- General Rules -

 Field:

§ Length of the field will be a total of 60 yards, plus two 10-yard end zones

§ The width of the playing field will be 53 yards wide

Game Start:                                     

§ Coin toss with players from each team at mid-field; visiting team calls the toss

§ Winner of toss may choose offense or defense, loser of toss choses direction

§ Direction changes in second half

·   Possession begins at the 20 yard line at start of game, at start of 2^nd half, and after every touchdown scored

·   Home team in charge of running game clock & moving sticks  (4 total Volunteers / game)

Equipment:                                     

§ Players must always wear mouth guards and league-provided helmets

§ K2 size Football

§ Players will wear 2 flags in games (1 on each side); No flag will be used on players back

 Time:                                                 

§ Two 25-minute halves with running clock; 5 minute half-time

§ Each team has one 30-second timeout per half (clock does not start until snap after timeout)

§ Clock will stop for any injury

§ Huddle time – 45 second play clock - 5 yard penalty from LOS after warning

Scoring:                                            

§ Touchdown = 6 points

§ PAT from 2-yard line = 1 point

§ PAT from 5-yard line = 2 points

§ Safety = 2 points (team scoring the safety, receives ball on their 20)

§ No PATs for a team with a 25 point or greater lead

§ 10 yards = 1^st down

§ Head coaches verify score with one another at halftime and at end of game

§ Winning team head coach reports score to league commissioner

Coaching:

§ 2 defensive coaches and 2 offensive coaches are allowed on field per team.

§ 1 coach is assigned to line play; ensuring proper splits and helping avoid mismatches in lineman abilities

- Offense -                        

 Positions:                                         

·   1 Center / 2 Guards

Splits can be no wider than fingertip-to-fingertip from the outstretched arm of the offensive lineman next to them / (Center & Guards are not eligible receivers)

·   2 Tight Ends

1 on each side of line.  Splits can be no wider than fingertip-to-fingertip from the outstretched arm of the offensive lineman next to them

·   Tights Ends are eligible receivers or may stay and block.  If running a route, TE’s may chip block. 

·   1 QB

·   3 additional eligible WR’s / RB’s

None of these players can line up on the line of scrimmage as lineman

 Ball Carrying:

§ There are no fumbles.  The ball is spotted where the fumble occurs.

§ If the ball carrier falls down, the ball is dead at the spot.

§ If a ball carrier loses a flag from their belt, the ball will be spotted at the spot where the flag dropped.

§ Running plays through the “A” gap (to the immediate left or right of the center) are not allowed

§ NO “stiff arms” allowed

Ball Snaps:    

§ The ball must be snapped between the legs, not off to one side, to start play.

§ One dropped snap per offensive possession will be allowed without the loss of down.  This includes bad shotgun snaps.  Any additional bad snap per offensive possession will result in a loss of down from the original line of scrimmage 4^th down:                                         

·   No kicks of any kind allowed

·   If offense fails to make a 1st down within their first three downs, they may declare a punt on 4th down.  In this case the ball is placed fifteen yards from the line of scrimmage (as if a punt occurred) and possession changes. If the offensive team chooses not to declare a punt on 4th down and they do not make a 1st down, possession changes hands at the spot of 4th down play.

Blocking:

·   Blocking must be with hands placed between defender’s waist and shoulders

·   Block with hands only with body remaining upright (PANCAKES ARE NOT ALLOWED)

 (Center play cont.)

o   On running plays, center may pull down the line of scrimmage or move up field to block;

o   On passing plays, Center must remain at line of scrimmage to block until pass is thrown. 

 - Defense –

Positions:

·   4 defensive linemen (each lined up one yard off the line of scrimmage)

o   Lined up head-up from the opposing offensive lineman/TE

o   No D-lineman can line up over center

·   5 additional defensive players (each lined up at least 2 yards off the line of scrimmage)

 Downing A Player:

·   one flag pulled equals a downed ball carrier

·   when flag is pulled, defensive player must immediately stop and raise flag into the air to help with the spot

·   A player is also considered down if any part of their body other than a hand or foot touches the ground

·   no tackling allowed

Blitzing:

·   The 4 defensive linemen can rush/blitz/pursue the QB at any time and will be considered standard, acceptable line play

·   1 additional defensive player may blitz ON 3^RD AND 4^TH DOWNS ONLY, and from a starting distance of at least 2 yards off the line of scrimmage

·   No blitzing through “A” gaps allowed by anyone at anytime  

 Other Defensive Gameplay:

§ Defense may play man or zone defense or any combination

·   Interceptions may be returned for touchdown or intercepting team will take possession where downed

·   No jamming receivers at the LOS

 - Line Play –

·   All linemen must begin in a 3-point stance

·   Offensive lineman splits can be no wider than fingertip-to-fingertip from their outstretched arms

·   Defensive lineman must line up 1 yard off the line of scrimmage.  ALL OTHER DEFENSIVE PLAYERS MUST BE AT LEAST 2 YARDS OFF THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE. 

·   Coaches are responsible for avoiding mismatches. 

·   No moving around your biggest lineman to attempt a mismatch

·   Offensive line sets first / then D line can adjust to avoid mismatches

- Penalites –

Protocol:

·        Officials will call all penalties

·        Officials may determine if incidental contact occurred (as opposed to penalty)

·        Only coaches may discuss a penalty call with officials

·        Games and halves may not end on a penalty unless the opposing team declines the penalty

·        Penalties will be assessed half the distance to the goal line when the penalty yardage is more than yardage to end zone

·        If official has an inadvertent whistle, offense can decide either:

o   Take ball at the yard line where play was stopped by inadvertent whistle, or

o   Replay the down

·        Coaches are allowed to use a timeout to question an official’s interpretation or assessment of a rule (not the call itself)

o   If official’s ruling or interpretation was correct, team will be charged with the timeout

o   If official’s ruling or interpretation was incorrect, team will not be charged with the timeout

- Other Rules & Clarifications -

Overtime Play:

§ Teams will alternate four plays from the 15-yard line with no first downs

§ Coin toss as start of overtime to determine who will play offense first; alternate team first on offense for each session thereafter

§ For any 3rd overtime and beyond, all PATs must be 2-point attempts from 10-yard line

Misc:

§ Simultaneous possession by both an offensive and defensive player goes to offense

§ Defense may return Interception PAT; 2 points awarded to defense if returned successfully

§ No intentional ball stripping

§ Substitution of players may be made after any dead ball; no extra huddle time or time to snap allotted

§ If 9 players cannot be fielded, teams will play 7v7 with no forfeit. 

o   1 TE and 1 RB/WR will be removed on Offense

o   Conversely, 1 D lineman and another defensive player will be removed

 Standings:

·   Team Standings will be published weekly

·   If 2 teams are tied at the end of the season, tiebreakers are: 1) head-to-head records, 2) points allowed, 3) points scored, 4) coin flip

·   Playoff brackets / seeding will be based on final standings