I. Name

A. This organization shall be known as the Junior South 7 Football Conference and shall be herein referred to as the conference.

II. Purpose

A. To provide youth of conference member communities with a well organized, competitive, and safe junior football program, emphasizing discipline, respect, teamwork and good sportsmanship.

III. Authority/Government

A. The governing of this organization shall be by the rules set forth herein and under the guidance of the Council. The Council shall meet as necessary to change, add, or modify rules for the effective operation of the conference.

B. One voting member from each conference town shall comprise the council, with a simple majority of council members required to form a quorum. A quorum shall be required to be present for any official Council action.

C. A Director shall be elected by the council annually.

D. The Director shall be responsible to cast tie breaking votes as necessary. 

E. Any changes to the rules, or addition of member communities, shall require a majority vote of the entire existing council membership.

F. Any complaints needing to be addressed by the council shall be prepared in a written format and submitted to the Director. The director shall maintain such records for Conference Council review.

G. The records shall be maintained for one year, or until the Conference Council directs disposal of those records.

IV. Insurance and First Aid

A. Each conference town is responsible for securing all its own insurance and understands that the conference provides no insurance and has no legal responsibility for any individual team.

B. Each home team is required to furnish qualified first aid personnel and equipment for all games when they are considered “HOME” team. The qualified first aid personnel shall identify themselves to the visiting team coaches prior to the start of the game.

V. Equipment

A. Each conference town may use its own football

B. All players must use safety certified equipment, to include currently certified helmets, pursuant to manufacturer’s specifications.

C. All players must always use mouthpieces.

D. Athletic supporters and cups are optional

VI. Schedule

A. The conference schedule shall be determined by number of conference members at the pre-season meeting, provided that the schedule shall be fixed by the end of May each year.

B. The first game is scheduled for the 1st weekend of August each year.

C. The conference season starts the Monday following July 4th and ending dates shall be established by End of May each year by the council.

D. Any scheduled date change must have 2 weeks minimum notice and 1 week notice for the time change. Notices must be given to conference director and be agreed to by both teams.

E. If any games need to be rescheduled, it will be at the discretionof the two teams involved in the game that needs to be rescheduled.

VII. Player Eligibility & Team Roster

A. All conference members shall adhere to the age limits set fourth herein and should have the following different grade level teams

1. A 5th / 6th grade team which may consist of 5th / 6th graders, provided that no players on the 5th / 6th grade team may play at the level if they turned 13 prior to October 1 of that year.

2. A 7th / 8th grade team which may consist of 7th / 8th graders, provided that no players on the 7th / 8th grade team may play at the level if they turned 15 prior to October 1 of that year.

• Violations of this rule warrants forfeiture of all games in question. The Conference Council shall make the final decision regarding violations of these rules.

B. A certified copy of the player’s birth certificate must be provided to any council member on complaint or demand. Each team will be required to carry copies of the certified birth certificates and make those copies available for immediate viewing upon request. Players, for whom birth certificates are not immediately presentable, will be ineligible to play in that game and will remain ineligible until a certified copy of their birth certificate is presented to that team or the conference director.

C. A roster of each team to be sent to conference director 1 week prior to the first game: Information to include: name, birth date, jersey number, and weight. Rosters to be copied and sent to each community prior to the first game. Failure to comply will result in forfeiture of all games prior to compliance.

D. Visitors are responsible to provide a numerical order roster to home team.

E. Any players added to roster must be registered to conference director, who will ensure that each team is notified of the addition. A player is not eligible until his name appears on the new roster.

F. No players may be added to any conference teams, following the first scheduled conference game.

VIII. Rules

A. All games will be played with the same rules established by the Illinois High School Association except for the rules amended below.

B. Games will be played using 8-minute quarters and a 10-minutehalftime.

1. 3 timeouts will be allowed per half

C. Play Clock will be 30 seconds between plays for all levels

1. 5th/6th grade will be allowed 1 coach on the field for offense

2. No coaches will be allowed on the field for defense

D. Weight limits will be determined by the conference to establish eligibility of players who can play in the backfield and/or receive the ball via punt, pass, or kick.  All coaches are required to record and report all weights to their respective commissioners 1 week prior to the start of the season.

1. Weight Limits are established as:

• 150 lbs. for 5th/6th grade

• 170 lbs. for 7th/8th grade

2. Exceptions to the ball carrier rule are:

• Any defensive player intercepting a pass or recovering a fumble

• Any player in the front two rows of a kickoff return

3. If a coach would like to challenge a player’s weight it should be done so prior to the start of the game

E. Defense for 5th/6th:

1. No forward motions of the linebackers until the ball is snapped

2. All linebackers inside the box must be at least one yard back from defensive lineman

F. Special Teams:

1. Only players eligible to carry the ball are allowed in the 3rdand 4th rows for kickoff.

2. Punting

• 5th/6th grade:

a. Punt must be declared, and ball will be moved by the official 30 yards

• 7th/8th grade:

a. Punt is live, no declarations required

b. Punter must be 7 yards deep

c. No contact can be made to the center or the punter

d. Receiving team may rush no more than 7 players

3. Field Goal – PAT

• 7th/8th grade

a. Kicks are live

b. Ball must be kicked 7 yards from the line of scrimmage

• 5th/6th grade

a. No rushing the kick

b. Ball must be kicked 7 yards from the line of scrimmage

G. Ball Size:

1. 5th/6th grade will use official Junior Size Football – TDJ 

2. 7th/8th grade will use official Youth Size Football – TDY

IX. Game Officials

A. A minimum of 3 officials will be used per game for 5th/6th grade

B. A minimum of 4 officials will be used per game for 7th/8th grade

C. Officials will be paid a maximum of $75 per game

D. Fees for officials to be paid by home team

E. Chain Gang is to be provided by home team. The chain gang will work on the home team side of the field.  Chain gang must be at least one adult and one 16 years or older.

F. If no officials, or insufficient number of officials, are provided, the home team forfeits the game, unless otherwise agreed upon by the opposing coaches.

X. Trophies

A. At the conclusion of the year, a conference champion shall be established for each grade level. The champion shall be determined by the team winning the most regular scheduled conference games at each age group. If a two-way tie occurs, the team that won their regular scheduled conference game shall be declared the champion. If more than two teams would tie for the championship, the Junior South 7 Football Conference Council would make the final decision.

B. At the end of each season a team trophy will be presented to the conference champion in each grade division. In lieu of the trophy being presented by the conference, the conference may choose to provide a set amount of money for each team to purchase their own trophy from one of their local businesses  

XI. Records

A. The director shall maintain records as deemed necessary, to include records of all rule violations, or coach/player conduct violations, reported in written form, for Conference Council review.

B. The records shall be maintained for one year, or until the Conference Council directs disposal of those records.

XII. Set admission prices- Maximum of $4 for adults and $2 for children (Junior High Cheerleaders and Coaches will get in free)