Western Iowa Youth Sports
Panther Football
2016 League Rules
WIYS001 Mission
The goal of the WIYS Youth Football League is to provide children in 3rd through 7th grade the opportunity to play
organized football in a fun and safe manner, by teaching the proper fundamentals and keeping away the pressures of
winning. League guidelines mandate fair play at all levels and allow for the success of all players.
WIYS002 Eligibility of Athletes
To be eligible to participate in the WIYS Youth Football League a player must:
1. Must officially weigh in when signing up and report to any other required weigh-ins.
2. Must be regularly enrolled, and, in regular attendance at a public, private, parochial, home, or military school. All
players must play for their School district team. Any other students who do not have school district teams
participating will be drafted equally to teams as needed.
3. Must not have, or currently be, participating in any high school athletic program, to include school organized
summer weightlifting programs/classes.
4. Must submit signed Parental Consent Form and Parental Conduct Pledge Form to the league.
5. Must be at least entering the 3rd grade to participate in any practice or game.
6. Must not reach the age of 14 prior to August 1, 2016
7. Must participate for only 1 team at one play level. Players are not allowed to play for additional tackle football
teams in other leagues while participating on a WIYS team.
8. Must display good sportsmanship and follow the rules of competition of WIYS Youth Football.
WIYS003 Eligibility of Coaches
Coaches are required to submit to a background check or provide a copy of a valid and current background check
through their local school administration, in accordance with a teaching certificate, before they participate or interact
in any practice or contest. Background checks must remain current every 24 months.
To be eligible to coach or assist coach for a WIYS team, the coaching candidate must:
1. Submit to an aforementioned mandatory background check, and if candidate is denied coaching eligibility, they
may appeal to the WIYS Board of Directors, who must give approval before the coach is allowed to continue
coaching in the league.
2. Head Coaches must be a minimum 21 years of age and assistants or trainers must be a minimum 18 years of age.
3. All Head Coaches must attend a WIYS Youth Football Coaches Meeting annually.
4. Must not have presented any false or incomplete information to any league official to gain eligibility.
5. Must display good sportsmanship, follow the rules of competition and follow the WIYS Coaches Code of
Conduct before, during and after every contest.
6. Must pass league approved Concussion Awareness and Diagnosis Training prior to the start of practices. All
coaches, including all Head and Assistant Coaches, are required to pass this test or they will not be allowed to coach
at any level.
WIYS004 Draft
Head coaches from each school district will draw for the order of the draft. Draft will continue in that order until all
players are selected. Draft meeting will be at a time and place set by the WIYS Board of Directors and all Head
Coaches or their designee must be present. Non-coaching parents or players are not allowed to attend. League
commissioners will, at their discretion place new players who are accepted after the draft. Players are not allowed to
participate with any WIYS team until all required registration materials are filled out and league commissioner has
assigned player. Any player added to a team without proper registration will result in the immediate suspension of
the Head Coach. League commissioners reserve the right to oversee all drafts and make any adjustments for the
benefit of the child and the league.
WIYS005 Team Roster
Rosters will be limited to 22 total players. The minimum number of players will be 15. Team rosters must be
updated weekly by the Head Coach of each team. Records and equipment people must be informed of any player
who has quit and status of that equipment. Head coaches are responsible for collecting equipment from players who
have quit. Equipment must be turned into designated equipment personnel. League commissioner will decide at his
discretion if players need to be moved between school districts to resolve roster number issues. Players may not be
added after the first game unless approved by the Board of Directors. This would only be approved in the event of a
player shortage. Players and coaches who misrepresent the age or school district player is enrolled in will be
suspended from participating.
League Grade Divisions
3rd 4th & 5th 6th & 7th
WIYS006 Proof of Age and Grade
All players must present a copy of their birth certificate to league officials by August 20th , 2016. Players must
provide the grade they are entering for the 2016-2017 school year and must play in that grade group. Any player
who misrepresents age or grade information will be suspended for the season. Any coach who knowingly allows a
player to participate in the wrong grade division will also be suspended for the season. Player must not reach the age
of 14 before August 1st, 2016.
WIYS007 Weigh-In
Players will be weighed at registration. All ball carriers weighing in within 10 lbs of the set weight limits will be
required to weigh in a second time on the Saturday before the 5th scheduled game.
