Structure & Purpose

Pre-Participation Requirements

Coaching Opportunities

Tryouts

Practices

Games

9-Man Rules

Student Health History Form (opens Word document)

Physical Examination Form (opens Word document)

BYU-Idaho Football Policies and Procedures (opens PDF document)

"Spirit of Ricks" address

2007 League Meeting Remarks

"And they were all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity; but behold, this was not all--they were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted." -Alma 53: 20

The BYU-Idaho Football League is part of a "year round activity program designed to involve and meet the needs of a diverse student body" (President Gordon B. Hinckley). The BYU-Idaho Football League is the only league of its kind and shares the platform with the other competitive sports at Brigham Young University-Idaho as part of the first comprehensive intra-collegiate athletics program! However, the BYU-Idaho Football League is not just a league or a program, but represents much more--leadership training, team commitment, personal dedication, unity, camaraderie, faith and excellence. This League is historical and unprecedented in nature, and unique in structure, administration, and purpose. Be a part of it! You will help create the foundation of what this League is and what it will become.

Structure
This fall (2007), the BYU-Idaho Football League will play by the rules of 9-man football and is prepared to expand to 8 teams. Each team will be taught and instructed by a group of student coaches. Players will earn their way into the League via a series of tryouts in which they will be evaluated by student leaders and coaches. Players will then be drafted onto each of the teams in an equitable manner based on skill level and position. The League will strive to ensure that each team is organized in a way that promotes fair and balanced play. Teams will practice four days a week under the guidance and direction of their coaches anytime between 3:00 and 7:30 Monday thru Friday. Games will be held at BYU-Idaho Stadium on Saturday afternoons and/or evenings with the exception of one Thursday game during the week of General Conference. Each team will play one game per week.

Administration
The BYU-Idaho Football League will find much of its leadership in the students who participate in it. Although players and coaches will be professionally trained by the football director, they will also be given the opportunity to lead and administer the League in a way that makes it fun and exciting for them. Can you imagine a student who takes on the role of Head Coach and leads his team to the championship in his own special way through meticulous practice planning, game strategy, and team building activities? Can you imagine another student, a player, who inspires his teammates to get in the weight room, to study game and practice film, and to work harder while on the field? In this League, participants have an opportunity to act rather than be acted upon. Because students are the participants rather than the spectators, they will develop unique personal and spiritual qualities that will prepare them for life.

Purpose
The purpose of the BYU-Idaho Football League is to promote an environment in which each participant can become his very best both on and off the field. This League will encourage and facilitate athletic excellence, academic merit, spiritual growth and enlightenment, professional advancement, and meaningful relationships. The BYU-Idaho Football League, together with the other competitive sports' leagues, will grow and flourish into a program that provides unprecedented opportunities for leadership and participation within a framework of competition and fellowship. Students will serve and bless and inspire one another as they work together to achieve a common goal.

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Pre-participation Requirements
Each and every returning and prospective player must do the following in order to become eligible to tryout for the League this coming fall.

1. Fill out a Student Health History and submit it to a licensed physician (M.D. or D.O. only) for his/her review.

2. Receive a "physical" examination from the same physician who reviews your health history. Click here to view the required Physical Examination Form. Make sure to print this form and present it to the doctor.

Note: You will be giving the doctor two forms at the same time. One will already be filled out by you (Student Health History) and one will be blank (Physical Exam). If you are on campus, you are invited to use the Student Health Center to complete Requirements 1 & 2.

3. Fax, mail, or submit in person both forms (Physical Examination & Student Health History) to Brother Shippen immediately upon their completion unless completed at the Student Health Center. Fax to 208-496-5955. If completed at the Student Health Center, you will not need to submit any forms to Brother Shippen.

4. Attend one of three mandatory orientation meetings. Meeting times and dates for the 2007 season are as follows: Wednesday, September 12th @ 5:00 pm; Thursday, September 13th @ 5:00 pm; Friday, September 14th @ 5:00 pm. Taylor 120 will be the location for each of the meetings (Friday's meeting will actually take place in Taylor 160). Orientation will last anywhere from 90 to 120 minutes. If you leave early, you will not complete all of the requirements.

*Remember, you will not be eligible for tryouts if you do not complete each of the requirements stated above. No exceptions will be made. Do not procrastinate...complete your forms and submit them as soon as possible and plan on attending an orientation meeting.

"Participants are required to produce a physical exam signed by a licensed physician that indicates the Participant is physically fit to play tackle football. Participants may not play unless they are in good physical condition, have participated in tryouts, and have engaged in regular (minimum 3 per week) supervised football practices for two weeks prior to and during the season." (Tackle Football Participation Agreement)

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Coaching Opportunities
We have all said to ourselves at one time or another during our playing days, "If I were the coach, I would...." Well, now is your chance! Be the coach! Lead a team! Gain experience and bless the lives of others in a unique way.

