TACONIC YOUTH FOOTBALL 2014

1. TACONIC YOUTH FOOTBALL 2014 Welcome Coaches to our 3rd Season HEAD COACHES ORIENTATION

2. 2014 Executive Board President – Greg Libertino All Associations Have Equal Representation *Scheduling Committee Member **Book Validation Committee Member North Yonkers – Jerry Thompson Somers – Julie Deagan* South.Dutchess – Jason Timmons* Wappingers Falls – Glen Dockery** (Secretary) Yorktown – Matt Talbert / Joe Dicanio • Brewster - Joe Buonadonna (Treasurer) • Carmel – Deb Cayea** • Hudson Valley - John Biasotti • JJ Cross River – Nick Giardina* • Mahopac – Anthony Giannico (VP)

3. Why We are Here ? • To inspire youth to participate in Football and to bring youth together through the means of a common physical fitness and athletic completion. • That each member organization shall provide a program wherein youth shall receive instruction in the fundamental skills of tackle football. • To promote safe play by requiring member organizations to maintain strict compliance with the bylaws, and the rules and regulations of the league. • To encourage adults to behave in a civil and proper, sportsmanlike manner, and to keep the welfare of each child foremost and free from adult compulsion for power and glory.

4. Safety First Complete set of updated rules can be found at www.taconicleague.org It is your responsibility as a coach to know the rules (Questions should be directed to your local organization President/Director) The Rules & Regulations are in place to protect the players.

7. Head Coaches Role • The Primary Role for a Head Coach is to be a Leader. • The Team is yours and as such you are the competent person in charge • Communicate League Information - www.taconicleague.org • Rules & Bylaws • Schedule • Directions • Communicate in a calm, respectful, positive manor with our officials • Represent your Team, Community and our League with Dignity and Respect “A leader’s most powerful ally is his or her own example” – John Wooden

8. How many squares are there? The more you look the more you see !

9. COACHING INFORMATION • All Coaches must have a 2014 background check • All Coaches must have the following certifications: • CDC Heads Up Concussion Course Certification • New for 2014: Tackle Sure Certification • New for 2014: USA Football Level 1 Certification • ASEP training recommended for Head Coaches (required if competing in Regionals/Nationals) • One Coach per team must have Red Cross First Aid & CPR Training Certification or equivalent • All certificates must be in the team book

11. Mandatory Coaches Training It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts – John Wooden http://train.sotl.com/ayfcertification http://www.cdc.gov/concussion/HeadsUp/youth.html http://www.usafootball.com/headsup

12. ASEP CERTIFICATIONWWW.AYFCOACHING.COM Welcome to the American Youth Football and Cheer Coaches Education Center, the place to be for becoming a certified football or cheer coach! In the best interest of our young athletes, AYF strongly encourages all of our coaches to complete the coaching education program. Certification is required of head football and cheer coaches participating in AYF national championships. Completion of the introductory course Coaching Youth Football the AYF Way 2E or Coaching Youth Cheerleading the AYC Way 2E is required before taking the recertification course. Each course includes $2 million in liability insurance coverage.  ALL FOOTBALL HEAD COACHES MUST TAKE AND PASS THE COURSE OR THE REFRESHER (DISCOUNT CODE 12889) ALL CHEER COACHES HEAD AND ASSISTANTS MUST TAKE AND PASS THE COURSE OR REFRESHER FOR INTRODUCTORY COURSE USE DISCOUNT CODE 12889 FOR THE BIG EAST DISCOUNT

13. District Schematic

14. Practices • First day of practice is Monday August 11th • Before Labor Day/School Starting – 10 hours per week • After School Starts 8 hours per week • A Players first ten hours are conditioning • No Equipment • Helmets are OK • A player must have twenty hours of practice to compete • Scrimmages 20 Hours of practice time • Please advise the league prior to scrimmaging another organization • Games 20 hours of practice time • Mandatory water breaks do NOT count towards practice time

15. Extreme Heat & Extreme Cold http://www.nysphsaa.org/SafetyResearch/HeatIndexWindChillProcedures.aspx

16. Emergency Medical Personal The home team is responsible for providing medical personnel. A Red Cross Multi-Media card carrier is a minimum requirement. Whenever possible, an EMT, Physician, or Registered Nurse is preferred. In all cases, immediate access to EMT/Ambulance facilities is required. (e.g. phone, 2 way radio, etc.)

