MCYFL 2023 SEASON RULES 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

1) REGISTRATION 

2) ASSIGNMENT OF PLAYERS 

3) RED CAP RULE 

4) GENERAL COACHES RULES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

5) EQUIPMENT DAY 

6) DISCIPLINE PROCEDURES 

7) RULES FOR CONDITIONING IN ALL DIVISIONS 

8) TEAM PRACTICE/SCRIMMAGES 

9) PEE WEE DIVISION RULES 

10) JUNIOR DIVISION RULES 

11) REGULAR SEASON PLAY 

12) SPONSORSHIP DAY 

13) PLAYOFFS 

*****NEW RULES ARE IN RED OR HIGHLIGHTED 

1) REGISTRATION 

 
A. Time, date, and place to be set by the board of MCYFL. 
B. All registration will be under the supervision of MCYFL DIRECTORS. 
C. All registration forms must be signed by the parent or guardian at 
the official registration time and place and in the presence of a 
board member. If anyone other than a parent or guardian is signing 
a player, they must provide a notarized authorization from parent 
or guardian giving permission for player to register. The parent or 
guardian will still be required to sign the league registration form 
before the player will be allowed to practice. 
D. ALL FEES must be paid before a player is assigned to a team. No 
partial payments will be allowed without board approval. 
E. A birth certificate, report card, school portal, and proof of residence (if not 
showing on report card) must be presented at time of registration. 
The address on the report card will be the address used for team 
assignment. 
F. Player must be present at time of registration. 
G. Any player that is too old to play and the league finds out will be 
removed from that team. The impact to the team’s win/lost record will be at the LEAGUE’S discretion. 
If the date is wrong on the registration form and was done 
to mislead the league, the board will not give a refund. If the date 
is correct and the league did not catch it a refund may be given. 

2) ASSIGNMENT OF PLAYERS 

A. The board of MCYFL will assign all players to their teams. 
B. Players are assigned according to the pre-determined districts by 
directors of MCYFL as follows: 
Peewee Division - By Elementary School 
Junior Division - By Address 
Senior Division - By Middle School 
C. Team rosters are limited to 33 players. 
D. Returning players will be assigned to the team they played for the 
previous season, or to the team in their district. (Jr. returning 
players moving to Sr. division will be assigned to a team according 
to their SR team district.) 
E. Coach and his sons/daughters may become members of the same 
team even though it may be out of their district in which they live. 
This option is not available to any other player. A player/coach 
wishing to play/coach out of district must be a coach in the league 
1 year prior. 

F. Weight/Age Guidelines are as follows: 

PEE WEE DIVISION - WEIGHT GUIDELINES 
- 8-year-old, No top weight, No red cap 
- 9-year-old, Top weight 125 lbs., (91 lbs. to 125 lbs. red cap) 
- 10-year-old, Top weight 105lbs, (91 lbs. to 105 lbs. red cap) 
***ages based on September 1st date*** 
 
JUNIOR DIVISION - WEIGHT GUIDELINES 
- 9-year-old, 126lbs to unlimited weight (165 lbs. & up red cap rule) 
- 10-year-old, 106 to unlimited weight (165 lbs. & up red cap rule) 
- 11-year-old, top weight 165lbs (125lbs to 165lbs red cap rule) 
- 12-year-old, top weight 125lbs 
- 13-year-old, top weight 110lbs 
***ages based on December 1st date*** 
SENIOR DIVISION - WEIGHT GUIDELINES 
- 10-year-old, 175lbs & Up 
- 11-year-old, 165lbs & Up 
- 12-year-old, 126lbs & Up 
- 13-year-old, 111lbs & Up 
- 14/15-year-old, 101lbs & Up 
***ages based on September 1st date*** 
(A 15-YEAR OLD PLAYER IS ELIGIBLE BUT MAY NOT TURN 16 BEFORE DECEMBER 1ST) 
(RED CAP RULE 176 LBS & UP) 

