SY2023-2024 BIIF FOOTBALL SPORTS PROCEDURES             

SECTION I:  SCHEDULE

1. START DATE:

a. Will be according to the HHSAA Start date calendar 

                                      i. 2023 - 24 First Official Day    -  July 24 (Helmet / Conditioning) 2 days

-  July 26 (Shell) 3 days

-  July 31 (Full Pads)

-  Aug. 2 (1^st Controlled Scrimmage)

SEASON FORMATS:

a.  Divisional Play  

i. Division I & II will each play a home & home game  

2. GAME SCHEDULING / TIMES:
   1. 1. Games will be played weekly Thursday, Friday, Saturday
      2. Start times:

i. Junior Varsity (10 minute quarters)

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Field with lights 5:00pm
                  2. Fields without lights 11:00am

                        ii. Varsity (12 minute quarters)

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Field with lights – 7:00pm
                  2. Fields without lights – 11:00a / 1:00p / 2:00p (varies)

**Unless where specified or both schools agree to a time change

**Homecoming – an extended halftime of 10 minutes can be added for Homecoming

Activities.  The host school is responsible for informing the officials at the beginning of the game and visiting schools

SECTION II:  METHOD OF DETERMINING A CHAMPION

A.  DIVISIONS:

1. 1. 1. 1. There will be a Division I and Division II Champion
         2. There will be no Junior Varsity Champion

B.  CHAMPIONSHIP FORMAT:

                        a. Division I

i. The top two (2) teams from Division I after regular season standings, will play for the BIIF Division I Championship.  Higher seeds will host or as determined by the BIIF.

                        b. Division II

i.      i. The top two (2) teams from Division II after regular season standings, will play for the BIIF Division II Championship.  If the #1 seed had beaten the #2 seed twice in the regular season – there will be no championship game.  Higher seeds will host or as determined by the BIIF.   

1. 3. AWARDS:

                        a. 11-man Championship teams will receive:                                   - Players = forty (40) medals

2. • • • • • Coaches = thirteen (13) medals
           • Managers = four (4) medals                    (TOTAL: 57)
3. QUALIFYING FOR HHSAA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT:

                        a. HHSAA / BIIF Determinations

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. HHSAA will follow adopted formula to determine allocation for the BIIF
               2. The Division I & Division II BIIF Champions will earn an automatic HHSAA berth
               3. Any additional berths will go to the runner up team from each Division or as determined by the BIIF.

SECTION III:  RULES

            A.  GOVERNING BODY:

a. All the rules regulations governing football can be found in the National Federation of High School (NFHS) Football Rule Book.  The NFHS Football Rules shall prevail, except as modified in this document.  

B.  OFFICIAL BALL:

1. 1. 1. 1. BADEN is the official ball of the HHSAA & BIIF 
         2. Rubber footballs may be used, if allowed by the official
         3. Officials will provide games balls.

1. 3. TEAM

                        a. SIZE

                                    i. Unlimited number of players may participate on the Junior Varsity & Varsity Level

                        b. PARTICIPATION

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Junior Varsity Teams - can only have ninth (9^th), tenth (10^th) and eleventh (11^th) graders participating  
               2. Limitation - All players will be limited to one (1) game per week on either the Junior

Varsity or Varsity Team.  (Ex: A Junior Varsity Player cannot participate in a Varsity Contest if they participated in a Junior Varsity Contest that week or vice versa.)  

D.  FIELD RESPONSIBILITIES:

a.   EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN – due to the nature of football being a Collision Contact Sport – the BIIF highly recommends that all schools have a doctor or other medical personnel at all home games and Emergency Action Plan created for each venue. 

b. TIMER:

i. Official timer to be decided by each home school                         

ii. BIIF Officials Crew provides a Timer for schools as needed

                        c. CHAIN GANG:

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Home Team must provide Four (4) / Five (5) Adult to do Chain for Junior Varsity & Varsity Games
               2. Chain gang may meet with Officials 30 minutes before start of game.

                        d. BALL BOY

                                    i. must be at least fourteen (14) years of age

4. SEASON:

                        a. LENGTH: 

                                    i. Refer to HHSAA Handbook By-Laws Article IV, Section 5A

                        b. EARLY PRACTICE:  

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Teams may be granted permission for early practice by the BIIF and HHSAA only.  
               2. If permission is granted to one (1) school, all schools in the League will have the same privilege to start early if they chose. 

c. PRE-SEASON PRACTICE:

1. 1. 1. 1. See Section I A of the BIIF Football Sports Procedure for the Official Start Date
         2. No Player will be allowed to participate in a preseason / season contest without going through the full 14 day Heat Acclimatization and Practice Rules for Football. set by the HHSAA.   

                        d. SPRING PRACTICE:

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. will be limited to ten (10) days of actual practice.
               2. Competition between schools are prohibited during spring practices
               3. No Use of Pads – See HHSAA Head Impact Guidelines
               4. The ten (10) days of spring practice allowed must be finish before June 9 or four (4) weeks after the last HHSAA Tournament.
               5. Incoming ninth (9^th) or current Eighth (8^th) graders are not allowed to participate in spring practice.
               6. After Spring practice, players are not to be in football helmet or pads until the start date set forth by the HHSAA.

