2008
The SYF is dedicated to the athletic and academic development of our student athletes through football and cheerleading. We will conduct all of our business with the student athlete’s safety and mental well being in mind. While doing so, we will accomplish our goal of supporting our local communities and the high school in which we feed into. The SYF promotes character building, personal accountability, self-discipline, respect, integrity and sportsmanship towards our fellow competitors.
The SYF shall consist of an even number of teams if applicable. All of which must be supported by and affiliated with their local feeder high school and coaching staff. Teams will only be authorized to recruit players from within their high school student enrollment boundaries.
Voting – Each association and its members will abide by all rules and regulations adopted by a majority vote of all league members present at duly scheduled league meetings.
The president and or designee will be the only votes counted during league votes.
Each association will have one vote per voted item.
Final decisions on league business as well as the addition or deletion of associations within the league is at the discretion of the league commissioner/owner.
Each association President will:
Be a voting member of the league
Be a voting member of league committees
The previous year’s league members shall come together to vote on the following:
Rulebook (as outlined by Varsity Coaching Committee)
Code of Conduct
Season schedule
No financial fees are required to be a member of the league
All events will be the financial responsibility of the association gaining the revenues from said event.
The SYF Commissioner and his staff will annually host the league Jamboree and Championship games. All revenue gained from these events will go towards, said events, league awards and any other league designated functions requiring funding.
Gold Badges:
Free entrance to all league events
Each association allowed 8 badges (association assigns)
Badges are only valid for the year assigned
Each association within the league, must be a state recognized non-profit corporation with records on file with the State Attorney Generals office, and in good standing
Each association will be responsible for their own state and federal mandated reports i.e. taxes, etc
The league commissioner and presidents will meet on a monthly basis to facilitate SYF business
It shall be the responsibility of the league commissioner to schedule locations and times for league meetings.
Meetings will be held in a centrally located facility
Hosting location will ensure ample tables and chairs for all league members who will attend said meetings. Unless otherwise directed, please have President and Cheer Coordinators present at all meetings.
League – A grouping of associations with teams of the same age groups (division)
Association – An organization that sponsors and administers one or more teams characterized by geographical coverage (feeder high school recruiting boundaries)
Team – A group of participants organized under the direction of a coaching staff within a given association
Division – One of four (4) age/weight classifications
Jr. Pee Wee
Pee Wee
Jr. Midget
Midget
Conference – Sub grouping of associations within the league. This will be accomplished by league vote, but generally by association requests and or rivalries
Schedules – To be determined by league presidents on an annual basis.
Practice – A gathering of players where one of the following takes place
Wearing of association equipment or uniforms
Running of plays, scripted or non, cheers and or stunting
Physical contact with players, sleds etc
Exclusion of others ( persons wanting to participate that are not a member of your team)
Certification is the process whereby the league ensures each participant meets the minimum league requirements for participation. This applies to players, coaches and administrators
A training session provided by your high school coaches, only allowed after August 1st each year.
A training session provided by an outside organization for instructional purposes, players may participate as individuals, but not as a team, or be coached by league coaches. Must be open and available to all for participation.
Coaching – Coaches are subject to decertification, suspension, or expulsion for violations of the following:
Coaches are considered to be in an official status whenever they are participating in and league activities
Badges must be worn during all SYF activities
All Coaches – must be 18 yrs old or older
All instructors must be 15 years of age
Each association will be responsible for it’s own selection process
Each association will be responsible for their coaches criminal history/background checks
Coaches will refrain from using vulgar or abusive language
Coaches will ensure team / individual/chain crew sportsmanship
All participants must be registered with the sponsoring association prior to any and all league activities. Each participant must provide the following to be league eligible
Parental consent
Medical clearance
Proof of age
Signed Parental/Player contract
Each association will set their own academic standards for participation. The league will assist with the financing of academic awards for each association. Teams are required to send the commissioner a written request for academic funds by October 1st annually. Funds will be dispersed equally among associations based upon availability.
Participants:
Certify for one team only
Current league player card W/ Photo
Signed parental consent
Medical clearance to participate ( dated after Mar 1 of current year)
Signed code of ethics
Emergency information worksheet / Treatment authorization
Valid proof of age
Any one of the following is acceptable
Original Birth Certificate
Certified stamped Copy of the original Birth Certificate
Military I.D card
Adoption Paperwork
Passport
No other documents will be used for certification!!!!!