3) RED CAP RULE 

 
These rules apply to red caps in all divisions: 
A. Red caps can only play on the offensive or defensive line; and must 
be in a 3 or 4-point stance. NO STANDING DEFENSIVE ENDS. 
B. Red caps cannot play on kick-off or kick-off return teams.  
C. Red caps cannot advance the ball on fumble recoveries or 
interceptions. 
D. Red caps are allowed to kick field goals, extra points, and punt. If 
the snap is muffed and the ball is still in play, it cannot be 
advanced by the red cap (for JR/SR DIVISION).  
E. On offense, a red cap may be used as a tight end in a 3 or 4-point 
stance. He or she is not allowed to carry or catch a pass. If you use 
a red cap as a tight end and throw or run the ball it will result in 
loss of down, and the ball will be returned to the original line of 
scrimmage. 
F. Any player that removes the red stripe from their helmet or 
conceals it with another decal will be removed from that game and 
will be suspended for the following game. If a player does this 

twice, he or she will be removed from the league, and the head 
coach will be suspended for one week including the following game. 

RED CAP RULES FOR PEEWEE: 

 
1. Red caps cannot play on kick off and kick return. 
2. Red caps must be in a down position (three or four-point stances) 
Line of Scrimmage. 
3. Red cap is allowed to punt. If the snap is muffed the play is dead. 
4. Red caps cannot advance the ball at all. 

4) GENERAL COACHES RULES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

I. GENERAL COACHES RULES 

A. All coaches must be approved and reviewed by the board of MCYFL. 

B. Teams are allowed a maximum of five coaches on the sideline 
during a game - a head coach and four assistant coaches. Teams are 
allowed three water persons. Water persons must be of league 
age. 1 Team Mom plus 1 Team Photographer is allowed also. 
C. MCYFL plays under the National Federation of High School 
Associations Official Football Rules and its own league 
amendments. Coaches are responsible to know and enforce these 
rules and regulations. Youth coaches cannot coach High School 
Sports without League Approval. 
D. Coaches are not allowed to register players or to accept any money 
for registration without MCYFL League approval. 
E. Coaches that are referees are not allowed to officiate any league 
games. 
F. Mental or physical abuse of any player by a coach will not be 
tolerated. 
G. Any coach that removes his or her team from the playing field 
during a game will be removed from the league. 
H. All coaches are required to be certified by the USA FOOTBALL 
before the start of the season. (June 20, 2023, starts season) 
I. All coaches & team moms are required to have a background check 
done before they are allowed to participate in practice. The  
league will pay the cost for 5 coaches and one team parent (total of 6 paid by League). The cost of any additional certifications and background checks (if a coach is no longer with team) will be done at the head coach’s expense. COACHES MUST BE AT LEAST 18 YEARS OF AGE, PASS A BACKGROUND CHECK AND BE USA FOOTBALL HEADS UP CERTIFIED. 
J. Coaches must wear proper attire during game times, ID tags must be 
worn & be visible at all times during your game. 
K. Teams are only allowed to ask for no more than $75.00 for 
participation team fee. 

L. PRESS BOX DUTIES - Following the end of each game, one coach from each team 
will report to their playing field press box to assist with press box 
duties. Coaches work duties will run from start of the next game to the 
end of the game and will rotate as follows. If duties are not needed at 
that time, the coach the coach may be excused. 
M. MCYFL reserves the right to appoint, dismiss, or reprimand any 
coach or player at any time needed. 

N. Derogatory or inappropriate comments posted on social media by persons representing MCYFL, such as a coach, team mom, etc. may be subject to league suspension or removal. 

