1. The current year National Federation Rules and following OCIAA Approved Rules for Modified Football will govern play:
a. The Modified A & B Football program will play five (5) ten minute quarters, where number of players are sufficient to do this.
b. No defensive man over the center.
c. Team offensive formations are limited to standard formations including the use of only one side receiver (no unbalanced line). there may be a maximum split of 1 yard between linemen. If a wide receiver is employed, the maximum split form the tackle cannot be more than 10 yards. On the snap of the ball, there may be only 2 players outside of the tackle on either or both sides of the field. Motion shall be prohibited to the side of a formation that has two players outside of the tackle. If the ends split on punt formation the teams must punt. All down field blocking must be done above the waist.
d. Until the snap, the defense shall be 6-2-2-1 or 6-2-3 with six players in an imaginary straight line within 2 yards of the ball; two linebackers must be at least 1 yard behind the deepest lineman; three defensive backs must be at least 3 yards behind the deepest linebacker, inside the 10 yard line defensive backs may be 2 yards behind the deepest linebacker. Penalties: improper formation - 5 yards; down field blocking - 15 yards.
e. No kick-off - start play from own 35 yard line.
f. Safety - scoring team put all in play of 50 yard line.
g. All down field blocking must be done above the waist.
h. When an offensive team employs a wide receiver (split end or flanked), the defensive end to that side of the formation may assume a “walkaway” position. The end may align at a maximum depth even with the two inside linebackers and no wider than half the distance between the wide receiver and the next lineman.
i. Ball:
(1) Modified “B” (7th and 8th Grade) will use the youth ball.
(2) Modified “A” (8th and 9th Grade) will use one of the official balls.
j. Numbering: If because of the number of players on a team or due to budgeting problems, a school cannot uniform its team by the proper numbers (lineman, ends, & backs), that school’s coach will notify the opposing school’s coach and the officials prior to the start of the game to allow those players to participate (Example: #57 for a Tight End).
2. In addition to the above, the following rules will govern play for Modified A & B Football when 5 quarters are being played:
a. Teams will be divided into A & B squads. Rosters will be exchanged between coaches prior to each game.
b. There must be at least 15 players per A & B squad. Any team unable to field the required number of players must notify opponents at least one day prior to the scheduled date of the game, then a four (4) quarter game will be played.
c. At the beginning of 2nd, 4th, and 5th quarters play will begin from the spot where the ball was last placed in the previous quarter.
d. There will be a half time of ten minutes. The ball will change possession at half time.
e. A squad will play 1st, 3rd and 5th quarters.
f. B squad will play 2nd and 4th quarters.
g. All teams must be split evenly.
i.e. - 30 players, 15 each squad
36 players, 18 each squad
h. When a 4 quarter game is played there will be no 5th (quarter) scrimmage allowed. Only teams with A & B squads are eligible for a 5th (quarter.)
3. Unsportsmanlike Conduct:
a. When a coach is ejected from a game please refer to NYSPHSAA Handbook # 27 Sportsmanship.
b. When a player(s) ejected from a game for fighting or unsportsmanlike conduct, the following action will be taken:
(1) First ejection - that player(s) cannot attend or participate in the next scheduled game.
(2) Second ejection - that player(s) cannot attend or participate in the next two scheduled games.
b. The official that ejected the player will notify the OCIAA Athletic Coordinator, prior to 12:00 noon the following day, of the name(s) of the player(s) and the type of infraction(s).
c. The coach of the player or players who was ejected will notify his/her Athletic Director. The Athletic Director will then contact the OCIAA Athletic Coordinator’s Office to confirm that the player or players will not be allowed to participate in that school’s next scheduled game or games as required above.
d. A player(s) that is ejected from a game, will not be allowed to be present at the site of any game that player(s) has been disqualified from participating in (home or away).