NORTH LOUISIANA FOOTBALL ALLIANCE FEES AND BYLAWS:
LEAGUE CERTIFICATE OF MEMBERSHIP
Each member shall receive a League Certificate of Membership signed by the Commissioner or President if no Commissioner has been selected, certifying that such member is a member of the League and manages a team from the League to operate a semi-professional football club in a designated city.
WITHDRAWL
A club Team Manager may withdraw from the League by either mailing or emailing a written resignation to the Commissioner and simultaneously surrendering its League Certificate of Membership, making full payment of any and all dues, assessments, or other debts owed to the League. However, no withdrawal may be made in any year between March and the date of the NLFA Championship game of that year, except without the unanimous consent of all members. Non-participation will result in a forfeit for that team's entire season.
SCHEDULE:
- The preparation of the schedule shall be the responsibility of the NLFA.
- All games will be played as scheduled unless unforeseen or unpredictable circumstances dictate; otherwise, there will be no postponements.
CONDUCT AND REGULATION OF TEAM UNIT:
1) Each of the NLFA teams shall furnish the NLFA Commissioner with a full and complete roster listing the full names, birth dates, addresses, and telephone numbers of all officers of his team. These rosters should be in enough quantity to provide one copy for each member team and one copy for the NLFA files and should be provided by the NLFA.
Annual Meeting.
2) After the NLFA has officially completed its 2nd season, all players are declared free agents and are permitted to change from one team to another without consent. However, each player must, based upon financial or equipment obligations to their team, have a written release from his original team. Each team is to notify the NLFA with a list of outstanding financial and equipment obligations at both NLFA meetings prior to the start of the season. Every player in the NLFA must have a signed waiver and player agreement which becomes binding the day after the Annual Meeting. Players may sign a player agreement after the NLFA Championship Game. The player has the option to void the agreement up to the day after the Annual Meeting. After this point, the player may be released only at the team's discretion. If the equipment is not returned by this date, acceptance and a subsequent release is an option of the team.
3) New players may be added to a team's roster up through midnight on Saturday of the 5th week of the league's regular season. In order to be eligible to play in the playoffs, players shall have played in at least one play, in one game prior to this date. By the following Wednesday, all teams shall confirm their final rosters with the league office.
4) New players may be added to a team's final roster if they have played in one play in one game, up through midnight on Saturday of the 5th week of the league regular season. Only rostered players are eligible for the playoffs. By the following Wednesday, all teams shall confirm their final rosters with the league office.
5) After the 6th week of the league regular season, you may not add any new players unless a team gets below 16 players. It then may request an appeal to the administrative committee to add enough players to reach an active roster of at least 18.
These players will be eligible for the playoffs and each team will be notified of those additions.
6) A one-time, per season, appeal to add one player, to the judicial committee may be made due to hardship or extenuating circumstances (medical or physical injury only). The player will be eligible to play in the playoffs. This appeal must be made prior to the player being allowed to play in an NLFA game.
7) For any player that is added, a photo ID and personal information must be provided.
8) Unsportsmanlike conduct on the part of any team, team official, or any individual player on or off the field to include social media, shall be dealt with by the Judiciary Committee. The offending person or persons may be subject to suspension. Each team is expected to conduct itself in a professional manner at all times and shall be held responsible for the conduct of its players and its staff, whether individually or collectively.
Players, coaches, and staff members are not to use inappropriate language toward the other team, players, coaches, or fans. Officials will be advised to throw a penalty flag anytime a player, coach or staff uses foul language. The ‘F’ word, the ’N’ word, and referring to a players' mother in an inappropriate way are to be reported to the League. Any player ejected in a game may be subject to a league suspension.
If a player or players are engaged in any fighting during or after a game, a minimum of a one-game league suspension will be enforced, if so, determined by the Judiciary Committee. A 2nd violation in the same season results in an automatic suspension for the rest of the year. If a player receives three (3) or more unsportsmanlike penalties in a season, he can become ineligible to participate in the NFLA Playoffs or the NLFA Championship game. Assault on an official results in a lifetime ban.
