16 Peewee 9-Man Rules

COACHES ON THE FIELD:

One coach on the field for the first 3 regular scheduled games. However, the coach must remain 15 yards behind the line of scrimmage after players leave the huddle. The coach shall not run with the play or provide instructions once the quarterback instructs the team to set. The coach must remain 15 yards behind the line of scrimmage after the QB begins his cadence. A bench warning will be assessed if this is not adhered to.

For all Peewee games during the period that coaches are allowed on the field, the following shall apply:

• Blitzing will not be permitted, subject to the following:
  • On defense, line players are defined as anyone who is lined up within 1 yard of the Line of Scrimmage at the instant the ball is snapped.
  • Only line players will be allowed to move forward at the snap and cross the Line of Scrimmage. No other defensive players may cross the line until:
    • The ball crosses the Line of Scrimmage or:
    • The ball leaves the possession of the QB or:
    • The QB, with the ball in his possession, is outside the tackles

If a Peewee game goes into the mercy rule, blitzing will no longer be allowed.

• PENALTY: 10 yards, down repeated.

NOTE: The intent of this wording is to restrict blitzing, but at the same time not restrict players from reacting to the play and playing proper defense. Obviously, if the ball has been handed off or fumbled, or if the QB is running a sweep, there is no reason that a defensive player can’t read the play and cross the line accordingly. Accordingly, we all know what a blitz is when we see it. We will be instructing the officials to follow the spirit of the rule, and if someone is trying to look for loopholes to circumvent the rule, they will be penalized. Conversely, if a player is not blitzing, but somehow inadvertently violates one of the clauses above as a result of them just playing football, the officials will not be looking to nitpick and find penalties that don’t exist.

SCORING:

• Touch down: 6 points
• Rouge: 1 point
• Safety Touch: 2 points
• Field Goals – 3 points for a field goal, snap required. The play will initiate off the snap or ball movement. On field goals the center/snapper is off limits – defense cannot initiate a hit on the center/snapper, regardless of the outcome of the play (i.e. fumbled snap, fake kick, etc.), unless the center initiates contact. Hitting the center/snapper will result in a 15-yard penalty and a first down for the offence
• Extra Point – 1 point for a run, 1 point for a forward pass, 2 points for a kicked convert
  • No snap required on a kicked convert; ball to be placed on the ground and line of scrimmage on the 5-yard line. Play will initiate off the whistle
  • A blocked extra point or failed extra point resulting in an interception or fumble recovery by the defense cannot be run back for a score.
    

GENERAL GAME RULES:

• 15 minute quarters – running time; except for the last 2 minutes of the 2nd and 4th quarters, rulebook time per the Canadian Amateur Tackle Football Rulebook
• 3rd Down-Offence can either go for it on 3rd down, or “punt”, by having the game officials move the ball up field 25 yards from the last line of scrimmage
• Play Clock-25 seconds will be allowed to get the ball in play. Referees will give the offensive team a 10 second warning when the play clock is winding down.
• Half-time – 10 minutes
• Time Outs – Each team will be allowed two timeouts per half. Only a player on the field or the Head Coach may request a timeout. If a coach calls a third time out, at the referee’s discretion he may penalize the team of 5 yards with the down repeated
• Punting – On 3rd down the offense can either
  • Run a regular play; or,
  • Punt with a snap from center; or,
  • Punt with the punter 10 yards behind the line of scrimmage with the ball in his hands and the play initiated by a whistle from the referee. In the case of option 3, no player on the punting team is allowed to line up onside (in this situation only the punter can recover the ball on the punting team), and no fake punts are allowed
  • Teams will also have the option of a 25 yard march off by game officials
  • On punts with a snap from center, the center/snapper is off limits. The defense cannot line up over the center/snapper or initiate a hit on the center/snapper, unless the center initiates contact. If the defense does line up over the center or initiates contact, a 15- yard roughing penalty will be assessed
  • If, during a punt, the ball does not travel more than 10 yards from the kicking point, the referee will whistle the play dead. The possession of the ball will change and the ball will be placed at the point at which it contacted the ground
• Starting line of scrimmage determined by kick-off return
• Field size – 9 man/6man  size 110 yards in length and 50 yards in width (or as close as possible)
• Football size – Size 6 TDJ or Wilson GST 1783