By Kevin Barrett
Published in the Telegraph-Journal on March 10, 2009
Appeared on Page B6

Minor football coaches who pin weaker players to the bench in the heat of the provincial playoffs face stiff penalties this season following a new policy implemented by Football New Brunswick.

If coaches don't play each of their players for three plays from scrimmage in each half, they will get a game misconduct if the offence occurs in the first half and the team will lose the game if the offence happens in the second half of play.

Further, if the game is forfeited because of this rule, the team will also face discipline from Football New Brunswick.

"They way I look at it, if you are going to be a coach in minor and you are going to keep a kid from playing football, then you should not coach football," Football New Brunswick president Larry Harlow said.

"So if that kid can't play in that game, you can not coach in that game."

Harlow said the new policy came after he witnessed several games last year where several teams did not use their entire bench during the playoff contests.

Harlow said that after a year where the provincial sports governing body enjoyed a growth of 35 percent, he didn't want to discourage interest by having players sitting out when they could and should be developing their skills.

"I really want people to stop and think about the kids more than winning or losing," Harlow said. "I happened to be in a couple of situation this past season that not all the kids got in the game. To me that is totally wrong."

The policy mirrors the format used in Pop Warner football in the United States.

The new Football New Brunswick policy states that all players must take part a minimum of three play from scrimmage per half. Plays do not include kick-offs or extra points. Once a team leads by 18 points or more, no player is allowed to play offence and defence.

Also, if a team has less than 24 players, it must change the maximum number of players during the game. For example, teams with 23 players must change 11 when offence switches to defence.

The provincial association will provide monitors to keep track of the plays during the game.

The rules apply to provincial semifinal and finals in peewee and bantam games but the Fundy Minor Football Association is also adopting the rules for this season.