PITFOOTBALL.COM LEAGUE RULES FOR 2011/2012 INDOOR SEASON
FOR THE PLAYERS ... 
... BY THE PLAYERS
General Rules:
- On the field the referee's decision is final. All protests must be indicated to the referee immediately at the time of the specific infraction or ruling. You cannot question the judgment of the call, but you can protest the application of the rule.
- Game protests must be submitted in legible writing the day of the game protested and will be ruled and decided upon by the Executive Committee in conjunction with a review of the referee's game report.
- Score cards will be provided by the league and submitted to the referee's prior to game time. It is the responsibility of teams to cross out any names of players who are not at the game.
- A team may not add a player after registration without prior approval from the Executive Committee.
- Team representatives must ensure that all players have registered and signed a roster release form before any player steps on the field for a regular season game.
- All players must be dressed in similar color jerseys. A coin flip will be used to decided which team is required to change jerseys if both teams wear identical colors.
- Fighting during a game automatically incurs a game misconduct. Further action may be taken by the Disciplinary Committee (see disciplinary procedures).
- In order to retain use of playing fields, all teams are responsible for picking up stray garbage, bottles, and any miscellaneous items left by either players or spectators. Your cooperation is expected and appreciated.
- Verbal criticism and bad-mouthing towards referees, league representatives, and opposing players or fans on or off fields of play is inexcusable and will not be tolerated. Regardless of the situation, it can do nothing but degrade the quality and status of the PIT Football League. Offending individuals will be handled with strict disciplinary measures.
- In maintaining an organized, balanced, and operational league, the Executive reserves the right to make changes as necessary during each season of operation.
- The Official Touch Football Rulebook used by the PIT Football league can be found at the following link: Touch Football Rule Book
- The Rule book is also available on the PITFootball.com website under “Forms & Files” by clicking on the link “Official Touch Football Rulebook”.
- Team captains must have a valid email address entered into the pitfootball.com website and are expected to check their email frequently. Team captains will be contacted throughout the year for various reasons and email will be the main method of contact.
- Team captains must have a current phone number entered into the pitfootball.com website.
- Team rosters must be completed online at pitfootball.com before the registration deadline. Any roster additions after the registration period require board approval.
- Players must be on the team roster on the pitfootball.com website prior to playing in order to be considered eligible to play for that team.
- A waiver form is required to be completed prior to playing in the first game of the season. Players who signed waiver forms in the fall or winter indoor session will remain covered, any new players must have a waiver form signed.
- All league members are required to have a waiver form submitted to the league. The waiver form may be handed to the head ref prior to playing in a game, otherwise they are considered ineligible players.
- Waiver forms can be found here: Waiver Forms or by clicking on "Forms & Files" on the navigation toolbar
- Teams who use ineligible players will be subject to a default.
- The player has submitted a waiver form to the league.
- The player has been added to the roster via the PIT football website.
- The player has submitted a parental consent form if they are under 18 years of age.
- The player is not currently serving a suspension from the league.
- Players must play a minimum of 2 games to be eligible for playoffs.
- Team representatives should monitor all game card entries to ensure players make their 2 games. The league will not go back to check previous game cards in the event there is a discrepancy between the website and team. The website will be considered accurate.
- Only teams in good standing (e.g., not defaulted two games) with the league are eligible for playoffs.
- Players not currently serving a suspension from the league.
- All games played by teams with ineligible players will incur a default loss as well as a default fine.
- Any player ejection for a major foul or abuse of an official carries a mandatory minimum 1 game suspension.
- Ejections for major fouls carry suspensions from 1-8 games.
- Gross misconducts carry suspensions from 6-18 games.
- Fighting carries a minimum 6 game suspension.
- Physical abuse of an official carries a minimum 18 game suspension.
- Players who are on multiple teams will be suspended from all teams for the duration of the suspension. For example, if a player is suspended for three games on Team A, they will miss all games with Team B (Team C, etc) until the three game suspension with team A has been completed.
- In the event of dissatisfaction with a disciplinary decision, a case may be taken to the Appeals Committee if a written request explaining the reason for the appeal is received by the Executive within 14 days of the decision being issued. A $50.00 per player fee must accompany the appeal request. The fee will be refunded if the decision is revoked or the penalty reduced.
- The executive reserves the right to assign teams to divisions in order to provide the most competitive divisions.
- Teams may submit schedule requests at registration - no late submissions will be accepted. See the schedule request form found under the 'Forms & Files' link on the navigation toolbar or hit up the link here: Schedule Request Forms
- All schedule requests must be placed on the official schedule request form. No other submissions will be accepted.
- The league will do its best to accommodate as many requests as possible.
- Reschedules can only be made by swapping games with other occupied time slots. All teams must agree to the swap and the league scheduler must be notified (at least 48 hours in advance) so that the website can be updated accordingly.
- It is the team’s responsibility to arrange for reschedules. The league will only make changes to the schedule once all teams involved have verified agreement to said schedule change.
- The league will endeavor to reschedule games within 24 hours of a rain out.
- All reschedules will take into consideration the team's original schedule requests, however teams must be ready to play after 72 hours of a rain out.
- The league reserves the right to reschedule games at any time pending lack of available dates.