17. Team Check-In • All teams MUST check in (players & coaches) • Check in time is 30 minute before a game begins • All players present for the game (active or inactive) must be validated • Minimum of 16 active players required for game • Maximum of 7 coaches allowed on the sideline • All coaches must wear organizational lanyard • Opposing coach must sign the weekly check-in form

18. Mandatory Play Rules • 16-25 players 8 plays per player per game • 26-30 players 6 plays per player per game • 31 plus players 4 plays per player per game • 3rd Grade 12 Plays per game • Team size is defined as the number of players dressed to play at check in • Kickoffs, kickoff return, PAT and plays negated by penalty do not count toward min play requirements • At the beginning of the 4th quarter, any and all player(s) lacking plays must be put into the game until their minimum requirements are met.

19. Play Monitors • PLAY MONITORING: In order to ensure that all players get the minimum number of plays required each team will provide two official MONITORS to track plays • PRIMARY monitor (located on said teams sideline) • A SECONDARY monitor to observe/assist the opposing teams PRIMARY monitor • Monitors will be located together on the sideline and will log all plays, by player number, until each player has achieved the required minimum. • Monitors must wear colored vest/T-shirt supplied by their organization & remain outside the team box • No game can start until ALL play monitors are ready and in place. • Monitors must not interfere with coaches, players or game officials at any time • Coaching staffs to be advised regarding which players have not had all their required playsat the end of each quarter • At the end of the 3rd quarter, monitors (with clipboard) & head coaches meet at midfield to ensure all players have received their minimum plays. Any and all player(s) lacking plays must be put into the game until their minimum requirements are met NO EXCEPTIONS - FAILURE TO COMPLY WILL RESULT IN A FORFEIT OF THE GAME • Once the minimum plays are completed the monitors must return to the stands

20. Lopsided Score • TYFC will follow National guidelines for all levels except 3rd grade • An intentionally run-up score is when a team continues to pour it on even after the game is in their favor and far out of reach for their opponents. Coaches who practice this will be disciplined by TYF. • For grade levels: 8th, 7th, 6th, 5th & 4thGrades the lopsided score rule is 35 points. • When the score differential reaches 35 points: • The clock becomes a running clock & can only be stopped for injuries or official/team time outs. • It will be the losing team’s preference as to whether they will receive a normal kickoff or they may choose to take the ball on their own 40 yard line. • The winning team is prohibited from running any mis-direction, counter, reverses or “trick plays” of any kind. • Both offensive and defensive skill position starters must be replaced whenever possible. • The winning team does NOT have to run between the tackles. • Mandatory plays must be completed regardless of the score or game clock. • If the winning team does not complete their required mandatory plays, the full force of the mandatory play rules will be in effect. • For the 3rd grade: It is 24 points

21. Repercussions & Penalties • Any score differential of 36 points or more • Will result in an automatic one (1) week suspension of the Head Coach. • A second incident of the same will result in an automatic two (2) week suspension of the Head Coach. • A third incident of the same will result in an automatic one (1) calendar year suspension of the Head Coach, with review by the TYFC Board. • No hearing notices will be sent out nor will any hearing be held.

22. ScheduleHome/Away games based on # of teams at each level & field availability Head Coaches it is your responsibility to play all scheduled games • 10-12 Week Season • Aug 30 & 31 Pre-season weekend • Sept 6 & 7 8 game Reg. Season begins • October 25 & 26 Last Regular Season game • November 1 & 2 Playoffs & Bowl Games Begin • November 8 & 9 Playoffs & Bowl Games End • November 15 Big East Semi-Final Playoff (8th only) • November 22 Big East Regional Playoffs (5th-8th)

23. Emergency or Weather Related Changes • If weather or, any other reason prevents the home team from hosting a game, you must advise the visiting team no less than 2 hours before game time. • The game will default to the opposing teams field on the same day, both teams need to be prepared to travel on game day. • You will need to call the TYF immediately to advise of anyfield problems, cancellations, etc. on game-day. • Improper advisement to visiting team and TYF could result in forfeit! • IF BOTH TEAMS CAN NOT HOST ON GAME DAY DUE TO WEATHER, ANOTHER LOCATION MAY BE ATTAINED, IF THERE IS NOT A FIELD AVAILABLE, THE GAME MUST BE PLAYED ASAP! ... . THIS COULD MEAN THAT THE ORIGINAL HOME TEAM MAY HAVE TO TRAVEL AND PLAY AT NIGHT DURING THE WEEK!! • If late in the season and fields are an issue, games may be rescheduled on a priority basis.

