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Diocese of Pittsburgh Football - 2009 Season
Rules and Conduct

Fees and Rosters

Due before the first league game:

  1. Send current league fee to Ray Schaming, 1069 Augusta Way, Pittsburgh, PA 15236-2072, Phone: 412-881-0309
  2. Send one complete eligibility roster to the Diocesan Football Coordinator.
  3. One complete eligibility roster made out must be given to each of the opposing teams at the section weigh-in. THIS IS A MUST. Section representative or alternate will attend the opposite section weigh-in.
  4. Number of players on roster is unlimited.
  5. There will be two official weigh-ins. At each weigh-in the section representative will verify each team’s official roster. The only players that may be added to this roster are:
    • New students entering the school after the first weigh-on date.
    • Players hospitalized on day of weigh-in.
    • Players who can submit verification (signed statement from a physician) that they were unable to attend the official weigh-in because of serious illness.
    After the Diocesan Football Coordinator has investigated these exceptional cases, this player may be added to his team’s official roster. The player must be weighed in by the Wednesday prior to his team’s next schedule league game. This applies to the fist weigh-in only. The section representative will then notify each team in the section of additions to the official rosters. Any new student entering the school for the first time not meeting any of the above rules (a, b, c) will be taken under consideration by the Board of Sectional Representatives.
  6. Coaches should have in writing on file at the school:
    • Medical certificates for each player.
    • Parent’s permission for each player.
    • Insurance certificate for each player.

Rules

J.V. and Varsity teams follow the same rules.

  1. Interpretation is that used by the National Federation of State High Schools Association. With noted exceptions:
    1. Fields are to be played as they are regardless of length.
    2. On a kickoff, lineman cannot advance the ball if it is caught 10 yards behind the restraining line; also, no player weighing over 133 lbs. can be positioned behind the receiving team's 45-yard line.
    3. Quarters will be of 8-minute durations for Varsity and JV. Half time will be 15 minutes.
    4. The second game will be scheduled to start 1 hour and 45 minutes after the start of the first game.
    5. Three time outs per team will be permitted per half time.
    6. The home team shall decide whether or not a field is fit for play.
    7. Coaches must meet with officials before the games to discuss rules and field conditions and secure their names.
    8. Any player regardless of his position, weight, or whether he is on offense or defense may advance fumbles and interceptions.
    9. Category B or C players can be used as kickers. A fumbled punt snap cannot be advanced by a Category B or C player if he is positioned as the punter.
    10. All scheduled league games must be played on Friday, Saturday or Sunday. The league director must sanction any exception for play on any other day or night and said exception must be for a very valid reason. If absolutely necessary, make-up games will be played on weekdays. Sunday games cannot start before 1:00 PM.
    11. Section representatives must be notified by the home team of any and all changes, as to date, time, and place of league games.
    12. These rules are to be adhered to rigidly. Any deliberate violation of these rules in the judgment of the section representative and league director shall mean immediate suspension of the violating schools for the remainder of the season and all league games shall be forfeited.
    13. All coaches must have PA Act 34 and Act 151 Clearance.
  2. Pre-season training:
    1. THERE SHALL BE NO FOOTBALL PRACTICE BEFORE THE THIRD MONDAY PRIOR TO THE FIRST PLAYING WEEKEND.
    2. A team or part of a team may not train or practice as separate group at any place before the third Monday prior to the first playing weekend.
    3. You may open your gym or field to all school students. NO COACHING NOR PRACTICE IS TO TAKE PLACE.
  3. The football shoes worn by all players in the league must be equipped with either rubber or polyethylene cleats. Any player playing with metal cleats shall be ejected from the game and is not to return for the duration of the game.
  4. The official league ball will be the Wilson TDY 1300 (leather ball.)

Eligibility

  1. Players who are not full-time students of a school or who have been graduated from the eighth grade are not eligible.
  2. Any player who reaches the age of 15 before October 1 of the current school year will be ineligible to engage in league competition.
  3. A player can only participate 4 (four) years in grades 5-8. A review board made up of section representatives will act upon special cases.

Weigh-In

  1. Sections will weigh-in all teams.
  2. Each section representative shall set a time, date and place for all teams in their section to be weighed in. The section representative shall accordingly notify all of the teams in their section as well as the league director.
  3. ALL coaches shall be present at the weigh-ins and have with them one roster for each of the opposing teams plus the one for the Diocesan Football Coordinator.
  4. All player positions will be determined at the first weigh-in. No position changes can be made after the second weigh-in.
  5. There will be two scheduled weigh-ins for each section. The second weigh-in will be scheduled near the middle of the season.
  6. Players who are within 5 pounds of their stated position weight limit must weigh-in again at the second weigh-in.

