Rules

Diocese of Pittsburgh Football - 2024 Season

Jump to:  Fees and Rosters
  Rules
  Eligibility
  Weigh-In
  Weights
  Officials
  Cancellations
  Protests
  Protest Board
  Team Representative
  Championships
  Trophies


Fees and Rosters Top

Due before the first league game:  League fee to be set by budget by the League Coordinator.
  1. Send the current league fee ($250 per team) to Steven Monteverde, 2 Rutgers Road, Bldg. B, Crafton, PA  15205, Email:  presto83@comcast.net. Make checks out to the Diocese of Pittsburgh.
  2. Have one complete eligibility roster for the League Coordinator at weigh-in.
  3. One complete eligibility roster must be given to each of the opposing teams at the section weigh-in.
  4. The number of players on the roster is unlimited.
  5. There will be one official weigh-in. At the weigh-in, the League Coordinator will verify each team’s official roster. The only players that may be added to this roster are:
  • New students that enter the school after the first weigh-on date.
  • Players hospitalized on the day of weigh-in.
  • Players who were unable to attend the official weigh-in because of serious illness.
  • Players approved by the League Coordinator.
After the League Coordinator has investigated these exceptional cases, the player may be added to his team’s official roster. The player must be weighed in prior to his team’s next scheduled league game. The League Coordinator will then notify each team of additions to the official rosters.
  1. Coaches should have in writing on file at the school:
  • Medical certificates for each player.
  • Insurance certificate for each player.
  • Clearance certificates for each coach.
  • Record of USA Football certification for coaches for “Head’s Up Coaching”.

Rules Top

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

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, a lineman can advance the ball if they receive the ball within 10 yards of the receiving team’s restraining line. Behind that point, if the lineman takes possession of the ball, it is considered a dead ball. Only Category A players can be positioned behind the receiving team’s 45-yard line.
  3. Quarters will be of 9-minute durations for Varsity and JV. Half time will be 15 minutes.
  4. Developmental Games will be 12-minute quarters with running clock.
  5. Developmental Games will start at the 35-yard line, no kickoffs.
  6. Developmental punts will be paced off 20 yards; punts inside the 30-yard line will be considered a touchback.
  7. Play clock at all levels will be 30 seconds from ball placement; one warning per team per game, 5-yard penalty.
  8. Two timeouts per team will be permitted per half time.
  9. The home team shall decide whether a field is fit for play.
  10. Coaches must meet with officials before the games to discuss rules, field conditions, and secure their names.
  11. Any player regardless of his position, weight, or whether he is on offense or defense may advance fumbles and interceptions.
  12. Category B players can be used as kickers/punters, but they cannot pass the ball, hand it off, or advance the ball beyond the line of scrimmage.
  13. All scheduled league games must be played on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. The League Coordinator must sanction any exception for play on any other day or night and said exception must be for a valid reason. Sunday games should not start before noon.
  14. Team Coordinators must be notified by the home team of any schedule changes, as to date, time, and place of league games. This would include communication with referees.
  15. These rules are to be adhered to rigidly. Any deliberate violation of these rules in the judgment of the League Coordinator and Diocese Athletic Director may result in penalties to the violating school(s) including suspensions and/or forfeits.
  16. All coaches must have PA Act 34 and Act 151 Clearance; Teams must be coached according to “Heads Up” Football coaching techniques.
  17. THERE SHALL BE NO FOOTBALL PRACTICE BEFORE THE FOURTH MONDAY PRIOR TO THE FIRST PLAYING WEEKEND. There can be 4 weeks of practice before the 1st games. Practices should be managed according to acceptable “Head’s Up” guidelines. This would include 1st week of practice without pads.
  18. A team or part of a team may not train or practice as separate group at any place before the fourth Monday prior to the first playing weekend.
  19. You may open your gym or field to all school students. NO COACHING NOR PRACTICE IS TO TAKE PLACE. No Equipment.
  20. 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.
  21. The official league ball will be the Wilson TDY 1300 (leather ball). For JV and developmental games, the official league ball will be the Wilson TDJ.