Any member (to exclude security or authorized NLFA event staff) found in possession of a firearm while on the premises of or in attendance of an NLFA event will also result in a lifetime ban. This also applies to fans and spectators as well.
The NLFA cannot police social media; however, if social media is shared with the NLFA that the Judiciary Committee finds threatening or menacing toward a player, coach, the league, or an NLFA Executive Staff member, that individual, who made said statement, will be subject to removal from the North Louisiana Football Alliance.
9) Any team not on the field, ready to play within fifteen (15) minutes before the scheduled time for the game, may be subject to such fine as the Judiciary Committee shall impose. If a said team has not appeared, ready to play within one hour (60 minutes) after the scheduled time for the commencement of the game, the game may be played with the consent of both teams. If this game is not played, it will be forwarded to the Judiciary Committee for a decision.
10) Each team shall be equipped with two (2) sets of jerseys, one dark and one white of the team colors, to allow for the use of contrasting uniforms in each game. All players must wear the same number at home and away games. If a change absolutely must be made, the other team must be informed, and it must be on the roster for that night.
11) Each traveling team shall contact the league on Wednesday prior to the playing date and confirm playing field location and locker room locations if available. Teams must confirm rosters by the Wednesday evening prior to their game. The home team will wear dark jerseys and the visiting team will wear white jersey colors. Each team is to provide the NLFA Commissioner with any roster changes at least 30 minutes prior to game time. Failure to adhere to any of the above will result in an automatic $50 fine payable immediately.
12) Each team must play its games at a field surrounded by fencing and with a facility for collecting paid admissions. The field must be properly marked and properly lighted for night games (if applicable). Facilities for adequate crowd control and/or security should be present. If available, separate shower and locker room facilities will be provided for each team. Proper restroom facilities must be provided for the fans. There will be a scoreboard and time clock with an operator at all facilities. In the event facilities aren't equipped with a scoreboard and clock, time and scores should be kept manually by an NLFA officiating crewmember or volunteer. There should be an announcer, and the National Anthem must be played.
13) All NLFA games shall be scheduled for Saturday or Sunday afternoon/evening. If Saturday or Sunday afternoon/evening is not available, a Wednesday evening option may be utilized at the time of scheduling. All other playing dates and times must be mutually agreed upon by the participating teams and submitted to the NLFA Commissioner for approval.
14) The NLFA fine for not having a representative attending an NLFA meeting, regular or special, will be $50. The absent member team will be submitted to the Judiciary Committee for a hearing to consider "not in good standing".
15) Each team will appoint a team statistician, who will gather all required statistics for NLFA regular season, Playoff, and Championship games. Each team is to report the game stats for its team to the NLFA Statistician by mid-day Monday following the game. Failure to complete this required NLFA task will result in a fine of $20 per day for each day delinquent. Statisticians and Spotters will be offered equal opportunity to perform their duties in the press box at all NLFA games.
16) No NLFA team shall be permitted to play a non-NLFA team or league due to insurance purposes.
17) Each team will be responsible for the coordination of authorized medical personnel at NLFA games which include either an EMT-B or First-Aid certified personnel and trainers. Ambulances will be called if necessary, by the authorized medical personnel via direct communication. The authorized medical personnel's identification will be included on each team roster as "team staff". An effort will be made by the NLFA, as often as possible, to provide an ambulance at the game as needed. If no medical personnel appear, the league site manager is to report all developments to the league Commissioner as soon as possible.
18) All preseason games will fall under the North Louisiana Football Alliance Bylaws.
19) All players must have a photo I.D. with their height and weight listed. The heights and weights should be kept on a separate sheet and should be available if asked for. If a player does not have a driver’s license, he should obtain an official I.D.
