GRANDE PRAIRIE PEE WEE FOOTBALL LEAGUE
(GPPWFL)
HOUSE RULES
*Revised 2024
HOUSE RULES
Effective March 13, 2023, the following Rules and Regulations have been adopted by the GPPWFL (Grande Prairie Peewee Football League) (hereinafter “GPPWFL”) to govern conduct and fair play of the GPPWFL during any scheduled & sanctioned events put forth by the GPPWFL. The GPPWFL encompasses all Teams of peewee age group that have declared intent and been accepted to participate in the current season.
GENERAL INFORMATION
“Pee Wee Age Group” means U14 (2013, 2012 & 2011)
“Teams” means teams of pee wee age group that have declared intent and been accepted to participate in the current season.
“The GPPWFL” means the committee individual(s) appointed by the Teams executive at their respective AGM.
“Player” means an individual of the Pee Wee Age Group;
“Rule Book” means the Canadian Rule Book for Amateur Football.
3.The terms contained in these Regulations which are defined in the Bylaws, shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Bylaws.
4.Word importing the singular number only shall include the plural and vice versa and words importing the masculine gender shall include the feminine or neuter genders.
MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS AND OBLIGATIONS
5.In accordance with the Bylaws all Teams shall enter into an agreement with the GPPWFL which shall include terms as deemed by the GPPWFL, in their sole discretion, to be relevant and to include, but not be limited to;
(a) Agreement to abide by the Rules and Regulations as established, amended, and adopted by the GPPWFL from time to time.
(b) Agreement to follow the philosophy of the GPPWFL; and
(c) Agreement to have all disputes arising during or as a result of sanctioned & scheduled events set forth for the current season between Teams decided by the GPPWFL.
6.Each Player shall submit to the following, on or before the Player’s first GPPWFL game:
(a) Any Player who has failed to provide his registration form and the registration fee on or before such Player’s first GPPWFL game shall be ineligible to participate in any activity of the GPPWFL including, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, practicing with any Team, or playing any football games.
(b) Any Team who knowingly allows a Player who has failed to provide his registration form and the registration fee on or before such Player’s first GPPWFL game, to practice, or to play in any GPPWFL games shall forfeit any league games in which such Player has played and may be liable to suspension or penalty, as determined by GPPWFL and or Team.
7.A Player shall not be eligible to participate in any playoff games unless he has participated in three or more GPPWFL games. Provided that if a Player has participated in three or more GPPWFL games due to an injury suffered while playing football with his Team, he shall be eligible to participate in the playoff games of that Team.
8.Player Eligibility shall be defined as U14 (2013, 2012 & 2011). Eligibility can be revoked if players have participated in higher-level football practices or games, excluding Bantam Spring Camps or external skill development camps.
9.The following Regulation govern the conduct of each and every Player in the GPPWFL while participating in any sanctioned GPPWFL event or activity and any breach of the Regulation shall be dealt with as follows:
(a) A Player who:
May be suspended or expelled from the GPPWFL and or Team, with or without warning by the GPPWFL and or Team and the Team to which the offending Player belongs may forfeit one or more games, in the sole discretion of The GPPWFL and or Team.
(b) In supplement to and not so as to limit the Rules of the Canadian Amateur Football Association, any Player guilty of Unnecessary Roughness shall be suspended for three (3) plays during the game by the game officials and any Player guilty of Unnecessary Roughness and suspended from play by the officials for the second time in that game shall be suspended for the balance of that game, and may also be suspended from the next GPPWFL or playoff game, whichever is first, in the sole discretion of The GPPWFL.
(c) Any Player found by the officials in a game to be guilty of rough play with intent to injure shall be immediately suspended from all further play in the GPPWFL pending a hearing in the presence of The GPPWFL who shall, in their sole discretion, decide as to the further play of that Player.
(d) Any Team member’s swearing on the field or the sidelines during a game shall be subject to an automatic objectionable conduct penalty.
10.Each Coach shall submit to the following, on or before the Coach’s first GPPWFL game:
(a) Any Coach who has failed to provide his application form and the Vulnerable Sector Check on or before such Coach’s first GPPWFL game shall be ineligible to participate in any activity of the GPPWFL including, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, coaching any football games.
(b) Any Team who knowingly allows a Coach who has failed to provide his application form and the Vulnerable Sector Check on or before such Coach’s first GPPWFL game shall forfeit any GPPWFL games in which such Coach has coached and may be liable to suspension or penalty, as determined by The Board.
