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The MFL plays a style of football similar but not identical to that of the CFL. The main differences are as follows:
We play four downs not three.
We also have a number of rules designed around the ages of our players. These rules exist to provide for the safety of our athletes and to maximize their development as football players while at the same time providing the fun they need to maintain their interest in the sport. These rules vary according to the level of play and are revisited regularly to keep them up to date. A summary of the main adjustments we have made to the standard rules follows:
Click on the rule for details
1. Placement of players in levels
2. Restrictions on the number of two way players
3. Requirement that all practicing, injury free and healthy players be used regularly in all games
4. Changes to the point value of converts
Restrictions on the number of two way players.
This rule exists to make sure that all eligible players see game time while providing coaches with the possibility of improving game play by using experienced, multi-talented athletes on both offense and defense. It also exists to allow teams who may have a low roster size at a particular game to be able to field a team.
At all levels three players may be used as two way players, regardless of roster size. If a team has fewer than 21 players than the number of two way players is increased as follows:
20 players = 4 two way players
19 players = 5 two way players
18 players = 6 two way players
Less than 18 players means that the game is forfeited.
Requirement that all practicing, injury free and healthy players be used regularly in all games.
The MFL and It's Divisions, including the SWFA have as their main purpose the development of every single player to the maximum allowed by time and dedication. In order to achieve this all players are to see regular game action. However, it must be noted that the safety of our players is of prime importance. Players who are unprepared for a game due to lack of practice, poor effort at practice, poor fitness levels, illness or injury are a danger to themselves and their teammates. It is the job of the Head Coach in conjunction with the players position coach to determine if a player is "football fit" for each game. If he/she determines that the player cannot be used safely then that player will not see action during that game.
Participation in another sport does not prepare a child for football. Knowing how to body check in hockey does not equate to being able to tackle correctly. Having the fitness to play soccer for hours does not give you the fitness to play football. It helps but the requirements on the bodies musculature and cardio-vascular system are very different. To become "football fit" an athlete must attend practice and participate in that practice with all his/her attention and effort.
It should be noted that it would be a breach of SWFA's coaches guidelines for a coach to use this policy to "bench" an inexperienced healthy player in order to help win games.
Changes to the point value of converts
At the Atom and Peewee level a kicked convert is worth 2 points while a point after made by running or passing the ball into the end zone is only worth 1 point. At the bantam level a kick is worth 1 point and running or passing is worth 2 points as is the case at higher levels. The reason for this is that younger shorter and lighter athletes find it harder to kick a convert then they do to run the ball into the end zone. Hence the change in rules at the younger levels.
Under this rule a team that gets ahead of their opponents by 21 points or more is required to put different players into their offensive backfield (QB, RBS, etc) and to kick the ball on fourth down. This rule exists in order to prevent young players from becoming disheartened over a blowout and lose their desire to play. Dealing with losing is part of sport and players need to develop this ability but overt embarrassment makes this learning process unnecessarily difficult.
It is to be hoped that no coach dealing with young athletes would deliberately run up the score on a weaker team but this is not always the case. Hence the need for this rule.