Ontario Provincial Football League – Game Rules
DISTRIBUTION
DIVISIONS AND LEVELS (TIERS)
RULES OVERVIEW
GAME FOOTBALLS
Age |
Divisions |
Ball Size and Composition |
Varsity |
Premier |
Size 9 “Official” / Leather |
Jr. Varsity |
Premier |
Size 9 “Official” / Leather |
Bantam |
Premier |
Size 8 “Youth” / Leather |
Varsity |
Regional Rep |
Size 9 “Official” / Leather or Composite |
Jr. Varsity |
Regional Rep |
Size 9 “Official” / Leather or Composite |
Bantam |
Regional Rep |
Size 8 “Youth” / Leather or Composite |
Pee Wee |
Regional Rep |
Size 7 “Junior” / Leather or Composite |
Atom |
Regional Rep |
Size 6 “Peewee” / Leather or Composite |
TIMING STRUCTURE
Timing will follow Canadian Amateur Rulebook standards.
Quarters for all levels will be 12 minutes exempt as noted:
Half time intermission - 15 minutes: but may be shortened due to weather conditions if agreed upon by both Head Coaches.
DOWNS
Premier and Regional Rep. Varsity, and Premier Junior Varsity will play 3 down football as per the Canadian Amateur Rule Book for Tackle Football.
All other age levels will play 4 down series.
TIME OUTS
Two (2) timeouts per team per half of one (1) minute duration. To be administered by the referee. One (1) coach per team can enter the field of play (anywhere on the field) to talk to his team regardless of what team called the timeout, but only during designated timeouts. Coaches must leave the field of play when instructed by the Referee. When exiting the field, coaches will head directly to the sideline.
ROSTERS
The following parameters apply for Rosters.
Division |
Minimum (OFA RULE) |
MAXIMUM |
PREMIER VARSITY |
25 |
60 |
PREMIER JUNIOR VARSITY |
25 |
55 |
PREMIER BANTAM |
25 |
50 |
REGIONAL AA/A VARSITY |
25 |
NO CAP |
REGIONAL AA/A JUNIOR VARSITY |
25 |
NO CAP |
REGIONAL AA/A BANTAM |
25 |
NO CAP |
REGIONAL AA/A PEEWEE |
25 |
NO CAP |
REGIONAL AA/A ATOM – 12 ASIDE -- 9 ASIDE |
20 15 |
NO CAP |
REMINDER – Team Rosters are finalized at the end of Week 3. There will be no additions permitted to Team Rosters after Week 3.
FOOTWEAR
No Metal or partial metal cleats are permitted.
VISORS
No tinted visors are permitted. All visors must be clear. No medical exceptions are allowed.
MEDICAL – TRAINER – THERAPIST
Premier Division
Regional Rep
Reporting Incidents:
OVERTIME RULE
Games will be played until a winner is declared as per “White Book” rules.
OFFICIAL GAMES
In the case of a suspended game due to curfew or weather, the game shall be deemed official and recorded after the completion of three (3) quarters.
Teams awarded wins from defaulted games will be awarded a 6 to 0 score.
CODE OF CONDUCT
Players, coaches, and team staff are to conduct themselves in a sportsmanlike manner at all times.
A player receiving any combination of three unnecessary roughness and/or unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in a game is to be ejected.
Helmets must be worn and not carried during after game handshake.
The Head Coach is responsible for his team, during and after games and is therefore open to discipline by the Executive Vice-President.
Any incidents occurring outside the game (skirmishes before or after the game) are to be reported to the Regional Director within 24 hours of the end of the game so that disciplinary action may be taken if necessary.
Conduct unbecoming a coach or team official is grounds for ejection. If ejection occurs, he is not to remain on the playing field or in the bench area and must leave the park. Further sanctions and or penalties can be issued to the coach or team official by the Executive Vice-President depending on the severity of the infraction.
GAME USE OF COMMUNICATIONS
Helmet radios of any kind are not allowed. No player is allowed to have a helmet communication device of any sort installed in their helmet or on their person.
Coach to coach radios are the responsibility of individual teams and may only be used in Bantam, Junior Varsity and Varsity divisions.
EJECTIONS
A player ejected from the game may not return to the playing field and may not play in the team’s next league or playoff game. If the ejection occurs, he is to remain on the bench with his helmet and shoulder pads removed unless otherwise directed by the officials. Further sanctions will be issued if the expelled player is involved in any altercation during or after the game.
A coach ejected from the game must leave the sideline area and proceed to the dressing room or leave the park immediately. While serving a suspension, a coach may not attend his teams next scheduled regular season or playoff game.
Any player, coach or team official ejected from a game is automatically suspended from participating in the next game in any capacity and may be subject to further disciplinary action pending league review.
No appeals of game ejections are allowed.
REFEREE & OFFICIALS
All Teams will supply the following minimum number of on-field officials per game plus 1 time-keep and a three man stick crew from their local referee association.
Premier AAA:
Regional AA/A
RAIN DELAY POLICY
The maximum cumulative delay for any OPFL game shall be 60 minutes. This means that after any thunder or lightning flash the 30-minute delay has reset. After the accumulative 60 minutes the scheduled game shall be suspended.
To conclude any strike after 30 minutes of delay will result in the game being called at that time.
This will not affect any subsequent scheduled games on the day. The same policy will be introduced and become effective once the subsequent games scheduled start time has occurred.