Rules & Guidelines

1) Submission of required paperwork “does not guarantee” a participant (youth and/or adult) admission/qualification for Florida PAL events. Submission of required paperwork ‘does not guarantee’ a PAL admission/qualification for Florida Pal events.

2) Florida PAL (SFAPAL) reserves the right to accept or reject participating PAL Chapters and their participating PAL Youth, Adults, and PAL Staff for not adhering to the rules set forth by Florida PAL (especially as it pertains to proper, correct, and timely submission of required paperwork) and for not adhering to the deadline.

3) Local PAL Chapters will reimburse Florida PAL if they drop participants (youth and adults) from competition within five (5) business days of any Florida PAL Event (this includes Sports and Meetings).

4) Member Chapters who cancel after the event deadline will be required to reimburse Florida PAL (SFAPAL) for all expended funds if the cancellation cost SFAPAL money.

5) Contact with the SFAPAL office regarding SFAPAL events will be limited to the voting delegate only.

6) Each PAL Director/Supervisor/Staff/Coach must sign the Rules of Professional Conduct form prior to participating in any SFAPAL Event. Failure to maintain professional standards will result in instantaneous removal from any SFAPAL event and suspension for the following year from said event.

7) The Cut-Off Date for all age divisions in sports play is on or before SEPTEMBER 1^st

8) Each Team must have (1) one Coach or Staff Member that is (21) years of age to compete/participate.

9) No participants, coaches, and or staff can be added after the deadline for the event except at the discretion of the state office.

10)Kids Trax will be mandatory at all events at sign in and during the event as required by Florida PAL Staff.

12) Member Chapters found to be over registering participants and/or coaches/ adult staff/supervisors for any event to obtain additional rooms will be required to reimburse SFAPAL for the expense.

13) No Altering of the Rooming List (aka no room changing). No persons allowed to stay in rooms paid for by SFAPAL except those on approved rooming list.

14) You may only use players that live within the county where your PAL is located.

17) STATE PENALTY FOR FRAUD IN PROOF OF AGE for all Regional and State Tournaments.

Any team and/or coach found to be purposely violating this particular provision for the sake of gaining an unfair advantage of other opponents shall:

A. Be automatically banned from participation for a period imposed by the SFAPAL Board of Directors.

B. Forfeit all games played while that particular player or players were listed in the official scorebook (regardless of whether that player played a game or not).

C. A monetary fine to the PAL chapter if the particular chapter was an assessor to the fact.

D. A letter of reprimand to the particular PAL chapter and /or coach to be kept on file at the SFAPAL office.

18) Overnight stays are allowed if the traveling distance is more than 100 miles and is approved by the State PAL Executive Director.

20) It is required that the coach or director to inspect the hotel rooms before check-in and at check out.

21) At tournament time, the Executive Director will appoint a committee, which he will chair, to handle any problems that may arise such as protests. Protests and Grievances cost $100.00 to file.

22) Each Member Chapter (and/or individual participant) must submit all required (and correct) paperwork to SFAPAL State Office by the deadline set by the SFAPAL office. Failure to submit all required paperwork (as outlined per SFAPAL Event) in a correct and timely manner will result in non-participation for said event(s).

23) It is the responsibility of each SFAPAL Member Chapter to disseminate to its participants (all coaches/staff/youth/ parents of said youth) the rules of SFAPAL [as it pertains to all Events and Sports], all requirements, and paperwork needed to apply for any SFAPAL event.

24) If your PAL is found to have an illegal player, the player is immediately expelled and your PAL must pay a $200.00 fine to the State PAL before the next scheduled state tournament.

For the Youth Directors Conference all expenses except transportation will be paid.

HOUSING: SFAPAL will in most cases cover the cost of lodging for SFAPAL sponsored events only. Four youth in each room, two coaches per room and a Directors/Police Officer room (as provided on rooming list for event).

This is a special basketball program designed to recruit participants and create interest in the local Police Athletic League chapter.

ELIGIBILITY: Local advancement must occur before participants will be eligible for State competition. Each local PAL - who holds a local competition - will be eligible to send one youth in each category to represent their PAL at the State level of competition (maximum of six - 3 boys and 3 girls).

