U11 (Formerly Atom Tackle) (8-10 yrs.)
Atom football is for children between 8-10 this calendar year. If you will turn 11 this year, you cannot play at the Atom level and are a Peewee.
Atom football is the youngest level of organized football. The game is full contact and had the largest range of ages (8 - 10). At this age children are growing quickly and there can be a great difference in size and skill of an 8 year old and a 10 year old. For this reason, coaches will take extra care with the smaller, younger children to keep them safe during play. This may mean that your younger, smaller child may not play in games as often as some of the older, more experienced players. That said, if a younger, smaller child demonstrates the skill and ability to play, they will not be held back.
Our team(s) at the Atom level are the:
There are a few changes in the rules to accommodate the younger players.
Timing
- Games will consist of four (4) quarters of fifteen (15) minutes. There should be a 2 hour window to play the game, therefore game should start at 10:30 a.m. to accommodate clock stoppage.
- The clock would stop on a touchdown and restarting on the next offensive play or kickoff.
- The second (2nd) and fourth (4th) quarters will consist of fourteen (14) minutes of straight time followed by three (3) plays, as indicated by the Referee.
- A convert play or an accepted penalty will not be considered a play in the last 3 plays of the 2nd and 4th quarter.
- The use of a time out will not add an additional play to the quarter.
Time outs
- Each team is entitled to two (2) Time Outs per half. Each time out will be one (1) minute in length.
- COACHES ARE ALLOWED ON THE FIELD DURING TIME OUTS.
No Direct Contact on Long Snapper
- No direct contact will be allowed on any player who is in the long snapping position until the player has completed the long snap and has lifted his/her head.
- PENALTY- Unnecessary Roughness.
Player Numbering
- There can only be two (2) players on the field wearing numbers that are inappropriate for their position. These players must report to the Referee prior to each play.
- In extraordinary circumstances the Referee may designate a player for an entire game, thus making reporting to the Referee on each play unnecessary from that point on.
- Even with the exception above no more than two Players can occupy a position inappropriate by jersey number.
- Appropriate numbering is outlined in the rule book as:
- Eligible Receivers - 1 - 39, 70 -99
- Ineligible Receivers - 40 -69. (Rule 4- Sec. 3- Art. 1).
Home Team Responsibilities
- The home team as specified in the CDMFA schedule is responsible to have the goal posts padded, provide Downs Box and Stick Chains and provide the people to serve as the Stick Crew.
- The Home Team is also required to have the field appropriately lined for football and provide for lights and snow removal as required.
- The Home team must provide an appropriate football for game use.
Restraining zone Foul
- The penalty yardage for a Restraining Zone foul is five (5) yards.
Scoring
- Scoring on converts has been changed to the following to accommodate teams that just cannot master the skill of the kicked convert yet still would like the ability to score two points following a touchdown:
- Single point if a completed pass or run into the end zone from the 5 yard line.
- 2 points if a completed pass or run into the end zone from the 10 yard line.
- 2 points for a kicked convert.
- If a team gives up a safety, the ball is turned over to the opposing team and scrimmaged from the other team’s 40 yard line. No kicking option would be given here.
- All other points are awarded as per the Canadian Rule Book for Tackle Football.
