Rules and Regulations

Parent Permission

SUYFA Parent Permission

No Refunds. Equipment will be issued when full registration payment is received and after the first week of practice.  Players will not be allowed to participate in the Southern Utah Youth Football Association if payment is not paid in full or a payment plan has been worked out and agreement signed.  Fees include rental of football pads and helmets.  Uniforms and equipment are the property of Southern Utah Youth Football Association and must be returned by the end of the season.  I agree to pay the cost of any lost equipment issued to my child or me by SUYFA.

Medication Authorization-Grant of Consent. I hereby certify that my child is in good health and may participate in all activities.  In case of an emergency, i give my permission for my child to be given emergency treatment at any responsible accessible hospital.

Liability Waiver. As the parent (or legal guardian) of the child I am registering with SUYFA, I grant permission for the minor to participate in all activities of the sports program. I assume all risk and hazards incidental to such participation, including transportation to and from such activities, and do hereby release and waive all claims against Southern Utah Youth Football Association, Sponsors, Volunteers, agents and other participants.  I understand SUYFA does not carry Primary Insurance.

 

Code of Conduct

COACH’S CODE OF CONDUCT

You are an extremely important role model for your young players. Sportsman/Sportswomen ship is very important to our program. Please conduct yourself in a manner that will bring credit to you and your team as well as SUYFA guidelines.

  1. Accept decision of game officials on the field as being fair and called to the best of their ability.
  2. Do not criticize an opposing team, it’s players, coaches or fans by word of mouth or by gesture.
  3. Together with game officials, be jointly responsible for the conduct and control of team fans and spectators.
  4. Be fair in providing game time to each player.
  5. Do not criticize the players in front of spectators.
  6. Place the emotional and physical well-being of the players ahead of any personal desire to win.
  7. Remember to treat each player as an individual, and remember the large spread of emotional and physical development for each age group.
  8. Do your best to provide a safe playing situation for the players.
  9. Organize practices that are fun and challenging for the players.
  10. Know the rules of the sport that you are coaching and teach the rules to the players.
  11. Remember that you are a youth coach and that the game is for the children and not the adults.

 
PLAYER’S CODE OF CONDUCT

  1. Encourage good sportsmanship from fellow players, coaches, officials and parents every game and practice.
  2. Attend every practice and game that is reasonable possible and notify your coach if you cannot.
  3. Expect to receive a fair and equal amount of playing time.
  4. Do your best to listen and learn from your coaches.
  5. Treat your coaches with respect regardless of race, sex, creed or abilities and expect to be treated accordingly.
  6. Players will please alert parents or coaches if it stops being FUN.
  7. Encourage your parents to be involved with your team.

 
PARENT / SPECTATOR CODE OF CONDUCT

  1. Encourage good sportsmanship by demonstrating positive support for the Football Association.
  2. Place the emotional and physical well-being of your child ahead of any personal desire to win.
  3. Help to ensure that your child plays in a safe and healthy environment.
  4. Provide positive support for coaches and officials.
  5. Remember that the game is for the children and not for adults.
  6. Help make youth sports fun for your child.
  7. Pick up your children on time!  It is unfair to the coach to make him wait for you.  It is also not the coach’s job to act as taxi service for your child.

Berating of Officials, Coaches and Players is not acceptable.

Complaining about calls and a whining attitude has no place in youth sports. Concentrate on your players, not the officials.  We must present a positive experience for our youth, and in order to do that we must conduct ourselves in a respectful adult manner.

Treatment of Officials

All members, coaches, players, parents and fans will conduct themselves in a manner that will not bring discredit to the officials or to themselves.  If you have constructive criticism about an official, please find an opportune time or contact an authority of SUYFA to bring the standard to an acceptable level.

Failure to abide by the above CODES OF CONDUCT will result in:

1st Offense: A probationary period from any participation in the League as prescribed by the SUYFA Administrative Committee. 

2nd Offense: Total participation, dismissal/ejection from any SUYFA League functions.

SUYFA Football Rules

The Southern Utah Youth Football Association (SUYFA) will use as their rules those published by the National Federation of State High School Association, with the following EXCEPTIONS:

Length of Quarter:
We will run fifteen (15) minute quarters running the clock continuously until the last two (2) minutes of each half. The clock will then be stopped according to High School Rules for such things as: incomplete pass, change of possessions, first downs, and a player running out of bounds with the ball.