MANPOWER: You should set up a HotShot committee to assist with running this program. There can be as many or as few on the committee as you desire. There should be an overall coordinator who is responsible for the total operation of this program (as you determine). The responsibilities of the coordinator would include: handling participants registration forms, obtaining the necessary facilities (gyms), obtaining the necessary equipment, setting up of the court competition areas, distributing awards to all competitors, and reporting the winners to the State PAL office. Other manpower needed:

SCORER - One ADULT scorer is needed for maintaining accurate scores during competition

STARTER - One starter is needed to be responsible for the proper scheduling of each participant

REFEREE - One referee is needed to be responsible for making sure participants shoot from proper location behind the shooting lines. The referee will be the only person authorized to stop the time during the competition.

NOTE - if both ends of the court are used simultaneously, two referees two starters, two timers and two scorers will be needed.

EQUIPMENT: Two regulation size basketballs and two smaller basketballs. Stop watches, clip boards, pencils, scoresheets, tape for marking court area and tape measure. Boys and girls 10 & under and 12 and under will use the small ball.

RULES: All time is running clock time. Each competitor is allowed 1-½ minutes for the competition. Each shooter will start from the foul line and then proceed to shoot from any of the other marked surfaces. Total amount of points will determine a winn

If there is a tie, then a full 1-½ minute play off occurs. A maximum of three points may be scored in the lay-up area. Each person will have two rounds of competition - the total of both rounds will determine the winner as opposed to taking the highest round.

Lay-up area basket is worth 1 point (maximum of three points may be awarded from this area.

C) When recording the score, one individual should be watching the line and a separate individual should count and record the score.

E) Have a meeting with all who will be helping (referees, timers, scorers, and starters).

F) Suggestion to use magnetic color circles during the Hot Shot Tournament as opposed to marking the floor with tape.

H) Day after competition, send in winners’ original scoresheets to State PAL office.

Florida PAL (SFAPAL) reserves the right to accept or reject participating PAL Chapters and their participating PAL Youth, Adults, and PAL Staff for not adhering to the rules set forth by Florida PAL (especially as it pertains to proper, correct, and timely submission of required paperwork) and/or not adhering to the deadline.

Submission of required paperwork “does not guarantee” a participant (youth/adult) admission /qualification for Florida PAL events. Submission of required paperwork “does not guarantee” a PAL admission/qualification for Florida PAL events.

Date of Birth:___________ Age:_______ PAL Name:________________________

Age Group:                Boy 10 & under                     Girl 10 & under
(circle one)
                                    Boy 12 & under                     Girl   12 & under

Age Cut off date is on or before September 1^st __________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

*You need only fill out the top portion of this score sheet for every attending athlete (make copies as needed) and mail it in to the State Office along with your PAL’s registration information)

These rules were adopted for the benefit and safety of the youth participating in the State of Florida Association of Police Athletic/Activities Leagues (SFAPAL) Cheerleading Championships only and can be changed or amended at the discretion of the SFAPAL Board of Directors.

The State of Florida Association of Police Athletic/Activities Leagues may at the discretion of the Board of Directors conduct an annual Cheerleading Championship Tournament to benefit the youth members of Local Member Chapters.

The Cheerleading Championship Tournament may be established to promote physical fitness, self-esteem, confidence, teamwork, discipline, charm and character to prevent juvenile crime and violence.

Age Brackets (cut off date on or before September 1^st) Minimal age to participate is 4 years of age.

1. A Mandatory coaches meeting and registration for all participants (coaches/adults/cheerleaders) will be held Friday night prior to the competition.

2. Each participating squad must be a part of a Local SFAPAL Member Chapter. Only (1) squad per age bracket per PAL Member Chapter will be accepted in the competition.

3. All required paperwork, i.e. roster, participant application; proof of birth, color photo (at least wallet size), release of liability, rooming list, t-shirt breakdown and medical release form must be completed in its entirety and sent to the SFAPAL office by the deadline established for each calendar year. (See SFAPAL calendar of events).

