OFFICIALS IF MUTUALLY AGREED UPON BY BOTH HEAD
COACHES.)
THERE MUST BE A
COMBINATION OF TWO OFFICIALS TO START A GAME.
Rationale:
All games start
with two officials, whether it is IHSA patched officials and/or combination
of IHSA patched officials, Level Four certified JFL officials and/or coaches
and directors.
6. RADIO and
COMMUNICATION DEVICES
No radios or other
communicative devices shall be allowed during game situations to relay
information to the coaching staff on the field or sidelines.
7. I.H.S.A. RULES WILL BE APPLIED UNLESS SUPERSEDED BY
ENHANCED SPECIAL J.F.L.O.C.I. RULES.
J.F.L. ABSOLUTE
RULE
EACH TEAM WILL
PLAY THEIR
SCHEDULED OPPONENT
NO FORFEITS!
NO HUMILIATION!
GIVE EACH TEAM A
FAIR CONTEST!
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