Football

Football (5.35)

1. Starting date: practice may begin the Friday prior to the first day of school for teachers

2. Team eligibility must be submitted to the SHSAA web site twenty - four (24) hours before the team's first league game.

3. There is no limit to roster size.

4. During the regular season, the home team will occupy the "Riders" bench, while the visitors will be across the field. During the playoffs the home team has choice of bench.

5. If there is a colour conflict the visitors must wear the league uniforms. Possible colour conflicts will be designated by the Commissioner.

6. Official league statistics will be kept by the R.H.S.A.A. Commissioner of Athletics.

7. a) Players of the year

• Each team chooses its own Offensive, Defensive, Lineman and Special Teams Players and submits the names to the RHSAA Office.
  
• Coaches from the Stewart and Schwann will receive a ballot and choose the players of the year (4) for their Conference.
  
• Awards will be presented at the Banquet of Champions.
  

b) All Stars

• All Star nomination sheets will be sent after game number five (5)

• Players nominated must be in the top three (3) at their position

8. If a player is ejected from a game he must sit out the next game, even if it is the next season. If the ejection is from the last game of his final season the Principal is asked to take appropriate action.

9. The R.H.S.A.A. will hire a security company for fan supervision of all games.

10. The R.I.F.L. will follow the rules of C.I.S. Football rulebook, with limited, specified exceptions.

11. Schwann and Stewart Conference: league structure, schedule, playoffs and tie breaking mechanism.

The R.I.F.L. Stewart Conference (3A) shall consist of eight teams: Johnson, Luther, Martin, Miller, Notre Dame, O'Neill, Weyburn and Yorkton.

The R.I.F.L. Schwann Conference (4A) shall consist of eight teams: Balfour, Campbell, Winston Knoll, LeBoldus, Riffel, Sheldon, Thom, and Balgonie

Stewart Conference will consist of 7games. Schwann teams will play 7 games.

12. The steps in the tie-breaking procedure according to R.I.F.L. rules are as follows:
- Win-loss record within the conference.
- Head-to-head record between (among) tied teams.
- In the event of three or more tied teams, difference between points for and points against in games played among those tied teams.*
- Win-loss record of tied teams against highest-finishing common opponent.
- Difference between points for and points against in games played against highest-finishing common opponent.*
- Difference between points for and points against for all games played.*

* To alleviate "running up scores", a maximum difference of 20 points in a game will be used in the calculations.

13. Awards
The RHSAA will award:
- Gold and silver medals to the first and second place schools in 4A and 3A categories.
- Championship trophy to the winner of the 4A and 3A categories.
- First place trophy to the winner of each conference.
- Player of the week trophy in each conference.
- Player of the Year awards in each Conference to the Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year, Lineman of the Year and Special Teams Player of the Year.
- CKCK-TV Citizenship award for each conference.

House Rules
1. Visiting team is listed first on the schedule, Home team is listed second.

2. Teams are expected to warm up at the field prior to the game for a minimum of 12 minutes. 15 minutes will be the usual.

3. All league and playoff games leading to the City Championship will be eleven (11) minute quarters. The City Championship and Provincial Championship will be twelve (12) twelve minute quarters.

4. All players must wear a mouth guard while playing. A 5 yard penalty may be assessed a team whose player is without a mouth guard. The player must leave the game until he acquires a mouth guard.

5. The game will conclude with a shaking of hands as a sign of sportsmanship.

6. No yards infractions on punts will be penalized 10 yards.

7. During the regular season, the home team's bench will be on the press box side while the visitors will be across the field. The visiting team has the "right of option" during the regular season, in choosing to kick off, to receive, to defend either end zone or to defer to the second half.

8. During play-offs, the home team has choice of bench, uniform color and "right of option".

9. During the first half of each league and play-off game, the yard sticks will be on the home side of the field. During the second half, they will be on the visitors' side.

10. In the event of a uniform color conflict, the visiting team must wear the "league" black or white jerseys.
No contact may be initiated on the center during punts, field goals or converts by a defender until the center has taken a full stop out of his stance. Violation of this rule is to be considered a rough play offence and be punishable by a 15-yeard penalty.

11. In order for a player to be permitted to wear a colored or tinted visor the RIFL and the RHSAA have two (2) conditions that must be met:

a) The player must have a note signed by an Optometrist that specifies what the eye problem is. A note from your family physician or a physician will not be accepted.

b) On the SHSAA medical form that each player must complete under the column FACE INJURY: EYE – This must be checked off and under #2 Remarks an explanation of what the medical condition is that would warrant the need to use a colored or tinted visor.

12. On any play, blocking below the waist is illegal except in the close line play area(between offensive tackles) by any player who is occupying a position in this area at the snap of the ball.

13. When a player goes down with an injury where he/she is attended to by a person from the sideline, that player must remain off the field for a minimum of three plays including special teams.

4A Playoffs
- Top six teams from qualify for the playoffs based on record and previously determined tiebreakers.
- First round playoffs: top 2 teams receive byes; 6 vs 3, 5vs 4.
- Subsequent rounds to match highest survivor versus lowest survivor.

3A Playoffs
- Top six teams from qualify for the playoffs based on record and previously determined tiebreakers.
- First round playoffs: top 2 teams receive byes; 6 vs 3, 5vs 4.
- Subsequent rounds to match highest survivor versus lowest survivor.

14. Timeouts
- When a timeout is called each Head Coach may be accompanied by one of - Offensive, Defensive Coordinator or Special Teams Coach on to the field to meet with their team. They may also be accompanied by their trainer(s) and manager(s).

Revised September 2009