4th - 8th Grades

TACKLE FOOTBALL PROGRAM

The program is available for all 4-8 grade students, 9-15 years of age and is designed to provide participants with an opportunity to play football at the highest level possible in a controlled competitive atmosphere.

Teams are formed in each high school area for each grade (4&5 combine) classification. Teams are limited to players who reside in and attend schools which feed the high school which encompasses their residence.

The Tackle Football Program is under the direction of an advisory committee which reports to the President of Kidsports and the Kidsports Board of Directors. The Tackle Football Advisory Committee is instrumental in all tackle football program rules, policies and procedures.

GAME OFFICIALS

Referees for tackle football games are trained and assigned by the Lane County Football Officials Association. Kidsports contracts with this organization to supply referees for our games. This organization also provides referees for all high school and middle school games in the area. Dave Clark will represent Kidsports in coordinating with LCFOA.

Kidsports program policies dealing with team formation, practices, and general program philosophy can be found in your VOLUNTEER COACHES HANDBOOK. It is important for all coaches to become familiar with the information in the handbook as well as the information in this publication. Your understanding of Kidsports program policies, playing rules, and philosophies is vital to assuring that Kidsports is a positive experience for each participant.

KIDSPORTS playing requirements for minimum playing time are not intended as recommendations for maximum playing time or to limit a player’s time due to ability. Do not sacrifice a child’s positive experience by not playing that child as much as possible beyond the minimum requirements in every game.
 

GAMES

1(a) Official Schedule: A schedule of games for each Kidsports team will be drafted by the Kidsports program staff. Once a schedule is published and distributed by Kidsports the schedule will not be changed, altered, modified, etc., except for those situations deemed to be of a satisfactory nature to the program staff. Any schedule change must be approved by your Sports Manager first.

1(b) Team Arrival at Game Site - One (1) registered coach or their representative must be at the game site at least thirty (30) minutes prior to the scheduled game time to supervise players and fans.

1(c) Players Needed to Start Game - A minimum of ten (10) players must be present and ready to play at the scheduled game starting time.

NOTE : Penalty For Violation - Failure to comply with this ruling will cause the referee to award a win by forfeit to the team ready to play. If both teams are in violation, the game will be declared a "no contest" and each team charged with a loss.

1(d) Home /Visiting Team: The home team is designated on the game schedule. The home team is responsible for providing the down marker and yards-to-gain chain and is responsible for providing adults to run them.

1(e) Line-Up Cards - Will be issued to all coaches by the Kidsports office. Coaches will fill out a Kidsports issued line-up card for each game and exchange them with the opposing coach. Completed line-up cards must be available five (5) minutes before game time. Only mark designated quarters for each player.

TEAM ROSTER AND LEAGUES

2(a) Teams - Each team must have at least 16 and not more than 35 legally registered players. Any exceptions must be approved by Kidsports staff. Minimum team size 16, Maximum team size 35.

2(b) School Combinations - One or more in-district team for each league can/will be formed by combining the middle schools which feed students into a particular high school. Kidsports Teams will be made up by using the following combinations:

CHURCHILL AREA - ATA-Jefferson/Kennedy/WCS

MARIST AREA - St. Paul/O'Hara

NORTH EUGENE AREA - Madison/Kelly

SOUTH EUGENE AREA - Roosevelt/Spencer Butte/O’Hara/ECS

SHELDON AREA - Cal Young/Monroe/St. Paul

SPRINGFIELD AREA - Springfield/Briggs/Hamlin/Agnes Stewart

THURSTON AREA - Briggs/Thurston/Agnes Stewart

WILLAMETTE AREA - Cascade/Shasta/Meadow View/PMS

PLEASANT HILL - Pleasant Hill

All other teams will be considered out-of-district teams.

2(c) The Kidsports Tackle Football Program consists of four (4) separate leagues. Weight/ age/ grade requirements are found under Eligibility and Weight Requirements in the Special Rules & Modifications of National Federation Rules section of this booklet.

PHYSICAL EXAMINATION

3(a) A physical examination is required. In addition, a Kidsports release is signed by a parent or legal guardian. Proof of a physical exam by a licensed physician must be provided before participating in the contact phase of the tackle football program. An opportunity will be provided for a physical by physicians, donating their time, for a nominal fee.

TEAM PRACTICES

4(a) Supervision - A registered and assigned coach with a current CPR/First Aid card is required to be in attendance for the duration of any practice or game session.

4(b) Practice Requirements - Prior to participating in a contact scrimmage session all tackle players are required to attend a minimum of FIVE (5) practice sessions of which are at least one hour in length and must be devoted entirely to exercises and conditioning drills.

4(c) Maximum Sessions Per Week - Tackle Football is limited to five (5) sessions per week. These sessions are limited to two (2) hours in duration. Once games begin, only four (4) practice sessions per week may be held unless a team has a bye week.

NOTE : It is highly recommended that each team practice NOT LESS than three (3) times per week for the duration of the season to maintain physical conditioning.

CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT

5(a) Participants - Following completion of the regular Kidsports season a scheduled championship event will be held for each league.

5(b) Tie Scores - If a championship game ends in a tie score, the Kidsports Tie Breaker plan will be used to determine the champions.

 

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GENERAL POLICIES FOR FLAG FOOTBALL

2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grades

GAMES

1(a)         Official Schedule  A schedule of games for each KIDSPORTS team will be drafted by the KIDSPORTS program Staff.  Once a schedule is published by KIDSPORTS, the schedule will not be changed, altered, modified, etc., except for those situations deemed to be of an extraordinary nature.  All schedule changes must be approved by a Program Director.

1(b)         Team Arrival  One (1) registered coach or his/her appointed representative must be at the game site at least fifteen (15) minutes prior to game time.  Coaches may not have team players arrive at the game site earlier than 45 minutes prior to the scheduled game time.

Five (5) minutes prior to scheduled game time, coaches shall meet with officials for pre-game conference, coin flip and exchange of line-up cards.  A minimum of eight (8) players must be present at the game starting time.

NOTE:  Penalty for Violation  Failure to have eight (8) players present and/or failure of coach to have pre-game duties completed at scheduled starting time will cause the referee to award a win by forfeit to the team ready to play.  If both teams are in violation, the game will be declared "no contest" and each team charged with a loss.

1(c)        Home/Visiting Team  The home team is always the team on the right side of the game schedule.  The home team is responsible for providing the down marker and chains and is responsible for providing adults to run them.

The visiting team is the team on the left side of the game schedule.

1(d)         Line Up Cards

1.    Line-up cards will be issued to all coaches by the KIDSPORTS office.

2.   Completed line-up cards with the players names and numbers will be given to the opposing coach and game referee five (5) minutes before the game begins.  Coaches must indicate on the line-up card:

a.  Players who will be designated as playing either offense or defense for at least three (3) quarters.

b.  Players who will be designated as "play runners" for all four (4) quarters. 

PENALTY-Failure to provide the line-up cards as specified may result in a forfeit being awarded to the opposing team.  If both teams fail to provide the line-up cards as specified, a double forfeit may be awarded and a loss recorded for both teams.

WEIGHT LIMITS AND  RESTRICTIONS

2(a)         Any child enrolled in grades 2, 3, 4, & 5, regardless of weight, is eligible to play in the flag league.

CHAMPIONSHIP   EVENT

- Following completion of the regular season schedule, KIDSPORTS will conduct a championship event for each league.

 

 

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