IWFL Rule Clarification 2016
IWFL Rule Clarification 2016
IWFL Rule Clarification 2016
Rev. 5/10/16
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Rule 6 Kicks
Section 1. Free Kicks
Restraining Lines (FR-63)
ARTICLE 1. For any free kick formation, the kicking teams restraining line shall be the yard line
through the most forward point from which the ball shall be kicked, and the receiving teams
restraining line shall be the yard line 10 yards beyond that point. Unless relocated by a penalty,
the kicking teams restraining line on a kickoff shall be its 40-yard line (IWFL 2014 Rule
Exception), and for a free kick after a safety, its 20-yard line.
Rule 9 Conduct of Players and Others Subject to the Rules
Section 1. Personal Fouls (FR-88)
IWFL 2008 Exceptions:
Article 5 There is no Clipping (No Exceptions)
Article 6 There is no Blocking Below Waist (other than against the ball carrier)
Article 10 There is no Chop Blocking (No Exceptions)
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This means that miscellaneous fans, children, unnecessary attendants shall not be on
the sidelines. If the water boys or water girls are too young to pay attention to your
players needs, then they are too young to be on the sidelines.
d. Sideline attendants, coaches, trainers, managers etc are not authorized to take
photographs (cell phone, or camera) from the sideline unless they are licensed by the
IWFL to do so.
c.
Article 2. a. All players shall be numbered 1 through 99. Any number proceeded by zero (0) is
illegal.
IWFL Note: Jersey numbers are always suggested and not required for any play. Zero is an illegal
number; numbers must be between 1-99.
Section 4. Players and Playing Equipment
Mandatory Equipment (FR-21)
ARTICLE 3. All players must wear the following mandatory equipment:
b. Hip pads. (Not enforced)
d. Knee pads. (Not enforced)
i. Thigh guards. (Not enforced)
Specifications: Mandatory Equipment (FR-21)
Article 4.
a. Helmets. 1. The helmet must be fitted with a facemask and a secured four- or six-point chin
strap, all points of which must be secured whenever the ball is in play.
h. Socks. Players of a team must wear socks or leg coverings that are identical in color and
design (Exceptions: Unaltered knee braces, tape or a bandage to protect or prevent an injury,
and barefoot kickers). (IWFL Note: There is no height specified for socks)
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Rule 2 Definitions
Section 1. When Ball is Ready for Play (FR-27)
ARTICLE 4. A dead ball is ready for play when:
b. With the play clock set at 25 seconds, or at 40 seconds after an injury to or loss of helmet by a
defensive team player, the referee sounds his whistle and either signals to start the game clock
or signals that the ball is ready for play.
Section 16. Kicks; Kicking the Ball
Kicking the Ball; Legal and Illegal Kicks (FR-33-34)
IWFL Note: The kicking tee or a kicking block (that does not raise the ball more than 1 above the
ground) may be used per the NCAA definitions of a kick.
Rule 3 Periods, Time Factors and Substitutions
Section 1. Start of Each Period (FR-44)
Article 1. c. Three minutes before the scheduled starting time, the referee shall toss a coin at
midfield in the presence of not more than four field captains from each team and another game
official, first designating the field captain of the visiting team to call the coin toss. Before the
second half, the referee will obtain the teams second-half options.
IWFL Note: One Honorary Captain will be allowed to join the 4 Game Day Captains on the field for
the coin toss. Officials must be notified before the coin toss of the Honorary Captain. The Honorary
Captain can not be a current team member, can not be dressed to play, and must leave the field at
the completion of the coin toss.
Section 2. Playing Time and Intermissions
Timing Devices (FR-47 48)
Article 4.
c. 25-Second Clock. If the officials signal the game clock to be stopped for any of the following
reasons, the referee shall signal (one open palm in an over-the head pumping motion) that the
clock should be set at 25 seconds:
13. An offensive team players helmet comes completely off through play. The play clock is
set to 40 seconds if the helmet comes completely off a player of the defensive team.
