Parents Code of Ethics

I hereby pledge to provide support, care, and encouragement for my child
participating in youth sports by following this Parents’ Code of Ethics:

I will encourage good sportsmanship by demonstrating positive support for all players, coaches, and officials at every game, practice or youth sports event. I will not complain or make negative statements to or about the referees, coaches, or players. Remember, the child you're talking about has relatives sitting around you.

I will place the emotional and physical well being of my child ahead of my personal desire to win.

I will require that my child’s coach accept the responsibilities of being a youth sports coach and that the coach will uphold the Coaches’ Code of Ethics.

I will support coaches and officials working with my child, in order to encourage a positive and enjoyable experience for all. 

I will remember that the game is for youth - not adults.

I will do my best to make youth sports fun for my child.

I will ask my child to treat other players, coaches, fans, and officials with respect regardless of race, sex, creed, or ability.

I will help my child enjoy the youth sports experience by doing whatever I can, such as being a respectful fan, assisting with coaching, or providing transportation.

SIGNAL MOUNTAIN FLAG FOOTBALL RULES- 2011

1. Any unsportsmanlike conduct, i.e. uncontrolled running, roughing of a player, verbal abuse (including players making directive statements to the referees), intentionally running through a player (the player with the ball must make an effort to avoid the defensive player if they are “broken down” or stationary), intentionally tackling a player: ten (10) yard penalty from spot of infraction. The referee will tell both coaches that one strike is assigned to guilty player(s). Two strikes and the player(s) is/are ejected from the game. Player(s) ejected twice during the season will be suspended from the league for the season. In order to run the ball between the tackles, or inside the tackle box (in an unbalanced line), you must hand the ball off, fake a handoff, or drop back then pump fake. There are no quarterback or center sneaks.

2. Unless otherwise noted, all penalties will be taken from the original line of scrimmage and the down will be re-played. Example, Offensive holding 10 yards down field, the penalty of 5 yards is marked off from the original line of scrimmage. All penalties are subject to “half the distance to the goal line” rule. Any inadvertent whistle will be called a dead play and the down will be re-played from the original line of scrimmage.

3. There will be no kick-offs or punts at any time. The offense will take the ball at the twenty (20) yard line at the start of the game, start of second half, and after points scored. Punts will be marked off as 35 yards from the punting team's line of scrimmage for K/1; 40 yards for 2/3; 45 yards for 4/5.

4. No player may enter the neutral zone until the ball has been snapped: five (5) yard penalty.

5. There is a five (5) yard restraining line in front of the line of scrimmage where the defense must line up (neutral zone). When the ball is within five (5) yards of the first down area or the goal line, the defense may stand half the distance between the ball and the restraining line. The defense can never line up closer than one (1) yard from the line of scrimmage, including during “goal line stands.” The area between the restraining line and the line of scrimmage is defined as the neutral zone. If the offense encroaches into the neutral zone, the play is whistled dead: five (5) yard penalty. If the defense encroaches into the neutral zone, the play continues: five (5) yard penalty or the offense may take the play.

6. There will be a maximum of forty (40) seconds between downs. Delay of Game: five (5) yard penalty. Referee will place ball and blow whistle to start forty (40) second period.

7. Quarters will consist of ten (10) minutes. The half -time will be five (5) minutes. Each team is allotted three (3) one (1) minute time-outs per game. The clock stops after an extra point, and will not start again until the next kick-off. In the last two (2) minutes of each half, the clock stops on an incomplete pass, first down, running out of bounds and all penalties.

8. First downs will be achieved by advancing the ball past each twenty (20) yard zone. (The Field is divided into four (4) twenty (20) yard zones.)

9. Any ball intercepted by a defensive player can be returned, including the Point after Touchdown, for two points.

10. A ball which has been fumbled may be advanced by either the offense or defense in the K/1 and 2/3 leagues.THIS IS A NEW RULE CHANGE In the 4/5 league, the ball is dead where it hits the ground. A fumble may not be advanced. The side that fumbled retains possession except in the case of fumbling on 4th down.

11. When a defensive player has pulled one (1) flag from the ball carrier, the ball carrier is down.

12. If a player’s flag falls off and he has possession of the ball, the ball is ruled dead right at the point where the flag fell. If a player has only one (1) flag, the player is considered “out” and is down were he receives the ball. If a players shirt is hanging over the socket of the flag, he is down were he receives the ball (strictly enforced).

13. If a ball carrier’s knee touches the ground, the play is dead.

14. A player may not hold his hand, elbows, or the ball over his flag in an effort to guard his flag from the defense. If, in the judgement of the referee, the ball carrier is attempting to guard his flag from the defender, the carrier is down at the point of infraction and a five (5) yard penalty will be assessed against the offense from that point. Stiff arming or attempting to overrun the defender will be considered uncontrolled running (See Rule #1)

15. A defensive player may not strip or attempt to strip the ball from an offensive player. Offense option down over or five (5) yard penalty from the point of infraction.