II. HEAD COACHES RESPONSIBILITIES 

 
In addition to all the rules listed in this guide, head coaches and their 
coaching staff are subject to the following: 

 
A. Each team will be assigned a time to work the concession stand. It is 
the head coach’s responsibility to make sure there are 7 adults working 
during their assigned time. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE CHEERLEADERS, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR HAVING ADULTS IN TICKET BOOTH AS WELL.  
B. Each team will be issued 25 fundraiser (Sonny’s) tickets per player on 

equipment day. It is the head coach’s responsibility to collect the money 
and tickets from the players and return to the league on Jamboree Day. 
This fundraiser is the biggest income source for the league and allows us 
to have the best equipment and facilities for our players. 
C. All league equipment must be returned to the league at the end of the 
season. No equipment is allowed to be altered, such as changing 
facemasks on a helmet. If any equipment needs to be altered or 
exchanged, please see a league official. 

D. COACHES GET ONE FREE DRINK AT CONCESSION PER DAY, COACH MUST PRESENT BADGE.  

 
Any coach found in violation of the rules in this guide will be subject 
to disciplinary action by the league. 

5) EQUIPMENT DAY 

 
A. Official Weigh-in day will be on Equipment Day. Players will be 
weighed for Division assignment and redcap designation. Players 
will be weighed before they are issued equipment. Players must be 
weighed and registered before they practice with a team. Any 
player who practices with a team before being weighed may be 
placed on the higher division team in his/her district. 
B. No Coach or Team will be allowed to alter any MCYFL equipment at 
any time without league approval. Removing league face mask is 
prohibited. Install face shields is allowed as long as they are clear 
and not smoke screened. 
C. All equipment will be turned in the day that the season ends. 
Players will not leave the MCYFL Field until all equipment is turned 
in. This is the coach’s responsibility to turn in all MCYFL property. 
D. A player will not be able to play if he/she did not return equipment 
in prior to the year before. It is the Head Coaches responsibility to 
turn in all equipment of players that have quit or have been injured 
during the season. 

6) DISCIPLINE PROCEDURES 

 
A. Player may not play in this league if he or she participates in any 
other organized tackle football league. 
B. Players may not change teams within the league without board 
approval. 
C. Coaches may suspend players from practice or games for the 
following reasons: 

 
1. Disciplinary problems 
2. Health or injury problems (must have Doctor release to return to 
practice) 
3. Failure to come to practice or games without an approved excuse 
4. Failure to follow directions of a coach 
5. Fighting before or after a game or during practice 
6. Reinstatement of players that have quit or been suspended must 
apply to the Board of MCYFL before they can return. 

 
D. Any player or coach that is ejected from a game is suspended for the 
following week of practice and the next game; all ejections will be 
reviewed by MCYFL Board of Directors. 

1. In addition, any player suspended for fighting will have a two-week suspension, which includes not attending two weeks of practice and two games. 

2. Behavior issues relating to PLAYERS being nonresponsive to coaches, referees, league officials could lead to a three-week suspension, which includes not attending three weeks of practice and three games. 

3. Any player that is suspended or ejected, the player must turn in helmet and shoulder pads to league officials until allowed to return. 

4. Any players or coaches that are ejected during a game will be immediately escorted by a team coach out of the facility to leave Jervey Gantt Park for the remainder of the day. 

5. Board WILL review film as appropriate to assess/determine action associated with on-field behavior. 

E. Any player flagged for taunting will be reviewed by the League for disciplinary action 

7)    RULES FOR CONDITIONING IN ALL DIVISIONS 

ETC. 

If you have any questions about these rules reach out to your REP. 

All coaches must be completely background checked & certified.   Reps could be checking unannounced.    

Please use good judgment and have plenty of water.  2x's a week for only 1 hour. 

8) TEAM PRACTICE/SCRIMMAGES 

 
***NO SATURDAY OR SUNDAY PRACTICES ALLOWED*** 
A. First week of practice is in shorts/helmets…. Last 2 days of the first 
week’s players may wear shoulder pads/helmets/shorts. 
B. Practice before Jamboree – teams are allowed 5 nights a week, 2 
hour practices. 
C. Regular Season Practice – teams are allowed 4 nights a week, 1 ½ 
hour practices (1 of the days during the week must be in 
shorts/helmets). 
D. 2 hour & 1 ½ hour practices include all conditioning and practice 
times. 
E. All regular season practices must end no later than 7:30pm. 
F. All coaches are responsible for their practice areas. 

