Caldwell County Youth Football

Game Rules

1^st & 2^nd Grade Division

1. Games and players will follow Caldwell County High School Rules.
2. Weight limit for ball carriers will be 65 pounds.  Players who weigh more than the weight limit for ball carries will have a black stripe on the front of their helmets.  Black stripe players CANNOT advance the ball at any time.
3. There will be a mandatory five (5) conditional practices and at least ten (10) practices required before a player can participate in a game.
4. Only four (4) coaches will be allowed on the field with each team.  ALL coaches must have Caldwell County Youth Football ID cards.  Two (2) coaches may stay on the playing field with each team.  An alternate coach may be used if any of the original four coaches cannot attend, but must be approved by the district’s high school coach before the game starts.
5. No parents or students will be allowed on the field.  Only players, coaches, yardage chain personnel and game officials are allowed on the playing field.
6. 1^st and 2^nd Grade Division games will have a one hour time limit with no overtime periods.
7. 1^st and 2^nd Grade Division will be played on a 40 yard field. 
8. 1^st and 2^nd Grade Division games will not use kickoffs or punts.
9. Each half will start with the offensive team receiving the ball on their 10 yard line.
10. On fourth down, the offensive team may decide to “punt” by telling the referee they are giving the ball over.  The opposing team will then take possession of the ball at their 10 yard line.
11. NO black stripe players can line up in the offensive backfield.
12. ALL penalties will be 5 yard penalties.
13. Games will be two 20 minute halves.  Halftime will be six (6) minutes.  The game clock will run continuously for the full 20 minutes.  Each team has 2 timeouts per half.  The game clock does not stop on timeouts.  There will be a 2 minute warning before the end of each half.  The official game time and official game score will be kept by the referee of each game.
14. Blitzing will not be permitted.  Linebackers must be three (3) yards from the line of scrimmage and must be set before the snap of the ball.  Defensive players on the line of scrimmage and outside the box at the snap of the ball cannot enter the box.  The box runs from the end player on the left side of the offense to the end player on the right side of the offense.  ALL defensive players on the line of scrimmage and “inside the box” must be in a down position at the snap of the ball. 
15. Defensive ends with a Black Stripe on their helmet MUST be in a down stance.
16. Two 1^st and 2^nd Grade Division games will be played simultaneously at each end of the field.
17.  No more than six (6) defensive linemen are allowed “in the box” on the line of scrimmage.  This rule does not apply when the ball is on or inside the defensive team’s ten (10) yard line.
18. Each 1^st and 2^nd Grade Division team will use the K2 size football.

Revised 9/23/08

Caldwell County Youth Football

Game Rules

3^rd  & 4^th  Grade Division

1. Games and players will follow Caldwell County High School Rules.
2. Weight limit for ball carriers will be 100 pounds.  Players who weigh more than the weight limit for ball carries will have a black stripe on the front of their helmets.  Black stripe players CANNOT advance the ball at any time.  Black stripe players who catch the ball on punts, interceptions or fumbles must down the ball immediately.  If a team elects to use a black stripe player as a punter, and the ball is fumbled on the snap, the ball cannot be advanced by the black stripe player.
3. There will be a mandatory five (5) conditional practices and at least ten (10) practices required before a player can participate in a game.
4. Only four (4) coaches will be allowed on the field with each team.  ALL coaches must have Caldwell County Youth Football ID cards.  One (1) coach may stay on the playing field with each team.  An alternate coach may be used if any of the original four coaches cannot attend, but must be approved by the district’s high school coach before the game starts.
5. No parents or students will be allowed on the field.  Only players, coaches, yardage chain personnel and game officials are allowed on the playing field.
6. 3^rd & 4^th Grade Division games will not use kickoffs.  In a kickoff situation, the offensive team will take possession of the ball at their 40 yard line.
7. Games will be four quarters with eight (8) minutes in each quarter.  Halftime will be six (6) minutes.  Arena timing will be used (i.e. the clock runs continuously only stopping for change of possession, scores, injuries & timeouts).  There will be a 2 minute warning before the end of each half.  During the last 2 minutes of each half, “regular football timing” will be used.  The 35 second play clock will be in use for the entire game.
8. Each team will have 3 time outs per half.
9. Black stripe players cannot line up in the offensive backfield. 
10. Blitzing will not be permitted.  Linebackers must be three (3) yards from the line of scrimmage and must be set before the snap of the ball.  Defensive players on the line of scrimmage and outside the box at the snap of the ball cannot enter the box.  The box runs from the end player on the left side of the offense to the end player on the right side of the offense.  ALL defensive players on the line of scrimmage and “inside the box” must be in a down position at the snap of the ball.  The penalty for violating these rules will be a 15 yard “unsportsmanlike conduct penalty”.
11. Defensive ends with a Black Stripe on their helmet MUST be in a down stance.
12. Ties will be played according to High School Rules.  Each team will receive the ball on the 10 yard line and allowed to run four (4) plays.  There will be a limit of one (1) overtime period per game.
13. Extra points will be scored as follows : one (1) point for a running play and two (2) points for kicking a successful extra point.
14. Rushing is not allowed on punts or extra points.  Teams cannot fake punts or extra points.  If the defense rushes, the penalty will be an “unsportsmanlike conduct penalty”.  If the offensive team declares their intent to punt, the defensive team must leave 7 players on the line of scrimmage until the ball is kicked.
15.  No more than six (6) defensive linemen are allowed “in the box” on the line of scrimmage.  This rule does not apply when the ball is on or inside the defensive team’s ten (10) yard line or on fourth down.
16. Each 3^rd and 4^th grade division team will use the TDJ (Junior) size youth football.