                        e. SUMMER PRACTICE

4. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. No Helmets or No Pads allowed
               2. There will be No Contact and No Equipment worn during this time.  Emphasis should be on teaching skill development, weight training, and conditioning.
               3. Not made Mandatory, Team cannot be selected
               4. Incoming ninth (9^th) are allowed to participate with their respective high school team INCOMING REGISTERED FRESHMEN MAY START ATHLETIC PARTICIPATION WITH THEIR RESPECTIVE HIGH SCHOOL ON THE 2^rd MONDAY OF JUNE
5. MERCY RULE

If at any time, during the SECOND HALF of any football game, if the winning team is leading by thirty-five (35) or more points, the clock will NOT STOP for: (F.O.C.I)

a. First Down 

b. Out of Bound Plays 

c. Change of possession

d. Incomplete pass

The Clock WILL STOP for: (S.P.I.T.E)

e. Score – After a score to set up

f. Penalties – Administration of

g. Injuries – Care of

h. Time out

1. 1. 1. 1. End of the Quarter 

6. OVERTIME PROCEDURES

a. There is a three (3) minute intermission prior to starting the overtime. 

b. The ball will be played from the 20 yard line anywhere between the inbound marks. A team can make a 1st down and continue the series. 

c. Each team has the opportunity for an offensive series. 

d. Coin Toss winner has the following choices: Defense or Offense first (1st). Designate the end of the field where the ball will be put in play. 

1. 1. 1. 5. Unused 2nd half time-outs WILL NOT carry over to the overtime period. A team will only have one (1) timeout during Overtime period

f. Team scoring the greater number of points in overtime shall be declared the winner. Final score is a combination of regulation and overtime periods. 

g. An offensive team’s series ends by any score by the offensive team or if the defensive team has possession. The defensive team can score a safety or a touchdown. If the Defensive team scores a safety or touch down, the game is ended. 

h. If the Offensive team scores a touchdown, it is entitled to attempt a PAT try unless the points would not affect the outcome of the game. 

1. 1. 1. 1. Field Goals attempts are permitted in all overtime periods.

1. 1. 1. 10. If the Defensive team gains possession, the ball becomes dead IMMEDIATELY and the Offensive team’s series is ended.

k. If the score remains tied, there will be another overtime. The loser of the 1^st overtime coin toss will be given the choice of option Defense or Offense first (1st). Designate the end of the field where the ball will be put in play. 

1. 1. 1. 50. There shall be a two-minute intermission between each overtime. 

1. 1. 1. 1000. The Offensive team shall be awarded a new series: By making the line to gain, accepted pass interference, offensive (kicking) team recovers a scrimmage kick between the goal lines after being touched first by the defensive team beyond the neutral zone; and Defensive team is guilty of roughing the kicker, holder, snapper or passer. 
         14. If the game goes into a 3^rd overtime, revert backs to winner of coin toss to be given the choice of option Defense or Offense first (1st). Designate the end of the field where the ball will be put in play.

SECTION IV:  MISCELLANEOUS

            A.  BIIF ALL LEAGUE SELECTION

i. Division I & II – Will be selected by the coaches of each Division and organized by the Football Sports Coordinator.

SECTION V: CHAMPIONSHIP

1. Playoff procedure for ties following the regular season.

If two or more teams are tied after the regular season play for positions #1 through last play-off spot (in either division) then the following will be used to determine positions:

1) Head to Head.

2) Total points sets (VB) in matches played between teams involved.

3) Total point differential in matches (VB) games (FB) played between teams involved.

4) Fewest points allowed in matches/games played between teams involved.

5) Fewest points allowed throughout the entire BIIF season.

6) DRAW.

            B.   HHSAA HEAD IMPACT GUIDELINES         (Adopted and placed in BIIF Football

      Procedure 7/12/2015) 

1. Full contact should be limited during the regular season (after week 3) as well as during activities outside the traditional fall football (weeks 21-52) season. For the purposes of these recommendations and guidelines, full contact consist of both “Thud” and “Live Action” using USA Football definitions of Level of Contact. (see videos: http://usafootball.com/healthsafety/levels-of-contact) 
2. During the regular season full contact should not be allowed in more than 2- 3 practices per week. 
   1. There should be only 30 minutes of full contact during each practice with no more than 90 minutes per week. (Coach submit a practice plan to their AD’s) 
3. Pre-season practices may require more full-contact time than practices occurring later in the regular season, to allow for teaching fundamentals with sufficient repetition. 
   1. Pre-season acclimatization protocols and regulations regarding heat and hydration take precedent and should always be followed. 
   2. While total full-contact practice days and time limitations may be increased during the pre-season, the emphasis should focus on the proper principles of tackling and blocking during the first several practices, before progressing to “Thud” and “Live Contact”. 
4. During twice daily practices, only one session per day should include full contact. 
5. During Spring football (weeks 47-50) there will be No Contact and No equipment worn during this time. Emphasize should be on teaching skill development. 
6. All coaches, paid and volunteer must participate in annual concussion awareness education via NFHS online course or education provided by their school’s athletic trainer(s) or a course approved by the HHSAA. 
7. All schools should have a written and practice emergency action plan (EAP) for each venue use. It’s Best Practice to have an athletic trainer accessible at all practices and games. 

