BEST PRACTICES FOR SAFETY IN
POWDER PUFF FOOTBALL
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Scope ....................................................................................................................................1
Definitions............................................................................................................................2
Adult Supervision and Coaching .........................................................................................2
Schedule ...............................................................................................................................3
Personal Insurance ...............................................................................................................3
Required Forms ....................................................................................................................3
Concussion Management .....................................................................................................4
Return from Injury or Illness ...............................................................................................4
Transportation ......................................................................................................................5
Personal Protection ..............................................................................................................5
Rules ....................................................................................................................................5
Consequences for Unnecessary Roughness .........................................................................5
Player Disqualification.........................................................................................................5
Appendix A, Code of Conduct.............................................................................................6
Appendix B, Sample Rules. .................................................................................................7
1.
SCOPE
a. This document provides guidance for conducting safe and successful Powder Puff
Football games.
b. All games are to be flag football.
c. All games should only be played by students in grades Five (5) through 12.
Approved 12-17-2013
Best Practices for Safety in Powder Puff Football
2.
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DEFINITIONS
a. Powder Puff Football is a flag football game, including practices leading to the;
game, played by female participants. It generally follows the same set of rules as
regular flag football.
b. Flag Football is a version of football where the basic rules of the game are similar to
those of the mainstream game (often called "tackle football" for contrast), but instead
of tackling players to the ground, the defensive team must remove a flag from the ball
carrier ("deflagging") to end a down.
1) Flag football is designed to be a game of skill, speed, ability and cunning.
2) It is not meant to be a physical, pushing and pounding game.
3.
ADULT SUPERVISION AND COACHING
a. An adult supervisor, at least 21 years of age, is to be assigned to each team;
1) The adult supervisor is to attend all activities of the team.
b. Members of the boys’ football program may coach, but are to be supervised at all
times by the adult supervisor assigned to the team.
c. Coaches and/or supervisors are to demonstrate knowledge and competency in the
following areas:
1) Care and prevention of athletic injuries, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation
(CPR) and first aid, including, but not limited to, a basic understanding of the
signs and symptoms of concussions and the appropriate response to concussions;
2) Coaching techniques;
3) Rules and regulations powder puff football;
4) Child or adolescent psychology.
d. Additional requirements for adult coaches/supervisors who are not full-time
employees
1) Background checks to determine any offenses referenced in Education Code
sections 44010, 44011, or 44424;
2) Tuberculosis testing, every four (4) years;
3) Armatus Molestation Prevention training;
4) Agree to follow all applicable school board policies;
5) Agree to and sign a “Code of Ethical Conduct;”
6) Completion of a Volunteer form, as applicable.
e. Coaches and/or supervisors attend practice and/or competition to supervise students.
Best Practices for Safety in Powder Puff Football
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f. Referees are to demonstrate knowledge and competency in the Rules and regulations
powder puff football
4.
SCHEDULE
a. Competitions, practices, and fundraising events must be scheduled and approved by
the school site administrator prior to the beginning of the season
1) Fundraising events that are not sponsored by established parent-teacher/faculty
organizations, such as PTA and PFO, or established booster clubs, are to follow
district board policy and/or Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team
(FCMAT) guidelines for fundraising events found in Chapter 8 of the current
Associated Student Body Accounting Manual, Desk Reference and Fraud
Prevention Guide.
a) Found at: http://www.fcmat.org/stories/storyReader$911
b. A written schedule of competitions, meetings, and/or team practices must be attached
to the field trip form. The school site administrator must approve additions to the
schedule.
c. Team practice does not begin until an adequate number of adult coaches and/or
supervisors are present. If an insufficient number of adult coaches and/or supervisors
are available, practice is to be cancelled.
d. Ad hoc practices, competitions, and fundraising events.
Practice sessions,
competitions and/or fundraising events not on the approved schedule are not schoolsanctioned
1) The coach, supervisor, and/or committee organizing practices, competitions, and
fundraising events that are not on the approved schedule may not be covered by
the district liability insurance program.