Must have a signed copy of their association’s code of ethics/conduct on file prior to interaction with any and all student athletes. Each association will be responsible for the security checks on any and all coaches within their association
Weighing players for certification purposes will be done by SYF board members only and witnessed by the association President and or designee.
players will be weighed by SYF staff for certification
all athletes will be weighed on a certified scale
Players will weigh in one time only, within the week of Jamboree to be eligible to participate and certify in SYF and Jamboree. All others not certified by Jamboree, will be required to weigh in at the SYF ITC 6:00pm on the1st Wed in September to be certified to play in the upcoming season. No players will be certified after this date.
Must have a signed copy of their association’s code of ethics/conduct on file prior to interaction with any and all student athletes. Each association will be responsible for the
security checks on any and all administrators within their association
To be completed prior to league certification/jamboree:
A minimum of two coaches, one of which will be designated as Head Coach
A team Certification binder containing the following
Coaching roster
Participant Id Cards/player cards
Player roster in numerical order
Emergency numbers for each participant
Team Binders will be pre screened prior to Jamboree by an opposing association board member
Restrictions:
Practice shall not begin prior to the 4th of August.
No team shall practice more than 10 hours per week prior to Labor Day
No team may practice more than 6 hours per week after Labor Day
Each association will determine their own conditioning program prior to full contact / stunting
A week is defined as 7 calendar days beginning Monday and ending on Sunday.
Charges –
12 & up $4.00
5-11 $2.00
4 & under Free
Seniors $2.00
Jamboree/Playoffs/Champs/ $5.00 adults $3.00 seniors, children $2.00
Protocols –
The following will be admitted free of charge:
Administrators W/Proper ID Badges
Coaches W/Proper ID Badges
Participants, W/Jersey Worn, Cheer Uniform Worn
Each association will govern what type of medical coverage they require for practices. Each association is required to provide their own medical supplies and team EMT or First Responder at all league events. The hosting association is required to provide the ability to summon Emergency Medical Personnel in a timely manner. It is recommended a certified EMT or Ambulance be on scene at all league events.
Game Officiating –
All games will be played in accordance with the National Federation of State High Schools Association rules, except where noted:
Player eligibility –
Ages and Weights – All Players must meet the Age / Weight limits in order to certify by the 1st Wed in September. The player’s age as of August 1st of the current year shall determine team level of participation. Player weight will determine position eligibility, i.e. skilled player, X-Man. Any player weighing heavier than the skilled player weight will then be certified to participate as an X-Man only.
|
Jr. Pee Wee |
Ages 7 – 8 |
*95 lbs |
|
Pee Wee |
Ages 9 – 10 |
*120 lbs |
|
Jr. Midget |
Ages 11 – 12 |
*145 lbs |
|
Midget |
Ages 13 – 14 |
*170 lbs |
*SP = Skilled Player, Eligible to participate anywhere on the field of play.
X-Man = A player weighing more than the SP weights. Eligible to participate on the offensive line in a 3-4point stance, must play Center, Guard or Tackle. Eligible to participate on the Defensive line in a 3-4 point stance, must be positioned head up or inside the offensive teams tackles; may advance the ball during a fumble and or interception only. May participate on Kick off and Kick off return teams on the front line only. X-Man will be required to wear a jersey number in the 60s, 70s, so as to be easily recognizable to the officials. X-Man are allowed to be punter and kicker on special teams, but are not allowed to advance the ball.
Ineligible players are those that:
Have falsified documents to gain eligibility
Are participating in other football programs
Are attending school in the 9th grade or above to include private/home or charter schools
Have been ejected or suspended from the previous game they were eligible for
Teams, who play ineligible players, will forfeit all games in which the ineligible player participated. Ignorance is not an excuse
Failure to comply with the X-Man rules will result in a loss of down and a 15-yard penalty. The penalty will be enforced from the original line of scrimmage. A second violation will result in the same previously mentioned penalty plus, the ejection of the teams head coach. A third violation will result in the contest ending in a forfeit.
Minimum roster will contain 11 players; the maximum roster will be left up to each association. Roster cuts below 30 players are discouraged by the SYF.
Fields shall be regulation sized
Fields shall have a scoreboard and visible clock
Home association is responsible for the field set up and marking
All fields will be marked in accordance with high school standards
Chain crews will be manned by the visiting association
The ball will be sized as follows: SYF authorized
JPW,PW
Junior, Baden 100 – 100L – Rawlings RF5J – Spalding J5J – Wilson TDJ
JM,MID
Intermediate, Baden 200, 200L – Rawlings RF5Y – Spalding J5Y – Wilson TDY
Other brands and models may apply as long as they meet size requirements and are approved by the league commissioner.
See NFHS rule book for basic guidelines
Helmets certified within the last two years
Home team will wear dark Jersey’s, (see game schedule for guidance)
Molded and Screw In cleats are acceptable (see NFHS rules)
Equipment will be inspected during game day certification
Each football participant will weigh in to determine team / position eligibility one time. This will be done at the specified weigh in times during team certification / Jamboree. This must be completed on or before the 1st Wed in September.