11.All coaches will need to review and follow the Football Alberta Coaching Requirements & NCCP as put forth. Please refer to the link provided.
https://footballalberta.ab.ca/content/span-stylecolor-0000ffcoaching-requirements-amp-nccp-span
12.All personnel associated with the GPPWFL and or Team in a capacity as coach, manager, trainer, Board member or otherwise shall conduct themselves at all times in a manner consistent with the objectives of the GPPWFL. If, in the sole opinion of the GPPWFL, any such person conducts himself in a manner, which may be detrimental to the GPPWFL, he shall be liable to suspension or expulsion from the GPPWFL.
13.The following Regulation govern the conduct of each and every Coach in the GPPWFL while participating in any sanctioned GPPWFL event or activity and any breach of the Regulation shall be dealt with as follows:
(a) A Coach who:
May be suspended or expelled from the GPPWFL and or Team, with or without warning by the GPPWFL and or Team and the Team to which the offending Coach belongs may forfeit one or more games, in the sole discretion of The GPPWFL and or Team.
(b) In supplement to and not so as to limit the Rules of the Canadian Amateur Football Association, any Coach guilty of objectionable conduct during a game shall be suspended for the balance of that game, and may also be suspended from the next GPPWFL or playoff game, whichever is first, in the sole discretion of The GPPWFL.
(c) Any Coach swearing on the field or the sidelines during a game shall be subject to an automatic objectionable conduct penalty.
14.The following Regulation govern the conduct of each and every member in the GPPWFL while participating in any sanctioned GPPWFL event or activity and any breach of the Regulation shall be dealt with as follows:
(a) Bench conduct shall apply to anyone directly associated with the Team for the game, the following apply:
Any person the GPPWFL and or Team deems to be disobeying these rules shall be ejected from the field.
(b) There will be a no tolerance policy to poor conduct from anyone directly associated with the Team on the sidelines. Any infraction would be dealt with by the team coach’s or if failure to do so by The GPPWFL.
GAME REQUIREMENTS
15.The GPPWFL, in its sole discretion, shall set the schedule for the GPPWFL. Each Team shall strictly adhere to the schedule, which is to be provided to each Team prior to the first game of the season subject to variations communicated to any Team from The GPPWFL.
16.Each GPPWFL team will adhere to the practice schedule as put forth by the GPPWFL Board, there will be no unauthorized rescheduling, and or cancelling of practices unless written requests have been approved by written approvals from the GPPWFL
17.No Team shall contact any Team outside the GPPWFL with a view to engaging in exhibition games, or playoff games, unless it has received the prior written permission of GPPWFL.
18.Teams must be prepared to play their respective games at the time scheduled for such game. Teams arriving late will be penalized in accordance with Rule Book or otherwise, as The GPPWFL deems fit.
19.In the circumstance where no officials arrive for game time the game will be cancelled with the GPPWFL member present notifying the GPPWFL board about cancellation. Cancelled games will try to be rescheduled depending upon agreement from the GPPWFL and the head coaches from the cancelled game.
20.The minimum numbers of officials required for game play to commence will be 2 officials which will require 2 junior coaches who have completed the ref clinic to be called into service as line officials. In this instance the GPPWFL Board member on site will notify GPPWFL Board via email that game is proceeding under these circumstances. Head Coaches will also have to agree to terms the game is being played and noted in the email. *Revised April 2019
21.Each Team shall have a minimum of fifteen (15) eligible Players and shall be allowed a maximum of twenty-five (25) eligible Players in full football equipment for each regular season and playoff game. A team may play with less than fifteen (15) players if both team coaches and officials have agreed to the number of available players and the number of players allowed to play both ways before the game begins. The team with less than fifteen (15) must have a minimum of 4 ineligible players to consider playing the game. The opposition coach cannot call for a forfeit in this case only the official or the coach of the team with less than fifteen (15) players can decide if it is a forfeit or not. *Revised 2023
22.Each Team shall have a maximum of five (5) coaches and two (2) junior coaches, with a maximum of one (1) grade 8 junior coach. *The Board will use this as a guideline
23.During games there will be a maximum of two (2) coaches on the field with the players and all teams will have no coaches on the field for the playoffs.
24.Without restricting the generality of any of the Regulations any Team using ineligible Players shall forfeit each game in which such ineligible Player has played, and the coach or coaches may be liable to suspension following an investigation by the GPPWFL.
25.Each Home Team participating in a GPPWFL game shall provide three (3) people for the duration of the game as sideline personnel, two (2) timekeepers, as well as set up the field a half hour (30 minutes) prior to game time and clean up the field immediately after the game.