WIYS008 Weight Limits
3rd
Grade All players over 75 lbs are striped players.
4th & 5th
Grade All players over 110 lbs are striped players.
6th & 7th
Grade All players over 145 lbs are striped players.
WIYS009 Striped Player Restrictions
1. Stripers must have a horizontal stripe on their helmet. The tape must be visible on all sides of the helmet and
must be 3/4 ” wide, minimum.
2. Striper players must play the interior line positions, either the center, guard, or tackle position and must line up in
the free blocking zone. The free blocking zone extends from 4 yards to the right and left of the ball and 3 yards to
the front and back of the ball. A striper must be aligned no more than 2 positions from the ball and can play only
center, guard or tackle.
3. Defensive stripers must be in a 3 point or 4 point stance at the snap of the ball. Defensive players cannot line up
any further outside than the outside shoulder of the offensive tackle.
4. Offensive players may maintain a 2-point pass blocking stance at the snap of the ball, in addition to the 3 or 4
point stance. On kick-off or kick return teams’, a striper player does not have to be in a 3-point or 4-point stance.
5. A play will be blown dead if, and when, a striper comes into possession of the ball. The exception is if the punter
is a striper. In this case the punter must punt and cannot fake a punt or advance the ball. No ball advancement or
laterals are permitted by striper players.
6. Once a player is declared a striper, he/she cannot be re-certified as a skill position player if he/she loses weight.
7. Any team found illegally using a striper player or illegally lining up striper player at a skill position will be
assessed a 15 yard penalty for un-sportsmanlike conduct and if it is determined to have impacted the results of the
game, forfeiture of the game will occur.
8. Repeated offenses of this rule will result in Head Coach suspension.
WIYS010 Double Striper Older/ Lighter Rule
Players meeting the following criteria will be allowed to follow the Older/Lighter Rule:
6th graders weighing 60 lbs. or less have the option of playing at the 4th & 5th grade level.
Players will be denoted with a Double Stripe on their helmets and are not allowed to play running back or
quarterback positions, and are not allowed to advance the ball unless they intercept a pass, return a punt or kick-off,
recover a fumble, or catch a forward pass beyond the line of scrimmage. Double stripers are not required to play
tackle-to-tackle.
WIYS011 Practice Rules
1. The first two practices for all players will be "No Contact" in which only helmets and cleats may be worn. No
personal protective padding may be worn by players during this time.
2. Any player, regardless of when they start practicing, must abide by the "No Contact" practice rule for 2
consecutive practices.
3. After the first two non-contact practices, teams may start full contact drills and preseason scrimmages.
4. No Player shall play in a game without having attended practice and observed the No Contact, No Pads rule for 2
consecutive practices.
5. Practice nights will be designated by WIYS Board of Directors and may be changed at any time at their
discretion. Teams may not have their first practice until Monday August 1st, 2016.
6. The 2015 league season practice nights are as follows:
Monday – Thursday from 6 PM – 8 PM and Saturday mornings from 9 AM – 11:30 AM until the first games. After
the team’s first game, practice will be Tuesday and Thursday 6 PM – 8 PM and 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM Saturday
mornings for the remainder of the season. Practice times are set so that parents with children in different age groups
can plan on a set schedule. Any deviation from this schedule must be approved by the WIYS Board of
Directors. Any unauthorized deviation from this schedule will result in Head Coach Suspension. Any scrimmages
outside of district practice nights with district teams must be approved by the WIYS Board of Directors.
WIYS012 WIYS Authorized Footballs:
3rd
Pee Wee Size
4th & 5th
Junior Size
6th & 7th
Youth Size
WIYS013 Conduct
The Head Coach of each team is responsible for the conduct of his team, assistant coaches, and fans on and off the
field. Coaches and players must stay between the 25 yard lines. WIYS coaches must never address each other, an
official, or referee in a negative manner. Any WIYS coach ejected from any game will be suspended from the next
two games. Suspension will extend to the next season if necessary. A second ejection will result in a permanent ban
from coaching in the WIYS league. An incident report will also be submitted to all other metro area leagues and
organizations. Any player ejected from a game will be suspended for one game. A second player ejection will result
in suspension for the rest of the season with a minimum of three games. This suspension will also extend into the
next season if necessary. A player’s second ejection would also require a conference with the head coach and league
commissioner to determine if the player will be permanently suspended from the league.
