RFAC League Rules and Regulations
All IHSAA rules will apply except for the following: INCLEMENT WEATHER IHSAA
rules mandate that game play MUST be stopped IMMEDIATELY upon the first sign of lightning and that ALL players, coaches and officials are to seek shelter. All facilities that we use have weather alert systems, if the weather alert system is activated due to weather the even stops IMMEDIATELY. We will resume play after 30 minutes of last
blink on the alert system. Game play cannot resume until a MINIMUM of 30 minutes has passed since the last lightning strike. It is up to the officials (for games) and coaches (for practice) to determine whether or not a game or practice should be called due to inclement weather. Weather is unpredictable and can create confusion and differences in opinion. Therefore, it is our goal for safety of the players, coaches, and
patrons during RFAC events we will take all matters into play and the use of technology to determine the risk involved with said event. Common sense dictates that in the event of lightning striking during practice, the practice must be stopped IMMEDIATELY and shelter sought. It is in the best interest of the safety of the players, that practice should be cancelled for the evening.
Weight Limits
RFAC League Rules
Taped Rules:
114-1/2 and under – No Tape
115 to 129-1/2 – Yellow Tape
130 – 159-1/2 – Red Tape
160 and over – Black Tape
1. Offensive Taped Rules:
(a) Taped players can only play on the offensive line. They cannot play QB, RB, WR or TE.
(b) Taped Combination on Line.
(i) No limit to # of Yellow taped players.
(ii) Max of 2 Red taped players (No Black, the rest Yellow or no tape players)
(iii) Max of 1 Black taped player on the field at any time. (Can also have 1 Red taped player, the rest will be yellow tape or non-tape players)
2. Defensive Taped Rules:
(a) Red and Black taped players can only play DT. Both players can be Red taped players or you can have 1 Red and 1 Black taped player.
(b) Yellow taped players can play DE, DT, ISLB or OSLB. They cannot play corner or FS.
(c) Non-Taped players can play anywhere.
(d) A taped player cannot advance the ball (EXCEPT ON AN INTERCEPTION).
3. Offensive Formations:
(a) Formations.
(i) Tackles must be covered by a TE or a WR.
(ii) 2 RB in the backfield (inside the tackles). Never can have 3 players in the
backfield at a time (excluding QB).
(1) Can use split backs, Red or White, “I” or offset “I”. As long as
you have 2 backs between the OTs then you can align these 2
backs any way you want.
(iii) Formations Allowed.
(1) Base or South = 2 TE and WR
(2) Pro or South Pro = 1 TE and 2 WRs (1 WR to each side)
(3) Twins or South Twins = 2 WRs (Twins to one side & TE on the
other side
(4) Pro Twins or South Pro Twins = Twins to 1 side and WR/TE split
out on the other side
(5) You can also move in a WR/TE as a wing. Wing must be outside the tackle, tackle must be covered.
(6) Never can you have trips to one side!
4. Defensive Alignments:
(a) DTs are head up on the Guards – No shading inside or outside
(b) DE’s must line up on the inside shoulder of the TE,
(c) ISLB must be inside the Des and at 4 yards depth – Recommend that the ISLB be stacked over DT but they have freedom to be anywhere between the DEs and at LB depth
(d) OSLBs must align outside the Des and at a depth of 4 yards
(e) Corners and Free Safety alignment must never be closer than 4 yards to Line of Scrimmage. You cannot move a FS or Corner up as another LB!
(f) Redzone (inside the 5-yard line) or Short Yardage (less than 2 yards) – you can move ISLBs to 1-yard depth which is the heels of the DTs
*** No Quarterback Sneaks unless it is Short Yardage or Goal Line Situations! ***
General Weight Rules
All skill players cannot exceed 115 lbs. - (Skill players: Quarterback, Running Back, Flanker & End) All players at 130 lbs and above must play on the line in the down position and in a 3 or 4 point stance. A player with tape on his helmet may not advance the ball at any time, except for an interception.