PRACTICE TIMES: 
1. Teams must have a least (5) consecutive practice days in shorts and  
helmets. (August 5, 2022) 
2. Teams are allowed to practice first (5) days when the season starts. (August 15, 2022) 
3. After the first five-day teams must drop to (4) practices per week 
(no weekends). 
4. Teams may practice in full gear every night up to Jamboree Day (2 
HOUR TIME LIMIT). (August 27th) 
5. After Jamboree Day teams can stay (4) practices per week (three in 
full gear and one practice in shorts and helmets 1.5 hours per 
practice. (August 29th) 
 
 
SCRIMMAGE GAMES: 
1. Each team is allowed (2) one before and one after Jamboree. 
2. No scrimmage games after the season starts. 

9) PEE WEE DIVISION RULES 

COACHES: 

1. One head coach per team. 
2. Four assistants per team. 
3. Only one coach allowed to be on the field during the game. This 
coach is considered part of the playing field and is subject to all 
rules as a player and could be flagged according to judgment calls 
by the official. 
4. If coach is ejected from a game! (High School rules) will not be 
allowed to be at practice and the game the following week. 
5. If any coach that touches, pushes and uses foul language (etc.) to 
any official that coach will be removed from the game and will not 
return as a coach! 
 
 
PLAY TIME: 

1. Each player has mandatory (6) plays during the game. 
2. Field Goal do not count as plays. 
3. Each player must play 3 plays per half. 
4. 1 Coach will count players plays. 
 

GAME INFRACTIONS: 

1. Mandatory play first infraction is meeting with the Pee-Wee 
directors. 
2. Second infraction possible to be suspended for one week from 
practice and one game. 
3. Third infraction possible removal as head coach. 

GAME RULES: 

10) JUNIOR DIVISION CONFERENCE RULES 

 
- The Jr. Division will be split into 2 separate conferences, Blue 
and Gray (the League colors.) 
- Each team will have an eight game schedule and will play all six 
teams in their conference and two teams within area and rivalry. 
If the League chooses to add teams the number of cross 
conference games will change accordingly. We can 
accommodate eighteen teams without expanding the length of 
the season. 
- The 9th week will be a conference playoff where 1 plays 4 and 2 
plays 3 within their respective conference. Teams ranked lower 
than 4 will play their respective counterparts in the other 
conference (5 Gray vs. 5 Blue, 6 Gray vs. 6 Blue, and 7 Gray vs. 7 
Blue.) 
- The Conference rankings will base on: 
1. Record within the conference 
2. Record of Head-to-Head competition 
3. Total Record 
- A playoff will only be necessary if the top 4 places are unclear. 
- Should the placement within the top 4 be unclear, playoff 
seeding will be by lot. 
- If a playoff becomes necessary, it shall be played as early as 
scheduling permits on week 8. 
 
PLAYOFF RULES: 
Top four teams with a best win/loss record each division. 
Division playoff schedule: 
- Team #1 vs. Team #4 winner moves to next round division games. 
- Team #2 vs. Team #3 winner moves to next round division games. 
*If two teams with same record use head to head game to determine 
the position the teams will be seeded. 
*If both A and B cannot determine seeding, a coin toss by a player 
from each team will determine the seeded positions. 
*If three or more teams have the same record a coin toss will 
determine which team has the first round by and will play the winner 
of the first game with play by team to determine which team moves 
on to the play off. Each round of play will be ¼. Each team has one 
time out. If at the end of the quarter, the game is tied, tie breaker 
rules are applied. 

11) REGULAR SEASON PLAY 

 
A. Games will be (4) quarters 
Peewee Division - 8 minute quarters 
Jr. Division time - 9 minute quarters 
Sr. Division time - 10 minute quarters 
B. Game time - you must have your team ready 45 minutes ahead of 
scheduled game times to take the field. 
C. Games ending in a tie (regular season) will go into an overtime 
game as follows: 
1. Ball will be placed on the 10-yard line; each team will have 4 
downs to score 
2. If game is still tied after both teams have attempted to score, 
the ball will be placed on the 5-yard line which both teams will 
have 4 downs to score. 
D. Conversion attempts kicked count as 2 points, and attempts ran 
from scrimmage count as 1 point. 