Extra Points:
Any team that is able to successfully run for the extra point will be given one (1) point, while a successful kick will be given two (2) points.

Formations:

  • At least seven (7) men on the line of scrimmage.
  • A player can be in either a two (2) point stance or three (3) point stance. Once in a three (3) point stance he can’t go to a two (2) point stance.

Numbers:

  • 1-49, 80-99 Legal Ball carrier numbers.
  • 50-79 Legal Line numbers.

Weight Limits:
The following weight limit has been established for the3-8th grades. The set limit is 8th graders 155 lbs.7th graders 135 lbs. 6th & 5th 125lbs. 3rd & 4th graders 95 lbs. for ball carriers at the time of first game. This also applies to linebackers. Players over the weight limit may play as a defensive end on the line of scrimmage in the box. (Defensive Ends inside should must match Offensive linemen outside shoulder)

Players will be weighted prior to 1st game and mid-way through the season being able to gain one pound per week.

Players will be allowed the option of stripping clear in order to make the weight limit but will not be allowed any pound variance in this case.

Any player can advance the ball unless he is over the specified ball carriers weight. The players that are over the limit will be ruled a dead ball.

The punter can be over the weight limit for ball carriers as long as he doesn’t cross the line of scrimmage with the ball. It is legal for that person to throw out of punt formation.

It has also been approved by SUYFA for players that are over the weight limit of ball carriers to run with the ball in the following situations:

  • Onside kicks
  • Interceptions
  • Fumble returns

In each of these cases the player in question must be the person to recover or intercept the football. You can’t pitch the ball to a player over the weight limit of ball carriers.

A player outside of the box on the defensive side must remain 3 yards off the line of scrimmage.  The box is defined by tackle to tackle or tight end to tight end.  The defensive player outside of the last down lineman must line up on the outside shoulder of the down lineman.  Any player outside of the tackle/tight end must be back and off the line of scrimmage 3 yards. 

Penalties:

  • Minor = 5 yards
  • Major = 10 or 15 yards
  • Half the distance to the goal inside the 20-yard line.
  • Automatic first downs = roughing passer, kicker, or pass interference
  • Unsportsmanlike conduct on the coach or players will be assessed a 15 yard penalty.


Coaches:
Any coach acting in an unsportsmanlike manner shall first be given a verbal warning by the President. A second warning will be cause for removal from the playing field for the remainder of the game and the following game. A third warning will be cause for removing of their coaching position.

Each coach shall be responsible for collecting fees from players on their team by the first game. Exceptions will be a specific commitment from the player to the League President.

Each coach will be responsible for collection equipment from their players at the end of the regular season or if a player quits playing or is injured. (NO EXCEPTIONS) There will be a $200 fine from each coach should all equipment not be turned in.
Head coaches must call a parent meeting to go over all rules, code of conduct, schedule, and fundraiser information and hand out letter.

Drafting:
Drafting will commence with the previous years last place team taking first draft choice etc. If a player trying out has a brother on a team he must be drafted within the first 4 draft choices. When brothers are just starting the League, the team drafting the first brother must pick any additional brothers within the first 4-draft choice. Any additional players that miss the initial draft will be assigned to a team by draft choice (done by President only)!!!!

A player whose father or brother is either a head coach, 1st or 2nd Assistant Coaches will be protected. If for any reason a player switches teams because his father becomes on of the coaches listed above, the team he leaves will be compensated with a 1st round draft pick from the team he leaves.

Any Player quitting a team cannot play for another team in that year. The Following year he becomes a free agent and can be drafted by any team.

Miscellaneous:

  • The Home Team of each game is responsible for setting up and cleaning the field.
  • The playing field will be 100 yards long for the 6th 7th and 8th grade teams.
  • The playing field will be 80 yards long for the 3rd and 4th and 5th grade teams. Unless other wise agreed upon by both teams playing each other, prior to the game.
  • We will kick from the 30-yard line.
  • Each player must at all times, wear a mouthpiece and (issued) Protective gear. This applies to practice as well as League Games.
  • Under the rules of the SUYFA the kicking team can’t advance an onside kick should they recover it.