Students will serve as coaches for all of Athletics. What an invaluable opportunity this represents for those students interested in coaching either at the high school or college level after graduation! You, the coach, will develop practice plans, game plans, training schedules, strategies and guidelines that will help your players come together as a team and work towards a championship!

Coaching in the BYU-Idaho Football League will represent an internship-like experience for you that will help you qualify for sports-related positions in the future. Under the guidance and direction of the Football Advisor, you will gain knowledge and learn important skills relative to effective leadership and administration of a sports program. Weekly meetings and/or coaching clinics will represent valuable teaching and learning sessions in which you will be trained in the areas of video analysis, practice planning, game tactics, group cohesion, team motivation, team discipline and so on and so forth. However, when it comes right down to it, you and only you will lead and coach your team. You will be given the freedom to manage and direct your team according to your vision and emphasize the points that will help your team experience the greatest success. Be creative! Use your ingenuity! Think back to your former coaches.... implement what you liked, discard what you didn't, and come up with better ways.

If interested in coaching, contact Brother Shippen as soon as possible at shippent@byui.edu or 208-496-1955.

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Tryouts
Students desiring to compete in the BYU-Idaho Football League must first undergo a 3-day tryout period in which they will have the opportunity to demonstrate their ability as a football player, and their overall worth to a team. In this way, a safe and truly competitive league will be created in which the caliber of play is at the highest possible level. Remember, the BYU-I Football League will be comprised of 8 teams with a maximum allowable roster of 20 players per team. Tryouts for the 2007 season are scheduled to begin on Tuesday, September 18th, and conclude on Thursday, September 20th.

Remember, all pre-participation requirements must be met prior to tryouts. No exceptions will be made!

Tryouts are non-padded.

Student leaders and coaches will evaluate players on the following:

· QB’s—footwork, coverage reads, throwing, leadership, fitness, attitude.
· RB’s—footwork, agility, ball-handling, receiving, fitness, attitude.
· WR’s—footwork, agility, route precision, receiving, fitness, attitude.
· OL—footwork, agility, strength, fitness, attitude.
· DL—footwork, agility, strength, fitness, attitude.
· LB’s—footwork, agility, speed, run/pass reads, hands, fitness, attitude.
· DB’s—footwork, agility, speed, coverage capacity, hands, fitness, attitude.

2007 Football Tryout Schedule...ALL three days are required for prospective players.

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Practices
Players will be required to practice and train up to four days a week. Our reserved practice time falls between 3:00 and 7:30 Monday-Friday. It is essential that you leave your schedule open for approximately 2 hours in the afternoon/evening in order to be able to practice with your team. Practices and training sessions may include, but not be limited to, football drills, position-specific clinics, team conditioning, strength training, agility exercises, plyometrics, etc. The coach will also find it necessary to hold team meetings to discuss and review team guidelines, expectations, goals, personnel decisions, strategies and/or anything else pertinent to the team. Analyzing film from a previous game or practice may also represent a purpose for which a coach calls a meeting. Players will commit to the team by following the schedule set forth by the coach. Extenuating circumstances will always be taken into consideration. It is up to you to contact the coach prior to missing a practice or meeting. Remember, you will help create the foundation of what this League is and what it will become. Team commitment and personal dedication represent integral factors in making this League successful. In order to become your very best, you must make practice a priority.

The following grid represents three sample practice schedules. Two teams will practice from 3:00-4:30; three teams will practice from 4:30-6:00; and the final three teams from 6:00-7:30. Note also that each of the teams will either practice M, T, W, & TH or M, T, W, & F. All practices will be held on the new field turf at BYU-Idaho Stadium.

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Games
• Each of the 8 teams will play eight games throughout the season.
  ·  7 regular season contests (round robin)
  ·  1 final game
• Duration of each game limited to approximately 1 hr 45 min.
  ·  Four 8-minute quarters
• Played at BYU-Idaho Stadium on Saturday afternoons and/or evenings.
• Officiated by a 4-man crew of NFHS certified officials.

Click here to view the 2007 game schedule. November dates have not yet been established.

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9-Man Rules
11-man rules are used for 9-man football with these modifications:

Rule 1: At least 5 offensive players will be on the line of scrimmage at the snap of the ball.
Rule 2: Any numbered jersey may be worn by any player, regardless of position played.
Rule 3: Any player who is on the end of the line of scrimmage is an eligible receiver.
Rule 4: All backs are eligible pass receivers if they are legally behind the line of scrimmage at the snap of the ball.

In the formations shown below, the black symbols represent eligible receivers and the white symbols represent ineligible receivers. The formations in the quadrants on the left are considered a few "base" formations in 9-man football. The formations in the quadrants on the right represent a few "creative" formations that make centers or guards eligible receivers. What can you dream up?

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