5.
PERSONAL INSURANCE
a. Each participant must show proof of personal medical and/or accident insurance.
b. Information regarding personal accident insurance will be available through the
district.
6.
REQUIRED FORMS:
a. All powder puff football participants must submit a fully completed and signed
“Voluntary Sports/Athletic Event Or Activity, Informed Consent And Liability
Release, Acknowledgment And Assumption Of Potential Risk” form
b. District Forms
1) Field Trip/Excursion Authorization and Medical Treatment Authorization with
attached practice schedule and competition schedule
2) Physical Examination
Best Practices for Safety in Powder Puff Football
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3) Concussion information
4) Code of Conduct
5) Readmission to School of Student with Temporary Disability or Injury
6) Personal Vehicle Use (coaches, supervisors, and chaperones).
7) Student Transportation Permission
c. Accident Reports
1) VCSSFA “Report of Personal Accident” Form VCSS SFA – 1006 must be
completed after any injury arising out of or in the course of travel to, or
participation in Competitive Team Sport Clubs practice and/or competition.
2) All accident reports must be completed thoroughly, accurately, and submitted to
the district office within 24 hours of the incident.
7.
CONCUSSION MANAGEMENT
a. Coaches are to be trained in a basic understanding of the signs and symptoms of
concussions and the appropriate response to concussions. (California Education Code
(Ed Code), Section 35179.1(b)(6))
b. A concussion and head injury information sheet shall be signed and returned by the
athlete and the athlete’s parent or guardian annually before the athlete’s initiating
practice or competition. (Ed Code, §49475(a)(2))
c. An athlete who is suspected of sustaining a concussion or head injury in an athletic
activity shall be immediately removed from the activity for the remainder of the day,
and shall not be permitted to return to the activity until he or she is evaluated by a
licensed health care provider, trained in the management of concussions, acting
within the scope of his or her practice. The athlete shall not be permitted to return to
the activity until he or she receives written clearance to return to the activity from that
licensed health care provider. (Ed Code, §49475(a)(1))
d. Refer to Best Practices for Concussion Management for more information
http://www.vcssfa.org/RiskControl/BestPractices/tabid/2068/Default.aspx
8.
RETURN FROM INJURY OR ILLNESS
a. An athlete who suffers a significant injury or illness during an athletic activity should
be immediately removed from the activity for the remainder of the day, and should
not be permitted to return to the activity until he or she is evaluated by a licensed
health care provider
1) Broken bone(s);
2) Severe joint sprain, requiring a splint or cast;
3) Severe muscle strain;
Best Practices for Safety in Powder Puff Football
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4) Concussion;
5) Seizure;
6) Heat exhaustion and/or heat stroke.
b. The athlete should not be permitted to return to the activity until he or she receives
written clearance and release to return to the activity from a licensed health care
provider.
1) Readmission to School of Student with Temporary Disability or Injury form
9.
TRANSPORTATION
a. Refer to “Best Practices for Student Activity Transportation.”
http://www.vcssfa.org/RiskControl/BestPractices/tabid/2068/Default.aspx
10.
PERSONAL PROTECTION
a. Mouth guard (required)
b. Helmets
c. Knee and elbow pads
d. Shirts are to be tucked into shorts or pants
e. Only sneakers, turf shoes, or molded rubber cleats may be worn. No metal or screwin cleats allowed
f. All jewelry is to be removed
g. No clothing with pockets or belt loops
11.
RULES
a. Prior to the first practice, the adult supervisor(s) will review of all rules with the
players.
b. Sample rules are attached as Appendix B.
12.
CONSEQUENCES FOR UNNECESSARY ROUGHNESS
a. The first offense will result in removal from the game until the other team takes
possession of the ball.
b. The second offense will result in player disqualification.
13.