Note: The official weighing of the players will take place at the jamboree (or at by appointment with the league office) and will be the official weight of the player for the entire season. The opposing team coach at the jamboree must be present at the other team's weigh in.
Fumbles / Interceptions
Fumbles and Advancement of a Fumble will be treated per IHSAA rules. Exception: Fumbles can only be advanced by a Non-Taped Player. Interceptions can be advanced by any Player. Any fumble recovered by a taped player will be down at spot of recovery.
Extra Points
Kicking - If you elect to kick you must notify the opposing team. No fake kicks under any circumstances. No rush by the defense under any circumstances. The ball placement will be at the High School spot. All successful kick extra point attempts are worth 2 points. The team may choose to have the referee hand the ball to either the center (long
snapper) or to the ace holder. If the center snaps the ball to the placeholder and the placeholder drops the ball, the placeholder will be allowed to reset the ball prior to the kick. Running / Passing - If you elect to run or pass you must notify the opposing team. No fake runs / passes under any circumstances. The ball placement will be at the High School spot. All successful run / pass extra point attempts are worth 1 point.
Special Teams
Kickoffs - All kickoffs will be from the high school spot (40-yard line). All kickoffs must go 20 yards. If it does not go 20 yards, the receiving team will get the ball where it stops. The receiving teach can touch the ball but the kicking team will not be able to recover any ball touched or not touched within the 20 yards. After 20 yards, the ball can be recovered by the kicking team. All kickoffs fumbled may be advanced, if fumbled while receiving the ball (exception if the team that kicks the ball receives a fumbled ball during the catch the ball is down upon recovering). There are no onside kicks or pooch kicks for purposes of creating high speed collisions while fielding the ball for the receiving team.
Punts - If you elect to punt, you must notify the opposing team. No fake punts under any circumstances. No rush by the defense under any circumstances. The ball is handed to the punter. The tight end to tight end split must not exceed the hand to shoulder maximum. All punts fumbled may be advanced, if fumbled while receiving the ball Line
Movement All gross line movement shall be penalized (i.e. contact, coming up and out of a three-point stance and moving across the line of scrimmage) All subtle movement will not be penalized until league notification (i.e. turning head, leaning forward without contact or three-point movement and flinching)
DURING JV GAMES THE OFFENSIVE TEAM CAN ELECT TO HAVE THE BALL
MOVED 20 YARDS INSTEAD OF PUNTING OR GOING FOR IT ON 4TH DOWN with a 15-second clock run off!
Also the following rules apply:
1. No onside kicks or pooch kicks for purpose of creating high speed collisions while fielding the ball for the receiving team.
2. Standard formatted only – 5 on right / 5 on left
3. All teams (varsity and JV) will kick off. No spotting the ball.
4. Kickers are not allowed to move up or down.
Line Movement
All gross line movement shall be penalized (i.e. contact, coming up and out of a three point stance and moving across the line of scrimmage) All subtle movement will not be penalized until league notification (i.e. turning head, leaning forward without contact or three-point movement and flinching)
Defensive Alignment
All defensive backs and linebackers must line up a minimum of 4 yards off the line of scrimmage and may proceed towards the line AFTER the ball has snapped. NO RED DOGS! In goal line situations (ex. inside the five yard line) and short yardage situations (ex. less than two yards to go) ALL linebackers and defensive backs may line up 1 yard off the ball.
Equipment
All players must be wearing helmets, shoulder pads, pants with pads, mouthpieces and rubber-cleated shoes. Pads for elbows, forearms, ribs and neck braces will be allowed. Helmets must be white with gray face mask. There should be no tinted visors worn unless there is doctor’s prescription on file with league stating it is used for a medical
purpose. Only clear visors are permitted without a doctor’s prescription on file. Mouth guards must be a color – not clear.
Practice / Game Time / Duration OT Rule
The first two weeks of season start, you may practice four days per week. Beginning the third week of the season start, there is a maximum of two practices allowed per week with a 2-hour time limit and one game on Saturday. All games shall start promptly
at 9:00am & 10:30am & Noon sharp. All games shall consist of five 8- minute quarters (3 for varsity and 2 for JV) in accordance to IHSA rules. Games that are tied at the end of the 3rd quarter will end as a tie.
