By-Laws

NORTH LOUISIANA FOOTBALL ALLIANCE BYLAWS:
 

CONDUCT AND REGULATION OF TEAM UNIT:

1) Each of the NLFA teams shall furnish the NLFA Director of Football Operations with a full and complete roster listing the full names, birth dates, addresses, and telephone numbers of all officers of his team. These rosters shall be available to each member team and will be maintained by the NLFA.

2) After the completion of each regular season, all players are declared free agents and are permitted to change from one team to another. However, each player must, based upon financial or equipment obligations to their team, and must give his original team proper notice prior to departing. 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 signed waivers and a 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 are an option for the team.

3) New players may be added to a team's roster up through midnight on Saturday of the final 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 final week of the league regular season. Only rostered players are eligible for the playoffs. Teams found in violation may be subject to that player being removed from play as the Committee shall impose. By the following Thursday, all teams shall confirm their final rosters with the league office.

5) After the final 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 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 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 for verification purposes.

8) Unsportsmanlike conduct on the part of any team, team official, or any individual player on or off the field including on social media, shall be dealt with by the  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 player's 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 Committee. A 2^nd 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 isn't able to police all social media; however, if social media is shared with the NLFA that the 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) FORFEIT: Any team not on the field, ready to play within ten minutes (10 minutes) after the scheduled time for the commencement of the game, the game will result in a forfeit. If this game is not played, it will be forwarded to the Committee for a final decision. A forfeit will also be called if a team is unable to field nine players at any time.

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 NLFA Committee must be informed, and it must be on the roster for that night. 

11) NLFA teams must confirm rosters no later than Thursday evening prior to game day. 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 a player's ejection from that days game.

12) NLFA teams must play their games on 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 may 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) If a team representative is unable to attend an NLFA meeting, regular or special, must coordinate with the Committee for a make up or virtual meeting to receive all corresponding information. 

15) Each team can appoint a team statistician to gather all required statistics for NLFA regular season, Playoff, and Championship games. Each team statistician is to report the game stats for its team to the NLFA Statistician by mid-day Monday following the game. 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 during the regular season due to insurance purposes. An all-star or scrimmage game with a non-league may be permitted upon approval during off-season play.

17) The NLFA will coordinate authorized medical personnel at games which include either an EMT-B or First-Aid certified personnel. Each team will be allowed to assigning their own team 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, weight, and date of birth 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. If a player completes its regular season and has not taken care of all debt, they will be disqualified from postseason play. Also, that player will not be recognized with post-season awards. In addition to the debt already assessed, those players will not be allowed to participate in the upcoming season for failing to pay league debt prior to the end of the current season.

21) Players are NOT ALLOWED to play in another adult amateur, semi-pro, or minor league during the NLFA regular season due to liability reasons. Violators will be disqualified from play for the remainder of the season. If an NLFA team knowingly and willingly violates this policy, disciplinary actions will be enforced, if so, determined by the Committee.

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) Players must be 18 years of age and either removed from or in the process of being removed from high school to participate in the NLFA. Our target demographic is aged 18-24 years old and not to exceed 28 years of age. This is particularly important in playing football in the NLFA as the league continues to establish itself as a valuable resource for teams and leagues at the professional level.

GAME PROCEDURES:

1. The NLFA rules shall be NCAA and NLFA-specific rules.
2. Each game shall be worked by a crew of four (4) 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 Director of Officials or Head Official.
3. The league shall furnish chain crews, chains, and sideline markers. Both teams have the right to place one (1) member of their 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. The NLFA shall furnish ice for all of its teams. The NLFA 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 Team Issue football.
6. If the designated location on game day doesn't have access to locker rooms and field facilities, each team is to meet at a designated changing area at least two (2) hours prior to the kick off.
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 site manager 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 postseason ranking and participation. Any team that qualifies for the postseason should meet that obligation. Failure to participate will be forwarded to the Committee for review.
9. For every postseason NLFA game, each team is responsible for briefing 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 agreements between the two teams must be submitted to the NLFA Commissioner 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 2 pm and 4:15 pm on Saturday evenings unless a rain out or any unforeseen reason should occur. In the event of a reschedule, both teams must mutually agreed upon a rescheduled date, and the NLFA Commissioner and Game Officials must be notified immediately of any changes that should occur.