PLAYER DISQUALIFICATION
a. A player is to be ejected for the following:
1) Two (2) unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in the game;
2) Any act which, in the official’s judgment, is intended to injure another player;
Best Practices for Safety in Powder Puff Football
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3) Throwing a punch at anyone (whether or not it connects);
4) Contact with an official;
5) Any other act deemed severe enough by the official.
6) Fighting will result in an immediate ejection from the game.
b. An ejected player must leave the game site. If the person being ejected fails to leave
then the game will be ended.
APPENDIX A
POWDERPUFF FOOTBALL
CODE OF CONDUCT
1. To down the ball carrier, defending players must deflag the ball carrier.
2. Contact is limited to incidental contact that is a normal part of flag football.
3. No tackling or any form of physical contact intended to cause injury is allowed. A defensive
player may not intentionally hold, block, or trip the ball carrier.
4. Players are expected to behave in a civil manner. Uncivil and unsportsmanlike acts will
result in a verbal warning for the first offense and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for
each subsequent offense.
a) Ball delays
b) Flag throwing or slamming
5. Verbal misconduct will not be tolerated. If verbal misconduct occurs, the referee will give
one warning. If it continues, the player or players will be ejected from the game.
a) Arguing with officials
b) Cursing or swearing
c) Taunting or trash-talking
6. Play that is deemed by the referee to be reckless or intentionally malicious will result in an
unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. A reckless or intentionally malicious act can include any
acts of flagrant actions, or any act intending to cause harm. Two reckless or intentionally
malicious conduct penalties committed by one player during a game will result in automatic
ejection.
a) Blatant tackling with no effort to pull flags
b) Cheap shots and roughing
c) Clothes lining,
d) Elbowing
7. Fighting will result in an immediate ejection from the game.
8. Coaches and cheerleaders must follow the same conduct rules.
9. Players, coaches, or cheerleaders who are ejected from a game, must vacate the premises.
I have read and agree to all the rules of conduct listed above.
Signature
Name (Please print)
Date
APPENDIX B
POWDER PUFF FOOTBALL
SAMPLE RULES
1.
GENERAL RULES
a. Captains and head coaches meet for the coin toss. The visiting team calls the toss
b. The winner of the coin toss may choose to go on offense, defense or defer to the other
team. If the winner defers, the loser of the coin toss chooses to go on offense or
defense. The winner chooses which end zone to defend. The deferring team gets the
ball in the second half. Should the winner of the coin toss choose either defense or
offense, the team that starts the game on defense will start the second half on offense
and vice versa.
c. The offensive team takes possession at its 20-yard line and has four (4) plays to cross
twenty (20) yards for a first down. On fourth downs, the offense must state to the
opposing defense if they will continue to go for the first down marker or if they will
punt the ball. The offense then must do as they declared.
d. To punt the ball, both teams must remain stationary on the line of scrimmage until
after the ball is punted. Only one player on the receiving team can be back to field
the punt. The receiving team may advance the ball if the player catches the ball
cleanly, without the ball hitting the ground. If the ball hits the ground, it is dead at
that spot. 5. If the offensive team fails to get a first down, the opposing team takes
possession at that spot.
e. Blocking is allowed anywhere on the field of play. Players blocking must have their
hands within the opponent’s shoulders and can not fully extend their arms (as in the
case to push the opponent off her feet). Blocking an opponent with her back towards
the player making a block is not allowed.
f. To down the ball carrier, defending players must deflag the ball carrier.
g. Teams change ends every quarter.
h. Teams can play with no fewer than 7 players.
2.
EQUIPMENT
a. Flags must be worn on each side of the players' hips in line with the hip joint.
b. Pants or shorts with belt loops or pockets must be taped.
c. Players must wear shoes. Cleats are allowed, however cleats with exposed metal are
not allowed.
d. Players may tape their forearms, hands and fingers. Players may wear gloves, elbow
pads, and kneepads. Braces with exposed metals are not allowed.
e. Players must remove all watches, earrings and any other jewelry that the officials
deem hazardous.
f. All offensive players must have both flags on while on the field of play. If a player
does not have flag on or the flag falls off while in the field of play, opposing player
just have to touch the player if she is in possession of the ball.