16. All players on the field are eligible to receive a pass.

17. A defending player must play the ball against a receiver. The player cannot put hands in a receiver’s face or make contact with the receiver while the ball is behind the line of scrimmage or in the air: first down at the point of infraction or, if an end zone pass, first down on the two yard line. CHUCKING/HOLDING the receiver in the neutral zone is a ten yard penalty. Offensive pass interference: ten (10) yard penalty and loss of down.

18. There will be no steel spikes on the playing field. All watches, etc. must be removed. No pants with belt loops are allowed. Jerseys must be tucked into pants at all times.

19. Touchdowns will be scored as six (6) points. Extra points will be attempted from the four (4) yard line. An extra point achieved by running will be scored as one (1) point and an extra point achieved by passing will be scored as two (2) points. No extra points will be kicked. A safety will be scored as two (2) points. The ball will be given to the team scoring the safety on their thirty-five (35) yard line. There will be no field goals.

20. Blocking may only be done with the hands, only from the front and always from the waist up. Players may not leave their feet to block at any time. Illegal block: five (5) yard penalty.

21. A player may not knowingly remove the flag of any of his opponents if they are not carrying the ball. Five (5) yard penalty from line of scrimmage. If the action interferes with the intended receiver, it will be treated as pass interference.

22.a Teams must be on the field and ready to play on time. Teams will play seven (7) players. Teams will play a maximum one (1) less player to equal sides if one team lacks rostered players or appropriate pick-up players. Minimum number of players is 6. The team that does not have 6, will forfeit a score of 6 – 0.

22.b IN THE PLAYOFFS ONLY: Teams may not pick up players. Teams must play playoff games with only their rostered players.

23. The football field will be eighty (80) yards long. Grades K and 1 will be subject to a field thirty (30) yards wide; Grades 2 and 3 will be subject to a field forty (40) yards wide; Grades 4 and 5 will be subject to a field fifty (50) yards wide. All end zones will be ten (10) yards long.

24. All players must run the ball or catch a pass at least once during the game. Failure to do so will result in a loss recorded in the results used for year end tournament seeding for the winning team violating this policy. For a losing team violation, it results in 1.5 losses. In championship day games, this will result in a forfeit. Referees will record player numbers and inform coaches of their record after the first half and third quarter. If a player is injured, coaches shall inform the referee prior to the start of the fourth quarter.

25. Forward laterals (shovel passes) are legal behind the line of scrimmage.

26. Man in motion: there will be no man-in-motion for grades K and 1; for grades 2 and up, one player may be in motion at a time behind the line of scrimmage. The man in motion may not advance toward the line of scrimmage.

27. There will be a coin toss prior to the game. The winner of the coin toss has choice in the first half and the loser of the coin flip has the choice of which goal to defend. The teams will swap for the second half.

28. Teams will not change goals between quarters, but will at the half.

29. There will be one “college rules” overtime period in regular season games. Championships and playoffs will use overtime format until someone wins.

30. The rules for overtime are as follows. Using the same end zone, both teams get four plays from the twenty (20) yard line and an extra point attempt if a touchdown is accomplished. A coin toss will establish which team has the choice of offense or defense. The other team chooses the end zone for sudden death play. Both teams are allowed the same number of downs (4) until one team outscores the other in order to win.

31. Any penalty that will move the ball toward the goal line will always be subject to the “half the distance” rule.

32. The referees may call time-out at any time and confer with both team coaches about the above rules and calls, as well as the conduct of both teams. Coaches are not allowed to make directive statements to the referees, first offense is a warning, second offense is a ten (10) yard penalty; third offense in a game merits an ejection. If coaches have a question about a call, discreetly and respectfully ask the official AFTER the play has ceased, preferably after the period ends. The majority of our officials are high school students and our coaches are adults. All official decisions are final. UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.

33. Two coaches are allowed on the field of play for all games. A single sideline coach is allowed with this exception - K/1 teams with 10 players may have 2 sideline coaches in addition to the 2 field coaches. Home team will provide parent volunteer to be the clock operator. Visitor will provide parent volunteer to operate the first down marker. COACHES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THAT PARENTS EXHIBIT GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP. INTERFERING PARENTS WILL BE ASKED TO VIEW GAMES FROM THE MIDDLE SCHOOL GYMNASIUM PARKING LOT. IF THAT DOESN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM, THAT SPECTATOR WILL BE BARRED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE SEASON. Cheer encouragement and achievement.

34. TIEBREAKER: If, at the end of the regular season, multiple teams share the best record, the tie will be broken as follows: 1) Straight Up Record - EXAMPLE: Teams A & B finish the season 5-2. Team A beat Team B two of the three times they played - Team A prevails. If the teams split their games (each won one of two), then the tiebreaker moves to the second level; 2) Points Against - the team that has had the fewest points scored against them in all games through the season prevails.

35. The game ball is the Wilson K2.