2021 SJV ROCKET FOOTBALL RULES
ELIGIBILITY
Player GRADE is determined as of September 1st.
LOWER Division weigh-ins will be conducted 45 mins before the scheduled start of each
game. The UPPER Division will weigh in at the End of the Third Quarter of the LOWER
Division game. All players MUST weigh in. Helmet and Shoulder pads are not required.
ALL players Must be weighed to be eligible to play in games.
LOWER LEVEL
Third and Fourth Graders must be 100 pounds or under to advance the football on either
offense, defense or special teams.
Third and Fourth Graders over 120 pounds are restricted to be on the line. A player over
120 pounds may not play a skilled position. All restricted players helmets will be marked
with yellow tape on the forehead area over the top and down the back of the helmet.
Proof of eligibility will lie with each program's director. Questions or concerns should be
referred to each program's director.
UPPER LEVEL
Fifth and Sixth Graders must be 140 pounds and under to advance the football on either
offense, defense, or special teams.
A player over 140 pounds may not play a skilled position or advance the ball. All
restricted players helmets will be marked with yellow tape on the forehead area over the
top and down the back of the helmet.
Proof of eligibility will lie with each program's director. Questions or concerns should be
referred to each program's director.
*Fourth Graders may play in Upper Level at the discretion of each program's director.
*Fifth and Sixth Grades may NOT play in Lower Level. No exceptions.
FIELD COACH
Only one coach at a time may be on the field except for Time outs and Injuries. This rule
applies to Upper and Lower level teams. All coaches are allowed to address only their
own team’s players during a game. All Coaches, Offense and Defense, on the field are
not allowed to say a word after Offensive huddle breaks. A 15-yard penalty will be given
against the coach each time.
UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT
Any coach that is penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct or ejected during a game will
have that incident reviewed by a grievance committee. The league will consider the
situation and determine if that coach should be disciplined for their actions or not. The
committee could impose a warning or possible suspension based on the severity of the
incident and if there have been any prior reviews of that coach by the grievance
committee. Three Directors will be chosen per review. The grievance committee will be
made up of Directors not involved in that game. The grievance committee will be
selected by the League Director. Failure to comply with the decision of the grievance
committee will subject that coach to permanent removal.
START TIME
LOWER LEVEL- Start Time 10:00 a.m.
UPPER LEVEL- 15 mins after Lower Level concludes.
QUARTERS
LOWER LEVEL- 10 Minute Quarters
UPPER LEVEL- 12 Minute Quarters
CLOCK
MHSAA Rules- Lower Level will be allowed a 45 second play clock. There is NO running
clock unless the “mercy rule” is in effect.
INJURY
An injured player must be off the field for a MINIMUM of 3 plays. Concussion protocol
shall be followed for head injuries.
FIELD
Turf, Tennis, or Molded Cleat Athletic Shoes are permitted. Shoes with steel cleats, steel
tips, fiberglass or removable cleats are NOT permitted.
GAME RULES
All High School rules apply except for the following:
RESTRICTED PLAYERS
Any player over 100 lbs. on Lower Division and any player over 140 lbs. on
Upper Division. Restricted players will be marked with a yellow strip from the
front of the helmet to the rear of the helmet. Restricted players shall not play a
skilled position. Restricted players shall not advance the ball. If a restricted player
takes possession of the ball, the play will be whistled dead at the spot the
restricted player took possession of the ball.
BLITZING
Lower Level Only: No blitzing between tackles. No interior blitzing from
tackle-to-tackle by the defense. Defensive lineman must be on the line of
scrimmage and in a down position. Only 6 men TOTAL (including ends) are
allowed on the line of scrimmage on the lower level. No stacking of Defensive
lineman. Only down lineman can cross the line of scrimmage in the
tackle-to-tackle zone. Players off the line of scrimmage inside tackles must be 5
yards off the line of scrimmage and only advance after the snap. Players outside
of the tackles may cross the line of scrimmage and may be in a two-point stance.
The Head Referee will give one warning for each team, if they are Blitzing after
the warning is issued, a 10-yard penalty will be assessed each time a blitz is
called. You are allowed a nose guard.
FREE KICKS (Upper & Lower Levels):
During a punt, field goal, or extra point try the team must have a minimum of 5
players within 3 yards of the line of scrimmage. No offensive or defensive player
will make contact with another player or cross the line of scrimmage or retreat
from their position to block until the ball is kicked. Lower level has the option of
20 yards in field position in lieu of punting. Upper level must punt.
COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE
At any point during a game that one team is leading by 21 points, or more, and
until the point differential is 20 points or under, the team that is trailing may
request that the leading team remove one of their starting skilled position players
(QB and Running Backs) from advancing the football. If a removed player takes
possession of the football the play will be dead where the possession took place
(i.e. fumble recovery or interception). A QB receiving a snap is considered a
removed player is not eligible to receive a pass. A player will be determined
removed after being advised by the Head Official that the trailing coach has
requested the competitive advantage.
OFFICIATING
The home team will furnish a minimum of 2 Certified officials. You may have an
optional third official. If a certified head referee does not show up to officiate the
game, the Head Coaches from each team will agree on 3 referees, one
representative for each team, to Head Referee that game. A head referee may
not be a student from either school that is playing that day. Directors are
responsible for getting a report from the head official if any coach is penalized for
unsportsmanlike conduct. That information should be forwarded to the League
Director by the following Monday. Directors are responsible for making sure
officials are knowledgeable of the league rules.
PRACTICES
Early Season Practice- Before First Contest: Collision contact is limited to no more than
2 hours in a week (Monday- Sunday). Intersquad scrimmages will calculate collision
contact based on 1⁄2 of the total time (2-hour scrimmage= 1 hour of collision contact).
In-Season (Game Week): A maximum of 45 minutes of collision contact is allowed
during an in-season week (Monday- Sunday).
Mandatory conditioning practices with a 3 minimum and 5 maximum with helmets only
must be held before Full Pad Contact practices.
Full Pad Contact practices: 10 maximum full pad practices may be held before the
opener. Scrimmages count as one practice. 3 practices per week are allowed after the
season opener and a coach must be present at every practice.
PLAYING FIELD
Lower and Upper Levels- 100 yards.
MOUTHPIECES
All mouthpieces must be attached by a strap to the facemask on the helmet and mouth
pieces must not be cut too short, (mouth pieces must cover all of the player’s teeth).
COACHES
All league directors will provide the SJV League Director with the names, addresses, and
phone numbers of all their Head Coaches for their Lower Level and Upper Level teams.
This information will be given to all head coaches for contact purposes. Any head coach
that is found to have an illegal player/restricted player that is playing an improper
position by SJV Rocket Football Rules will serve a 2-game suspension. A second
offense by a head coach will result in a lifetime ban from coaching in the SJV League. All
Head Coaches must complete “Heads Up” concussion training and protocols.
PLAYERS
ALL PLAYERS MUST PLAY FOR THE PROGRAM DIRECTLY AFFILIATED WITH
THEIR PROSPECTIVE SCHOOL. EXCEPTIONS MUST HAVE APPROVAL BY
MAJORITY OF DIRECTORS WITHIN LEAGUE.
Anyone above the Sixth Grade Level is INELIGIBLE to play Rocket Football