If you plan to officiate Youth Football this fall, the information here is invaluable.
Please familarize yourself with it.

Click here for the Youth Football Assigners.

 

Youth Football

 

Main Page/Rules Links

 

 

What you need to know for 2008…

 

-         You must be a member of AzFOA ($20 dues per year) to work these youth games on Saturdays.  Please contact our AzFOA Treasurer Paul Edge for further info.

-         Pop Warner (AYFF)-  10 minute quarters. + OVERTIME (10-yard NFHS rule). Play sheets will be checked during the interval between the 3rd and 4th quarter.

-         ACYFL (Competitive League) 12 minute quarters , No Overtime. Play sheets will be checked at the four (4) minute mark of both the 2nd and 4th quarters.

-         We will be scheduling these games through Arbiter.  Check with your Area Assigner for further details.  If you do not know your Area Assigner or are having trouble with Arbiter, call any one of them and they will assist you.

-         Ejections – If you have any, your Area Assigner needs to know immediately.  The information we need is: Game time and location, team name, individual ejected (or uniform number, coaching position, etc.) and brief description of situation.  We will take it from there.

- Check the "Rules Links" below for further information on pertinent rules adaptations...especially if you have had limited exposure to Youth Football in Arizona.

 

Excessive Point Differential - Special Rules:

 

 

Points of Emphasis

  1. Be on Time.  8:00am game time means 7:45am arrival time…or before.
  2. Do Not Turn Back Assignments.  Emergencies occur, but keep your Area Assigner up-to-date.
  3. Look and Act Professionally.  The various youth leagues have stepped up to the plate and have high expectations from us.  They believe in us and we need to verify that every chance we get!!
  4. Emphasize Fairness and Safety.  Remember, always officiate for advantage/disadvantage and player safety…that’s why you are out there.
  5. Officiate These Games Like High School Games.  Saturdays should be no different than Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays…’nuff said!!!
  6. Only Communicate with Head Coaches (League Officials/Field Monitors and Medical Personnel, too, on a limited basis).  Remember, Head Coaches are managing the game and are your main contact on the field.  ALL other team personnel and fans, including assistant coaches, are to coach/assist/encourage their players.  Feel free to CONTROL YOUR SIDELINES.  If a message needs to be sent, send it through the Head Coach.  If he does not handle it, YOU HANDLE IT!!

 

Rules Links

Note:  Most rules you already know….our Youth Football Leagues are playing by NFHS rules and any other AzFOA and AIA interpretations you have earned in class.  Listed below are any further LOCAL RULES for the particular leagues, especially the youngest kids.  We have highlighted certain areas for your convenience in finding what is important for officials to understand and interpret.

 

Pop Warner (AYFF) Rules Adaptions and Differences from NFHS
Click here for printable version

Pop Warner (AYFF) Flag Football Rules (Web Guy Note: This is a HUGE file in PDF format. I would rather provide a link but this is all we could get)

 

ACYFL (Competitive League) Rules - (link to www.acyfl.com)