The following rules represent an agreement between the gentlemen coordinators who are acting as board members for the Park-Rock league. Each area’s organization, including coordinators, coaches, parents and players, agree on their honor to abide by them and uphold them for the good of the league.
CONSEQUENCES AND DISPUTES
Failure by any party from an organization within the Park-Rock league to abide by these rules, as determined by the majority of the area coordinators, will result in a suspension for the party or parties involved for a period to be determined by the league board, and a possible forfeiture of any games involved. Failure to honor the league’s decisions or abide by its rulings will result in all other areas removing the offending team or organization from their schedule, thus effectively expelling them from the league for the remainder of the season. This expulsion may continue into the next season if the league board deems it necessary.
Issues between areas involving players, parents or coaches will be resolved by the coordinators of the areas involved.
If they are unable to reach a resolution, the complainant coordinator may ask for a ruling from 3 area coordinators not involved in the issue. After hearing both sides of the issue, the 3 area coordinators will deliver their ruling which will be considered binding and final. Failure to abide by the ruling will carry the same consequences as not abiding by the league’s rules or decisions.
LEAGUE RULES
1. Areas may only have players on their roster who either will attend their appropriate high school or would attend if they did not go to a private school.
2. Areas may not cut players from their rosters based on the players’ abilities for the purpose of strengthening their team.
3. The home team’s area coordinator, or an appointed alternate, will be on-site during all home games. That coordinator is the league’s representative and has the final say regarding area rule interpretations for that day. The referees will follow the decision of the area coordinator in charge.
4. Scouting or recording opponent’s practices is prohibited. Scouting or recording games is permitted.
5. Any league rule changes must be agreed to by a majority of the area coordinators.
6. Practice start date will be determined by the board based on several factors, including: School start dates, MSHSAA start date and input from board members. The start date for each season must be agreed to by a majority of the area coordinators. Teams are allowed to hold two weeks (10 days) of summer football camps not exceeding 2 hours per day and without pads and/or helmets where attendance is considered mandatory. An unlimited number of optional team meetings, get-togethers, practices, and touch or flag games in the off-season are permitted provided they are not in pads or helmets.
7. All communication between area players, parents and coaches should go through the area coordinators.
8. Teams will be grouped by grade with the following age requirements, extrapolated from the MSHSAA rules:
- 5th Grade – Only July 1, player must be age 11 or younger.
- 6th Grade – Only July 1, player must be age 12 or younger.
- 7th Grade – Only July 1, player must be age 13 or younger.
- 8th Grade – Only July 1, player must be age 14 or younger.
Areas agree to consider our league’s mission of player development and responsibility for safety regarding older and/or larger players. It may be best for these players to have better competition at the next grade level, the same way the high school promotes freshman players to JV and plays underclassmen on the Varsity.
GAME RULES
1. MSHSAA Freshman Rules will be used for all games, unless otherwise noted. This means we play 9 minute quarters and that successfully completed kicked extra points are worth 2 points and others are worth 1 point.
2. Game start times: 6th 8:00 AM, 7th 9:45 AM, 8th 11:30 AM (Referees must be available 15 minutes prior to start).
3. Game fields must be clearly lined, have yard markers, end zone markers, and goal post pads.
4. Game balls: 5th Grade – Pee Wee, 6th Grade – Junior Size 7th & 8th Grade – Youth Size.
5. Unlike MSHSAA Freshman Rules, positions are not restricted to certain jersey numbers. (i.e. running backs may wear number 53). Coaches are encouraged to have players report as eligible receivers if their numbers don’t match their positions.
6. There is no running clock or mercy rule, however in the second half teams that are up by 28 points or more agree to make appropriate personnel adjustments.
7. All questions and disagreements about other game rules are resolved by using MSHSAA rules unless otherwise specified by the home area coordinator, who is expected to represent the spirit of the league.
8. Regarding tie games at the end of regulation play, the league will follow MSHSAA rules for Junior Varsity and Freshman, which state:
Tie Games: ALL varsity high school games (regular and playoff contests) that end in a tie at the end of regulation play shall follow a "25-yard Overtime Procedure" to determine a winner. The procedure, as outlined in the National Federation Football Rules Book, will be followed with the following exceptions:
A. The ball will be placed on the 25-yard line instead of the 10-yard line.
B. First and tens may be obtained to maintain possession. Once the line-to-gain has not been achieved, the ball will be turned over to the defense.
Note: Games contested below the senior high school varsity level (Junior Varsity and Freshman) that end in
a tie at the end of regulation play may utilize one (1) overtime period to break the tie. If a tie remains at the
end of the overtime period, the contest will remain a tie.