VMFL CommissionersSeminar

August 26, 2013 SessionPresented by Mel Beaton, VMFL VP

12 man Commissioner – Lyle Cawthra9 man Commissioner – Sean Roden

Summary

• Role of the Commissioners (League and game commissioners)

• Duties and responsibilities– Pre-Game and during the Game

• Game reports• Rule Reminders• Common issues

2 League Commissioners

• 9 Man Commissioner – Flag and Atom– 9 man divisions of Peewee, Junior Bantam,

Bantam and Midget (as applicable)• 12 Man Commissioner

– 12 man divisions of Peewee, Junior Bantam, Bantam and Midget (as applicable)

Role of League Commissioners

– Administer– Apply– Clarify – Communicate

The Rules set out in the VMFL Handbook

Role of the Game Commissioners

• Extension of the League Commissioners at the field.

• Communicate and work with game officials and teams

• Know the rules– See www.vmfl.ca under Game Day/Rules

and Forms• Be neutral and apply rules fairly: You are

an Official

Preparation

• Be familiar with the Rules – VMFL Handbook and CRBTF – Conduct of the Game – Field set up and Equipment– Player participation rule (“10 plays” )– Duties of Game Commissioner– Scoring– Ejections

Preparation

• Have a complete set of VMFL Rules and a Canadian Rule Book for Tackle Football (CRBTF) available at the field for each game

(Available through your Association)

Section 6.6 - Duties of the Game Commissioner

• Home team association provides the Game Commissioner at all home games.

• No commissioner = forfeit by home team (VMFL Handbook s.6.6(b))

• Wear a vest to identify them to teams and officials.

• One Game Commissioner per game and must remain on sideline for entire game.

Game Day - Field Set up

• Flag- Part 4 of handbook– field is 50 yards wide (15 yards narrower than

regulation field, by 50 yards long. – goal posts need not be at the goal line nor

centered. End zones 5 yards deep.• Atom (Part 3) and other 9 man divisions

– field is 50 yards wide (15 yards narrower than regulation field) otherwise same as for 12 man (CRBTF)

Game Day - Field Set Up

• Mark off Commissioner’s box– Usually between 45 yard lines on player side

of the field = buffer zone– but depends on field configuration (want at

least 10 yards wide but 20 yards is better if field configuration allows)

Game Day – Ready to Play• Ensure each team ready to play 30

minutes before game time• Playing field ready for play a minimum of

15 minutes before game time– player benches; sideline yard markers, goal

post protections, yardsticks and down boxes, and announcing equipment (if any) in place.

• Ensure that sideline officials are available for the start of game.

Game Day- Ready to Play

• Make sure there is a sufficient number, and appropriate size of game balls– See Handbook Section 2.5 Table T2-A

• Game Report form(s) on hand (as well as pens to complete them)

• Review and Make sure you know how to complete the Game Report form

• No fans behind the player benches

Timing

• Know timing for game length for each division (section 2.8)– Flag 24 min halves running time– Atom, Peewee 10 min quarters– All others 12 min quarters

• Section 2.10 – Large point Differential (18+) and Mercy Rule (30+) – check with head official as to timing (as Mercy

Rule = running time)

Talk with officials and coaches

• Establish a rapport- be positive• Check with the Head Official on the

following:• Timing (See Handbook Sections 2.8 and 2.10). Except in

Flag, official time is kept on the field by game officials• Size of game ball to be used (Handbook Section 2.5

Table T2-A)• Confirm Field set up, Stick crew etc. and ready • Recording/Confirming of URs and OCs

Game Day• Receive verified team rosters from each team

(they are to use official roster form- Appendix C)• Where games are announced, each team must

provide a numerical team roster sheet to the game commissioner who turns it over to the game announcer.

• Note: Game Announcers are to be fair and neutral as well

Game Time– Ensure only team officials and players are on

the team benches. As previously noted - No fans allowed. (Sections 2.4 (e) and 6.6(c)(vii)).

– Observe conduct of team officials and players on team benches, unruly fans etc. Issue any appropriate instructions as required

Game Time Player Participation Rule

• Player Participation Rule (s.2.9) (“PPR”)– A 10 play count per player will be enforced for

Atom, Peewee and Junior Bantam during regular season.

– Each player is to be included in a minimum of 10 plays, including all special teams plays.

Game Time

•Exceptions to PPR: • Injury or illness (physically unfit to play) • Ejections or disqualifications • No PPR in Midget and in Bantam PPR only

applies in playoffs• Non playing players may remain with the team

except as required in 13.5 PART 13 (Ejections and Disqualifications).

Monitors - Player participation

• Each team supplies 2 individuals, one monitors own team and other monitors the opposing team Record on 10 play monitor form (VMFL Handbook Appendix B).

• Both monitors sign the 10 play monitor form when its completed (or game over whichever is first) and submit form to the game commissioner for verification if there is a discrepancy.

PPR in Playoffs (s.11.9)

• All playoff games (except Midget division) will have player participation monitored- rule is slightly different.Peewee, Jr. Bantam and Bantam rules :For 12‐man divisions:– 24 players or less active for the game, minimum of

15 plays per player.– 25 players or more active for the game, 10 plays per

player.

