Aurora Youth League
Football Rule Book
This AYL Football Rule Book is a supplement to the High School Federation Rule Book and should be studied in conjunction with the High School Rules on a regular basis. This book has been published to assist coaches and officials to better understand the AYL rules and how they apply to the different divisions. Problems occur most of the time because the coach, the official or neither has studied the rules. Administrative rules will not be enforced by officials, but are for League enforcement.
These rules are to be used with the High School Federation Rules. If there is a conflict, AYL rules take precedence.
Football Preliminary Rules
These rules will apply to all divisions and must be complied with in order to be eligible to participate in the AYL. Any violation of these rules will be enforced by the Commissioner and the AYL Board.
The Divisions are as follows:
Division I = Flag Football
Division II = Associate C, Associate B, Associate A & Junior B
Division III = Junior A & Intermediate
Division IV = Senior B & Senior A
· Flag players must turn 4 years of age by September 14th of that year.
· No play downs in the Associate Division.
· High School students may not play on any team in the AYL.
Section 1 – PARTICIPATION
All Club members who indicate by their attendance at practices and games and by their general attitude towards the Club that they are doing their best for the Club shall play in every League game, irrespective of their athletic ability. Failure to comply with this rule shall cause the game to be forfeited by the offending Club. This rule is hereby declared to be on the fundamental principles of the AURORA YOUTH LEAGUE.
Nothing in this rule shall be construed to prevent the management from keeping any player out of a game as a disciplinary measure, provided, in the opinion of the coach, the player is not complying with the provisions of the rules as stated above. If a player is to be kept out of a game, that player should not be allowed to be in uniform that day.
Section 2 – HIGH SCHOOL RULES
Football rules shall consist of the rules of the National Federation of State High School Associations, except as amended by the AYL rules. In conflict, AYL rules take precedence. All coaches shall have copies of the AYL rules in their possession.
Section 3 – AGE REQUIREMENTS
The age and weight chart shall be used to determine the participant’s appropriate playing level. At the Flag Football/Pee Wee division, if a player, parent or head coach wishes, he/she can move up to the Associate division. However, the player must be a second year player.
**NO PLAY DOWNS IN THE ASSOCIATE DIVISION**
Section 4 – ROSTERS
Prior to the first league game, a complete list, known as the roster of the membership of each club, designating specific team and age group and showing the name, address, telephone number, date of birth, players number and weight must be made out alphabetically and attested to by each Manager. This should also designate those members playing up or down in an age group. A max of three (3) Play Downs is allowed on each team roster. Each clubs roster shall be certified by the League Commissioner and League Secretary.
No football team shall exceed 25 players on their roster. Any team that falls below 16 players prior to the 3rd week may increase their roster to a total of 16 players if the AYL Commissioner or Secretary is notified. An additional roster must be submitted. Clubs should assist other Clubs by notifying them of extra players if their own rosters are full.
The roster will be filed with the League Secretary prior to the first game, in accordance with the published AYL schedule. A second copy is to be retained by the Club for their records and a third copy will be provided for the Commissioner. Acceptable proof of age for each new player having never been on an AYL Roster must accompany all rosters in the order listed on the roster. A youth cannot be included on this roster without accompanying proof of age.
This Club roster, submitted to the AYL Secretary, shall determine a youths standing.
PENALTY: Failure to comply with any rule in Sections 1, 3, or 4 will cause a player to be ineligible. If a player in any game in which he/she is ineligible, the game shall be forfeited by the offending team. Use of any ineligible player must be reported, in writing, to the League Commissioner by the offending Club within 7 days. If a coach intentionally allows an ineligible player to participate, the head coach shall be suspended for the remainder of that season and must come before the entire AYL Board in order to be reinstated for the next season.
Section 5 – RECRUITMENT AND TRANSFERS
Players may not transfer Clubs during the season. Players may not be listed on more than one roster, including but not limited to AYL Clubs and High School rosters.
Section 6 – GAME STARTING TIME, FORFEITURE CLAUSE AND TIES
All games are to be started within 15 minutes of their scheduled game time.
PENALTY: Forfeiture by the team causing the delay or not showing up.
A forfeit shall never terminate a game once it begins, except when deemed necessary by an official due to conduct. All forfeits will be determined by the League Commissioner. Games must be played until a winner is determined. In the case of any football game ending in a tie score, High School overtime rules shall apply.
Canceled games, due to poor field conditions, are to be decided by the commissioner, with the game being rescheduled.
Section 7 – MAKE UP GAMES
For Saturday games, if the fields are deemed unplayable by the city, the games scheduled at or after 11:00 a.m. will automatically be scheduled for the following Sunday. Games with a scheduled start time before 11:00 a.m. will be made up when time is available. Make up games on Sunday will start at noon unless earlier start times are deemed necessary. If a team already has a scheduled game on the following Sunday, the game will be made up when time is available.
Section 8 – UNIFORMS
All players must be in complete uniform by the first scheduled game. For specific uniform and equipment information see separate Football section.
Section 9 –PLAY PERIODS AND PRACTICES
LIMITATION of PLAY PERIODS and PRACTICES, Sunday games and end of season play shall be determined by the League Board of Directors, remaining within the CITY GUIDELINES and POLICIES.