Appendix B, Sample Rules
Best Practices for Safety in Powder Puff Football
3.
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COACHES
a. Coaches may not come on to the field of play during a game unless a player is
injured. Coaches who come on the field of play anytime during a game will be
penalized. One sideline warning per game will be issued after which the following
penalties will result:
1) Coach on the field during live action = unsportsmanlike conduct
2) Coach on the field during a dead ball = delay of game
b. Only the head coach can address the game officials.
4.
CONDUCT
a. Contact is limited to incidental contact that is a normal part of flag football.
b. No tackling or any form of physical contact intended to cause injury is allowed. A
defensive player may not intentionally hold, block, or trip the ball carrier.
c. Players are expected to behave in a civil manner. Uncivil and unsportsmanlike acts
will result in a verbal warning for the first offense and an unsportsmanlike conduct
penalty for each subsequent offense.
1) Ball delays
2) Flag throwing or slamming
d. Verbal misconduct will not be tolerated. If trash-talking occurs, the referee will give
one warning. If it continues, the player or players will be ejected from the game.
1) Arguing with officials
2) Cursing or swearing
3) Taunting or trash-talking
e. Play that is deemed by the referee to be reckless or intentionally malicious will result
in an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. An unsportsmanlike act can include any acts
of flagrant actions, or any act intending to cause harm. Two unsportsmanlike conduct
penalties committed by one player during a game will result in automatic ejection.
1) Blatant tackling with no effort to pull flags
2) Cheap shots and roughing
3) Clothes lining,
4) Elbowing
f. Fighting will result in an immediate ejection from the game.
g. Players, Coaches, or Spectators who are ejected from a game, must vacate the
premises.
Appendix B, Sample Rules
Best Practices for Safety in Powder Puff Football
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h. For safety reasons, spectators must be seated in the stands.
5.
DEAD BALL
a. Play is ruled "dead" when:
1) The ball touches the ground.
2) Ball carrier's flag is pulled.
3) Ball carrier steps out of bounds.
4) Ball carrier's knee, elbow, hip or backside touches the ground.
5) When a touchdown or extra point is made.
b. Substitutions may be made on any dead ball.
6.
SPOTTING THE BALL
a. The ball is spotted where the ball is when the flag is pulled
b. If a ball carrier's flag falls out while running, the play will be dead at the spot of the
ball where the flag fell off.
c. The play is ruled dead when the ball makes contact with the ground. In the case of a
fumble or muffed snap, the ball is spotted at the spot where it touches the ground.
7.
RUSHING THE QUARTERBACK
a. All players who rush the passer must be a minimum of 1 yard from the line of
scrimmage when the ball is snapped. A special marker will designate this from the
line of scrimmage.
b. No rusher is allowed to line up right over the center. They may line up in either gap
between the center but cannot be right in front of the center.
c. Rushers may use hands to move around their opponent but cannot use her hands
anywhere above the neck.
d. Any number of players can rush the quarterback.
e. Rushers may jump to block a pass but may not make contact with the QB’s arm.
f. If a rusher leaves the rush line prior to the snap, she may return to the rush line, reset
and then legally rush the quarterback if the ball has not been put into live play.
8.
RULES VIOLATIONS
a. All penalties will be assessed at the end of the play.
b. Spinning is allowed but players CANNOT leave their feet to avoid a defensive player.