26.Timing of league and exhibition games shall be as follows;
*as per Football Canada*
27.Timing of Playoff games shall be the same as specified in Regulation 26. Also, overtime in accordance with the Rule Book shall apply to playoff games only.
28.Each Team shall be entitled to two (2) time outs per half and one (1) in overtime, with no unused time outs carrying over.
29.In the event of a tie in the standings, at the end of the regular season, the tie breaking formula to be used to determine rankings will be determined by the GPPWFL.
GPPWFL SPECIFIC RULES
LEAGUE SPECIFIC RULE
30.Subject to the Regulations, the Canadian Amateur Football Rule book shall apply to all games played in the GPPWFL.
31.Any Coach or Player swearing on the field or the sidelines during a game shall be subject to an automatic objectionable conduct penalty.
32.Any Player guilty of Unnecessary Roughness shall be suspended for three (3) plays during the game by the game officials and any Player guilty of Unnecessary Roughness for the third time in that game shall be suspended for the balance of that game and may also be suspended from the next league or playoff game, whichever is first, in the sole discretion of GPPWFL. *Revised April 2023
33.Any Coach guilty of objectionable conduct during a game shall be suspended for the balance of that game and may also be suspended from the next league or playoff game, whichever is first, in the sole discretion of the GPPWFL.
34.Any Player found by the officials in a game to be guilty of rough play with intent to injure shall be immediately suspended from all further play in the GPPWFL pending a hearing in the presence of The GPPWFL and Team who shall, in their sole discretion, make a decision as to the further play of that Player.
35.Blocking below the waist shall not be allowed in the GPPWFL. If a violation occurs a 10-yard penalty will be enforced to the offending team. *Revised April 2019
36.A player will be assessed a fifteen (15) yard penalty for making direct contact with the centre if he is shot gunning or long snapping the ball if that contact is made before the centre comes to a hitting position with his head up. No penalty will be called if contact is made immediately on the centre if he is direct snapping the ball to the quarterback. A fifteen (15) yard penalty will be accessed to a team if it is deemed that a player has been told to keep their head down and not assume a hitting position after the snap.
37.Players shall always wear mouth guards during practice and during all games. If an official has warned a team’s players about not using mouth guards, that official upon his discretion may assess a ten (10) yard penalty to that Team.
2 WAY PLAYER RULE:
38.If a player is deemed to be played both way, The player has to be in the opposite positions of what they are skilled for, Example: WR/DB,RB/LB.
39.Before the game, Head Coaches are responsible for providing numbers to the opposing team before the coin toss with a GPPWFL Rep of the Jersey Numbers that will be playing both ways, you may choose up to 2 Players to play both ways. If you would like to change players through out the duration of the game, you may change the players selected at Half time or if the player is injured and can not continue playing in the game. Notify opposing team coach of new two way player as a result of injury. If players are changed at half time, A GPPWFL Rep still must be present when exchanging numbers with opposing Team. *Revised 2023
40.Referees will be encouraged by the GPPWFL to call players for unnecessary roughness for any head contact that they deem as excessive or dangerous, whether it happens during tackling, blocking, or rushing, regardless of how the rule reads in the official guide.
41.At the beginning of halves and after points have been score, teams will kick off and return the ball. The ball will be spotted at the fifty-five (55)-yard line and after being kicked must travel at least fifteen (15) yards, in the air, to the forty (40)-yard line. Any ball that fails to make it the fifteen (15) yards, in the air, after being kicked will be immediately blown dead and the receiving team will take over possession on the fifty-five (55) yard line. If the ball is kicked directly out of bounds, it will be spotted on the fifty-five (55) yard line but if it rolls out of bounds after traveling the fifteen (15) yards then the ball will be spotted where it went out of bounds.