24. Uniform Colors • Home Teams Wear Dark Colors • Visitors Wear White or Light Color. • If you don’t have away Jersey’s contact opposing coach and clarify team colors. • Dark or Home Jersey’s are OK on the road. • Visors: Helmet visors are not allowed according to the NFHS rulebook, unless it is completely clear and glass-like. If a visor is slightly tinted and an Official can see the tint on his game data card the visor must be removed. There are no exceptions.

25. Game Ball Ball Size Wilson Baden • 8th Youth TDY 500Y • 7th Youth TDY 500Y • 6th Junior TDJ 500JR • 5th Junior TDJ 500JR • 4th Junior TDJ/K2 500JR • 3rd Junior K2 No other Footballs are permitted

26. Game Day • Electronic Devices • There will be no electronic devices from the press box or any other positions on the field to relay messages to the coaches on the sideline at anytime, and this includes cell phones. A coach or anyone else using a cell phone for emergency purposes must step outside the coaches' box and if it continues, could be asked to leave the field. • Clock • Four 10 minute quarters; 25 second play clock. • Three time-outs per half; only 2 coaches permitted on the field during a called time-out. • Coaches are not permitted on the field or to speak to their players during an officials / injury time-out. • Tie Games • During the regular season, there will be no tie-breakers, tie games end as such. • Ineligible Players • Rule A: When Ineligible players are found, all games of which the ineligible players participated in are forfeited and will count in league standings as such. • Rule B: Team is ineligible for post-season bowl games and championships regardless of the number of losses it has suffered for playing the ineligible players. • Rule C: Rule B may be appealed to the league depending on the nature of ineligibility regarding post-season play. • Parental Behavior • Head Coaches you are responsible for your parents behavior, read rule book, have Parent Team Meeting, make them sign a parent code of conduct, character contract etc.   • Grievance • Must pertain to a misconduct of violation of rules & regulations and/or bylaws. Shall be filed in writing to an Executive Board Member within 48 hours of such misconduct, stating nature of same, including the date, time, place & individuals involved.   • Reporting of Scores • League Reps from each organization must report the scores to the league mailbox ASAP & no later than 8 PM Sunday evening

27. AYF All-American Divisions

28. Key Dates

29. Referees • Referees will be scheduled for all games by Taconic Youth Football • Home team pays for the referee’s • Neutral Site ref fee’s are split 50/50 • Referees will be paid $65 per game • $75 if only a single game is played

30. 3rd Grade Tackle Football • 3rd grade Coaches; keep this sheet of paper in your game-day book. • 7-8-9yr olds: 7yrs of age no later than July 31st of current yr, • Can Not turn 10 on/before Dec 31 of current yr, if so, play up. • No three-yr players . • 3rd grade will have a jamboree and a 9 game season... • No playoffs, tournaments or friendship games. • The 79ers will use Wilson K-2 game ball • Referees will be provided for all games. • The 79ers will follow all TYF and Federation High School Rules except, note the following: • The 79ers are considered Instructional and Coaches are allowed on the field - only two coaches from each team at a time. • All quarters are 10 minutes (not a running clock). • Coaches need to be organized, hustle between plays, and hustle with your day-calling !! So you can get more plays in. • Blitzing is prohibited... That doesn't mean you can line everyone up on the LOS • Base 4,5,& 6 man fronts are good and an 8-man fronts can only be used inside the 5yd line. • Defensive linemen CAN line-up in gaps and can line up over the center. • Kicking is encouraged, but optional. • There is no rushing of kicker on punts, field goals or extra points. • No fake punts, no fake field goals and no fake extra points. • In case of a bad or, fumbled snap, the kicking team will not be allowed to advance the ball. • They are allowed to re-snap or just pick up the ball and kick it • If a team elects NOT to Kick Off, the receiving team will start on their own 40yd line. • If a team elects NOT to Punt, the receiving team will take the ball 15yds down field • Mandatory plays: 12 plays. • Lopsided Score Rule takes effect at 24 points

33. Taconic Youth Football & Cheer • Taconic Youth Football Meets the First Tuesday of Every Month Questions and Concerns should go through your League Representative www.taconicleague.org Remember…..It’s the journey that counts !