PPR in Playoffs (s.11.9) cont’d

• For 9‐man PW, JB and Bantam:• 18 players or less active for the game, =

minimum of 15 plays per player.• 19 players or more active for the game, =

minimum of 10 plays per player.• For Atom division: at least 10 plays for

all active players(Note for flag- have jamboree- no playoffs)

SCORING• See Part 5 Game Scoring and table of scores• Flag – Touchdown 3 points, Field goal 2 points, Kicked

convert 1 point• Atom/Peewee/ Jr. Bantam - Kicked convert 2

points, run or pass convert 1 point- otherwise as per CARBTF

• Bantam/ Midget as per CARBTF (e.g. Kicked convert 1 point, run or pass convert 2 points)

Scoring, cont’d.– If minimum number of dressed players is not

met by one or both teams – This must be noted on the game report • if both Head Coaches agree to play then the game

can be played (Otherwise = forfeit). s.9.3• Official score will be recorded as 10‐0 score in

favour of the team which has the required number of dressed players.

• If neither team meets the minimum number of dressed players, but game is played then the score is a 10‐10 tie.

If Injuries occur – Only trainers or designates are allowed on the

field when any injury occurs. – A Doctor may be summoned from the

spectators by the GAME COMMISSIONER, the home team’s Association President (or designate).

If Injuries occur Cont’d

• Check with the trainer on the field if an ambulance is required for an injured player.

• Home Team’s Association President (or designate) makes the call to 911 or the Ambulance service (Home team person better to give directions and provide access points to the field etc.)

*** Ambulance calls need to be noted on the commissioner game report ***

Game EjectionsHandbook Part 13

• Head Official (HO) informs game commissioner (GC) of disqualification of player(s), team staff or coach .

• HO and GC approach team(s) concerned and have the player(s) or the team official escorted from the playing field by a responsible team official (often manager).

• Before player escorted from the field- must remove their shoulder pads, game jersey and helmet. (Be reasonable - these are kids and ejection can be highly emotional)

• Team staff (or responsible person e.g. parent) must remain with the ejected player(s) or team official until game is over

• Game will not resume until player etc. removed from the playing area.

Other - General Conduct

• All game officials, game commissioners, and league executive must be treated with courtesy at all times by all players, coaches, managers and association presidents. (s.12.2)

• The use of profane, obscene, insulting language or gestures to an opponent, official or spectator by any player, or member of team staff or occupant of the team bench is prohibited. (s.12.3)

• Violation of this rule will result in ejections from the game. (s.12.3)

Game Reports

• Game Commissioners administer game reports– Fill out the game details– Record major fouls & the score (keep track &

make sure it is correct- don’t rely on score board as it may be wrong)

– Coaches must sign them– If issue or concern – check box “Email to

follow within 24 hours” (no room on the form for comments except head referee’s)

Game Reports• Game report completed with information and

signatures as called for on report. • Penalty code area must be completed. • You may need to confer with the head official. • Record the game score!• Make sure you include your name, telephone

number and email address (in case more information is required)

Game Reports• If there is an issue with team benches or an

ejection during the game, or if an ambulance has been called this must be noted on the game report – a reasonably detailed report must be sent to the league commissioner.

• [ Email to follow- should be submitted by President of Home Association]

Game Reports

VMFL Procedures and Processes

Game Reports– Keep the game reports, rosters, player participation

sheets and submit to president or as directed by your Association

– Game reports must be submitted by home field presidents by midnight of game day,

– Reports are reviewed and tracked by League commissioners

– Ejections may result in further discipline – so be accurate as to infraction, player name and number (If unsure on the details -check with the Head Official)

SOME RULE REMINDERS (2012)relevant to game commissioners

• Visors – All visors must be clear, not tinted. No medical

exceptions are allowed. (CARBTF and VMFL Handbook 2.6 (g))

• Midget Ball – Wilson F2000 CIS Leather s.2.5(a) Table 2-A

• Illegal Block in the back may now be Unnecessary Roughness (depends on severity) Check with Game Official

Common Issues• Conduct – coaches OCs, Player OCs-

– HC is responsible for team- AC OCs can lead to HC ejection and further discipline

– Work with officials, communicate• Carry out player ejections carefully and be mindful

that we are dealing with kids• Accumulated 3 URs or 2 OCs = subsequent suspension

(VMFL Handbook s. 2.11)• BE ACCURATE IN RECORDING URs and OCs

Common Issues, cont’d

• Ejection within last 3 minutes of game = automatic 1 game suspension- could be more (VMFL Handbook s.13.1)

• Note on the game report the time in the game (e.g. 2 minutes left in 4th quarter) when ejection occurs – be accurate

• (if unsure check with head official)

Common Issues• Commissioner’s box- only authorized

persons permitted– Game officials, Game commissioner, – VMFL Executive, participating presidents, and – game related required personal are the only people

allowed in the game commissioner box (located between player benches - usually between 45 yd lines).

• Regular season games only film crew or photographer etc. must have approval from both head coaches before the start of the game.

Summary

• Be prepared (know the rules)• Be fair and unbiased• Game reports- completed (all info)

– All major fouls and score recorded correctly– Both Head Coaches Sign– Completed forms to your club president (or as

directed) so they can submit them to VMFL on time.

VMFL Commissioners

• How to contact:Go through your Association’s President (or designate) They will contact the applicable League Commissioner