20) All league debts are to be paid in full by May 1st of the current season. Every week after May 1st, a fine of $25 will be levied and will be due along with the current dues. This must be paid within the week between the team's first game the second one. If this is not paid, and another game is played there will be another $25 fine. This will continue for as long as it takes to pay all dues and fines in full. If the team completes its regular season and has not taken care of all debt, including fines, it will be disqualified from postseason play. Also, that team will not be allowed to have anyone from the team recognized with post-season awards. In addition to the fines already assessed, they will now face an additional $50 fine for failing to pay league debt prior to the end of the season.
This debt must now be paid prior to the end of the season meeting. If payment is not made, the team is placed on a one-year leave of absence. Regardless of which team violates this, it shall be punished on a no-excuses basis. Additionally, this incorporates all-league debt such as footballs, old debt, and any fines incurred during the season.
21) Players cannot play in 2 adult amateur spring/summer leagues at the same time. Violators will be banned from the NLFA for the remainder of the season. If an NLFA team willingly violates this policy, they will forfeit the game(s) and will be subject to a fine.
22) Under no circumstance will an NLFA coach or staff member (ie. coaches, upper management) be allowed to register and compete as a player. It is important that the NLFA maintains a professional hierarchy, clearly establishing the difference between its staff members and players.
Age
23) Our target demographic is from 18-30 years old and membership continues long after a playing career has ended. This is particularly important in playing football in the NLFA as the average career is 8-10 years, and the average retirement age for most players is ideally 35 years old. Therefore the NLFA simply doesn't allow players to participate beyond the age of 35.
GAME PROCEDURES:
1. The NLFA rules shall be NCAA and NLFA specific rules.
2. Each game shall be worked by a crew of officials, qualified and certified by a recognized association of Certified Football Officials. The crew of officials shall be paid in accordance with the determination by the NLFA Officiating Director.
3. The league shall furnish chain crews, chains, and sideline markers. Both the home and visiting team have the right to place one (1) member of its organization on the chain crew if it desires. Each team, however, must notify the field manager of such a decision at least fifteen (15) minutes before the scheduled game time.
4. Visible security of some kind must be present for each event. The security must be identifiable.
5. Each team shall furnish ice for their own team. Each team will furnish three (3) league footballs, of which at least two (2) will be new footballs. The game officials must approve the three footballs prior to game time. The League will buy the footballs and the NLFA teams will buy from the League. The official ball will be the NLFA football.
6. The team based in the location of the game will provide access to the locker room and field facilities if available, for the visiting team(s), at least two (2) hours prior to the first snap.
7. The presence of an NLFA Officer is mandatory at all NLFA postseason games. Officers should be present at all games to ensure that the facilities and game conditions meet NLFA standards. If no officer is available for a game, the visiting coach will prepare a game report. The Officers will rotate each week. No team should go more than a week without coverage. Officers should be in proper attire.
8. All teams must accept playoff ranking and participation. Any team that qualifies for the playoffs should meet that obligation. Failure to participate will be forwarded to the Board for review.
9. For every post-season NLFA game, each team is responsible to brief their fans and supporters to adhere to appropriate fan conduct and behavior. Fans will be escorted off of the premises for misconduct and inappropriate behavior.
10. The team with the better record has the first option of hosting. Upon mutual consent of both teams, the team with the lower record could host the game. Any additional financial agreements between the two teams must be submitted to the NLFACommissioner and will be enforced by the NLFA.
11. NLFA (5) Tie Breakers:
1. Head to head games; the best team with the least points scored against them between the head to head teams:
2. Best win/loss record among tied teams
3. Best win/loss record within the division
4. Best win/loss record outside the division
5. Coin toss
12. All NLFA games will start at 12 pm and 2 pm or at 2 pm and 4 pm, Saturday evenings unless mutually agreed upon by the two teams. The NLFA Commissioner and Game Officials must be notified immediately if any changes should occur.
NLFA 
