RULES AND REGULATIONS

As of our meeting October 3, 2001, the Little Guys Conference has adopted

a no tolerance policy in regards to rules violations and any actions that are contrary to the philosophy of the league.

The first violation will result in:

         •  Minimum $100 dollar fine

         •  Immediate coaching suspension

         •  Organization placed on probation

The second violation will result in

         •  The Organization will be dismissed from the conference.

Very simply, any organization which cannot follow the policies and philosophy of the Little Guys Conference will no longer be permitted to participate in the league.

Tom Rowan

President

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Pre-Registration

• Pre-Registration is mandatory.
• All Coaches must present all required registration paperwork for review.
• Pre-Registration is on Thursday, August 20th between 8:30 PM and 9:30 PM.
• There is a $100 fine for missing pre-registration.

 Pre-Registration for all clubs will be at Rhawnhurst AA.

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      Registration                                         Backup

    Sat August 22nd                                          Tues September 8th

 ·       Registration is Rain or Shine.

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Registration

 1.  Registration will be conducted by the Board of Directors.

 2.  Any team not ready to be registered at their designated time, will go to the

      end of the line and a fine imposed.

 3.  Mandatory Insurance - Each club must submit a photostat of their

      insurance policy and a list of current officers. These documents must be 

      presented at registration. The team will NOT be allowed to register if

      these documents are not present.  ID cards for your team will not be

     distributed until proper insurance identification is received and your team

     will forfeit any scheduled game.

 4.  Hold Harmless Cards - Every player must fill out and sign liability release

      forms before they register. These cards should be placed in order of the

      Master Sheet. 

 5.  Birth Certificates - Each player must present an Original State Birth

      Certificate proving his age. If a boy was born in a foreign country, that

      country’s birth certificate would be acceptable providing it was notarized.

      No other certificate is acceptable.

      No Photostatic Copies.  No Hospital Certificates.

 6.  Minimum - Each club must register at least sixteen (16) players. Any club

      unable to meet this minimum requirement will be at the discretion of the

      Board of Directors.

 7.  Master Sheet - Each club must have a completed alphabetically listed

      Master Sheet at the time of registration. Copies will be made by the

      conference and distributed prior to the opening game along with your ID

      cards. Please see the example Master Sheet. 

 8.     Age Requirements

        ·        Cannot be nine (9) years of age before December 1^st.

        ·        Must be five (5) years of age by July 31^st.

A five (5) year old player will be ineligible to weigh-in, participate, dress or play in a regular LGFC scheduled game.

 9.  A player registered in the LGFC cannot be registered or play in any other

      football conference.

10. All coaches must be registered with the Little Guys Football Conference,

      maximum of ten(10).

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Registration Checklist

Failure to comply with LGFC Registration Regulations will result in a fine and you will be moved to the end of the line to register last.

Please make sure you have completed all the items below before coming to registration.

 1.  Master Sheets must be typed with players names in alphabetical order.

      Please confirm you have placed your coaches names on the back.

 2.  Identification cards must be filled out for both players and coaches.

      Make sure every identification card has the player or coaches name, roster

      number corresponding to the master sheet and the organization’s name.

 3.  Hold Harmless Forms should be put in alphabetical order corresponding

      to  the Master Sheet.

 4.    Original State Birth Certificates are to be in the order of the Master 

      Sheet.  No Photostat copies. No Hospital Certificates.

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Day of Registration

 1.  Payment is due in full at the time of registration. Make Check payable to

                              Little Guys Football Conference.

 2.  Teams will line up outside in order of the master sheet and come into

      registration in a quiet and orderly fashion. This is the Head Coaches 

      responsibility.

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Weigh-in Regulations

 1.  The Little Guys Football Conference will not tolerate any “Deals” between

      coaches and clubs.

 2.  Weigh-in must begin thirty (30) minutes prior to the game. Unusual

      circumstances will be handled by the Board of Directors.

 3.  Home Team weighs in first.

 4.  Each player must have his ID card and club must have their Master sheet at

      each weigh-in. No player will be permitted to be in uniform, to weigh-in or

      play in a LGFC game without an ID card. If a player does not have an ID

     card by the 4th conference game, he will not be permitted to participate in 

     any LGFC games for the rest of the season.

 5.  Head Coach (or designated coach) and one (1) assistant from each club will

     conduct the weigh-in and check ID cards. All other personnel must clear

     the scale area. The scale is to be balance type only. No digital, spring or

     bathroom type scales will be permitted. Board members will oversee

     weigh-ins when present.

 6.  All players on the Master Sheet must weigh-in prior to the game to be

      eligible to play. No player may weigh-in after completion of the weigh-

      in. Players late for the teams weigh-in will not be permitted to

      participate in the scheduled game. His jersey number will be given to the

      opposing coach and marked on the Master Sheet. His shoulder pads will be

      removed.