Section 3. Timeouts: Starting and Stopping the Clock
Timeout (FR-48)
Article 1. c. Once the game begins, players shall not practice with a ball on the field of play or
the end zones except during the half-time intermission.
IWFL Note: This includes all Sideline Attendants, and everyone that the NCAA rules apply to
Starting and Stopping the Clock (FR-48-49)
ARTICLE 2. e. Starts on the Referees Signal. For each of the following reasons, the game clock is
stopped on an officials signal. If the next play begins with a snap, the game clock will start on
the referees signal:
13. The referee declares a timeout for unfair noise
16. A players helmet comes completely off through play.
IWFL Note: Music and announcer will stop when the huddle breaks until the ball is snapped
Referees Notification (FR-52-53)
b. Unless a visual game clock is the official timepiece, the referee also shall inform each field
captain and head coach when approximately two minutes of playing time remain in each half. He
may order the clock stopped for that purpose.
1. The play-clock count is not interrupted.
2. The clock starts on the snap after the two-minute notification.
IWFL Note: The referee shall (regardless of visual game clock) inform each field captain and head
coach when approximately two minutes of playing time remain in the 2nd quarter and the 4th
quarter. He may order the clock stopped for that purpose.
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Rev. 5/10/16
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Rule 8 Scoring
Section 4. Field Goal (FR-82-83)
Next Play
ARTICLE 2. a. Successful field goal. After a field goal is scored, the ball shall be put in play by a
kickoff or at the succeeding spot in extra periods. The team scoring the field goal shall kick off.
1. If the ball untouched by Team B beyond the neutral zone is declared dead beyond the
neutral zone, it belongs to Team B. Except in an extra period Team B will snap the ball at the
previous spot unless the previous spot was between its 20-yard line and its goal line. In that
case Team B will next snap the ball at its 20-yard line.
(a) The 20-yard-line snap shall be from midway between the hash marks unless Team B selects a
different location on or between the hash marks before the ready-for-play signal.
(b) After the ready-for-play signal, the ball may be relocated after a charged team timeout,
unless preceded by a Team A foul or offsetting fouls.
2. If the ball does not cross the neutral zone, or if Team B touches the ball beyond the
neutral zone, all rules pertaining to scrimmage kicks apply
3. If the ball crosses the neutral zone, is untouched by Team B beyond the neutral zone,
and is declared dead behind the neutral zone, all rules pertaining to scrimmage kicks apply
Rule 9 Conduct of Players and Others Subject to the Rules
Section 1. Personal Fouls (FR-87)
Targeting and Making Forcible Contact With the Crown of the Helmet
ARTICLE 3. No player shall target and make forcible contact against an opponent with the crown
(top) of his helmet. When in question, it is a foul.
Section 1. Personal Fouls (FR-87)
Striking Fouls and Tripping
Article 2.
a. No person subject to the rules shall strike an opponent with the knee; strike an opponents
helmet (including the face mask), neck, face or any other part of the body with an extended
forearm, elbow, locked hands, palm, fist, or the heel, back or side of the open hand; or gouge an
opponent
b. No person subject to the rules shall strike an opponent with his foot or any part of his leg
that is below the knee.
c. There shall be no tripping. (Exception: Tripping the runner is not a foul.)
Targeting and Making Forcible Contact to Head or Neck Area of a Defenseless Player
ARTICLE 4. No player shall target and make forcible contact to the head or neck area of a
defenseless opponent with the helmet, forearm, hand, fist, elbow or shoulder. When in question,
it is a foul
Section 2. Unsportsmanlike Conduct Fouls
Unsportsmanlike Acts
ARTICLE 1. b. Other prohibited acts include: (FR-94)
1. During the game, coaches, substitutes and authorized attendants in the team area shall not
be on the field of play or outside the 25-yard lines without permission from the referee unless
legally entering or leaving the field
2. No disqualified person shall be in view of the field of play.
3. No person or mascot subject to the rules, except players, officials and eligible substitutes,
shall be on the field of play or end zones during any period without permission from the referee.
