All players must try to avoid contact at all times. However, we understand that there will be incidental contact. Just because contact occurred, doesn’t always mandate a penalty.
Tackling, blocking, picking, intentional, or unintentional contact of any kind can result in a penalty.
The lowering of the shoulder or initiating contact for the purpose of gaining yardage or position is not permitted. This is treated as an offensive flag guard.
Game Length and Structure
Games consist of two 20 minute halves (including a brief halftime, if time permits) with a continuous running game clock. Teams are permitted two timeouts per game.
There is a 30 second play clock after the previous play.
If the score is within 14 points or less in the last two minutes of the game, the clock will stop for the following reasons:
Ball carrier runs out of bounds
Incomplete pass
Touchdown (the clock remains stopped for extra points)
The end of a kickoff
Turnover on downs or change of possession
QB spike
Official timeout
Penalties
Games will end in a tie unless it is playoffs. Tiebreakers will be first to score. If the team with the ball first scores on the first drive, the opposing team will then have redemption.
All referee calls are final. Only captains may address the referees on the explanation of calls.
Playing
All teams must have seven players on the field
Kickoff/Punt:
Kicking Team:
The kicking team lines up in its end zone and the referee gives a signal to start the play. The “kicker” may either punt, place kick, or throw the ball and must kickoff from inside his/her end zone.
The kicking team may not leave the end zone until the ball is either kicked or released from the kicker’s hands.
If the kick goes out of bounds before midfield, it’s spotted where it went out of bounds. If a kick goes out of bounds after midfield, it’s spotted at the last cone the ball passed before going out of bounds (either the midfield or down marker).
A punt must be kicked
Receiving Team:
The receiving team must line up on their respective half of the field. No player is permitted pass midfield on the receiving team prior to the kickoff. The ball may be fielded out of the air, cleanly off a bounce, or off any part of another player’s body without hitting the ground. Any “muffed” or failed attempt to field a kickoff that results in the ball hitting the ground after touching the player will be ruled down at the spot of the touch.
Once a player from the receiving team begins advancing the ball, all players in front of the ball carrier must stop moving immediately (this is to avoid any attempt at blocking).
Offense:
The playing field is broken down into three equal size zones with end zones. Each zone is marked with a cone of a similar color. These cones signify first downs.
Offense must have a center (who must be directly in front of the QB) and a QB at the start of each play.
The center must snap the ball from the ground. The snapper is an ineligible receiver.
The three-man line and linemen can release whenever they want.
The Snapper cannot release.
Linemen cannot make contact or impede the progress of a rusher.
A legal catch is a ball thrown from behind the line of scrimmage to a player who establishes control of the ball while having two feet in bounds.
You may have players in motion in the backfield, however if players on the line are not set at the snap that will be offside.
There will be no flag guarding
Any ball carrier may not leave their feet or jump in an attempt to avoid having their flag pulled, this will result in flag guarding.
Spinning and side stepping are acceptable.
Any fumble will be a dead ball.
We suggest that the last person to complete a play as a receiver or rusher to be the snapper for the following play to incorporate as many players as possible.
Defense:
Doing its best to avoid contact, the defense can cover the offensive team as it sees fit; however, no defensive player may cross the line of scrimmage until:
There is a completion of the referee’s two second “Mississippi” count
There is a hand-off or lateral/toss in the backfield
Defensive “rusher”
The defense may line up any way it sees fit, with one exception. For each play (that is not a punt or kickoff) the defense must have a player as the “rusher” no more than three yards from the line of scrimmage at the snap and until the end of the two second count.
A team must designate a “rusher” each play and the “rusher” must be over the snapper. The rush can move left or right before crossing the line of scrimmage.
Scoring:
A touchdown is scored when the ball breaks the plane.
Extra points:
One-point conversion: a run or pass play that crosses the goal line from the 5 yard line.
Two point conversion: a run or pass play that crosses the goal line from the 10 yard line.
Penalties
Offense penalties:
Unsportsmanlike conduct – Any intentional act with the ability to injure, as well as arguing, taunting, harassing, or anything considered an act of aggression towards another person, referee, or any other individual.
15 yards from previous spot and automatic first down if penalty is on the defense.
If the same player makes two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in one game they will be ejected from that game. Physical altercations will result in ejections from the game.
Delay of game – Any attempt by a player to prevent play, including but not limited to, failure to snap the ball before the 25 second play-clock expires, moving a ball out of bounds, and preventing the referee from setting the ball, among others.
5 yard penalty and replay current down.
Illegal contact – Contact by an offensive player with a defender, prior to the ball being thrown, that prevents the defender from covering the receiver.
10 yard penalty from the line of scrimmage and replay down.
Offensive pass interference – Contact by an offensive player while the ball is in the air that prevents a defensive player from possibly catching the pass and or maintaining their current position.
10 yard penalty from the line of scrimmage and replay of down.
Flag guarding– A ball carrier’s hands or arms prevents a defensive player from grabbing his/her flag:
5 yard penalty from the spot of the infraction.
Illegal forward pass – Quarterback’s entire body crosses the line of scrimmage before releasing a forward pass.
5 yards from the previous line of scrimmage.
Offside – Offensive player lined up across the line of scrimmage prior to the snap.
5 yards from line of scrimmage and replay down.
Offside on kickoff – Crossing the end zone line before the ball.
5 yard penalty, assessed at the end of the return. No option to re-kick is given to the receiving team.
Defensive penalties:
Illegal contact – Contact by a defensive player against an offensive player:
10 yard penalty and automatic first down—can be declined by the offense.
Defensive pass interference – Contact by a defensive player while the ball is in the air that prevents an offensive player from possibly catching a pass.
15 yards from the previous line of scrimmage and automatic first down.
If the previous spot is inside 15 yards, the resulting enforcement spot will be half the distance to the goal.
Offside / Encroachment– Any defensive player:
5 yard penalty and replay down. Play is allowed to continue (on offside play only) and offense may elect to accept or decline. The play is blown dead if encroachment
Offside on kickoff – Crossing midfield before the ball is kicked/thrown.