Weight Limit

  1. There are three weight categories consisting of the following:
    1. Category A – Offensive Backs, Defensive Backs, Offensive Ends, Defensive Ends.
    2. Category B – Offensive Linemen; Defensive Linemen.
    3. Category C – Inside Linebackers.
  2. Definitions
    1. Category A
      • Offensive Backs: Defined by the National High School Rules that generally govern the diocesan league.
      • Offensive Ends/Receivers: Those who line up at the end of the offensive line of scrimmage and/or are eligible to catch a pass.
      • Defensive Backs: Those who line up on defense outside of the offensive tackles and traditionally defend passes.
      • Defensive Ends: Those who line up on the line of scrimmage outside the Offensive Tackles.
    2. Category B
      • Offensive Linemen: Defined by the National High School Rules governing the league.
      • Defensive Linemen: Those who line up one yard or less off the line of scrimmage opposite an offensive interior lineman (center, guard or tackle), and are in a 3 (three) or 4 (four) point stance at the snap of the ball.
      • Category B1. Heavyweight: A Category B player whose weight is set forth on the weight chart.
    3. Category C
      • Inside Linebacker: Must be within the offensive tackles at the snap of the ball and generally within the free blocking zone no more than 5 yards off the line of scrimmage.
  3. Only Category A players may return punts.
  4. A team may elect to have two to four players in the Heavyweight (B1) Category. The decision for each team will be made the night of the first weigh-in, and will be in effect for the season. No changes can be made after that regardless of the outcome at the second weigh-in, or as a result of injuries. A particular game’s "Heavyweight" players will be governed by the team with the lowest number of "Heavyweight" players declared. No more than four may be designated as Heavyweights and no less than two.

Varsity Weights

  First weigh-in
(lbs.)		 Second weigh-in
(lbs.)
Category A 133 or less 133 or less
Category B Less than 140 Less than 140
Category B1 (Heavyweights) 140 – 170 140 – 170
Category C (Inside Linebackers) Less than 140 Less than 140


JV Weights

  First weigh-in
(lbs.)		 Second weigh-in
(lbs.)
Category A 122 or less 122 or less
Category B Less than 131 Less than 131
Category B1 (Heavyweights) 131 – 162 131 – 162
Category C (Inside Linebackers) Less than 131 Less than 131

A down lineman who misses the weight at the first weigh-in, but makes weight at the second weigh-in may participate in any remaining games.

NOTE: At the first weigh-in, players will only be allowed to be weighed once. NO second chance at the first weigh-in.

Changes to weight classifications will only be considered in even years.

If a player participates in only ONE PLAY in an out of weight category, the game will be forfeited, when brought to the attention of the Diocesan Football Coordinator.

Officials

  1. Three officials recognized by the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) will be used. The home team will be responsible for paying the officials. Official's fees will be set each year.
  2. Four officials will be used for the Diocesan Championship game at the current rate.
  3. An additional $5.00 per official per over-time period will be assessed if needed.

Cancellations

  1. Games may not be canceled or dates may not be changed, except by the League director. If by mutual agreement a game must be canceled or a date changed, the Section Representative must be advised and any change must have his sanction. The League Director must be notified on any change. The Home Team must notify officials and opposing coaches in the event of a canceled game 2 (two) hours before scheduled time. (The above rule does not apply or repudiate line (f) under "RULES".)
  2. Officials will be paid full fee if they are not notified of cancellation. The home team is responsible to cancel officials.

Protests

  1. All protests submitted in writing by coach to the Diocesan Football Coordinator.
  2. All protests accompanied by $5.00 fee, returned if upheld.
  3. Protesting coach must notify official and opposing coach at the point of discussion of his intention to protest. The Diocesan Football Coordinator must be notified of protest immediately following the game.
  4. No protest on "Judgment Plays" by the officials.
  5. Time allowed for protests:
    1. On player eligibility - until final league game.
    2. Game itself - within 3 (three) days following.

Protest Board

  1. The Protest Board will be made up of the sectional representatives and no more than 2 (two) additional members to be designated by the Diocesan Football Coordinator, if deemed necessary.
  2. Protest Board will allow 1 (one) coach from each of the two protesting teams to attend protest meeting. This meeting must be held within a week following the receipt of a written request.
  3. Coaches from the teams involved in the protest will be allowed to present their protest verbally at that time.
  4. The Protest Board has the power to forfeit a game.
  5. The Board will render a decision within 48 hours of the protest meeting and the involved teams will be notified of the decision.

Team Representatives

Shall consist of one head coach or assistant coach from each team.

Duties of the Team Representative:

  1. Conduct pre-season sectional meeting on code.
  2. Attend pre-season board meeting on code.
  3. Advise on schedules, sectional arrangements.
  4. Shall have the power of suspension up to 3 (three) years for any violation of these league rules.
  5. Meet annually to review and revise, if necessary, existing rules.
  6. Rules on teams withdrawing from the League and requesting re-entry into the League.

Championships

The number one team in each section will be declared the section champion. The JV and Varsity semi final winners will play games to determine the Diocesan Champions.

Should there be a section tie at the end of the regular season, the section winner will be determined by head-to-head play.

If a winner cannot be declared by the head-to-head play, then the overtime format will be used to determine the section winner. In the event of a three-way tie, a neutral site will be used by Wednesday of the week following the last playing date. A coin flip(s) will be used to determine one of the teams to be a "bye" team for the first overtime session. The loser of the first overtime session will then play the "bye" team. The loser of each overtime session will play the next overtime session as needed to determine an ultimate winner. The three teams will play each other until two of the teams each have two losses.

Trophies

The Diocesan Football Coordinator will award trophies to each Varsity and JV section winner and JV and Varsity Diocesan Champions.