You may choose to have two (2) Mascots per level. Mascots must be no younger than five (5) years of age and no older than seven (8) years of age. Age is determined the same as for cheerleaders/spirit leaders. Maximum 2-8 year olds. Mascots are not required by DVYFC.

You may choose to have a Mascot Scout team consisting of no more than 20 five (5) to seven (8) year olds cheering for the Scout team. This squad is required to have the same coaching staff as other cheer teams. See rule book for specific do's and don'ts for the Mascot Scout team.

Football players will be weighed prior to the season beginning and must meet all weight and age requirements for the division that they are to participate in. Weigh-ins will be conducted by Conference Officials in accordance with set rules and procedures designated by the Conference Board. Any youth who weighs in over the maximum weight or under the minimum weight, for his/her division of play, shall be ruled ineligible to play football, in this Conference, in the current season. A participant will not be weighed out to determine actual weight. The scales will be set to the maximum and minimum weight only. If the scale weighs the participant light or heavy, the participant will be ruled ineligible. There are no exceptions. A participant cannot be moved to another level of play once he/she has been weighed.

No participant (football or spirit leader) may be eligible to practice or play unless he or she has written evidence of a physical examination by a qualified physician to practice in the State of California stating that the player is in good physical condition and can participate. This physical consent must be done on cards provided by the conference. If a participant is found to have practiced or played without proper documentation, the participant will be suspended and the organization fined $200 per incident.

No participant (football or spirit leader) may be eligible to practice or play unless he or she has a signed consent from their parent or guardian.

Every participant (football and spirit leader) is encouraged maintain at least a "C" average throughout the current school year he or she participates.

Each participant (football or spirit leaders) shall supply the conference with an original, certified (certified by the county to be a true and accurate copy) copy of his or her Birth Certificate in order to be certified by the conference for participation. The participant's Birth Certificate shall ordinarily be the only document acceptable as proof of age. This document will be returned following certification.

The maximum number of players, at the time of certification, allowed on a team is 35. The minimum number of players to certify for a team is 20. The minimum number of players a team must have to participate in a game is 18. No game shall be played if there are less than 18.

In all divisions of football, only non-detachable rubber molded cleats are allowed. All shoes must be in good condition. If a player is found to be wearing illegal shoes, he/she will be ejected from the game and will be ruled ineligible for the following week.

Mouthpieces must be worn by football participants at all times in practice and game situations.

A minimum of the first 10 hours of practice must be devoted to conditioning. During these conditioning periods no protective football gear, except helmets and mouthpieces, may be worn and absolutely no player may engage in contact. No sleds, blocking dummies or excessive contact with the ground.

Practice sessions for football players or spirit leaders may last for no longer than 2 hours from beginning to end.

Practice sessions for football players or spirit leaders are limited to 5 sessions per week until league play begins, after league play starts, 3 per week. No practice on Sundays. Practice on Saturdays is allowed as long as you stay within the no more than 5 sessions per week. No practice 12 hours prior to any scheduled game.

No intra-squad scrimmages. (Midgets cannot scrimmage Jr. Midgets in practice, Pee Wees cannot scrimmage Jr. Pee Wees, etc.)

A First Aid Kit must be on the field at all games and practices.

All Coaches (football and spirit leader) must have a current Standard First Aid with CPR card.

There will be no filming at all from the sidelines or end zones. All filming must be done from the grandstand area. No cameras of any type are allowed on the field except for one designated team photographer per side. This individual must be apprised of the rules (see rule book).

Scouting, whether being done by a coach or parent is to be done from the bleachers or grandstand area, NO END ZONE SCOUTING.

The mandatory play rule (for football) is in effect at all times. All players must receive a minimum of 6 plays per game. All plays will count except when a penalty is enforced. The mandatory play rule is as follows

Teams with game day rosters of 30 or more players-minimum of 6 plays per player. Teams with game day rosters of 24 to 29 players-minimum of 10 plays per player. Teams with game day rosters of 18 to 23 players-minimum 12 plays per player.

Once a team has scored a 24 point margin in a game, no player may play in his/her normal position until the 24 point margin is reduced.

Once a team has scored a 24 point margin, the game will go to an automatic running clock immediately after the second half begins. The clock continues to run even if the 24 point margin is reduced.

