DISTRICT MIDDLE SCHOOL FOOTBALL POLICIES 2017-18
l. 7th grade games will be played on Mondays, unless mutually agreed upon by competing schools.
2. 8th grade games will be played on Tuesdays, unless mutually agreed upon by competing schools.
3. The length of quarters for all games shall be four (4) eight (8) minute quarters. The B game will stop the clock during change of possessions (resume clock when ball is set ready for play), scores, injuries, timeouts and the last minute of each half.  The clock will be run last minute of each half according to the rules of a regular contest.  If a C Team game is played the specifics of the contests will be set out by the district’s athletic directors or their representatives. Note:  If numbers dictate, then there will be zero quarters before the B team game that consist of two (2) ten (10) minute quarters with the clock being run in a regular fashion the last minute of.  (Below are the policies, explained in detail, for the extra quarter format).  If it is not mutually agreed upon, then there will only be a B team game that will consist of (4) eight (8) minute quarters running clock with the stoppage rules as stated above.
4. At least three (3) SFOA officials will be requested for all games.
5. Football schedule policy:
Each school will enter two (2) teams (A & B). The B Team game will begin at 6:00 PM. The halftime will be limited to five (5) minutes and the A Team game will start six (6) minutes after the conclusion of the B Team game. The middle school principal and athletic director will be responsible for seeing that the time allocations are followed. Other arrangements may be made if mutually agreed upon by the schools involved.
6. Admission prices for the 7th and 8th grade football games are as follows:
ADULTS - $4.00    STUDENTS - $2.00 
Middle school cheerleaders, drill teams, and bands will be admitted free if they are in uniform. District and Administrator passes will be honored.
7. Official championships will be determined and trophies will be awarded to the 1st Place 7th and 8th Grade A Teams.  The season consists of one scrimmage and eight games.  The eighth game will determine the district champion and subsequent places for the entire season.  The final games will be seeded according to these tie breakers: 
Two-Way Tie:  Head to Head Competition
More than two teams tied (Only teams tied) 
-Point system of teams involved in tie (points are not to exceed +/- 14 per game). -Once the point system is in effect all places will be determined by the point       system.  This only involves the teams that are tied.
Example:                        Score    Points
	Team A        	15	+14     
	Team B          	  0	 -14

	Team A	 	 7	 -3		
	Team C	  	10	 +3		

						
	Team B	 	 21	   +7			
Team C	 	  14	    -7 		
						Team A= #1 Seed
A=   +14              B=-14		C=+3		Team B = #2 Seed
           -3	                    +7		      -7		Team C= #3 Seed
        +11  	      -7		      -4  		
-If teams (2, 3, 4, etc.) are tied and they have not played each other due to cancellations, then the all teams that each team have actually played throughout the season will determine the seeding for the final games that determine the final standings.  The above point system will be employed.
-If teams are still tied, then coin flip will determine seeding
-The B teams will play prior to the A team games on the final week of play.  The A team records set the seeding and will only be eligible for a district championship or subsequent placing.
-If the two teams that are competing for the championship tie, the winner will be determined by going back to their head to head meeting earlier in the season.  The team that won the earlier contest will be awarded the championship.  If the two teams tied in the earlier contest or they were unable to play the earlier contest, both teams would be named co-champions.  
-The district athletic directors or their representatives can mutually consent to any seeding issues and resolve them accordingly.  
8. Jersey colors will be dark at home games and light at away games, unless changes are mutually agreed upon.
9. The head football coach at the high school the middle school staff reports to will determine the type of ball to be used by school that the majority of their athletes will attend. The offensive team has their choice, if the two competing schools use different balls.
10.  Extra Points:  Two (2) points will be award for an extra point that is kicked and One (1) point will be awarded for a conversion that is not kicked.  The defense is allowed to rush on all kick attempts (extra points and field goals). On any extra point attempted, run or pass, which is returned by the defense into the offense team’s end zone, will be worth 2 points.  If the offense team attempts a field goal and that attempt is blocked and returned by the defense into the offense team’s end zone it will be worth 6 points.  