As each season is affected differently due to the weather, water and field conditions, it is the responsibility of the BOARD to determine the specific amount of practice and game times, while remaining within the City of Aurora’s policies and guidelines on city permitted fields. A committee of League Officers and the League Commissioner shall give approval before any League game may be played on Sunday. Scheduling of games may be necessary due to poor weather and/or for games to be rescheduled. The season will officially end after the AYL Super-Bowl games. There will be no All-Star game.
Section 10 – TOBACCO AND ALCOHOL
No alcoholic beverages will be allowed at any AYL games, practices or functions. Tobacco, in any form, cannot be used/consumed near the playing field. One warning will be given prior to the enforcement of penalty for a tobacco offense.
PENALTY: First offense will be a warning and second offense will be ejection from the game.
Section 11 – ROSTER EXCHANGE
Prior to the start of each game, the coach shall hand a copy of their official roster, for that particular team, to the opposing coach in the presence of the official. The official roster shall include the player’s complete name, birth date, jersey number, weight, play-up or play-down, if applicable.
PENALTY: The game will be forfeited if a roster is not provided before the beginning of the game or if the athletes playing do not match the names on the roster.
Section 12 – FIRST AID KITS
All head coaches must have a first aid kit with sufficient supplies to administer first aid when required on the side lines.
Section 13 – INJURY REPORTING
Any injury believed to be attributed to field conditions or rules must be reported to the League Commissioner immediately by coaches and/or managers.
Section 14 – POLICING RANKS AND KEEPING ORDER
Each club has the responsibility to police its own ranks and to properly discharge those adult participants and/or supporters deemed incapable of properly handling youths of the AYL. This includes those adults who do not, by their personal example, exhibit the attitudes, ideals and principles of sportsmanship and fair play that the League is endeavoring to develop in its youth participants. The AYL Board may take disciplinary action in all formal protests brought before the AYL Board.
Officials and coaches will be responsible for enforcing compliance with the High School Code of Conduct by players and coaches. Failure to comply will result in forfeiture of the game by the offending team.
Each Club is responsible for trash disposal of sidelines, playing field, parking areas and spectator areas.
Section 15 – SPORTSMANSHIP
If any coach uses profane, obscene, threatening language or any other unsportsmanlike conduct, they may be permanently removed from the game and not be allowed to return to the game. If any player uses such language, they shall be warned by the official that a second offense will result in their permanent removal from the game and a major penalty will be given. Such offenses shall be reported by the coach to the Club Manager who needs to turn them in to the Commissioner for follow-up. Any player or coach ejected from the game will not be allowed to participate in the following scheduled game unless a written appeal submitted by the Club is approved by the Commissioner and the opposing Manager is notified. Any coach or his staff ejected from a game will be disciplined by the parent Club and the parent Club shall, in turn, advise the AYL Board within 7 days of the infraction of what action has been taken.
PENALTY: The ejection of any player or coach from a game shall result in that person not participating in their next regularly scheduled game. Coaches, parents or spectators are not permitted at the park of the following game. Ejected players may be present at the following game and participate on the sideline. Player may come into the playing field to act as “water boy” and take part in the postgame handshakes.
The first offense is a minor penalty and the second offense is a major penalty and ejection of the person who committed the offense.
Section 16 – POINTS OF INTEREST
Any issues are to be submitted to the League Commissioner.
Section 17 – PROTESTS
Protests involving rule interpretations or the eligibility of a player will be considered by the Commissioner. Judgment calls on the part of the game officials do not constitute grounds for protests.
Any protest must first be filed with the official at the time of protest. The coach must notify the official that the game is being played ‘under protest’ and have the officials sign the exact point of protest on the home teams book or scoring sheet. Club Manager or President must officially file the protest within 24 hours of game day. (If the game is on Saturday, notice of filing must be done at the beginning of the manager’s meeting on the following Tuesday.) This initial notice may be done by telephone to the Commissioner as long as all evidence, in typewritten form, is delivered to the Commissioner within 24 hours of the telephone call. Photocopies of all evidence must also be delivered to the other involved Club at that time. The other Club will have 7 days from the delivery day to respond. An official protest form, to be filled out by the head official, must be submitted also. The above policy must be followed, as any deviation will cause the protest to be disallowed.
Any Protest filed MUST be accompanied by a $50.00 check to the AYL
If the protest is granted – the check will be returned
If not, the check will be deposited in the AYL operating fund
The managers of each club will be meeting weekly to turn in and review all paperwork.
Section 18 – TIES
Teams tied at the end of regular season play will use the following criteria:
1. Head to Head competition
2. Record versus common opponent
3. Points against versus common opponents
4. Coin Toss
Section 19 – FINES
There will be fines to each organization – and passed on to the coaches by their organization for the following items:
1. Late game day paperwork
2. Late payments made to the League- 10% fine will be assessed on balance
3. ANY ejection of a Coach and/or Parent
4. Fields being set incorrectly and/or not at all
5. Multiple Code of Conduct violations by a team’s participants (parents/coaches/athletes)
6. Having more than one roster laminated (after official roster check)
Prior roster needs to be returned before a new laminated roster will be issued.
7. Not having your laminated roster on game day
8. All Scores – MUST be turned in on official AYL score sheets
9. All head coaches MUST have a copy of the AYL rules in their possession on game day
10. All coaches and team moms must have their coach’s shirts, with number on left sleeve, by the 1st game. (No duplicate numbers)
11. ALL Athletes MUST be in complete matching uniforms by the 1st game.
Football Uniform must include:
Helmet Pants Mouthpiece
Jersey Protective cup AYL Patch
Shoulder Pads