Rice University Women’s Football


I.The name of this organization is “Rice University Women’s Football”

II.           The purpose of this organization shall be as follows:

a)  provide a positive framework for women’s participation in powderpuff football

b)  promote camaraderie among the colleges

c)  encourage friendly and fair competition between the colleges

III.          Members of this organization consist of:

a)  Co-Coordinators

b)  Faculty sponsor voted on by the Co-Coordinators

c)  Team captains and players

d)  Game officials

i.Head Referees will be paid $20 per regular season game, and $25 for playoff games

ii.           The Head Referee will be responsible for finding replacement officials, and e-mailing Coordinators with a list of game officials and final scores

iii.          The Line Judge and Back Judge will be paid $15 per regular season game, and $20 for playoff games

IV.         Participants of this organization shall be as follows:

a)  all residential colleges (and only residential colleges) are eligible for membership

b)  all female undergraduates, visiting students, RAs, Masters, Faculty Associates, and University Associates associated with the residential colleges are qualified for play (no alumni, graduate students, or community associates)

c)  coaches, captains, and players selected by each residential college

V.           All colleges must pay the established annual membership fee ($220 for 2006).

VI.         All decisions will be voted on by the Co-Coordinators. In order to make a decision, all coordinators must agree. Coaches, captains, and players may appeal decisions of referees to the Co-Coordinators for any rule interpretations or misapplications (no judgment calls). In the event that there is a stalemate between the Co-Coordinators regarding appeals or there exists a conflict of interest in making a decision, the Coordinators will call upon the Faculty Advisor to settle the issue (for 2006, the Recreation Center Associate Director, Tina Villard). All final decisions to eligibility and game rules will be at the discretion of the Co-Coordinators.

VII.        The Co-Coordinators will serve the following roles or delegate accordingly:

a)  to set the schedule for the upcoming season. The schedule must be approved by the Assistant Director for Intramural Programs and the fields reserved in advance (as determined by the Assistant Director for Intramural Programs). All game changes must be proposed to and accepted by the Co-Coordinators. Game changes must be submitted 10 days before the date of the game, unless there are extenuating circumstances. The Co-Coordinators will work with both teams to reschedule. Teams are allowed two approved rescheduling requests per regular season.

b)  to train and schedule referees for all games such that there is an experienced head referee, back judge, and line judge at each game. All colleges are responsible for recruiting at least four referees from their college for each season, unless otherwise approved by the Co-Coordinators.

c)  to keep track of equipment (flags, cones, whistles, chains, down markers), to distribute and collect them during each weekend’s games, and to replace them when necessary.

d)  to pay for equipment and referees. Referees are to be paid twice per season—once after the 5th week of play and again at the end of the season. Two signatures are required.

e)  to distribute and collect waivers from all players. If a player does not have a waiver on file they will be ineligible to participate in any games.

f)   to review and approve the general powderpuff rules each year and alert members of any changes. Changes can only be made by a unanimous decision of the Co-Coordinators. Coaches and Captains should be consulted.


VIII.       Game scheduling and playoffs

a)  All teams must play each other once during the regular season (round-robin format). The game schedule will be based on standings from the previous season and team availability.

b)  The top four teams will advance to the playoffs.

c)  Rankings will be determined by record and point differential.

d)  If two or more teams have the same record at the end of the regular season, the following tiebreaker will be used:

i.Head-to-head record

ii.           Point differential between games involving the tied teams

iii.          Points allowed in games involving the tied teams

iv.          Overtime scenario as described in the game rules

IX.         Additional rules for Rice Women’s Football:

a)  Cheers – College cheers are permitted during play except when a player is injured or the head referee has asked for the cheering to stop. No individual player may be singled out during cheers and no anti-cheers are permitted during, after, or before play. Penalty: Unsportsmanlike Conduct (15 yards). Captains should inform players and coaches of this policy.

b)  Ejections – If a player, coach, or fan is ejected during a game because of violent actions, use of foul language, etc., they will be assessed a one-game suspension and required to meet with a majority of the Co-Coordinators (Note: Depending on the severity of the incident, additional requirements (longer suspensions, referral to Judicial Programs, etc.) may be necessary.

c)  Weather – In case of inclement weather, The Co-Coordinators or Recreation Center staff (specifically the Intramural Sports program) will decide whether a scheduled contest shall be played. After a contest has started, the game officials, Co-Coordinators, or Recreation Center staff shall be the judge(s) of determining whether play will continue.

d)  Forfeits – If a team forfeits, they will receive a loss in the standings and will be required to cover all costs associated with staffing game officials for their scheduled event.

X.           Co-Coordinators shall be selected by the past Co-Coordinators from nominations from the previous season’s members.

XI.         The selection of a faculty sponsor for the organization must be voted on by the Co-Coordinators.

XII.        Amendments to the organization’s constitution can only be made by a vote of the Co-Coordinators.