REGULAR SEASON TIE BREAKERS (KANSAS CITY TIE BREAKER): 

 
1. If the game ends in a tie, a coin toss will determine which team has 
choice of offense or defense. (With no delays). 
2. First round of tie breaker, ball placed on the ten-yard line and each 
team has four downs to score. 
3. If the first-round ends in a tie, the ball will be placed on the 5-yard 
line and continue until we have a winner. 

4. PATs may be run/thrown (for 1 point) or kicked (for 2 points) in any round. 

DELAY OF GAMES FOR CONDITIONS OUT OF CONTROL 

1. All game delays will be made up the following week, before next games begin. 

2. If a game is stopped after half time with a team winning the game, it will be considered a complete game. 

3. Games that are stopped it with a tie will have to return to finish game. 

4. If a game is stopped before half time, it will be considered incomplete, and the team will return at the next available day to complete the game. 

5. Field of play will be reset to exactly what it was the night of the delay. Example if a game ended with 3:15 left on the clock with the ball on 30-yard line, 3rd down and 11 yards to go, going towards the south end zone with the ball with a home team possession. That is how the game would be reset the next available night to continue the game. 

12) SPONSORSHIP DAY 

 
A. Each head coach is required to find a team sponsor prior to the 
beginning on the season. By picture day each coach needs to turn in 
all artwork to the league for signs to be placed through-out the field 
and yearbook distribution. 
B. Week 6 is Pee Wee Division Sponsorship Day. 
C. Week 7 is Junior Division Sponsorship Day. 
D. Week 8 is Senior Division Sponsorship Day. 
E. All head coaches are required to organize and present MCYFL 
Sponsorship Plaque to their sponsor @ halftime during their game. 
It will be the responsibility of that coach to inform sponsors of date 
and time of event. 

 
 
13) PLAYOFFS 

PLAYOFF ELIGIBILITY 

 
A. Playoff berths are based on the best win/loss records in the division 
or conference. In event of a tie, a previous head-to-head match-up 
will be used as a tiebreaker. If there is no head-to-head matchup, a 
tie breaker will be played according to the Oklahoma shoot-out rules. 
The Oklahoma shoot-out will also be used when there is a 
three-way tie (especially in the Senior Division). The tie breaker 
will only be played to determine playoff eligibility. This tie breaker 
will be played on the last day of the regular season. 
B. A coin toss will be used to determine a tie between placing of the 4 
teams in the playoffs (especially the Senior Division). 

PLAYOFF GAME PLAY RULES 

All rules from the regular season apply except as follows: 
A. Week 9 Pee Wee & Junior Division Playoffs will count as regular 
season play. This means all teams will run 8- & 9-minute quarters 
during their playoff games. 
B. Week 10 (Final Playoffs) Senior Division will run 12 minute 
Quarters; Junior Division will run 10-minute Quarters during 
playoffs. 

PLAYOFF TIE BREAKERS (KANSAS CITY TIE BREAKER): 

1. If the game ends in a tie, a coin toss will determine which team has 
choice of offense or defense. (With no delays). 
2. First round of tie breaker, ball placed on the ten-yard line and each 
team has four downs to score. 
3. If the first-round ends in a tie, the ball will be placed on the 5-yard 
line and continue until we have a winner. 

4. PATs may be run/thrown (for 1 point) or kicked (for 2 points) in any round. 

END of SEASON 3-WAY TIE BREAKER 

If at the end of the season, there is a 3-way tie for the 4th playoff. The 3 teams would return on the next available night to determine the 4th spot in playoffs. 

The game will be played for 1 quarter. If it ends in a tie the KANSAS CITY TIE BREAKER rules will apply. 

New Rules in the 2023 Season