ICYAA Football Rules
(Revised 2007)
The ICYAA is a development league and has been since its inception. It was designed for children
and not adults. The ICYAA Board of Directors wishes to stress to everyone involved that while we will
play for a championship and wins are counted, all decisions made by the Board of Directors will be made
in the best interest of the children playing. We strive to offer “fair” athletic opportunities for children
and impact their lives in a positive manner. If any player, coach, parent, school director, or conference
official is found to have not conducted him or herself in a proper sportsmanlike manner at all times,
their rights to participate can be revoked. This is fully at the discretion of the ICYAA Board of Directors
and will be handled on an individual basis. We also want to remind everyone that it is a privilege to use
the school facilities and ask everyone to help in taking care of NIHS, and NIMS.
1. The ICYAA shall consist of 1 conference composed of 6 member schools. They are; Central, Cool
Spring East Iredell, Ebenezer, Harmony, and Union Grove.
2. The football director will determine the regular season and playoff schedule dates and times.
3. Each member team will play each other member team once during the regular season.
4. The ICYAA Board of Directors shall determine the dates and time of all make-up games.
5. Each member school is required to help with concessions. Failure to help will result in the
reduction of the end of the season allotments, which are distributed equally to each conference
member.
6. Regular season standings will determine playoff seeding. The Director of Football will handle any
tiebreak as follows 1st head to head record 2nd coin toss. If at any time a team forfeits a game, it shall
be recorded as a loss. There will be no additional weight given or taken for a forfeit win or loss. A forfeit
is a loss as far as seeding purposes are determined.
7. Playoff pairings will be as follows;
First Round
1 vs 4
2 vs 3
5 vs 6
Championship Round
5-vs-6
1- 4 loser vs 2-3 loser (Consolation Game)
1- 4 winner vs 2-3 winner (Championship
Game
Eligibility
1. ICYAA football is open to students in the 3-6 grades who either live in the district or attend the
school of a conference member, a student that does not attend a member school needs to get the
approval of the Director of Football with verifiable address in the school district. (Any player and / or
coach attempting to give false information will be suspended immediately, and pending a hearing
before the Board of Directors, may lose there eligibility to play or coach). The Board of Director and the
Director of Football will handle exceptions and transfers on an individual basis. A player may be
transferred to another team as long as the school transferred from has enough students to play and
both schools directors or coaches signs a transfer.
2. There will be a limit of 30 players per team. The first sign up may be used for returning players,
and then the remaining sign up, up to 30 players, will make the official roster. Any player who signs up
after the first 30 will be placed on a waiting list in the order in which they signed up and replace any
player removed due to rule # 7 of eligibility. A copy of the roster and additional players in the order they
signed needs to be forwarded to the Director of Football with all other paperwork prior to the first
game. No player can be added to the roster after the first regular season game. A person will not be
refused to be put on the roster or add on list for any reason. A coach or director not allowing children to
participate will be subject to suspension or removal.
3. Each player will have 4 years of eligibility starting from the 3rd grade.
4. A player cannot become 11 years old on or before 10-16 of the current year for J.V. players. A
player cannot become 13 years old on or before 10-16 of the current year for Varsity players.
5. Each player (and /or parent) must complete and turn in a doctor’s physical, a copy of a birth
certificate, the ICYAA eligibility form, code of conduct, and the official roster with jersey numbers prior
to the first game. (NO EXCEPTIONS) failure to do so shall result in a forfeit.
6. Coaches have the right and are suggested to not allow any player to participate in any practice
until the doctor’s physical has been turned in.
7. Once a player has been issued a uniform and placed on the roster, they cannot be removed from
the team except for: 1) use of profanity 2) unexcused or missed games/ practices 3) unsportsman like
conduct at games or practices 4) destructive inter-team relationships.5) a player quits/ parents remove
from the team. These exceptions will be handled at the discretion of the coach and/ or school director.
8. All players will be weighed prior to the first game. No player that exceeds the ball carrying weight
limit may line up in a position of (quarterback, running back) to handle (catch or carry) the ball.
Offensive ends that exceed the ball carrying weight limit may line up to block only, players over the ball
carrying weight can not line up in the position of a blocking back. Ball carrying weight is 132 lbs. or less
in pads and uniform with helmet for Varsity, and 100 lbs. or less in pads and uniform with helmet for J.V.
