Central Michigan Youth Football League Rules 2016
Rules are for the 6th and 5th Grade Divisions only. Official M.H.S.A.A. High School Football Rules with only variations listed below.
Age Restrictions: Players must have not reached the following age by September 1st to be allowed to play in that grade division: 6th Grade: 13 by 9/1 and 5th Grade: 12 by 9/1
Allowable Weights: All players will be certified at the pre-season scrimmage weigh-in. Players are allowed to weigh in early by the league directors if they can not make the pre-season weigh-in. Players will not be allowed to be added to the list of certified players after that date.
6th Grade: Backfield Position: 125 lbs Offensive Ends: 135 lbs
5th Grade: Backfield Position: 110 lbs Offensive Ends: 120 lbs
Punts/Kickoffs/Extra Points: Only players that are certified as a backfield position are allowed to return kicks and punts.
Any player can punt or kick the ball.
Players will not be allowed to rush the punter or kicker in a kicking situation this includes extra points. They will only be able to “jump up” at their normal position, and must remain at their position until the ball has been kicked. All offensive players must also remain at their position until the ball has been kicked. Coaches are required to declare that they are kicking or punting, no fake punts or kicks will be allowed. The defense must line up in a normal defensive formation. Dropping players back to establish a blocking formation before the ball has been kicked will not be allowed
Punt Receiving Team only certified running backs will be allowed to line up deeper than five yards from the line of scrimmage.
On kick-offs only players that are certified as running backs will be allowed to line up and/or receive a kick beyond a point 35 yards or greater from the point of the kick. Only players certified as a running back or end will be allowed to line up at a point greater than 15 yards from the point of the kick. If a player other than a certified running back receives a kick beyond the 35 yard point the ball shall be ruled dead at the point of the reception.
Eligible Ball Carriers/Formations: Only the four backfield position players can rush the ball from scrimmage. Offensive ends can not rush the ball from the line of scrimmage, they are only allowed to receive forward passes. Certified ends must cap all formations, including unbalanced lines. Weight restrictions are waived for ball carriers in the event of a turnover, on-side kick, or a short punt, any player on the field is allowed to run with the ball in such situations.
Weight Challenges: There will be no weight challenges during any game. What the child weighs at the scrimmage is there weight the entire year. Only thing is the child must have a weight listed from the scrimmage to be a ball carrier. No weight listed means no carrying the ball. Penalty will result in the player being unable to carry the ball and the head coach will be ejected from the contest plus a 15 yard penalty and a loss of down. In addition, any challenges involving uncertified players carrying the ball or playing certified positions must be filed with league directors no later than the day following a contest.
Game clocks: Four, 8:00 minute quarters, that will be stopped by the officials when it is called for according to high school rules. Half time will be 10:00 minutes long. No overtime.
6th Grade Division Ball Size: Rawling ST5 Youth Footballs only shall be used and is provided by the home team. Only one game ball is allowed to keep the game moving.
5th Grade Division Ball Size: Rawling ST5 Junior Footballs only shall be used and is provided by the home team. Only one game ball is allowed to keep the game moving.
Defensive Formations/Rules:
At any one time there shall not be more than 6 defensive players on the line of scrimmage (LOS). That includes all positions. Any player lined up on or in any gap of an Offensive Tackle, Offensive Guard or the Center must be down in a three or four point stance and are considers Defensive Down-Linemen. Defensive players lining up completely out side of the Offensive Tackle can be in a two point stance.
Any Defensive Player lining up across from the Offensive Tackle, Offensive Guard and the Center that is not considered a Defensive Down-Linemen must be in a 2 point stance and must be at least 3 yards off the LOS. Any Outside Defensive player not consider one of the six defensive players on the LOS must be 3 yard off the LOS.
Any Defensive Down-Linemen can line up in the gaps or directly across from the Offensive Line players. Defensive players in a 2 point stance that are considered to be part of the 6 defensive players on the LOS must line up outside of the Offensive Tackles.
There is No Blitzing inside the Offensive Tight End. If the End is Split wide then there is No Blitzing inside the Offensive Tackles. No Blitzing means NO PREDETERMINED advancing closer than 3 yard from the LOS before the ball is in play. Players are allowed to REACT to the play after the ball is in play.
Violation of the defensive formation rules will result in a 15 yard penalty and automatic first down.