Eligibility Top

  1. Players who are not full-time students at a Catholic School or who have graduated from the eighth grade are not eligible. Public school teams should follow the same guidelines.
  2. Any player who reaches the age of 15 before October 1 of the current school year will be ineligible to engage in Varsity league competition.
  3. Any player who reaches the age of 13 before October 1 of the current school year will be ineligible to engage in JV league competition.

Weigh-In Top

  1. Teams will weigh in all players. The League Coordinator may make exceptions.
  2. The League Coordinator shall set a time, date, and place for all teams to be weighed in.
  3. Coaches should be present at the weigh-ins and have with them one roster for each of the opposing teams plus one for the League Coordinator.
  4. All player positions will be determined at the weigh-in. No position changes can be made after the weigh in.
  5. There can be an optional second weigh-in. The second weigh-in will be scheduled near the middle of the season.
  6. The second weigh in would be to allow players who were not eligible to play in the league to weigh in again.

Weights Top

There are two weight categories:
  • Category A – Offensive Backs, Defensive Backs, Offensive Ends, Defensive Ends, Linebackers.
  • Category B – Offensive Linemen; Defensive Linemen.
Definitions:

Category A
  • Offensive Backs: Defined by the National High School Rules that 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.
  • Inside Linebacker: Within the offensive tackles at the snap of the ball and within the free blocking zone no more than 5 yards off the line of scrimmage.
  • Only Category A players may return punts and kickoffs.
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. Defensive Linemen must lineup no more than on outside shoulder of offensive linemen farthest from the center.
Varsity Weights, grades 7–8   Weigh-in (lbs.)
Category A   147 or less
Category B       No limit
JV Weights, grades 3–6   Weigh-in (lbs.)
Category A   135 or less
Category B      190 or less
Developmental, grades 3-4   Weigh-in (lbs.)
Category A   115 or less for skill players
Category B      190 or less

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

If a player participates in only ONE PLAY in an out of weight category, the game will be forfeited, if/when brought to the attention of the League Coordinator by formal protest.

Officials Top

  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. Regular games (9-minute quarters): cost per official to be communicated to coordinators.
  4. 8-minute running clock, 4 qtrs.:  cost per official to be communicated to coordinators
  5. An additional $5.00 per official per overtime period will be assessed if needed.
Questions about referees should be directed to the League Coordinator.

Cancellations Top

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

Protests Top

  1. All protests must be submitted in writing by coach to the League Coordinator.
  2. The protesting coach must notify the officials and the opposing coach at the point of discussion of his intention to protest. The League Coordinator must be notified of the protest immediately following the game.
  3. No protest on "Judgment Plays" by the officials.
  4. Time allowed for protests:
  • On player eligibility - until final league game.
  • Game itself - within 3 (three) days following.

Protest Board Top

  1. The Protest Board will be made up of the League Coordinator and two non-protesting representatives, if deemed necessary. The Diocese Athletic Director will have the option to participate.
  2. The Protest Board will allow 1 (one) coach from each of the two protesting teams to attend the protest meeting. This meeting must be held within a week following receipt of the 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 Representative Top

Team Representatives shall consist of one head coach or assistant coach from each team.

Duties of the Team Representative:
  1. Conduct pre-season meeting on rules.
  2. Advise on schedules, sectional arrangements.
  3. Meet annually to review and revise, if necessary, existing rules, player weights/qualifications.
  4. Rules on teams withdrawing from the League and requesting re-entry into the League.

Championships Top

Should there be a section tie at the end of the regular season, winners will first be determined by head-to-head play. If a winner cannot be declared by head-to-head play, a coin flip will be used to determine the winner.

Should there be a 3-way tie, with all 3 teams qualifying for playoffs, a coin flip will be used to determine places.

If a winner cannot be declared by the head-to-head play, and a coin flip will eliminate a team from playoffs, then the overtime format will be used to determine places. An agreed upon 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 the ultimate winner. The three teams will play each other until two of the teams each have two losses.

Trophies Top

The League Coordinator will award trophies to each Varsity and JV Diocesan Champion.
 

Updated Sunday, August 11, 2024














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