NFL Youth Flag Football Coaches Meeting August 7, 2019
Agenda • Welcome & Introductions • Program Overview • Team Formation/Roster Information • Practice & Game Schedules • Rules • Staff Info • Questions/Wrap-Up
Staff Introductions • Greg Anselene • Manager of Sports League and Field Management, AFS • Ryan Amato • Sports Programmer, AFS • League Commissioner, grades 6-10 • Tyler Remerow • Sports Programmer, AFS • League Commissioner, grades 1-5
Program History • Program entering 13 th year • Affiliated with NFL Flag Football • Among the largest DPR Administered Youth Sports • 1300+ participants and 109 teams in 2018 • Fastest Growing Youth Sport in Arlington County • Administered by DPR full time and part time staff • Administrative responsibilities include: • Team formation • Practice and game schedules • Game site management
League Information • Grade based registration • Coed leagues- Grades 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9-10 • Girls leagues- Grades 6-8 and 9-10 • Players may play up grade levels but not down • Registration Fee includes NFL jersey, flag belt, and team footballs
Team Formation • Team rosters consist of 12 players (may expand to 13 upon coach request) • Team formation based on school enrollment • Players requested specific team/coach at time of registration • Will attempt to honor requests • Preference given to returning players from 2018 season • Team rosters released to coaches August 9 • Roster access via Stack Sports/Team Connect • May use to manage/email team • Players notified of team placement by coach • All players must play equal amounts of time
Coaching • Mandatory Background Check • Will receive an application via email • Need to complete within 48 hours • All coaches need to be registered • Any adult over 18 helping with team needs to register • Assistant coaches are encouraged • Reach out to parents
Practices • Practice Request Forms sent to coaches via email on August 7 • Forms due to DPR scheduling by 5:00pm on Monday, August 12 • Permits sent to coaches via email by COB on Wednesday, August 21 • Practices begin on Saturday, August 24 • Coaches may request a change in day between preseason and regular season • Will attempt to accommodate
Practices • Teams will practice twice a week in preseason (Aug 24 – Sep 13) • One weeknight (Mon-Fri) and one weekend (Sat-Sun) practice • Based on coach requests • Regular Season Practices begin week of September 16 • One weeknight practice per week • Based on coach requests • All practices are one hour in length
Regular Season Games • 7 game regular season • Approximately 1 hour in duration • All games will be scheduled on Saturdays and Sundays • Games begin September 14-15 • Games played primarily at Washington-Liberty and Wakefield HS Stadiums • Game Schedules sent to coaches via email by Friday, August 30’
Games • Projected 2019 Regular Season Schedule • Subject to change League Day/Times Location Grade 1 Coed Sundays 12:00 - 1:00pm Wakefield HS Grade 2 Coed Sundays 12:00pm - 2:00pm Wakefield HS Grade 3 Coed Sundays 2:00 - 4:00pm Wakefield HS Grade 4 Coed Saturdays 10:15am - 2:15pm Washington-Liberty HS Grade 5 Coed Saturdays 1:15 - 4:45pm Washington-Liberty HS Grade 6 Coed Saturdays 4:45pm - 8:45pm Washington-Liberty HS Grade 7 Coed Saturdays 3:15pm - 6:15pm Wakefield HS Grade 8 Coed Saturdays 5:15pm - 7:15pm Wakefield HS Grade 9/10 Coed Sundays 4:00pm - 5:00pm Wakefield HS Grade 6-8 Girls Sundays 5:00pm - 7:00pm Wakefield HS Grade 9/10 Girls Sundays 5:00pm - 8:00pm Wakefield HS
Playoffs • Every team makes the playoffs • Single Elimination • Projected start date- November 2-3 • Schedules to coaches via email on Wednesday, October 30 • All games completed no later than November 16-17
Rules • Equipment Requirements • Mouth guards required • Shorts with no pockets • Shorts must differ in color from flags • Jerseys must be tucked in and underneath the flag belt at all times • Playing Time • All players must play equal amounts of time • We recommend that players should have an opportunity to learn different positions. Lopsided scores is a great opportunity for players to learn/try new positions
Rules Continued • Games played under NFL Flag Rules with select modifications • 5 v 5 format • Can play with four players • Two 24 minute halves (running clock) • Clock stops on all team time outs (reach team receives one 30 second time out per half) • Last 2 minutes of second half clock stops for; incomplete passes, plays ending out of bounds, and first downs. • Clock starts on following snap • 45 second play clock • Begins when ball is spotted • Each team receives one warning per game • Subsequent violations result in delay of game penalty