Any player certifying after Jamboree must be weighed in and certified prior to practicing with an individual association. A players weight certification will be his/ her certification for the remainder of the playing season (see age weight chart). i.e., a player weighing in as an X-Man at certification cannot drop into a lower category if there is a weight loss during the season.
All players will be weighed by an SYF staff member
The official weight as determined by the official scale will be final
In order to make weight a player may remove any article of clothing except undergarments i.e. briefs for males, briefs and sport bras for females
Touchdown – 6
PAT by run or pass – 1
PAT by kick – 2
Safety – 2
Field Goal – 3
Forfeit – 1
JPW (only)
Pass or kick 2 points
If one team has a 30-point lead on the opposing team at any time of the contest, the losing head coach has the option of ending the game officially at that point. The losing coach must be willing to continue the contest as a controlled scrimmage. See (NFSH rules)The SYF will encourage the winning head coach to refrain from intentionally attempting to score further points, i.e. playing starters, passing, etc. The official game score will be final at that point. Should the losing coach choose to continue the game as a normal game, the game and scoring will continue as normal.
All scores will be emailed to the league web site by both associations within 6 hrs after the completion of each week’s games.
Scores will be posted after being received and verified by the league commissioner and or designee
It is the responsibility of all associations to verify the scores posted. Failure to do so with in 24 hours after being posted will result in scores remaining as is.
Scores for non-league games need to be reported.
Non league games will not be used for standing purposes or tie breakers
Teams will be determined based upon wins and losses in league games only. SYF league champions will represent the SYF in the Cal / Nev Championships in November, if held. JPW will not participate after the league championships.
All league associations are encouraged to have cheerleaders at the four-listed age levels.
Age, All cheer leaders must meet the age limits in order to certify
The cheer leaders age as of August 1st shall be the certified age for the up coming season
Mascots 5-6
JPW 7-8
PW 9-10
JM 11-12
MID 13-14
Mascots – Mascot cheer leaders are optional. The decision to have them will be left up to the individual associations. If associations choose to have them, they will be required to participate in the certification process and meet all other league rules and requirements.
Coaching – Staff for each age level will be left to the association, with the following stipulations:
All certified coaches must be 18 or older
Instructors must be 15 or older
Coaches and instructors will set an example of positive interaction at all times
The head coach (with the approval of the association) may remove any cheerleader for any one or more of the following:
Misconduct
Attendance
Improper attire
Attitude
Safety
The maximum roster size will be left to individual associations, with the recommendation of 20 by the SYF
Roster size may be cut to the needs of the individual association
Dress
Proper Attire:
Each association will set the standards for dress for their athletes
Each association will set the standards for their athletes
Each association will set the standards for their athletes
Outside Services – Since we as cheer associations will not be required to compete against one another, outside services such as, Choreography, Music Mixing etc is encouraged. This too will be at the discretion of the individual associations.
Each Cheerleader will certify at Jamboree. They will be required to have the same certification procedures as set forth previously in this rulebook. See (football certification) No weigh ins
Teams will only certify one time
Teams will be required to attend all league games
Teams will be required to meet the opposing cheerleaders at least once per contest, i.e. to share welcome cheers / gifts etc
Teams will have the option of performing a half time routine of their choice
Home teams will be encouraged to provide musical equipment for the playing of the visiting team’s routine music.
It will be the responsibility of the visiting cheer coordinator to ensure said equipment will be available, via communication channels
Cheer & Sidelines
All cheers will be done in good taste
No derogatory cheers to the opposing team will be allowed
Hello Cheers will be encouraged
Mascots may be added for sideline/halftime cheers or routines at the discretion of the association
The use of props, signs and or poms etc would be left to the discretion of individual associations
All music is the responsibility of the association
Music shall not contain any profanity, vulgar or offensive lyrics
At the discretion of each association:
Shall not interfere with the start or completion of the football game
Each team will be afforded the same allotted time to perform
Will be at the discretion of the association:
Will adhere to the same policy as previously mentioned in (football camps)must be open to all with the exception of Try outs
Teams will be encouraged to attend parades and community events
No teams will be required to attend cheer competitions:
Cheer teams will be encouraged to represent the SYF at outside cheer events and competitions.
Associations would be encouraged to host competitions at their discretion
Combining teams for outside competitions would be at the discretion of individual associations.
Combining teams would not be encouraged for league events, but the decision will be left up to the association
Teams will be encouraged to attend all SYF events
The following will be at the discretion of individual associations. Each association is held responsible for the safety of all of its student athletes:
Tumbling,
Pyramids
Tosses
Dismounts