Revised 9/23/08

Caldwell County Youth Football

Game Rules

5^th & 6^th Grade Division

1.  Games and players will follow Caldwell County High School Rules.

1. Weight limit for ball carriers will be 125 pounds.  Players who weigh more than the weight limit for ball carries will have a black stripe on the front of their helmets.  Black stripe players CANNOT advance the ball at any time.  Black stripe players who catch the ball on kickoffs, punts, interceptions or fumbles must down the ball immediately.  If a team elects to use a black stripe player as a punter, and the ball is fumbled on the snap, the ball cannot be advanced by the black stripe player.
2. There will be a mandatory five (5) conditional practices and at least ten (10) practices required before a player can participate in a game.
3. Only four (4) coaches will be allowed on the field with each team.  ALL coaches must have Caldwell County Youth Football ID cards.  No coaches may stay on the playing field with the team.  An alternate coach may be used if any of the original four coaches cannot attend, but must be approved by the district’s high school coach before the game starts.
4. No parents or students will be allowed on the field.  Only players, coaches, yardage chain personnel and game officials are allowed on the playing field.
5. Kickoffs will occur from the 40 yard line.
6. Games will be four quarters with eight (8) minutes in each quarter.  Halftime will be six (6) minutes.  Arena timing will be used (i.e. the clock runs continuously only stopping for change of possession, scores, injuries and timeouts).  There will be a 2 minute warning before the end of each half.  During the last 2 minutes of each half, “regular football timing” will be used.  The 35 second play clock will be in use for the entire game.
7. Each team will have 3 time outs per half.
8. Black stripe players cannot line up in the offensive backfield. 
9. Blitzing will not be permitted.  Linebackers must be three (3) yards from the line of scrimmage and must be set before the snap of the ball.  Defensive players on the line of scrimmage and outside the box at the snap of the ball cannot enter the box.  The box runs from the end player on the left side of the offense to the end player on the right side of the offense.  ALL defensive players on the line of scrimmage and “inside the box” must be in a down position at the snap of the ball.  The penalty for violating these rules will be a 15 yard “unsportsmanlike conduct penalty”.
10. Defensive ends with a Black Stripe on their helmet MUST be in a down stance.
11. Ties will be played according to High School Rules.  Each team will receive the ball on the 10 yard line and allowed to run four (4) plays.  There will be a limit of one (1) overtime period per game.
12. Extra points will be scored as follows : one (1) point for a running play and two (2) points for kicking a successful extra point.
13.  No more than six (6) defensive linemen are allowed “in the box” on the line of scrimmage.  This rule does not apply when the ball is on or inside the defensive team’s ten (10) yard line or on fourth down.
14. Each 5^th and 6^th grade division team will use the TDY (Youth) size youth football.