WIYS014 Playing Time
All teams must have a playing time sheet on a clipboard at all games. Every eligible player must play at least 6 plays
per half. Free punt downs do not count towards a player’s 6 plays. One coach will be responsible for this rule at all
games. This clipboard must be available to the League Commissioner or his designated representative for review at
any time. The playing time sheet must be turned into the league commissioner or his designee immediately
following the end of the game. Violation of any playing time rule will result in a one game suspension for the Head
Coach.
WIYS015 Rules Variations 3rd Grade
1. Teams are allowed to have 1 coach on the field to assist with play calling, lining up, and huddling for the first 4
weeks of the season. No coaches are allowed on the field during kick-off or kick return plays during any point of the
season.
2. The offensive team coach must be 10 yards behind the deepest offensive player at the snap of the ball. The
defensive team coach must 5 yards behind the deepest defensive player and 10 yards away from any player.
3. Neither on field coach may coach, nor give directions or gestures, once the huddle is broke. He/she may assist
with players lining up, as long as he/she does not make blocking assignments or delay the game. On field coaches
will make all attempts to avoid interfering with the play. On field coaches will not attempt to deceive the opposing
players between or during plays. (i.e. being involved in a trick play.)
4. If an on-field coach is found to interfere in a play, the game will be stopped and a warning issued to the offending
teams head coach. The second offense will result in an automatic unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and the on-field
coach will be removed from the field for the remainder of the contest and the offending team will not be allowed to
have any coach on the field for the remainder of the game.
5. Teams can only punt on 4th down. Pee Wee Head Coaches have 10 seconds to declare, from the end of the
previous play, whether they will punt or go for the 4th down play. To declare, Head Coaches must clearly state to
the head official their decision. If the Head Coach fails to provide a decision to the head referee within 10 seconds,
the game clock will be stopped and will not restart until the ball is put back into play.
6. Teams have the option to punt the ball or ask the officials for an automatic punt. After declaring an automatic
punt, the ball will be moved 25 yards automatically. The ball can be placed no further than the opponents’ 20-yard
line on an automatic punt, as a team cannot pin their opponent inside of the 20 yd. line.
7. If a team chooses to have a player punt, no rush is allowed and no contact can be made, by either team, until after
the punt has occurred. No fake punts are allowed. The center must snap the ball to the punter, between the legs. The
punting team cannot release downfield until the punt has taken place. During actual punt plays, the receiving team
must have a minimum of 5 players lined up on the line of scrimmage in the free blocking zone. * Fake punts ARE
NOT ALLOWED at the 3rd grade level.
8. Once the offensive team snaps the ball, they have 10 seconds to punt the football. After the ball has been snapped,
and before the punter kicks it, the football may not be touched by any player on the offensive team, except the
punter. If the ball is not punted in the allotted 10 seconds, the play is dead and the ball is spotted, as a change of
possession, at the place of the ball when the play was blown dead. The head official will be responsible for timing
the punt.
9. The kicking team must alert the officials that they are going to attempt an extra point or field goal. The officials
will alert the defensive team that an extra point or field goal is going to be attempted. The offensive team must snap
the ball from the center, between the legs, to the holder, to start the play. The defensive team will not be allowed to
make contact with any player on the offensive team. The defensive team will be allowed to jump and waive their
arms, but touching an offensive player or crossing the line of scrimmage will result in an offside penalty being
assessed. Once the offensive team snaps the ball, they have 10 seconds to kick the football. After the ball has been
snapped, and before the kicker kicks it, the football may not be touched by any player on the offensive team, except
the holder. If the ball is not kicked in the allotted 10 seconds, the play is dead and no points are awarded. The head
official will be responsible for timing the kick. * Fake extra points or field goals ARE NOT ALLOWED at the
3rd grade level.
WIYS016 Rules Variations 4th & 5th grade level
1. Teams can elect to punt on any down. If a team chooses to have a player punt, no rush is allowed and no contact
can be made, by either team, until after the punt has occurred. No fake punts are allowed. The center must snap the
ball to the punter, between the legs. The punting team cannot release downfield field until the punt has taken place.
