LEAGUERULES

LITTLE ILLINI JUNIOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE RULE AND REGULATIONS

I.      Council Office and Officers
A.    One voting member from each league team, with 5/8 of members to form a
quorum.
B.     President to cast tie breaking vote.
C.     Elected officers: President, Vice President, and Treasurer.

II.      Insurance

A.    All league teams must purchase insurance through the Little Illini Junior
Football League policy. Failure to do so will result in forfeiture of team
membership.

III.      Dues
A.    Annual league dues are $100 and are payable to the Little Illini Junior
Football League and must be received by the Treasure before the start of the first
game.

IV.      Equipment
A.    Each team may use its own football.
B.     All players must use NOCSAE stamped helmets.
C.     All players must use mouthpieces at all time.
D.    Athletic supports and cups are optional.

V.      Schedule
A.    Determined by the number of members at the pre-season meetings.
B.     The first game will be on the third Saturday of August (unless agreed to
otherwise).
C.     Practice and season starts on the last Monday of July (unless agreed to
otherwise).
D.    Rosters for Lightweight and Heavyweight teams MUST be sent to teams on
your schedule prior to the first game. Rosters must include player name date of
birth, jersey number, grade and weight. Failure to comply will result in forfeit.

E.     Any player added to a roster after the first game must be registered to the
league President, with weight information to be made known to the opposing
coach at the next game.

F.      Birth certificates must be provided to the council on complaint of demand
before next game.

G.    The HOME team must phone in game results to the league president or
website manager each Sunday. Scores and league standings may be mailed to
each teams contact the following week. Failure to comply COULD result in: First
violation $10 fine and a $20 fine for each violation thereafter. Fines are payable
to the League.

VI.      Rules
A.    Grade level and cut-off point
1.      A lightweight team consists of 4th (optional), 5th, and 6th grade players.
Each league member has the option to allow 3rd graders to play.
2.      If any player turns 13 years of age on or before December 1st, the must play
in the Heavyweight division. If a player turns 15 years of age on or before the last
game of the year, the player is ineligible. Violation of this rule warrants forfeiture
of all games in question.
3.      Any 7th or 8th grader, regardless of age, must play on the Heavyweight
team. If this rule is violated, the coach responsible shall be removed from
position, along with forfeiture.

B.     Every player must play if dressed for a game, unless for disciplinary actions.
Any disciplinary action of a dressed player MUST be disclosed with the opposing
team before game time. Violation of this rule will result in forfeiture.
C.     It is the coaches’ discretion to PLAY 3rd grade players and parents consent
is require.

D.    Officials

1.    THREE IHSA (Patched) officials for Lightweight and Heavyweight games.
2.     Fees for the all officials are to be paid by the home team.
3.     The chain gang is to be provided by the home team and is to work on the
home side of the field.
4.     If no officials are provided as outlined under Rules sections D-1 and D-2,
then the home team forfeits the game unless agreed upon by both coaches in
writing or decision is made by league officials.
5.     Any rules violation under Rules section D will result in forfeiture.

E.     Game Rules
1.      Unless otherwise stated in Rule sections A through J, follow IHSA Rules
Book.
2.      One Lightweight coach may be in the offensive huddle, but must stay back
15 yards off the line of scrimmage and remain silent during play.
3.      Punting. For the Lightweight teams only, coaches have the option to punt
the ball or move the ball. If in your own territory, the ball may be moved 25
yards. If in the opponent’s territory, the ball may be moved ½ the distance to the
goal line. If a team is punting, there is no play (rush) until the ball is punted.
4.      Weight Limit. For the Lightweight teams only, All running backs (including
quarterbacks) and offensive ends or receivers must weight 110 lbs or less.
PLAYERS MUST WEIGHT IN BEFORE THE START OF EACH GAME. THIS IS
NOW MANDATORY. Players must have a strip of tape of a contrasting color on
the back of their helmet to identify their weight limit. Failure to comply with this
rule will result in forfeiture.
5.      The kick off return team must place any player weighting over 110 lbs in
front of the 45-yard line.
6.      Players weighting over 110 lbs can only advance the ball on a kick off, a
fumble, or an interception.
7.      In the event of cancellation of any game due to weather, or a tie due to
weather, the game will be replayed in its entirety.
8.      No headsets or electronic communications equipment of any type is
allowed (by any team).
9.       The "Mercy Rule" is a 32 point differential and will strictly adhere to the
IHSA rules thereafter.

F.      Length of Quarters
1.      Lightweight and Heavyweight games are play with 10-minute quarters and a
10-minute halftime.
2.      All Saturday games are to start at 4:00 pm. The Heavyweight games must
start a maximum of 15 minutes after the completion of the Lightweight game.
3.      Game days and starting times can be changed with the consent of BOTH
competing teams.
4.      Overtime play, in the case of a tie, must strictly adhere to the IHSA rules.

G.    Kicking Extra Points = 2 Points
1.      For both the Lightweight and Heavyweight teams, an extra point kick is 2
points.

H.    Jersey Numbers
1.      Any player at any position can wear any jersey number. Duplicate numbers
are acceptable.

I.       Determining Divisional Champions

1.      Divisional champions will be determined by the outcome of the 6 divisional
games played. Non-divisional games DO NOT count towards divisional
championships.
2.      TIE BREAKER: In the case of a tie, the following guidelines apply.
A.    2-way tie = head to head competition.
B.     Multiple tie =
a.       Defensive points allowed in games between tied teams only.
b.      Defensive points allowed in all divisional games.
c.       Coin toss.

J.       Championships

1.      The Little Illini Junior Football League will WAIVE the following seasons
league fees for each divisional champion for both Lightweight and Heavyweight
teams.

VII.      Team Players
A.    The players on any member team must live in the team’s own: town,
consolidated school district, or the high school football co-op district. The only
exception being if a player's own town, consolidated school district, or high
school football co-op district DOES NOT offer junior football at all.
B.     Member teams cannot use players from other towns that offer junior football
regardless of the time of years played.