 7.  Weight - A player cannot be over 75 lbs in full equipment excluding helmet,

      shoulder pads and flak  jacket or rib pads.

 8.  All helmets must be NOCSAE approved.

 9.  All players must wear standard, protective, commercially recognized

      equipment. Cut or altered uniforms are not permitted. No duplicate uniform

      numbers.

10. Any player who steps on the scale missing mandatory pads will be

      ruled ineligible.  The  mandatory pads are: hip and tail or girdle  

      pads, thigh and kneepads. Whatever the player steps on the scale 

      with will be ruled as final. Game jerseys must also be worn at the 

      scale.

 11. A player may add a sweatshirt or shirt after the weigh-in, but it must be

      done at the scales. Elbow, wrist and hand pads may be added after a player

      has weighed in. Any pads or equipment requiring adjustment of uniform,

      removing of  jersey, etc. will not be                                                          

12. Overweight - If a player is overweight, his shoulder pads will be removed at

      the scales. His name and  jersey number will be written down on the Master

      Sheet. The overweight player will be eligible to play in the next game,

      provided he can meet the weight requirements.

14. It is each clubs responsibility to ensure that all of their players are equipped

     properly. 

15. No player will be permitted to play with a hard cast of any type.

16. If a LGFC game is cancelled for any reason, both teams will be required to

      reweigh for the makeup game.

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Game Day

1.  It is the Head Coaches responsibility to control his assistants, players,

     parents and spectators as well as chain crew volunteers. Chain crew

     volunteers are not to interfere with the opposing teams coaches in any

     way.  This includes cheering for your team when the  

    opposing coach is yelling instructions to his players.

    While holding chains, chain crew members are not

    permitted on the cell phone.  Either of the above

    infractions can cause your team an unsportsmanlike

    penalty assessed by the officials.

2.  All coaching must be accomplished from outside the sidelines and not on

     the field. Any coach who is penalized by a game official or warned twice

     by a Conference Director in violation of the “Coaches on the field” rule,

     will result in a one (1) game suspension for the offending coach, a minimum

     $100 dollar fine and club probation.

3.  Three (3) coaches and Three (3) players are permitted to roam from goal

      line to goal line.

4.  Field Markers - All fields must be properly marked. Cones are to be

     placed at the 50 yard line and at the goal lines. Field must be regulation

     length and width.

5.  Both team sidelines will be fenced or roped off, goal line to goal line.

     There are NO exceptions. Any team unable to provide a field that cannot

     be roped will have no homes games.

6.  Officials – Three league approved officials per game. The Home team is

     responsible for paying for the officials. If the game is played on a neutral

     field, both teams will share the cost. All officials fees for the playoffs will be

     shared by the participants. The use of any other officials will result in a

     forfeit for both teams. Home team will call the officials number if both

     officials are not present ten (10) minutes prior to the game.

  No Games are to be played unless there are at least two (2) officials.

7.  Bad Weather - In the event of severe weather, postponements will be

     decided by the League only. The home team must notify your Director and

     opposing team at least two (2) hours before game time concerning the

     condition of the home field. The officials must be notified at least 1 ½ hours

     prior to the game.

8.  Time - Four ten (10) minute quarters, federation clock - 2 minute warning.

9. Time-outs - Three per half. If a time-out is needed for an injured player, it

    will count as an official’s time and the player must leave the game for at least

    one play.

10.  During a charged time-out, one coach from each team can go out on the

       field with his team. No other individuals are permitted. The team may not

       go to the sideline.

11.  Master Sheets - Master sheets must be fully completed. Unfinished sheets

       will be subject to fine.

12.  Master Sheets must be mailed to your League Director, and must be

       received no later than Wednesday following Saturday games. Game

       Sheets not received by Wednesday will be subjected to fine. Your club

       officers will be notified after a second infraction. If a Game Sheet is not

       received before the next regular season game a fine will be imposed and  

       disciplinary action will be taken by the Board of Directors.

13.  Calling in Scores - It is both teams responsibility to call in scores. Any

        team failing to call in the score will be fined.  The score must be called in

        between Friday evenings and 2 PM on Saturday.

Little Guys Football Conference Hotline – 215-742-4736

To retrieve scores call the LGFC Hotline after 6:00 PM on Saturdays.

14. All fines must be paid on club check within ten (10) days of notification or

      you risk losing  your good faith bond.

15.  It is mandatory that the visiting team contact the home team

      regarding the color of uniforms, even if the visiting team has only

      one color jersey. Failure to do so could result in a fine.

16. Absolutely no alcoholic beverages permitted on the field of a Little Guys

      football game.

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League Information

1.  Ball - The official Conference ball will be the LGFC ball. No other ball will

     be permitted in a Conference Game. Game balls must be purchased

     through the Conference or sanctioned distributor.