If any player that exceeds the ball carrying weight limit, participates in any play while in the positions
listed above, that game would be ruled as a forfeit. If it is determined that it was an intentional act on
the part of a player or coach, they will be subject to a 1 game suspension in addition to the forfeit. If a
second offense occurs the player or coach will be subject to suspension for the remainder of the
season in addition to forfeit. The same applies for any player and/ or coach that changes a uniform
number or alters the ICYAA sticker on the helmet used to identify the players over the ball carrying
weight limit. (If a sticker comes off a helmet notify an official immediately to get it replaced)
9. All weigh-ins will be at the direction of the ICYAA Board of Directors and the Director of Football.
Their ruling is final. For the weigh-in a copy of the roster, (including players name and jersey number),
has to be provided to the Director of Football. If a player is added later, late weigh-ins must be arranged
with the Director of Football before player can
participate.
Practice
1. The ICYAA Board of Director shall determine the start date of practice each year.
2. The ICYAA will permit one week of “mini camp” for the team during the summer.
3. Each school will determine the mini camp dates and times. Mini camps can last no more than 3
hours per day and limited to 5 days. No mini camp can be scheduled for the week prior to the starting
date of football practice.
4. Pre-season practices will consist of no more than 3 per week, 2 hours per day. (Take in
consideration the heat and time of day and make sure to provide plenty of water breaks). We will go by
high school rules and warnings following there heat guidelines.
5. In season practices will consist of no more than 2 per week, 2 hours per day. (This starts after the
first regular season game.).
6. The first three practices for every player must be limited to conditioning type drills. No uniforms
or pads allowed.
7. Each team is allowed 2 practice games during pre-season practice period with other teams. The
games must be with other teams in the same division (Age, weight, and grade group). All practice games
will count as a practice session.
8. At no time will the J.V. team be allowed to have contact drills or scrimmage with the Varsity
team.
Participation
1. To be eligible to play in the first game the player must attend at least 6 scheduled practice
sessions.
2. To be eligible to play in all games after that point, a player must attend at least 1 practice session
during the week preceding the game. (Note- coaches may excuse players from this rule in the event of
injury, illness or the player’s personal circumstances, which prevents them from participating. This is
handled at the coaches’ discretion.)
3. Each eligible player must play in at least 4 plays in the game other than special teams (either
offense or defense) Coaches must indicate to the ICYAA Director of Football or the lead official of the
game prior to the start of the game which player will not play and reason for not playing. Failure to
comply will result in forfeiture of any games where every eligible player does not
participate.
Playing
Rules
1. The playing field will be regulation 100 yards for Varsity and 80 yards for J.V.
2. Games will consist, for Varsity, four 6-minute quarters with an eight-minute halftime. The clock will
run by N.C.H.S.A.A. Football rules controlled by the officials. For J.V., four 8-minute
quarters with an eight-minute halftime, the clock will run continuously until the last quarter where the
clock will be stopped by N.C.H.S.A.A. Football rules controlled by the officials.
3. Major penalties will be 15 yards. Minor penalties will be 5 yards.
4. Hitting the center prior to the exchange with the quarterback will be a personal foul. A 15-yard
penalty plus an automatic first down.
5. A team behind more than 20 points shall always receive in a kick off situation.
6. A team ahead by more than 20 points shall not be granted a time out.
7. Regular season games may end in a tie. Semi final and championship games cannot end in a tie.
With one coach from each team and one Executive Board member present there will be a coin toss. The
overtime will follow N.C.H.S.A.A. rules to determine a winner.
8. The use of any type of radio or cell phone anywhere in the stadium, for the use of coaching, is
prohibited. Teams are allowed to videotape games for training purposes.
9. All helmets must be certified every three years.
10. A maximum of four coaches and one trainer are allowed on the sideline. A school director is
allowed on the sideline and allowed to coach. If they coach they will be considered one of the four
coaches. An assistant is needed in the announcement booth to assist with player’s names and numbers
for spotting
purposes.
Kickoffs
1. Kickoffs will be made from the 40-yard line of the kicking team. The receiving team will be on it’s
own 45-yard line.
2. Kickoffs may be allowed to roll dead. Possession will go to receiving team.
3. On-sides kicks (intentional or not) are not permitted. Any kickoff recovered or downed by the
kicking team will be awarded to the receiving team at the point the kicking team first touched it.
