2011-2012 AAA Handbook - Arkansas Activities Association

Football Play-offs - Stadium Requirements
B. Spring Practice. During AAA calendar weeks #37 through
the last day of school for students, football schools may
conduct spring football practice using regulation equipment
for full contact drills for a total of no more than ten days.
The two consecutive weeks selected must be reported to
the AAA office.
1. Practices shall be conducted on week days, Monday
through Friday for a maximum of 20 hours per school for
students in grades 9-11.
2. Practice may not exceed two hours per day total.
3. A maximum of ten practices total for grades 9-11 may be
conducted during the designated two-week period.
Rule 4. GAME REPORTS. Both coaches of the two
competing teams in any game are required to send in game
report forms to the AAA office by Wednesday following the
game. If all forms are not in by this date, a fine of $25.00
per game may be imposed on the offending school. Such
fines must be paid by the end of that sport season.
Rule 5. GAME ADMINISTRATION
A. Non-Declared. A school not declared for varsity high
school football cannot play a varsity high school team and
cannot play on Friday.
B. Sportsmanship-Timing Rule.
Note: By authority of the NFHS Football Rules Committee,
states may adopt a “running clock” when a designated point
differential is attained. Arkansas’ adoption is as follows.
After the first half, upon reaching a score differential of 35
points or more, the game clock will be stopped only when:
1. An official’s time-out is called.
a. When a first down is declared.
b. Following a change of possession.
c. To dry or change the game ball.
2. A charged time-out is called.
3. At the end of a period.
4. A score occurs.
C. The clock will continue to run in all other situations.
Note: The use of this rule does not preclude the use of
NFHS Rule 3-1-3, which reads: “A period or periods may be
shortened in any emergency by agreement of the opposing
coaches and the referee. By mutual agreement of the
opposing coaches and the referee, any remaining period
may be shortened at any time or the game terminated.”
Rule 6. TIED CONFERENCE GAMES
A. Senior high conference games or games used for the
substitution of conference games that end in a tied score
shall be extended for the purpose of breaking the tied score.
This requirement shall not apply to a conference that does
not certify a team for a state play-off.
B. The NFHS ten-yard line overtime procedure shall be utilized
for the purpose of resolving all tied scores. Also, the try for
extra point shall be a part of the overtime procedure in the
event either team scores by a touchdown.
C. By majority vote of a junior high football conference, a
conference game ending in a tie can be resolved by the
above procedures.
Page 36 - 2011-12 AAA Handbook
Rule 7. FORFEITED GAMES. Schools may not use victories
for conference records when substitute games are
scheduled after receiving a forfeit after the season begins.
Rule 8. END OF SEASON
A. Junior high season shall end with the final season event.
B. The end of season for senior high shall be the end of the
state play-offs.
Rule 9. FOOTBALL PLAY-OFFS. Each conference shall
certify their representatives to the state play-offs.
A. Play-off Representatives. Conferences shall certify their
representatives to the state play-offs by a method accepted
by a majority of the schools within that classification.
B. Play-off Dates. First round games for all classes shall be
played in calendar week #19.
C. Play-off Sites. Brackets as adopted by each classification
shall be published annually in the AAA’s Football Play-off
Brochure.
NOTE: The AAA Board of Directors shall be responsible for
the organization and administration of tournaments, meets,
etc. and is authorized to formulate policies and procedures
not otherwise provided for in conducting the sport.
Rule 10. STADIUM REQUIREMENTS FOR FOOTBALL
PLAY-OFFS
A. A school shall have the following minimum facilities to host
a football play-off game:
1. Separate dressing rooms for each team, each with hot
showers, toilets, and washbasins.
2. Two rest rooms for public use.
3. Bleachers having masonry or metal understructure with
footboards and seating properly maintained for both
visitor and home fans.
4. Total bleacher linear feet for seating of fans shall be at
least equal to or greater than:
2500 ft. for Class 2A (1500 capacity)
2500 ft. for Class 3A (1500 capacity)
2700 ft. for Class 4A (1600 capacity)
3000 ft. for Class 5A (1800 capacity)
3400 ft. for Class 6A (2000 capacity)
3400 ft. for Class 7A (2000 capacity)
5. An automatic scoreboard and clock plainly visible to
officials, players, and fans.
6. Working 25-second clocks.
7. A fenced facility with controlled access.
B. Also recommended for hosting a play-off game:
1. Five yards of unobstructed space outside the playing
field along the sideline and end zone.
2. Restraining cables, fences, walls, etc. from goal line to
goal line to separate fans from each team area along the
sideline.
3. Press box facilities with 50 square feet of floor space
equipped with a public address system.
C. In the event the play-off school assigned the site fails to
have minimum stadium facilities, the Executive Director
shall require the school to make arrangements for a stadium
of their choice that meets minimum requirements.
D. In the event a school is uncooperative in administering the
above requirement, the Executive Director may award the
opponent school the site for the game, or arrange for