1.       Protests - All protests must be in writing to the Conference President within 48 hours, accompanied by a protest fee. The game officials must be notified immediately. The Board of Directors will decide the protest.

3.  Forfeits - Any club unable to field a team at game time will be subject to

     forfeit. The time to wait before the game is forfeited is 15 minutes. Unusual

     circumstances will be handled by the Board of Directors. Any forfeits will

     carry a fine, plus the cost of the officials. Any club having two forfeits in

     succession will forfeit its Good Faith Bond and will be expelled from the  

    Conference. Re-admission to the Conference will be at the discretion of the

    Board of Directors.

4.  Conference Championship Game - In the event of a tie score at the end of

     regulation of the Championship Game, Co-Conference Champions will be

     declared.

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 LGFC League Format

The Little Guys Conference will now be split into Red and Blue Divisions. The Red Division will be our large team division and the Blue Division will be the small team division. The LGFC Board of Directors will determine which division each organization will play within. Each division will have its own playoffs and champion.

The Red Division

The Red Division will contain 14 teams. These 14 teams will then be split into two 7 team divisions, the American Division and the National Division. The American and National divisions will be picked randomly. Your schedule will consist of seven games. You will play each team in your division once and have one crossover. The crossover game will be against the same number team in the other American or National Division.

The playoffs will consist of the top 4 teams from both the American and National Divisions. The first round of the playoffs will be as follows:

American #1  vs.  National #4

American #3  vs.  National #2

National #1  vs.  American #4

National #3  vs.  American #2

Head to Head will determine all seeding Tie Breakers.

The Blue Division

The Blue Division format will have 8 teams. Your schedule will be 7 games. You will play each team once. The top 6 teams will make the playoffs. The first two teams will receive first round byes. The first round of the playoffs will be as follows:

Blue #3  vs.  Blue #6          Winner to play Blue #2

Blue #4  vs.  Blue #5          Winner to play Blue #1

Head to Head will determine all seeding Tie Breakers.

*** The Blue Division format is subject to change depending on the number of teams entered in the LGFC.

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 LGFC Special Rules

1.  Any team winning by 24 points or more will be brought before the Board

     of Directors and disciplinary action will be imposed were applicable.

2.  After any score or at the start of the second half, any team trailing

     by 18 points or more will have the ball placed on the opponents 40

     yard line and take possession of the ball.

3. A team with an eighteen (18) point lead or more may surrender the ball at

    the line of scrimmage. The trailing team must accept possession of the ball.

4.  On fourth down, if a team is inside its own 20 yard line, they may have the

     option to have the ball placed 20 yards down the field and surrender the

     ball.

5.  All face mask penalties - 10 yards.

6.  Offense or defense cannot enter the neutral zone (Blown dead - 5 yard

     penalty)

7.  Official shall notify the offending teams Head Coach on all penalties.

8.  All extra point attempts are from the two (2) yard line. Kicked extra points

     count as two (2) points.

9. Four ten minute quarters, Federation Clock - 2 minute warning.

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Instructional League

All rules regarding the Little Guys Football Conference Instructional League are the responsibility of the Registered Little Guys Conference Head Coach.

1.  This is purely an Instructional League. There will be no standings and no

     playoffs.

2.  All other rules and regulations are the same as LGFC rules.

3.  The Conference will not tolerate any “Deals” between coaches and clubs.

4.  Age requirements.

     ·        Cannot be eight (8) years of age before January 1^st .  

     ·        Must be five (5) years of age by July 31^st.

5.  Weight  - A player cannot be over 75 lbs in full equipment excluding

      helmet.

6.  Team Eligibility - A club must first have a team registered in the LGFC.

     The Instructional team must register at least 16 players or at the discretion

     of the Board of Directors.

7.     Coaching

(a)   During first four (4) weeks one coach per team will be allowed on the playing field during the play. The coach must stay at least fifteen (15) yards behind the line of scrimmage. No verbal instructions will be permitted after the break of the huddle.

(b)  Starting the 5^th week, coaches will no longer be permitted on the field and must accomplish ALL coaching from the sidelines.

8.  Game Days - Game days will be determined by the Board of Directors and

     will not interfere with the LGFC schedule.

9. All scores must be called in by both teams by 2 PM on Sunday.

10. Instructional games may be played with one (1) official. It must be agreed

      to by both teams.

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Prices for 2009

*** Game Balls are available from Sixsmith’s Sporting Goods at Frankford

       Avenue and Shelmire Street or All-American Sports at Cottman and

       Tabor

Note : All Fines must be paid on Club Check. Cash or Personal Checks will

          not be accepted.

All fines must be paid by the championship game or the club will forfeit its Good Faith Bond.

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Playoff Rules