PITFOOTBALL.COM LEAGUE RULES FOR 2011 OUTDOOR SEASON



FOR THE PLAYERS ...           ... BY THE PLAYERS



All rules of the PIT Football League and the rules of the Official Touch Football Rule Book are in effect throughout the 2011 outdoor regular season and playoffs. It is the responsibility of the respective team representatives to advise team members of the rules and regulations.

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 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 before game time. It is the responsibility of teams to cross out any names of players who are not at the game.
  • It is the responsibility of team representatives to pick up and drop off goal post pads according to the goal post pads' pick-up and drop-off schedule when necessary. The first team listed on a given day is responsible for picking up pads, the last team listed is responsible for returning pads (the only applicable field with goal posts is Maple Grove).
  • 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 an insurance waiver 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. The league reserves the right to introduce fines for offending teams. Your cooperation is expected and appreciated.
  • The PIT league has a strict no alcohol policy. Players/teams caught drinking on the field will be automatically suspended. Again, we do not want to lose our fields, so there is zero tolerance for drinking at our field locations.
  • 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.

Touch Football Rule Book:
  • 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 Responsibilities:
  • 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.

Waiver Forms:
  • 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.

Eligible players must satisfy all of the following:
  • 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.

Playoff Eligibility:
  • Players must play a minimum of 6 games to be eligible for playoffs.
  • Players will not receive credit for a game played unless they have shown up to the game prior to halftime.
  • Team representatives should monitor all game card entries to ensure players make their 6 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 three 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.

Disciplinary Procedures:
  • 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.

Divisional Alignment:
  • The executive reserves the right to assign teams to divisions in order to provide the most competitive divisions.

Scheduling and Reschedule Policy:
  • 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.

Default Policy:
  • Teams may start the game one person down (ie, start the game with six players). Teams will be given a 15 minute 'grace' period with penalties accruing for delay of game at game time, the five minute mark, and the ten minute mark of the grace period. After 15 minutes the game is called as a default. Teams must start the game as soon as they have six 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.
  • Teams that do not have 6 players present at the time of kickoff will lose choice both halves
  • Defaulting teams will also lose two points in the standings for each default.
  • Players on the defaulting team do not receive any credit for a game played.
  • Players present on the non-defaulting team will receive credit for a game played.
  • In the event of a double-default, neither team will receive credit for a game played and both teams will be fined $50.
  • Defaulted games will not be rescheduled.
  • Three defaults by the same team will result in said team being suspended from the remainder of the season after the third default.

Fields:
  • Teams are responsible for bringing the goal post pads to the games at Maple Grove.
  • The first team on the schedule at a field is responsible for bringing the pads.
  • The last team on the schedule at a field is responsible for returning the pads to their proper location.
  • 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.
  • A complete list of fields can be found under the "Field Locations" link on the navigation toolbar or here: Field Locations

Tie Games:
  • 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 one team has more points.

Coin Flip:
  • 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.

Playoff Seeding (tie-breakers):
  • First tie-breaker: Wins/Losses (Total Points in Standings)
  • Second tie-breaker: Head to head
  • Third tie-breaker: Head to head plus minus
  • Fourth tie-breaker: Plus-minus overall
  • Fifth tie-breaker: Points against
  • Sixth tie-breaker: Coin flip
  • Seventh 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 been eliminated 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

The stuff that needs to be said:
  • 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 website and TFONT rule books and outdoor rules noted on this post are subject to the Head referee's judgment and the league administration.
  • Have a great season and enjoy the best game day football experience in Manitoba!



FOR THE PLAYERS ...           ... BY THE PLAYERS