PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT
MEN’S FLAG FOOTBALL LEAGUE BY-LAWS
The Adult Sports office telephone number is 972-941-5275, and the fax number is 972-941-7469.
Office hours are 8 am - 5 pm Monday - Friday. The website is www.planoparks.org.
A.
B.
C.
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GOVERNMENT
1.
The Plano Parks and Recreation Department shall govern the League.
2.
Disciplinary action shall be ruled on by the Flag Football Executive Advisory Committee
of the Parks and Recreation Department.
3.
Texas Amateur Athletic Federation rules apply.
FEES
1.
Each team shall pay a participation fee set by the Parks and Recreation Department.
2.
All fees shall be paid by the designated date set by the Parks and Recreation
Department. NO EXCEPTIONS.
3.
There will be no refunds.
ELIGIBILITY
1.
AT ALL TIMES, THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE ELIGIBILITY AND CONDUCT OF
PLAYERS AND SPECTATORS RESTS WITH THE MANAGERS OF THE TEAMS.
2.
All participants must either live, work, or worship within the City limits of Plano. Parttime jobs do not fulfill the "work" requirement. Teams that do not meet this requirement
will be allowed to participate on a space-available basis.
3.
Minimum age is eighteen (18) years as of September 1 of the current year.
4.
No player shall be eligible who has not signed the official playing Roster or Player
Addition form.
5.
Rosters are limited to twenty (20) players for 8 x 8 flag football teams. These limits do
include a playing manager. The original team roster filled out by each member of the
team must be turned in to the Adult Sports office at 5901 Los Rios Boulevard prior to
the playing of the second game. Players may not be added to the roster after the
sixth game played in the season.
6.
Players may not play on different teams within the same league. No player will be
released to play on another team in the same league. Players may play on more
than one team; however, they will do so at their own risk.
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D.
RULES OF COMPETITION
1.
ALCOHOL BEVERAGES ARE NOT ALLOWED ON CITY PROPERTY, INCLUDING
THE PARKING LOT!
2.
Unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated at any time for any reason. No player,
coach, manager, or spectator may display ungentlemanly conduct such as profane or
vile language; abusive language or abusive action toward the officials or Parks and
Recreation staff; fighting; or consumption/possession of alcoholic beverages on City
property before, during, or after a game. Any abusive language or threats directed
toward the officials or Parks and Recreation staff may be grounds for suspension from
the league. Unsportsmanlike conduct and arguing with officials are major infractions.
The Parks & Recreation Department Executive Advisory Committee will decide on the
length of all suspensions, but there shall be a minimum of:
a.
Two games, or more, for using profane language and/or unsportsmanlike
conduct. The suspension shall be effective for the two games immediately
following the game in which the violation occurred. If the player participates on
more than one night, suspension will be effective then also. The player may not
come to the field during the suspension period.
NOTE: Using profane language and/or unsportsmanlike conduct shall be an
automatic suspension. It shall not be necessary for the Executive Advisory
Committee to meet except to increase the length of the suspension.
b.
An indefinite period of time for fighting (fights will be defined as intent to do
harm). Any or all persons involved in a fight will be suspended. Whole teams
may be suspended if the infraction is severe enough (i.e. striking official, mass
fights, striking City officials, etc.)
c.
A one-year suspension if a second two-week suspension is drawn. THE
MAXIMUM PENALTY APPLIED AFTER THE SECOND EJECTION MAY
RESULT IN A ONE-YEAR SUSPENSION FROM PARTICIPATION IN ALL
SPORTS IN ALL T.A.A.F. AFFILIATE LEAGUES.
d.
A one-year or more suspension for striking an official. Suspension will be
forwarded to the State Commissioner and the T.A.A.F. Suspension Review
Board.
These rules apply to all pre-season and post-season play-offs or tournaments, as well
as regular season play.
3.
Before each league game is played in this association, each team must have a
manager or coach who is the official spokesman for his team and is the person
responsible to the referee.
PENALTY: Forfeiture of the game.
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4.
The referee's decision shall be final on decisions of facts and conduct of the game
where such decisions do not involve interpretation of the Rules, the By-Laws of the
association, or the eligibility of players.
5.
Game time shall be forfeit time for all games, with the exception of the 6:30 games.
There will be a ten (10) minute grace period. The clock, however, will start at 6:30.
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6.
All games will be played as scheduled, except on occasion of emergency or rained-out
field conditions as established by the Parks and Recreation Department or the referee.