42.On kick-off no ineligible numbered players can cover the kick-off. Due to safety concerns. With Football Canada wanting to reduce collisions for children for this age group. Keeping lineman off kickoff will limit the chance for these types of collisions. *Revised 2023
43.If a player on the kick-off is within a five (5) yard halo around a receiving player, whether the ball is in the air or on the ground the appropriate no yards call will be made, and the penalty will be added to the end of the return. *Revised April 2019
44.After a touchdown has been scored (6 points) the scoring team will attempt the PAT, this is MANDATORY. If successful 2 points will be awarded to the kicking team. There will be no other option for the PAT to be awarded. If unsuccessful no points will be awarded, and the scoring team will proceed to kick-off. Kicking team will be allowed to line up players in a standard Kicking formation with the exception that there will be no eligible players, as Fakes aren’t allowed. If on the snap the holder cannot handle the snap from center cleanly the play will be blown dead from a player safety standpoint. *Revised 2023
45.With the league switching to 9-a-side football a grace period of 3 weeks will be allotted to the teams participating in league games before rushing the PAT is allowed. Rushing over the center will be an automatic Unnecessary Roughness 15-yard penalty as per Canadian Amateur Football Rule Book. If a team and or teams continually have these types of penalties, a coaching review meeting will be initiated by the GPPWFL to discuss if the coaching staff understands the rule and that further infractions will result in the coach or coaches’ services being no longer required by the league. *Revised 2023
46. When a team declares a punting situation, the ball will be placed 40-yards away from the line of scrimmage. In the event the punt yardage takes the ball inside the opposing teams 20-yard line it will travel no further than the 20-yard line.
47.There will be a weight limit of 125lbs placed on any player handling the football after the initial snap from centre. Players in this category will be wearing numbers 1-49 and 80-99. Players above the 125lb weight will be required to wear numbers 50-79 and are required to play on the offense and defensive line only.
48.On offence if an ineligible player advances the ball the play will be blown dead and the down will be repeated, unless there is a fumble and an ineligible player recovers for his own team the ball will be spotted at recovery point and down will count.
49.Any Defensive lineman recovering a fumble or intercepting a pass, the play will be blown dead and the ineligible player’s team will get the ball at the recovery or intercepting spot. *Revised April 2019
50.The 125lb weight limit is our starting point for this upcoming year. All players will be weighed when registered and these weights will be submitted to the GPPWFL and reviewed. If the eligible weight must change to accommodate the average weight this will be done prior to the start of league games. All teams must have their eligible and non-eligible players finalized before the fourth (4th) regular season game.
51.All players will be weighed prior to any GPPWFL games being played. All teams will weigh in with the supplied scale from the GPPWFL. All scales need to be placed on a hard surface to gain an accurate weight for the player. There will be a 5lb variance above the 125lb limit as player’s body composition can change dramatically at this age. The variance is in place for the kids that start out below the 125lb limit and deemed as ball carriers but hit a growth spurt and their weight rises to above 125lbs. The 130lb will be a hardline limit for all instances. *Revised 2024
CHALLENGES:
52.Any head coach can challenge a player’s weight before or after a game. All challenges must be performed by a GPPWFL committee member and both head coaches must be present for the re-weigh.
Before Game- Challenges must be verbally relayed to an attending GPPWFL committee member and will only be conducted prior to initial kick off with no resulting delay in game start. If player in question exceeds the GPPWFL weight restriction, then that player will be deemed an ineligible ball carrier.
After Game- Challenges must be verbally relayed to an attending GPPWFL committee member, immediately following the end of game play and re-weigh will be conducted after team handshakes are completed. If a player has been deemed to be over the GPPWFL weight restriction after post-game challenge the player’s team will forfeit that game and the Head Coach will receive a suspension from the GPPWFL.
53.It is the Head Coach’s responsibility to adhere to the guidelines put forth by the GPPWFL. Head Coaches must have unlimited access to the scales provided by the GPPWFL so any players can be weighed at any Team practices to monitor the overweight player limits.
54.All teams will run a standard defensive set and only be allowed to blitz a maximum of one (1) player at a time with no blitzing allowed on either side of the centre. A standard defensive set will consist of two (2) down lineman, two-three (2-3) linebackers, two (2) corners, zero-two (0-2) half backs, and one to two (1-2) safety for a total of nine (9) players. The players must line up in these positions and be clearly identifiable as playing these positions prior to the start of the play but once the offence lines up the defence can shift the defence into position to be able to continue with the safe play initiative. *Revised 2023
55.The offence will be allowed to run any style of offence that they wish except for no quarterback sneaks. The ball may be run up the middle by a running back in a dive or the quarterback can run a draw play as long as it is clear that he delayed his run up the middle by either moving backwards away from center with the ball or hesitating after receiving the ball from center by a long snap before moving forward with the ball. If the official finds any infractions in this area, he will whistle the play dead and the down will be rerun. The offence formation will include one (1) Quarterback, three (3) ineligible players and five (5) eligible players. Offences are allowed to run plays in any formation just if the player requirements are met. *Revised 2023
56.The offence will be awarded an extra play on each offence series run, for a total of four (4) plays, as long as one of the first two (2) plays run in the series is a passing play. If the offence does not run a passing play in the first two (2) plays, then that series will end at three (3) plays instead of being awarded the four (4) play. A passing play is defined as any play where the ball is moved forward through the air, if the ball is moved backwards even if it is through the air, it will not be considered a passing play but a lateral. When running any type of play that includes a pop pass, the pop pass will not be included in the forward pass rule.*Revised 2023
LIGHTNING SAFETY
57.Lightning is the most frequent severe storm hazard encountered in football. Most lightning casualties occur through the months of May and September. Safety is always the number one (1) concern for all participants and spectators involved in the game of football.