4. No more than (20) twenty cheerleaders per squad may be registered or compete in the competition. No less than (6) six cheerleaders per squad may be registered or compete in the competition.

5. Each coach/Adult Supervisor/ PAL Staff Person will be required to sign a Rules of Professional Conduct form prior to the competition and certify that they have read and understand the rules and regulations.

6. Only two coaches are allowed to participate (on the floor during competition) per squad. Second or third assistant coaches/managers/and/or trainers will not be allowed on the floor during competition and your PAL will need to pay the non-participant fee for them.

7. All coaches must be (18) years of age or older. Youth (anyone under age 18) Spirit coaches and/or pep instructors are not considered coaches under Fl PAL rules and will need to pay the non-participant fee if your PAL would like them to receive a t-shirt and they cannot room in rooms paid for by Florida PAL.

9. All squads are responsible for promoting good sportsmanship among other squads as well as their own. The blatant disrespect of others, the use of profanity or any un-sportsman like conduct (i.e., booing, etc.) is prohibited and could result in suspension from the competition after investigation by the tournament committee.

10. Upon the start of the competition all cheerleading squads will be seated in an orderly manner at all times during the competition.

11. Special effects are allowed with the following exceptions, no confetti, beads or streamers. Foam-core cards, place cards, pompoms and megaphones are allowed (no larger than 18”X 24”). No special effects will be left in the performance area, if left the squad will be subject to a (5) point deduction.

a. Warm-ups, stretching and jumping will be allowed in the designated area only.

13. Each cheerleading squad will perform once. Each squad must select a category to compete in: A. Cheer-dance or B. Cheer-Dance/with stunt.

14. The time limit for the routine is (3) three minutes maximum, 2-½ minutes minimum. The dance portion may not exceed 1-½ minutes. Minus (5) points (per judge) will be deducted for each cheer over or under the required time limit.

16. Each performance must contain at least (1) one change of formation. A formation change consist of the squad moving from, (example) a single line to a V. Failure to do the required moves will result in point deductions up to a maximum of (3) three points to be determined by each judge.

17. Cheer-Dance will not contain any aerial drops, gymnastics, i.e. cartwheels, forward rolls, fans, flips, backhand springs, round-off, etc. offenders of this rule will be eliminated from competition.

18. Cheer-Dance/with Stunt will contain aerial drops, gymnastics, cartwheels, splits, fans, etc. Basket tosses are not permissible.

19. No formation will be allowed in which one girl will be supporting another. (Girls may be touching as long as they are self-supporting). (Cheer-Dance/with Stunts only).

20. Squads may enter the performance area quickly and in an organized manner without any gymnastics or introduction. The squad will stand and wait for the timekeeper to say (Begin). Timing will start from the first movement or word. Immediately after the performance cheerleaders must wait in position for the timekeeper to say (thank you) before exiting the performance area.

b. Props may be used and carried on and off the performance area by the team performing. (See special effects limitations)

c. Time (3) three minutes maximum, not less than (2 ½) minutes minimum per performance. The dance portion is not to exceed (1-½) minutes.

d. Music: Two (2) tapes required. Coach must be available to play music. Tape must be cued to continue throughout entire routine before squad enters the performance area.

e. Absolutely no vulgar dancing, i.e., booty shaking, hoochie coochie or suggestive dancing allowed. If any of the above listed occurs disqualification may be imposed at the discretion of the judges.

g. No jewelry can be worn during competition. Two (2) points per girl will be deducted for violations.

a. All squads must sign in during the specified sign in period. At sign in each squad will draw a number that will be their order of participation. Those squads not signing in on time will be penalized (15) fifteen points.

b. All squads must be in full uniform during sign in and remain in full uniform for the duration of the competition.

a. The judges committee shall consist of a minimum of (5) persons or a maximum of (7) persons. The SFAPAL staff will select Judges.

b. SFAPAL will make available all material needed by the judges i.e., rating sheets, point system sheets, pencils, pens, time clocks, etc.

c. Coaches, youth, PAL staff members or Directors are not to approach the judges during the competition. Violation of this rule will be grounds for disqualification of the offending squad.