Postponed games will be rescheduled at a later date. If make-ups become excessive,
games may have to be re-scheduled for a day different from the regular scheduled one.
This may include weekends.
7.
Games that are called due to rain or other unforeseen circumstances will be considered
final if the game has progressed through five (5) minutes of play of the second half. All
uncompleted games will be started from the beginning.
8.
If a team manager knows prior to game time that his team will be required to forfeit the
game due to lack of eligible players, he should verbally forfeit the game only by phoning
the Adult Sports staff at 972-941-7278 before 5 pm. Every effort will be made to contact
the other team.
9.
Forfeiture of three (3) regularly-scheduled games for any reason will disqualify a team
from further competition in this association during the current season.
10.
If the last game of the evening is a forfeit, the facility will be vacated and lights will be
turned off.
11.
All players must wear similar-color jerseys, and the jerseys must have permanent
numbers. No two players on the same team may wear the same number. Numbers
must be 8" on the back of the shirt. Shorts or pants may not have any pockets. Gloves
worn by a player must be approved and inspected by game officials. No jewelry will be
allowed.
PENALTY: Ejection from game when infraction is discovered.
E.
12.
Each team will furnish a leather ball before each game. Each team will also furnish its
own flags. Velcro or cylinder-type flag belts are acceptable.
13.
All players must wear protective mouthpieces. This is a requirement in order to play.
14.
Rain-out number to call after 4:00 pm is 972-941-7278 or check the message board at
www.planoparks.org (Athletics tab/ Adult Sports/ Standings/Schedules and Message
Board).
15.
Rain-out schedules for games to be made up will be added to your schedule at
www.planoparks.org (same as above). The original date will no longer appear.
PROTESTS
1.
Rule Interpretation Protests
a.
Protests will not be received or considered if they are based solely on a decision
involving the accuracy of a judgment on the part of a referee.
b.
Protests involving only the misinterpretation of a playing rule will be allowed.
c. Teams wishing to protest the misinterpretation of a playing rule must:
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1.
Notify the head referee stating the reason for the protest prior to:
a. the next down OR
b. all players having left the playing field, if on the last play of a half OR
c. the referees having left the playing field, if on the last play of the game.
2. Notify City Staff of the protest in writing, signed by the team manager, and filed
by 5:00 pm the next business day.
3. Provide a $50.00 deposit (cash or check only) to City Staff by 5:00 pm the next
business day. If the protest is upheld, the deposit will be refunded.
d. All protests will be ruled on by City Staff and the Head Referee.
e. If the protest is upheld, all penalties will be determined by City Staff and the
Head Referee whose decision shall be final.
f.
2.
Only protests that actually affect the win-loss outcome of the protested game
will be considered.
Eligibility Protests
a. Teams wishing to protest the eligibility of a player must:
1.
Inform the head referee that the game is being played under protest and
identify the person(s) in question prior to the completion of the ball game.
2. Notify City Staff of the protest in writing, signed by the team manager, and filed
by 5:00 pm the next business day.
3. Provide a $50.00 deposit (cash or check only) to City Staff by 5:00 pm the next
business day. If the protest is upheld, the deposit will be refunded.
4. The eligibility of only two (2) players per game may be challenged.
5. All protests will be ruled on by City Staff and the Head Referee.
6. If the protest is upheld, all penalties will be determined by City Staff and the
Head Referee whose decision shall be final.
b.
Protested player(s) must:
1. Produce picture identification to the Head Referee issued by the Texas
Department of Public Safety within ten (10) minutes of the completion of the
ball game.
Failure to produce picture identification will result in automatic forfeiture
by the team using the player(s) in question.
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2. City Staff will verify the identity of the player(s) in question with the referee.
Rulings on player eligibility will be made within 48 hours, and City Staff will notify
both team managers. If the team roster is not on file and a player’s eligibility
is challenged, the game in question will be automatically forfeited.
F.
FREE AGENT LIST
A “free agent” list is maintained by the Adult Sports staff. This list contains information regarding
individuals wishing to get added to a team. It is available upon request to all managers who can
call 972-941-5275 to have the list emailed to them.
G.
DETERMINATION OF LEAGUE WINNER
1. If a tie exists for any award position, the following tiebreaker criteria will be followed:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
H.
win-loss in head-to-head games
fewest points allowed in head-to-head games
most points scored in head-to-head games
fewest points allowed in league play
most points scored in league play
play a tiebreaker game
AWARDS
1st place award consisting of 12 custom t-shirts (Spring, Summer, and Fall)
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