11. There will be no overtimes or tiebreakers for individual contests in accordance with UIL rules.
12.  If there is mutual consent, district athletic directors or their representatives may at anytime amend or change any policy or procedure.
13.  The use of air horns by spectators are strictly forbidden
14.  The use of “bullhorns” (electronic or manual megaphones) by spectators is forbidden.  Megaphones may be used by cheerleaders only.   

Below are the policies for the extra quarters (if numbers dictate):

Extra Quarters prior to B team game

1)	Length of Quarters: The extra quarters will consist of two (2) quarters of a six (6) minute running clock, with these exceptions:
a.	The start of the game the visiting team will receive the ball at the 30 yard line and at the start of the second quarter the home team will receive the ball at their 30 yard line.  (The clock will resume in 1 minute)
b.	The end of the first quarter. (The clock will resume in 1 minute)
c.	Last minute of the second quarter

     Once the ball is snapped at the 5:00 mark, the clock will resume and continue to   
     run until the last minute of the quarter.

 The extra second quarter will be a continuation of the first quarter. There will be no halftime.  Teams will not flip sides; the teams will go the same direction as they went in the first quarter.  The clock will start the second quarter at the snap of the ball.
 
 The B team game will always consist of four (4) eight (8) minute quarters, running clock in accordance with the middle school football policy.  Any changes to that policy must be mutually agreed upon by the athletic department(s) of the schools involved. 

2)	Participants:  The extra quarters are designed to allow more opportunities to play for players that would see limited or no playing time on the B team.  

3)	Quarters of Play:  At the culmination of the extra quarters, the scoreboard will be reset and the B team game will begin with a score of 0-0.  Any player that played in the extra quarters can play in the B team game as long as they do not play more than four (4) quarters total.   It is the coach’s responsibility to ensure that no athlete plays in more than 4 quarters total in one night for one week.  
  
4)	No Kicking Game:   There will not be any kicking game during the extra quarters, to expedite play.  The ball will be place on the 30 yard line at the beginning of the first quarter and subsequently after every score.  On fourth down, the offensive team will declare if they are going to punt or attempt to gain a first down on an offensive play.  If the offensive team elects to punt, the ball will be marked off 35 yards from the line of scrimmage and the ball will go over on downs to the other team.  If the offense elects to run an offensive play, then the result of the play will be a first down or the ball will go over on downs at the spot of the last offensive play.  

5)	Extra Points:    The scoring team will have the choice of taking one point or running an offensive play from the 3 yard line for 2 points.  Again, there will be no kicking in the extra quarter.

6)	Time Outs:   There will be no time outs given to either team.

7)	Communication of Intent:  Both coordinators from the schools playing each other need to mutually agree to play the extra quarters, prior to their arrival to the game site.  It will be the responsibility of the home team coordinator to communicate to the athletic department and the stadium manager that  extra quarters will be played prior to the team’s arrival to the game site.  If it is not mutually agreed upon, then the extra quarters will not be played and the B team game will consist of the original four (4) eight (8) minute quarters running clock in accordance with the middle school football policy.   

8)	Start of B team after Extra Quarters:  There will be not be any warm-up prior to the B team game after the extra quarter.  All warm-ups should take place before the start of the extra quarters or be done to the side during the extra quarters, so that the B team game can start immediately following the extra quarters.  The coin flip will be done prior to the beginning of the extra quarters and the B team game.  The result will be applied to the beginning of the extra quarter and the start of the B team game.  For example, if Team A wins the coin toss prior to the extra quarters, and their decision is to receive the ball they will get the ball first in the extra quarters and the start of the B team game.  If Team A decides to defer, then they will play defense in the extra quarters and get the ball at the beginning of the second half in the B team game.  If they choose to kick, they will play defense first in the extra quarter and kick-off to begin the B team game. Basically, the decision of the toss will determine the start of the extra quarters and the B team game.  This will expedite the beginning of the B team game without doing another coin flip.   The ceremonial handshakes will be done after the B team game has been completed, not after the extra quarters.