SFAPAL will present awards to the winning teams in each age bracket at the conclusion of the competition.

Adults cannot room in rooms clearly designated for youth {rooms 1-6 on your FL PAL Cheerleading rooming list sheet}. Only 2 qualified adults per room.

A) $100.00 fee per cheerleading Squad entered paid to Florida PAL on or before the deadline.

B) A fee per non-participant ($10.00) will be charged based on the fee schedule approved by the Board of SFAPAL. Florida PAL will pay lodging for 2 cheerleading squads (maximum 20 cheerleaders per squad and 2 coaches and 1 PAL staff person per these 2 squads).

C) Any cheerleaders beyond the two squad maximum must be paid for by the participating PAL.

Judgment decisions made by the judges cannot be protested. Rule violations can be protested during the competition only and must be in writing accompanied by a protest fee of $100.00. The fee will be refunded if the protest is substantiated.

TOURNAMENT: Participation in Regional Tournament does not guarantee acceptance and admission to the state tournament.

The regional play will be single elimination play and the State tournament play will be double elimination. All Players (including alternates) must participate in regional tournament (s) in order to eligible for the state championships. Meaning all members listed on roster (including alternates) must sign in at regional tournament and play. All Coaches/PAL Staff listed on roster must sign in and participate.

Eligibility: Determined by the State Office based on requirements/rules for said event. Participation does not guarantee eligibility for regional and/or state tournament.

RULES

1) Paperwork is due in the state office (5) five business days prior to the regional event.

2) All coaches, staff, and participants must sign in at the regional tournament to advance to the state tournament.

3) All basketball teams must have a minimum of (7) seven players to qualify and participate in the region and state tournament.

4) NO HIGH SCHOOL Junior Varsity or Varsity Players are allowed to compete in Regional and State PAL tournaments. Anyone participating on a school’s team can not participate. This rule does not apply to grade school basketball players. Grade school meaning K through 8^th grade. Private schools (i.e. Charter, Private, and Catholic and like schools) who participate in FHSAA sanctioned games are considered HIGH SCHOOL/JUNIOR VARSITY and would fall under the above NO HIGH SCHOOL VARSITY OR JUNIOR VARSITY RULE>

6) Wrist Bands are mandatory for all participants. If wrist bands are misplaced or torn off there will be a $5.00 for replacement.

7) GAME RULES: Florida High School Basketball Association rules will prevail with the following exception: Six minute quarters for the 10 & under and 12 & under age groups, eight minute quarters for the 14 & under boys, and eight minute quarters for the 14 & under girls. The 10 & under and the 12 & under teams will use the undersized ball.

8) UNIFORMS: All players must be in proper uniform. ALL TEAMS MUST HAVE ‘Police Athletic League’ or “PAL” Logo on uniforms. Shirts must be tucked in at all times. Regulation numbers must be printed on the back and the front of uniforms and the two digit number cannot be higher than the number 5. T-shirts with sleeves are allowed, however they must be the same color as the dominant color of the uniform, this will apply to girls as well as boys.

9) Coaches Must Wear a collared shirt and slacks (no shorts, jeans, sweat pants, or t-shirts will be allowed). The Penalty is non-participation if a violation occurs.

10) NUMBER OF PLAYERS: Maximum Of 12 + 2 coaches. Three (3) alternates can be listed on roster for Regional tournament play. All alternates must compete in regional tournament in order to be eligible for State Tournament and can only be substituted if your team loses one of its’ ( already registered) 12 members.

11) ALTERNATES: Must participate in regional play and sign in at regional. Alternates are only used to replace a missing or injured player. State PAL will only pay for players listed on the 12 man roster this does not include alternates. Should a player need to be replaced then State PAL needs to be notified immediately. Alternates are not included in the covered expenses of the 12 man roster.

12) AWARDS: First place teams will win individual Gold medals. Second Place teams will receive individual Silver medals and third place winners will receive individual Bronze medals.

13) PROOF OF AGE: A certified birth certificate or sealed school print out are the only acceptable age verifiers. Color Photos at least wallet size (no copies) of each player must be presented with proof of birth. The PAL Executive Director (only) may make a copy of the certified birth certificate and sign this copy as proof. This exception is to avoid losing the actual document.