If a player is injured, attendants may come inbounds to attend him, but they must obtain
recognition from an official.
4. No substitute(s) may enter the field of play or end zones for purposes other than replacing a
player(s) or to fill a player vacancy(ies). This includes demonstrations after any play.
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5. Persons subject to the rules, including bands, shall not create any noise that prohibits a team
from hearing its signals.
IWFL Note: Music and announcer will stop when the huddle breaks until the ball is snapped.
Appendix E
Equipment: Additional Details
A. Details Regarding Illegal Equipment (FR-128)
2. Hand and arm protectors (covered casts or splints) are permitted only to protect a fracture or
dislocation.
IWFL Note: Casts and splints must be covered with slow-recovery foam padding at least -inch
thick, or an alternate material of the same minimum thickness having similar physical properties.)
5. Therapeutic or preventive knee braces must be worn under the pants and entirely covered
from direct external exposure
2016 IWFL Operation Documents
Article 7 Schedules
1. Any team that does not play a game they are scheduled to play will have the result recorded as a
forfeit.
2. A team that forfeits a game scheduled will lose one home game on the schedule in the following
season and that lost home game will be played as an additional away game, preferably against the
team they forfeited on. It will be the responsibility of the team forfeited on to inform the IWFL
Director of the game that needs to be removed.
IWFL Clarification: If a team no-shows/forfeits during the regular season, the team is disqualified from
ANY post season participation. That includes championship, bowl games, etc.
Article XV. Playing Seasons
Section 15.03 Forfeits
Forfeiture is defined as: (Note this is only a portion of this section for clarification)
A game no-show by one team regardless of reason
Fielding an ineligible player
A ineligible coach appearing at a game to coach his or her team
Breaking a Rule of the Game which gives team an unfair advantage (as determined by
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(ii) Striking or fighting with another player as documented by the referee shall warrant suspension
of the player from IWFL for a period of at least one game following the incident as
determined by the Disciplinary and Protest Committee. A maximum penalty of permanent
banishment may be applied depending on the severity and frequency of the offense. Note:
Striking or fighting with another player shall only be considered if the intent to injure is obvious as
determined by the referee.
(iii) Verbal Abuse of a Referee/Team Management/League Officer
(iv) Verbal abuse of any of the above referee shall warrant suspension of the player or coach
from the IWFL for a period of at least two games as determined by the Disciplinary and
Protest Committee. A maximum penalty of permanent banishment may be applied depending on
the severity and frequency of the offense. Note: Repeated swearing is considered verbal abuse at
the discretion of the referee (or other official party present).
(b) Threatening Behavior Directed Towards a Referee/Team Management/League Officer
(c) Threatening behavior directed towards any of the above shall warrant suspension of the player
from IWFL for a period of at least 2 games as determined by the Discipline and Protest
Committee. A maximum penalty of permanent banishment may be applied depending on the severity
and frequency of the offense. In addition, a report shall be filed with IWFL for further disciplinary
action.
(d) Physical Assault of Referee/Team Management/League Officer
(e) Physical assault of any of the above shall warrant permanent banishment from IWFL as
determined by the Discipline and Protest Committee.
(f) Should a member of Team Management also happen to be a player, the individual will ONLY be
viewed as an IWFL player, not Team Management or League Officer by the Disciplinary and Protest
committee.
(g) Refusal to comply with the IWFL guidelines for Disproportionate Competition during a game
(previously mercy rules).
IWFL Clarification:
a) Player suspension: Players may not participate on the field as a player or coach during the
suspension period. Players may attend games on the sideline, not dressed for play, with the
team jersey inside out.
b) Coach suspension: Coach may not participate on the field, in the press box, or communicate
in any way (including electronic communication devices, hand signals etc.) with players or
coaches on the field, from the time the players take the field, until the game official ends
the game.
Rev. 5/10/16
Coaches and players that violate the suspension rules will be further suspended
pending the IWFL Disciplinary and Protest Committee review.
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