During actual punt plays, the receiving team must have a minimum of 5 players lined up on the line of scrimmage in
the free blocking zone. * Fake punts ARE NOT ALLOWED at the 4th & 5th grade level.
Once the offensive team snaps the ball, they have 5 seconds to punt the football. After the ball has been snapped,
and before the punter kicks it, the football may not be touched by any player on the offensive team, except the
punter. If the ball is not punted in the allotted 5 seconds, the play is dead and the ball is spotted at the place of the
ball when the play was blown dead. If the snap goes beyond the punter the ball is dead where it is picked up or
becomes dead. The head official will be responsible for timing the punt.
2. Teams have the option to punt the ball or ask the officials for an automatic punt. After declaring an automatic
punt, the ball will be moved 25 yards automatically. The ball can be placed no further than the opponents’ 20-yard
line on an automatic punt, as a team cannot pin their opponent inside of the 20 yd. line.
3. The kicking team must alert the officials that they are going to attempt an extra point or field goal. The officials
will alert the defensive team that an extra point or field goal is going to be attempted. The offensive team must snap
the ball from the center, between the legs, to the holder, to start the play. The defensive team will not be allowed to
make contact with any player on the offensive team. The defensive team will be allowed to jump and waive their
arms, but touching an offensive player or crossing the line of scrimmage will result in an offside penalty being
assessed. Once the offensive team snaps the ball, they have 3 seconds to kick the football. After the ball has been
snapped, and before the kicker kicks it, the football may not be touched by any player on the offensive team, except
the holder. If the ball is not kicked in the allotted 3 seconds, the play is dead and no points are awarded. If the ball is
snapped beyond the kicker it is declared dead. The head official will be responsible for timing the kick. * Fake
extra points or field goals WILL NOT BE ALLOWED at the 4th & 5th grade level.
WIYS017 Game Time Limits
All WIYS Youth Football games will be 4 – 10 minute Quarters with a 10-minute halftime. Clock will be operated
per IHSAA rules with the exception of change of possession where the clock will run as soon as the ball is set.
WIYS018 Overtime Rules
A coin flip will determine which team plays offense and which team plays defense to start the overtime period. The
team that wins the coin toss will choose whether want to play offense or defense to start the overtime period. The
team that loses the coin toss will determine which end of the field the overtime periods will be played on. Each team
will be given 4 plays to score from the 10-yard line. If either team scores or both teams score and remain tied after
the first overtime, we will attempt a second overtime. The team that lost the coin toss to start the first overtime
period, will choose whether to play offense or defense to start the 2nd overtime period. If the first team to have the
ball scores, then the second team must score in the same amount of plays or fewer. If the score remains tied after the
second overtime, the game will be ruled a tie. If tied in a game determining the League Championship Game, the
game will continue until there is an official winner.
WIYS019 Team Scoring
Touchdowns
Point after TD by Play
Points after TD by Kicking
Safety
Field Goal
3rd
6 points
1 point
2 points
2 points
3 points
4th-5th
6 points
1 point
2 points
2 points
3 points
6th-7th
6 points
1 point
2 points
2 points
3 points
WIYS020 Mercy Rule
When a team is ahead by 21 points or more, the team that is behind will receive the ball on the opponent’s 40 yard
line after any score. When a team is ahead by 21 points or more, the team that is ahead must have all players in the
game either on offense or defense. To further define this, if your defense comes off the field, any player that was not
on the field on defense must go into the game for the offensive series. No exceptions! If the difference in score drops
below 21 points regular league rules will apply. Any game that is won by more than 35 points will require the
winning head coach to submit a written explanation to the league commissioner. If the commissioner concludes that
reasonable steps were not taken to keep the score difference under 35, he will suspend the winning coach from the
next game. Failure to submit written explanation by Tuesday at the beginning of practice will result in automatic
suspension from the next game.
WIYS021 I.D. Badges
All coaches and helpers that will be on the sidelines will be background checked and required to have WIYS
assigned picture I.D. badges visible at every game. Anyone not wearing an I.D. badge will be asked to leave the
sidelines.
WIYS022 League Tiebreaker
1. Overall record
2. Head to Head record
3. Co-champions