Any team and/or coach found to be purposely violating this particular provision for the sake of gaining an unfair advantage of other opponents shall:

A. Be automatically banned from participation for a period imposed by the SFAPAL Board of Directors.

B. Forfeit all games played while that particular player or players were listed in the official scorebook (regardless of whether that player played a game or not).

C. A monetary fine to the PAL chapter if the particular chapter was an assessor to the fact.

D. A letter of reprimand to the particular PAL chapter and /or coach to be kept on file at the SFAPAL office.

15) COACHES MEETING: It is mandatory that one coach for each team be present at the scheduled meeting.

16) GRACE PERIOD: Teams may be given a 10-minute grace period. First game of the day only.

17) PROTESTS: Protests will only be allowed concerning rule infractions. Absolutely no protests will be allowed on judgment calls. Protests must be in writing and turned in to the basketball chairman within one hour of the completion of the game in question. All protests must be accompanied by $100.00. If the protest is upheld, the $100.00 shall be returned. If the protest is denied, Florida PAL shall retain the $100.00. See special rules for all sports.

18) SUSPENSIONS: PALs who are found to have players participating in the incorrect age division will be suspended form participating in future State PAL tournaments.

19) EJECTIONS: Any player or coach ejected from a game for UN-sportsmanlike conduct shall be suspended for the following games. Suspended players of coaches may not sit on the team bench or directly behind the team. Two ejections equal one year’s suspension. Note: the Tournament Director will have the authority to eject and or suspend any coach or player for unsportsmanlike conduct for State and Regional events.

20) CURFEWS: Curfews for all State PAL tournaments is 11:00 PM unless a coach accompanies youth. Violation of this rule results in immediate suspension from all games. Note: Youth must be accompanied by a responsible adult at least 21 years of age after the designated curfew hour.

21) ROOM INSPECTIONS: State PAL recommends that the coaches and or PAL director inspect the hotel rooms before the players enter their rooms and re-inspect at checkout time. Your PAL will be totally responsible for all damages incurred by your PAL kids.

*** Please note that the rules are subject to change in the event of bad weather and/or other things beyond the control of SFAPAL (State of Florida Association of Police Athletic/Activities Leagues).

The Florida State PAL track tournament has been designed to promote track to youth who would not ordinarily have the opportunity to do so.

1) APPLICATIONS: Each youth must submit a completed application form to your PAL and all applications must be sent to State PAL in one packet by the designated deadline.

2) ELIGIBILITY: Only PALs will be allowed to participate. No track clubs or community running clubs are allowed. No walk-ons allowed.

3) NUMBER OF PLAYERS: Each PAL is allowed to enter three youth per age group, per sex, per event.

4) SPECIAL SPORT RULES: Youth 12 years of age and younger will not be allowed to participate in the high jump or shot put events. The 60-meter dash is for youth 7 & 8 years of age. Youth 7 & 8 are not allowed to compete in the relays or the low hurdles.

5) NUMBER OF EVENTS: Youth are allowed to compete in up to three (3) individual events and both relays.

7) EVENTS OFFERED: High Jump, Shot Put, Discus, Long Jump, 60m Dash, 200m Dash, 400m Dash, 800m Run, 1600m Run, Low Hurdles, 4x100 Relay and 4x400 Relay.

RULES: Florida PAL will abide by ABF rules and guidelines. Only JO (Junior Olympics) no Novice.

Florida PAL will only pay for PAL participants and Host site will be required to pay for site expenses.

Mission Statement

THE PURPOSE OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF POLICE ATHLETIC/ACTIVITIES LEAGUES, INCORPORATED IS TO ASSIST LOCAL MEMBER CHAPTERS BY PROVIDING COORDINATION, TRAINING AND PROGRAMS THAT ENHANCE THE LIVES OF THE YOUTH OF FLORIDA.

RULES THAT APPLY TO ALL EVENTS & SPORTS

For the Youth Directors Conference all expenses except transportation will be paid.

Date of Birth:_______ Age:_ PAL Name:______________________

RULES