Youth football moved one step closer to having a standardized rulebook in place on Oct. 28. USA Football's Rules Committee - which consists of eight commissioners and two officials - and two representatives from the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO) met in Chicago to discuss updates and rule proposals for the "first draft" of the USA Football Youth Football Rulebook.
"The committee had great dialogue and debate on many issues impacting the rules as they pertain to youth football," said Bill LeMonnier, the committee's rules editor and long-time Big Ten referee. "This is a great group of individuals who weren't shy expressing what was important to their programs and USA Football. What's reallyimportant is that we have total unity in doing what's right for the kids playing the game of football."
The committee has been working diligently over the past two years to create a national rulebook for youth football and establish a consistent set of rules backed by experts. After partnering with the NASO to write and publish the rulebook, USA Football distributed the book to commissioners and coaches who participated in State Leadership Forums throughout 2009. It was these attendees who offered careful insight, recommendations and suggestions on how to improve the book's accuracy and appeal.
Don Lindberger, a USA Football commissioner member and a Rules Committee member representing the Northeast region, said the committee spent a lot of time putting the final touches on the rulebook in terms of wording and making things more clear and concise for coaches, parents and players.
"We had a list of rules we needed to go over and correct some of the wording to make sure that others would be able to understand it," Lindberger said. "We went over that and also talked about the contact in the sport, with head-to-head contact becoming such a big issue."
To see how the rulebook would stack up, 1,250 rulebooks were distributed and the implementation process was tested by the Fairfax County (Va.) Youth Football league this season. The implementation went over well and was met with support from the majority of the 350 head coaches, 75 officials and 24 commissioners involved. Overall, the rulebook received mostly positive feedback from those who gave it a good look, and the Rules Committee is hopeful this trend will continue after completion.
"For the USA Football Youth Football Rulebook totake roots and have credibility, it needs acceptance," LeMonnier said. "Our committee and the entire USA Football staff need to welcome and listen to the youth football community as this inaugural 2010 year's book is implemented.
"The next three to five years will see more revisions and editing than normal. After that, we would expect the rulebook to undergo little change year-to-year. Overall, the game of football is in excellent shape."
Sections within the rulebook include topics that focus on timing, snapping and handling the ball, passing, contact, scoring and touchbacks, penalty enforcement, non-contact fouls and officials and their responsibilities - with a signal chart included.
Changes that were voted on kept safety and injury prevention in the forefront. A penalty for horse collar tackles was added, as was a penalty for grabbing any part of the helmet - including the facemask and chin strap.
USA Football's rulebook remains consistent with High School Federation rules but is set to include the most common rule modifications for youth football. The USA Football Youth Football Rulebook will be available for distribution in 2010 at the USA Football Shop, allowing for implementation during the 2010 season.
Lindberger said it's imperative that youth football commissioners everywhere understand why this rulebook is not only important - it's necessary.
"It could possibly in the future neutralize all the leagues across the country," he said. "You could play different teams from different leagues using these rules.
"The rulebook itself will just make the game better because it's really the first book that's ever been written for youth, and it's a great way to get parents, coaches and players to understand the game even better."
For more information about the USA Football Youth Football Rulebook please contact your Regional Manager or send an e-mail to info@usafootball.com.