4. If a receiving team player fumbles or mishandles a kickoff, as long as a kickoff team is not within 5
yards of the player, the receiving team player can pick up and advance the football. However if a player
is within 5 yds. The refs. Should blow the play dead. If a fumbled or mishandled ball is recovered by the
kicking team they will have possession of the ball
5. Any receiving team member is an eligible returnee, (regardless of weight). Players who exceed
the ball carrying weight limit must be positioned in the front 5 positions on the return team
only.
Punts
1. All punts are “free kicks”. The offense must tell the officials of their intent to punt.
2. No movement from the scrimmage by either team will occur until the punter kicks the ball. The
punt must cross the line of scrimmage or the ball will be considered dead and kicked again.
3. The punting team may employ a punt formation.
4. The receiving team must keep 6 players on the line of scrimmage, but they may deploy them in a
manner as to match up with the offensive formation.
5. Any receiving team member is an eligible punt returnee, (regardless of weight). Players
exceed the ball carrying weight limit must line up in the front 6 positions
only.
Offense
1. Offenses must employ a balanced front line. (LT, LG, C, RG, RT).
2. Offense must employ a legal formation by N.C.H.S.A.A. rules.
3. All center snaps must be made directly to the quarterback.
4. No motion or shotgun formations are allowed for J.V. teams. No motion is allowed for Varsity
teams however they are allowed to run a shotgun formation.
5. There may only be 1-yard maximum splits from tackle to tackle.
6. Offensive backs will be no deeper than 5 yards off the line of scrimmage and no closer than 3
yards.
7. There may be no more than 2 split ends or flankers.
8. Any fumble is available for recovery only. Cannot be advanced. An interception can be
advanced.
Defense
1. Defensive teams must deploy a legal formation by N.C.H.S.A.A. rules
2. All four down linemen must be in a three or four point stance. They will basically be heads up man-
to-man position but are allowed an inside/outside shoulder range for starting position.
3. Defensive ends can be in an upright position no wider than 1 yard outside the offensive ends
outside shoulder.
4. At the snap of the ball, the linebackers must be three yards off the line of scrimmage.
5. At the snap of the ball, the defensive backs can be on the line of scrimmage and are allowed to
check the receivers after the snap of the ball within the 5 yards.
6. The linebackers, corners or safeties are not permitted to stunt or fake a stunt.
7. A nose guard must line up on the outside shoulder of the center. At no time is he allowed to line
up on the center.
8. Defensive “stunting” is prohibited. For the purpose of this rule, includes intentional false starts
by defensive players prior to the snap designed to disrupt the offensive team.
9. No blitzing, red-dogging, crashing, etc. of the linebackers and deep backs at any time. (Note- they
are allowed to penetrate or move into a developing play after that play has begun. They must take a
reasonable delay prior to penetration in order to avoid the situation of a deliberate
blitz.).
Extra Point
1. 1-point for running the ball. 2- points for passing the ball. (The pass must go past the line
of scrimmage to receive 2 points). 1 point for kicking an extra point after touch
down.
J.V. Division
Coaches
1. J.V. teams are permitted to have one coach on the field (positioned behind their team). They can
assist in play calling, etc. Once the team breaks the huddle, there can be no direct communication or
contact between the coach on the field and the team until the play is over. Violation will be the same as
illegal procedure and assessed the same. The ICYAA will instruct the game officials to help when
necessary, line up players or do what they deem important in order to start the
play.
Awards
1. Team trophy for regular season conference champion. (J.V. and Varsity)
2. Team trophy for regular season conference runner-up. (J.V. and Varsity)
3. Glen Summers Award: Playoff Champion receives this plaque for 1 year. (Varsity only)
4. Team trophy for playoff champion. (J.V. and Varsity)
5. Team trophy for playoff runner-up. (J.V. and Varsity)
6. Spirit Award for cheerleading. (J.V. and Varsity)
7. Sportsmanship Award.
8. Coach of the year. (J.V. and Varsity) As elected by the ICYAA Executive Board along with the
Director of
Football
2007 Football contacts
Director of Football---------James Lett
Assistant Director ---------- Randy Cass
Football Committee
Central-------------------------Cathy Mel
Cool Spring-------------------Jerry Rhyne
East Iredell--------------------Mike Bowman
Ebenezer-----------------------Charles White
Harmony-----------------------Clyde Parks
Union Grove------------------- Paul Allison