Appendix B, Sample Rules
Best Practices for Safety in Powder Puff Football
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c. Diving or leaping to advance the ball is not allowed. If a player dives or leaps, the
ball will be marked where the player left her feet.
d. Any player that comes onto the field from out of bounds after the play has begun will
be penalized for Illegal Participation.
e. Referees will determine incidental contact that results from normal play.
f. The head coach may ask the referee for a rules clarification or interpretation but the
request must come immediately after the play in question. Any stoppage of play by a
coach to question a call or rule pertaining to a play other than the one just played will
result in a delay of game penalty.
g. Players may not question calls. Coaches may not question judgment calls.
h. Penalties may be declined.
i. In the case of offensive and defensive penalties occurring on the same play, the down
will be replayed unless one of the infractions was a personal foul. In that case, the
personal foul would take precedence over the non-personal foul. Example: A
defender interferes with a pass and, following the whistle; the offensive player turns
and pushes the defensive player in anger. While both the defense and offense are
flagged respectively for pass interference and unsportsmanlike conduct, the offense
alone would then be penalized for the personal foul of unsportsmanlike conduct.
j. Games cannot end on a defensive penalty, unless the offense declines it.
k. If team calls a time-out when it has none left, the official will acknowledge the
timeout request but a penalty will be assessed. For the losing team, the penalty is 5
yards and 15 seconds run off the clock. If the game clock has less than 15 seconds
when such a timeout is called, the game clock will expire and will result in either
half-time or game over. For the winning team, the penalty is 5 yards.
l. The ball may not be stripped from runner.
9.
INADVERTENT WHISTLE
a. In the case of an inadvertent whistle, the offense has two options:
1) Take the ball at the spot where the whistle blew.
2) Replay the down from the original line of scrimmage.
b. If a personal foul is committed during or immediately after a play whistled dead by an
inadvertent whistle, the penalty for the personal foul nullifies option 1) and is
accessed at the spot of the ball.
10.
GENERAL PENALTIES
a. Personal Fouls = either loss of down (offensive) or automatic first down (defensive)
Appendix B, Sample Rules
Best Practices for Safety in Powder Puff Football
Page 5
b. Note: Personal Fouls are the bolded items below, which will incur both a yardage
penalty & a down and distance change:
c. Roughing/Unsportsmanlike conduct = 10 yards from end of play.
d. Delay of game = 5 yards from the original line of scrimmage.
e. Too many players on the field = 5 yards from line of scrimmage.
f. Illegal pitch = 5 yards from point of infraction.
g. Improper Equipment = 5 yards from the original line of scrimmage and loss of down.
1) Note: When the listed penalty yardage is in excess of half the distance between
the goal line and the spot from where the penalty yardage is to begin, the penalty
will be "Half the distance to the goal line." Example: The original line of
scrimmage is 7 yards from the goal line. The defense is flagged for being offsides. The ball will be moved toward the goal and spotted at the 3 1/2 yard mark.
11.
OFFENSIVE PENALTIES
a. Illegal Hike/Illegal Motion/False Start = 5 yards from the original line of scrimmage.
b. Offensive Pass Interference = 10 yards from the original line of scrimmage.
c. Illegal Hands to the Face = 10 yards at spot of the foul. In case of illegal hands to the
face in the end zone, results in a loss of down.
d. Illegal Blocking = 10 yards from the original line of scrimmage.
e. Flag Guarding = 10 yards from spot of foul.
f. Center Sneak = 5 yards from the original line of scrimmage.
g. Illegal participation = 5 yard from the original line of scrimmage.
12.
DEFENSIVE PENALTIES
a. Offside/Illegal Rush = 5 yards at the end of the play.
b. Pass Interference = Ball placed at spot of the foul. In the case of pass interference in
the end zone, the ball will be spotted half the distance to the goal line.
c. Illegal Hands to the Face = 10 yards at spot of the foul. In the case of illegal hands to
the Face in the end zone, the ball will be spotted half the distance to the goal line.
d. Holding/Illegal Contact/Illegal Flag Pull = 10 yards from the original line of
scrimmage.
e. Holding an offensive player with the ball = 10 yards from the spot of the foul.
f. Roughing the passer = 10 yards from end of play and automatic first down.
g. Illegal participation = 5 yard from the original line of scrimmage and automatic first
down. Illegal Contact/Bumping Receivers = 10 yards from the end of the play