- Teams may start the game one person down (ie, start the game with four players). Teams will be given a 10 minute 'grace' period with penalties accruing for delay of game at game time and the five minute mark. After 10 minutes the game is called as a default. Teams must start the game as soon as they have four players. Time will not be made up for late starts. Games will be shortened accordingly to fit the game within the specified time slot.
- Each default incurs a $50 team fine, which must be paid to the league prior to the start of the defaulting team’s next game.
- Defaulting teams will also lose two points in the standings for each default.
- No player on the defaulting team shall receive credit for a game played.
- All players on the non-defaulting team will receive credit for a game played.
- In the event of a double-default, no player will receive credit for a game played and both teams will be fined $50.
- Defaulted games will not be rescheduled.
- Two defaults by the same team will result in said team being suspended from the remainder of the season after the second default.
- There are no ties in the PIT Football League. In the event of a tie game a series of convert attempts will be used to determine the winner.
- Each team will attempt 3 converts, alternating on offense and defense. Teams may attempt a 1-point convert from the five yard line or a 2-point convert from the 10 yard line. The team with the most points after 3 attempts by each team will be declared the winner.
- In the event that the teams are still tied after three attempts by each team, they will continue to run alternate converts until the tie is broken.
- During the regular season the team calling the coin flip is up to the discretion of the referee (statistical probability states you will win 50% of the time regardless if you call the coin flip or not!)
- During playoffs there will be no coin flip, the higher seeded team will automatically be given choice.
- First tie-breaker: Total points earned
- Second tie-breaker: In the event that two teams are tied and one of those teams has defaulted a game during the regular season, the non-defaulting team (or team with fewer defaults) will automatically receive the higher seed
- Third tie-breaker: Head-to-head
- Fourth tie-breaker: Head-to-head plus/minus
- Fifth tie-breaker: Plus/minus overall
- Sixth tie-breaker: Points against
- Seventh tie-breaker: Coin flip
- Eighth tie-breaker: In the event the coin lands on its side a team drinking competition will ensue
Note: In the event that three or more teams are tied, if two (or more) clubs remain tied after one team has advanced from the tie-breaker system during any step (i.e., made playoffs), the tie breaker reverts back to step 1 of the tie-breaker system.
MODIFIED INDOOR RULES FOR THE 2011/2012 SEASON
The Game:
- The game is played 5 on 5.
- Game Length = 2 x 29 minute halves.
- Field Length is approximately 30 yards by 70 yards inclusive of end-zones.
- All offensive snaps are taken from the center of the field (no hash-marks). This includes all convert attempts.
- Each team is allowed three 30 second time outs, a maximum of two timeouts may be used in a one half.
- Teams may request up to at most two minutes for halftime.
Kickoffs and kicks after a safety are taken from the 5 yard line.
- Penalties on kickoffs can result in the ball being moved into the end-zone to be re-kicked (no half the distance penalties exist for kickoffs in indoor).
- In the event that a kickoff goes out of bounds, the receiving team has the option to have the ball moved up five yards from the spot of where the ball left the playing field or have the kicking team re-kick five yards back. The farthest point a kickoff can be placed due to a penalty is center field. For example, if a kick goes out of bounds on the kicking teams side of center, the receiving team has the option to scrimmage at center or have the kicking team re-kick five yards back.
- Converts may be attempted from 5 yards out and are worth 1 point; converts from 10 yards out are worth 2 points.
- Any ball that hits the roof on a kick is placed on the ground directly below where the ball hit the roof.
- Any ball that hits the roof on a pass would be considered a dead ball, loss of down will occur.
- A rouge (single point) is awarded if the ball carrier is tagged in the end zone or if the ball is 'dead' in the endzone (sits for 3 seconds without being picked up by the offensive team). Any ball that travels through the end zone without being touched, results in a "touch-back" and comes out to the 10 yard line where the receiving team starts it's possession. No single point will be awarded.
- A personal foul penalty occurs if the rusher (or any other player) hits the QB's arm while in a throwing motion.
- Waiving a hand over a downed player will not be considered a 'touch' and play will continue until the player is physically touched by the defensive team.
- Each team will be provided a locker room in which to store their belongings. Locker room numbers will be listed by team on the white board near the entrance to the playing area.
- Keys for the locker rooms can be picked up from the front desk in exchange for a set of car/house keys.
- All belongings must be locked in the locker rooms. Bags, shoes, jackets, etc will no longer be allowed on the sidelines due to potential injury hazards. Only game balls, tees, and water bottles should be on the field and these items should be placed at the back of the safe zone surrounding the field.
- If belongings cannot be placed in the locker room they may be stored BEHIND the netting that surrounds the safe zone around the fields. When playing on fields 1 & 4, belongings can be stored behind the netting on the West and East sides of the fields behind the netting. When playing on fields 2 & 3, belongings must be stored behind the North side of the netting.
- Belongings must be pushed back far enough behind the netting so as not to encroach on the safe zone surrounding the fields.
- Failure to comply will result in a delay of game penalty for the offending team.
- Any additions to rosters after the registration deadline are subject to approval by the PIT Football League Management.
Players will not be credited for any games they are not listed on the website homepage roster prior to game day.
- Any other interpretations, not covered by the PITFootball and TFONT rule books and the indoor modified rules noted on this post are subject to the Head referees judgment and the league administration.
- Have a great season and enjoy the best game day football experience in Manitoba!
... BY THE PLAYERS