Playoff seeding: If two teams in the same division are tied by record the following will determine higher seed by priority (1. Head to head, 2. Season scoring differential, 3. Points scored, 4. Points Against, 5. Coin Flip)
If two teams in the same division are tied at the end of the season by record and they either tied against each other or didn't play each other, a flip of a coin will determine the higher seed. There will be three time-outs allowed for each team per half. Questioning Referee Calls - Only one head coach may question the referee's calls. A time-out must be used to question a referee's call. First offense is a verbal
warning. Second offense is a 15-yard penalty. Third offense is an ejection from the field. Failure to follow the rules will result in a forfeit by the team. A review by the league officials will be held to determine if that team will be allowed to continue playing in the league.
Coaching Conduct and Rules
Coaching staff shall consist of 1 head coach and 6 assistant head coaches. Coaches will be allowed on the field for the duration of the season and under the following circumstances:
1.One defensive coach when the defense is on the field. When JV is on defensive, two coaches are allowed on the field.
2.One offensive coach when the offense is on the field. When JV is on offense, two coaches are allowed on the field.
3.The coach on the field can only instruct in the huddle and before the offensive line is set. The coach assumes a 5-yard position behind the running backs and the safety and no further instruction is to be given once in this position. Any violation on the above and
the coach will be warned once and with the next call followed by a 5-yard penalty. Questioning Referee Calls - Only one head coach may question the referee's calls. A time-out must be used to question a referee's call. First offense is a verbal warning. Second offense is a 15-yard penalty. Third offense is an ejection from the field. Failure
to follow the rules will result in a forfeit by the team. A review by theleague officials will be held to determine if that team will be allowed to continue playing in the league.
Coaches Conduct -
At any time that the referee deems necessary, a player or coach
may be removed from the game. If a coach is ejected from the game, the head coach will also be ejected from that same game. The coach who is ejected from the game will be suspended for two (2) games. Coaches should conduct themselves in a manner that will set a good example for the players and the fans. The object of Rocket Football is to
let the "KIDS" have fun! Fighting with or striking any player, coach, referee or any participant of Rocket Football shall be grounds for immediate expulsion from the league. If a player or coach is thrown out of a game by the referee, it will result in a minimum of a one game suspension, with any further action to be decided by the Rocket Football Board. Excessive disputing of referee calls or profanity directed at a player, coach or
referee or any participant of Rocket Football shall be grounds for immediate expulsion!
Additional Rules
1. All rosters are to be turned in after the 3rd game for both varsity and JV.
2. The first 2 JV games will not count on your record – Stats start game 3
3. After game 3, JV players will stay on JV for the season, unless there is an injury or absence on varsity. In the event of an injury or absence, a JV player may move up to varsity, but you may NOT move a skilled player up to varsity. This move is only until the varsity player returns from their illness/absence.
4. Varsity players are not allowed to play JV unless there are less than 11 JV players in attendance at the game due to an illness or injury. In that event, you still may NOT move a skilled player to JV.
5. Home team provides game ball. (Wilson ball provided by league only)
6. Last teams playing will ensure down markers and clock control are returned to garage and not left on field.
7. If you are caught using a player on both teams after the third game, you will forfeit that game, with the exception of injury. You must notify referee and opposing coach of injury and replacement player.
8. Games are officially over with a 24-point lead – running clock continues.
9. All coaches and Stat people must stay between the 30-yard markers. Violations of this rule will result in a 15-yard penalty. This includes being on the track. This rule does not apply to photographer.
10. Any team caught holding an unauthorized practice or on a property other than scheduled. Head coach will be suspended for remainder of season and team will ultimately not be eligible for playoffs. No exceptions.
11. Head coaches are in control of parents and fans.
12. JV Players can move up to varsity during the playoffs. If your JV team is one of the 4 in the JV playoffs they cannot move up to varsity.
