As an organization, we will always prioritize player safety first and foremost when determining player participation and playing time. We also believe that playing time is best determined by hard work, discipline and good practice habits. In consideration of this, we will make our best effort to ensure every player plays a minimum amount of plays per game (playoff games excluded), based upon rostered team size on game day:
· 11-20 players – 6 plays
· 21-30 players – 4 plays
· 31 + players – 2 plays
In order for the player to qualify for their minimum number of plays, they must be able to demonstrate the following (at a minimum):
· Player can demonstrate a proper stance for the position he or she is asked to play
· Player must be able to line up in the proper position/ place on the field
· Player must have a basic understanding of the difference between offense and defense
· Player must be aware, focused and engaged enough to protect him or herself and not put players around them at an increased risk of injury.
The minimum play count may be reduced due to reasons that include (but are not limited to):
· Absence or lack of participation in practice
· Disciplinary actions taken by coach, parent, or school
· Poor or disrespectful behavior towards coaches, parents, teammates, opposing players, or referees
· Injury or Sickness
· Failure to report to games at designated time
· Player Safety Concerns
If the head coach feels that playing the minimum amount of plays may results in an unsafe situation for the player, they may reduce the number of plays for an individual as necessary. Such concerns should be expressed to the parents, the Director of Football, and the President/Vice-President of the SPYFC no later than Thursday of game week.
Each team will designate one sideline coach per game to track player participation. If players have not been in the game for at least half of their designated minimum plays by the start of the fourth quarter, they will enter the game to start the quarter and remain in the game until they have played their designated minimum plays.