If for any reason a football player is ejected from a game by a referee, he/she shall be suspended from playing in the next scheduled game. If that player is ejected a second time during the season, he or she shall be suspended for the remainder of the season.

No player will be allowed to participate in practice or games with a hard cast.

If a participant (football or spirit leader) is hurt during practice or a game and requires medical attention, he/she may not return to practice or play without written medical consent.

It is the responsibility of each organization to insure that their spectators at every game, practice or organizational function where children are present, do not possess or partake in any alcoholic beverage or controlled illegal substances. Use of tobacco is not permitted while on school property.

Each organization is responsible for controlling the conduct of those spectators who are guilty of verbal or physical abuse of game or conference official.

Spectators are to be kept off the fields, sidelines, and end zones during games. Only the badged coaching staff of the teams playing in the game will be allowed.

Tryouts for football players and spirit leaders are held at the discretion of each city.

Game uniforms are required for all games except for cheerleaders, who may choose not to wear their normal uniforms the game prior to the DVYFC sponsored competition. For this one time only, cheerleaders may opt to wear matching clothing in their organization’s colors (matching tops and bottoms). This is the only exception once the season has begun.

Jewelry of any kind is not allowed by game participants (football or spirit leaders).

Artificial nails of any kind are not allowed. Natural nails must not present a safety hazard.

Hair clips, curlers, beads, metal or plastic, can be worn.

Cheerleading squads/Spirit leaders who attend outside competitions must follow all rules set forth by DVYFC.

All team coaches (Football and Spirit Leader) will abide by a DVYFC Code of Conduct that includes the following provisions:

1.	Refrain from smoking or chewing tobacco on the field be it game or practice.
2.	Do not criticize players in front of spectators, but reserve constructive criticism for private, or in the presence of the team players if others might benefit.
3.	Accept decisions of the game officials on the field as being fair and called to the best ability of said official.
4.	Do not criticize an opposing team, its players, coaches or fans by word of mouth or by gestures.
5.	Emphasize that athletes strive to be good students and that both are physically and mentally alert.
6.	Strive to make every football activity serve as a training ground for life, and basis for good mental and physical health.
7.	Emphasize that winning of a game is a result of "team work."
8.	Refrain from excessive "sideline coaching" and not leave the bench area to shout instructions from the sidelines.
9.	Together with games' officials be jointly responsible for the conduct and control of team fans and spectators. Any fan who becomes a nuisance and out of control shall be asked to leave.
10.	Refrain from using abusive and profane language before anyone connected with the game (or practice).
11.	Refrain from "piling on" as the phrase is used when a team gets a commanding lead and desires to raise the score as high as it can. In these instances, every effort shall be made to let all players play.
12.	Do not receive any payment in cash or kind for services as a coach. This provision shall not apply to paid public employees who, as part of their duties, coach a team.
13.	Do not permit or encourage "seating down" tactics in order for a player to make the team weight.
14.	Do not permit an ineligible player to participate in a game.
15.	Do not deliberately incite unsportsmanlike conduct.
16.	Abstain from drinking alcoholic beverages on the game and practice fields, parking lots, school property or in plain view of kids and parents
17.	Remove from a game or practice any player when even slightly in doubt about his health, whether or not as a result of injury, until competent medical advice is available In cases of injury or suspected injury (game or practice field) the designated medical personnel will have complete jurisdiction over the decision of whether a player is able to continue.
18.	Refrain from striking any other coach, athletic director, official or spectator or other participants in the DVYFC.
19.	Uphold all rules and regulations, nation and local, regarding the Diablo Valley Youth Football Conference.
20.	A coach must never instruct nor allow his players to use any method or tactic that causes excessive or deliberate punishment or abuse to any player on either his or an opposing team.
21.	An Accident/Incident Report must be filled out and a copy turned into the Conference President after each game or practice involving an accident or incident. This form must be filled out on any injury to participants, players or spectators, or any unusual incidents.

 

If you have any concerns or comments about your program, there are two ways to get in touch with us. The first is to write us at the address listed below. The second is to submit your question electronically by clicking on the "Contact the DVYFC" link below.
Diablo Valley Youth Football Conference Attention: President P.O. Box 2949 Castro Valley, California 94546

 

Please Note: This is just some brief information about the Diablo Valley Youth Football Conference and is in no way meant to represent all of the rules and regulations of this conference.