Definitions: 

1. Air – Players run drills unopposed without contact, with No resistance 

2. Bags – Drill is run against a bag or another soft-contact surface. 

3. Control – Drills is run at an assigned speed until the moment of contact; one player is predetermined the “winner” by the coach. Contact remains above the waist and players stay on their feet. This applies to simulations and drills involving any number of players. 

4. Thud – Drill is run at assigned speed through the moment of contact; no predetermined “winner”. Contact remains above the waist, players stay on their feet and a quick whistle ends the drill. This applies to simulations and drills involving any number of players. 

1. 5. Live Action – Drill is run in game-like conditions and is the only time that players are taken to the ground.

This applies to simulations and drills involving any number of players. 

6. Full Contact – Is defined as “Thud” and “Live Action

Heat Acclimatization and Practice Rules for Football

(Adopted 5/2016) 

All practices shall allow for unrestricted water breaks and general acclimatization to hot and/or humid weather. Ample amounts of water shall always be available and a student’s access to water shall not be restricted (see Appendix II, Hydration Strategies to Prevent Heat Illness) 

All Football players shall have a 14-Day heat acclimatization period: 

1. At the start of each football season all students on their first five days of practice will only have one practice per day and practices shall not exceed 3 hours. Practice includes warm-ups, cool down, weight training, conditioning, and walk-through. 

2. On days 1-2 students shall only wear helmets with no contact during these practices. 

3. On days 3-5 students may wear helmets and shoulder pads. Contact only with blocking sleds and dummies (see below 1.a.i-ii). No tackling to the ground. Tackling/blocking techniques should be emphasized.

4. On days 6-14, students may participate in multiple practices per day but not on consecutive days. 

a. Each multiple practice day must be followed by a single practice day or total rest day. 

b. If a multiple practice day is followed by a rest day then a multiple practice day is allowed. 

c. On days with multiple practice sessions, students shall not engage in more than 5 hours of total practice, including warm-ups, cool-down, weight training, conditioning, and walk-through. Neither practice should exceed 3 hours. 

d. Contact shall be limited to only one of the practice sessions. 

e. On days with multiple practices, each practice must be separated by at least 3 hours of recovery time. During the recovery time students may not engage in other physical activity (i.e. weight training, walk-through, and conditioning). 

f. During this time period, students may participate in contact practice in which full football gear may be worn. (Source, NATA, JAT June 2009) 

Beginning the third week of the football season until the state championship game: 

1. Students may participate in a maximum of three days of full contact each week, excluding games.  a. No-Contact or light contact

i. Air. Players run a drill unopposed without contact with no resistance. 

1. 2. Bags. Drill is run against a bag or another soft-contact surface. 
   3. Control. Drill is run at assigned speed until the moment of contact; one player is predetermined the “winner” by the coach. Contact remains above the waist and players stay on their feet. This applies to simulations and drills involving any number of players. 

b. Contact (no more than 2-3 practices per week. No more than 30 minutes per day and no more than 60-90 minutes per week) 

1. Thud. Drill is run at assigned speed through the moment of contact; no predetermined “winner”. Contact remains above the waist, players stay on their feet, and a quick whistle ends the drill. This applies to simulations and drills involving any number of players. 
2. Live Action. Drill is run in game-like conditions and is the only time that players are taken to the ground. This applies to simulations and drills involving any number of players.

*Source USA Football. http://usafootball.com/health-safety/levels-of-contact 

2. A student may practice, scrimmage, or participate in pre-season or in-season games for no more than 6 consecutive days without a rest day. A rest day must be complete rest (no organized team activity is allowed). 

Off-season, spring football: 

1. To minimize the student’s total exposure to head impacts and concussion risk, off-season conditioning and spring football shall consist of learning opportunities for skill and physical development. No equipment shall be worn and no contact shall occur during this time. 

*Source: NFHS 2014 Recommendations and Guidelines for Minimizing Head Impact

DAILY FOOTBALL WORKOUT MAX GUIDELINES

This practice guideline generated by HHSAA Sports Medicine Committee to help athletic trainers understand what the max workout a team can do each day according to the Heat Acclimatization and Practice Rules for Football.

**Head Impact Rule:

1. Full Contact shall be limited during the regular season (after week 3)
2. Maximum 3 days of FULL CONTACT (Thud & Live Action) from week 3 to State championship.  

a. There shall be only 30 min. of full contact during each practice.  No more than 90 minutes per week