Rules Continued. • Offensive team starts with possession on their own 5 yard line • 3 attempts to secure first down at midfield/touchdown • Modification for grades 1-4 (four attempts to reach first down/touchdown) • Failure to reach first down/touchdown results in turnover to opposing team • Possession on turnovers will start at opposing team’s 5 yard line regardless of field position • On interceptions, the defensive team’s possession will begin where previous play ended • Following a touchdown, the offensive team will have a choice for PAT • Try for 1 point from 5 yard line (pass only) • Try for 2 points from 10 yard line (run or pass) • Must declare, can only be changed by a timeout • Interceptions are dead, cannot be returned
Rules Continued. • No blocking permitted • “No run” zones • 5 yards before 1 st down and 5 yards before end zone • Ball is dead when it hits the ground • Player is down when; • any part of his/her body other than hand or foot contacts the ground • step out of bounds • flag(s) fall off • obtain possession with one or more flags missing • Airborne player must land with at least one foot in bounds to be considered in bounds • Determined by first foot to make contact with the ground
Rules Continued. • Ball is spotted where the player’s foremost foot is when the flag is pulled • Only handoffs behind line of scrimmage are permitted • May be forward, sideways, or backward • Quarterback cannot directly run with the ball • Passes must be thrown forward from behind the line of scrimmage and caught in advance of the line of scrimmage • Player has seven (7) seconds to throw a pass • Considered a sack and ball is dead at spot • Must have at least one player on the line of scrimmage • Only one player in motion at a time • One yard behind line of scrimmage • Cannot motion towards line
Rules Continued. • Defensive players cannot cross line of scrimmage until ball is handed off • Players crossing the line prior to handoff can get back without penalty • Only players 7 or more yards from line of scrimmage can rush the passer • If crossing the seven yard line prior to the snap, players may return and rush the passer • If crossing the seven yard line prior to the snap, if ball is handed off before they cross the line of scrimmage, rusher may continue to play • Players may dive in an attempt to pull flags • Cannot hold, obstruct, tackle, or run through ball carrier • No stripping of the ball is allowed • Players cannot flag guard • Stiff arms, lowering head, arms, shoulders, diving, jumping, or leaping • Players may spin, provided it is controlled and player does not leave feet
Scoring • Touchdowns are worth six (6) points • PATs are worth one (1) or (2) points • Safeties are worth two (2) points • Point Differential Rule • When a team is ahead by 28 or more points, game is officially over • Game will be played to time completion, allowing players to receive playing time • Overtime is not played in the regular season • Game results will be posted online each week on Scores & Standings webpage
Common Penalties • Offensive Penalties • False start • Illegal motion • Blocking/impeding the rusher • Flag guarding • Charging/unnecessary roughness • Defensive Penalties • Offsides/illegal rush • Holding • Defensive pass interference • Unnecessary roughness • Unsportsmanlike Conduct
Penalties Continued. • Referees determine incidental contact that may result from normal run of play • At the Referees discretion, a player may be given a warning or forced to sit out the remainder of the drive for rough play. Rough play is characterized by a player violently losing control of their body while performing football actions in which the chance for injury is drastically increased.
Coaches • Coaches are allowed on the field to direct players according to need and division. • Grades 1-4 – Offense may have up to two (2) offensive coaches on the field. Defense is allowed one (1) defensive coach on the field. • Grades 5-10 – Offense may only have one (1) offensive coach on the field. Defense is not permitted to have a defensive coach on the field. • Coaches are subject to sportsmanship rules • Set the example for players and spectators • Head coach is responsible for conduct of assistants and sideline • Subject to penalty and/or ejection
Resources • https://nflflag.com/resources • Playbooks • Complete rulebooks • Coach certification course • Optional • In partnership with USA Football • Certificates of Achievement
Recommend
More recommend