Lightning Safety Tips
INJURIES
58.During a stoppage in play for injury, or other reason, no more than two (2) representatives of each team shall be allowed to enter the field (not including water boys) and then only with the referee’s permission. Doctors are not included in the restriction to 2 attendants, and there are no restrictions regarding the number of doctors allowed to attend an injured player. The two (2) team representatives can indicate to the referee to allow, to a maximum of two (2) parents/legal guardians, to be granted entry to the field to further assess a player’s need for further medical assessment. In the event of extended periods of time to assess player, the two (2) teams must gather all players to their respective sidelines. To allow proper assessment of injuries, crowd control must be maintained, and in the event that an emergency transport vehicle is required all access to the field must be cleared to allow timely response.
59.All GPPWFL Coaches must submit to the GPPWFL Board incident reports for all injuries, incidents, or mishaps during any GPPWFL sanctioned events.
Submit Report HERE
COMPLAINT RESOLUTION
60.Any complaints or concerns from a member regarding a breach of the Rules and Regulations, or Bylaws by a member shall be directed to the GPPWFL. The GPPWFL, in their complete discretion, shall deal with the complaint and come to a decision on any action to be taken. Such complaints must be in writing and signed by the complainant.
Submit Complaint HERE
(a) If the GPPWFL, in their sole discretion, deems there are no reasonable grounds for the complaint, they may dismiss the complaint and shall so advise the complainant.
(b) If the GPPWFL deems there are reasonable grounds for a complaint against a player member, they shall advise the player member of the complaint and shall hear submissions from the subject player member and his parents only. At the initial hearing, The GPPWFL shall not hear from any witnesses aside from the subject of the complaint and his parents. After the initial hearing, The GPPWFL, in their sole discretion, may render a decision to either dismiss the complaint or to take disciplinary action against the subject of the complaint.
(c) After the initial hearing if the GPPWFL, in their sole discretion, cannot make a determination on whether to dismiss the complaint or to take disciplinary action against the subject, they may convene further hearings to hear from witnesses.
(d) The rules of evidence do not apply in any hearing convened by the GPPWFL. No party shall be entitled to representation at any hearing. The decision of The GPPWFL is final subject to appeals as stated in the Bylaws.
61.Any complaints or concerns from a member regarding a breach of the Rules and Regulations or Bylaws by a Team, coach or manager, and board members or disputes between teams or coaches or managers, shall be directed in writing to The GPPWFL who shall then either hear and determine the dispute.
(a) No action shall be taken by The GPPWFL on verbal complaints or concerns about Team Members, coaches, or manager or Board members.
(b) If the GPPWFL, in its sole discretion, deems there are no reasonable grounds for the complaint they may dismiss the complaint and shall so advise the complainant.
(c) If The GPPWFL deems there are reasonable grounds for a complaint against a coach, Team, manager, or board member The GPPWFL shall provide a copy of the written complaint to the subject of the complaint and shall schedule a hearing (the “initial hearing”) within one (1) month of the provision of the written complaint to the subject. At the initial hearing The GPPWFL shall hear submissions from the subject only. At the initial hearing The GPPWFL shall not hear from any witnesses aside from the subject of the complaint. After the initial hearing, The GPPWFL, in its sole discretion, may render a decision to either dismiss the complaint or to take disciplinary action against the subject of the complaint.
(d) After the initial hearing, if the GPPWFL, in its sole discretion, cannot make a determination on whether to dismiss the complaint or to take disciplinary action against the subject, The GPPWFL may convene further hearings to hear from witnesses.
(e) The Rules of evidence do not apply in any hearing convened by the GPPWFL. No party shall be entitled to representation at any hearing. The decision of The GPPWFL is final subject to appeal as stated in the Bylaws.
62.The penalty for the breach of any rule or regulation shall be determined by the GPPWFL in their sole discretion, after due investigation in accordance with these regulations.
