Rules

Rules - Grades 2nd & Up

I. Game

• At the start of each game, captains from both teams shall meet at midfield for the coin toss to determine who shall start with the ball. The visiting team shall call the toss.

• The winner of the coin toss gets first offense possession. The loser of the coin toss chooses the end zone it would prefer to defend. Teams may not choose to defer to second half choice.

• The offensive team takes possession of the ball at its 5-yard line and has three (3) plays to cross midfield. Once a team crosses Midfield, it has three (3) plays to score a touchdown.

• 2nd grade Division Only: each team has (4) plays to cross midfield and then (4) plays to score a touchdown.

• If the offense fails to score, the ball changes possession and the new offensive team takes over on its 5-yard line.

• If the offensive team fails to cross midfield, possession of the ball changes and the opposition starts its drive from its 5-yard line.

• All possession changes, except interceptions, start on the offense’s 5-yard line.

• Teams change sides after the first half. Possession changes to the loser of the coin toss.

II. Terminology

• Boundary lines – the outer perimeter lines around the field. They include the sidelines, and the rear end zone lines.

• Line Of Scrimmage – an imaginary line running through the point of the football and across the width of the field.

• Line-To-Gain – the line the offense must pass to get a first down or score.

• Rush Line – an imaginary line running across the width of the field 7 yards (into the defensive side) .from the Line of Scrimmage.

• Offense – the squad with possession of the ball.

• Defense – the squad opposing the offense to prevent them from advancing the ball.

• Passer – the offensive player that throws the ball and may or may not be the QB.

• Rusher – the defensive player assigned to rush the Quarterback to prevent him/her from passing .by pulling his/her flags or blocking the pass.

• Downs (1-2-3, (4) in the second grade – the offensive squad has three or (4) attempts or “Downs” to advance the ball. They must cross the Line to Gain to get another set of downs or to score.

• Live Ball – the period of time that the play is in action. Generally used in regards to penalties, Live Ball Penalties are considered part of the play and must be enforced before the down is considered complete.

• Dead Ball – the period of time immediately before or after a play.

• Whistle – the sound made by an official using a whistle that signifies the end of the play or a stop in the action for timeout, half time or the end of the game.

• Inadvertent whistle – an official’s whistle that is performed in error.

• Charging – the movement of the ball carrier directly at a defensive player who has established position on the field. This includes lowering the head, making contact with the defender with a shoulder, chest or forearm.

• Flag Guarding – an act by the ball carrier to prevent a defender from pulling the ball carrier’s flags by stiff arm, lowering elbow or head or by blocking access to the runner’s flags with a hand or arm.

• Shovel Pass – a legal pass attempted behind the line of scrimmage by throwing the ball underhand or pushing it towards a receiver in a shot put type manner.

• Lateral – a backwards or sideways toss of the ball by the ball carrier.

• Unsportsmanlike Conduct – rude, confrontational or offensive behavior or language.

III. Field

• No Run Zones are in place to prevent teams from conducting power run plays. While in the No Run Zones (a 5 yard imaginary zone before midfield and before the end zone), teams may not run the ball in any fashion. All plays, including those that begin with a handoff, must be pass plays.

IV. Timing and Overtime

• Games are played on a 30minute continuous clock. The clock only stops on timeouts and each team has one 60-second time out per half

• Halftime is 5 minutes long.

• Each time the ball is spotted, a team has 30 seconds to snap the ball. Teams will receive one warning before a delay-of-game penalty is enforced.

• Officials can stop the clock at their discretion.

• In the event of an injury the clock will stop and then restart when the injured player is removed from the field of play.

• If the score is tied at the end of 70 minutes, the game is a TIE.

V. Scoring

• Touchdown: 6 points

• PAT (Point After Touchdown): 1 point (5-yard line) or 2 points (12-yard line). Note: 1 point PAT is pass only, 2 point PAT can be run or pass.

• Safety: 2 points
  A Safety occurs when the ball carrier is declared down in his/her own end zone. They can be called down when their flags are pulledby a defensive player, their flag falls out, they step out of bounds or they hit the ground with their knee or arm. A Safety also occurswhen there is an offensive penalty in the end zone.

• A team that scores a touchdown must declare whether it wishes to attempt a 1-pt. conversion (from the 5-yard line) or a 2-pt. conversion(from the 12-yard line). Any change, once a decision is made to try for the extra point, requires a charged time out.

  Decision cannot be changed after a penalty. Interceptions on conversions cannot be returned.

• Mercy Rule: After one team is winning by twenty one points or more, the losing team gets as many offensive series as necessary to get the deficit to 14 points or below provided they score a touchdown on each series. If they fail to score on the first series or down by 28 points and fail to score a TD on their second series the ball goes over to the team in the lead.

VI. Coaches

• Coaches are allowed on the field to direct players.

• Only three coaches per team are allowed on the sidelines.

VII. Live Ball/Dead Ball

• The ball is live at the snap of the ball and remains live until the official whistles the ball dead.

• A player who gains possession in the air is considered in bounds as long as one foot comes down in the field of play.

• The defense may not mimic the offensive team signals, by trying to confuse the offensive players, while the quarterback is calling out signals to start the play.

• Substitutions may be made on any dead ball.

• Any official can whistle the play dead.

• Play is ruled “dead” when:

  • The ball hits the ground.

  • The ball carrier’s flag is pulled.

  • The ball carrier steps out of bounds.

  • A touchdown, PAT or safety is scored.

  • The ball carrier’s knee or arm hits the ground.

  • The ball carrier’s flag falls out.

  • The receiver catches the ball while in possession of one flag.

  • The 7 second pass clock expires.

  • An inadvertent whistle is performed (at the spot where the ball was whistled dead).

• In the case of an inadvertent whistle, the offense has two options:

  • Take the ball where the whistle blew.

  • Replay the down from the original line of scrimmage.

• Note: There are no fumbles. The ball is spotted where the ball hits the ground.

VIII. Running

• The ball is spotted where the runner’s feet are when the flag is pulled, not where the ball carrier has the ball. If one foot precedes the other, the forward foot marks the spot.

• The quarterback cannot directly run with the ball.

• Laterals or pitches or direct handoffs from the OB are only permitted behind the line of scrimmage. Offense may use multiple handoffs.

• “No-Run Zones,” located 5 yards before each end zone and 5 yards on either side of midfield, are designed to avoid short-yardage, power-running situations. Teams are not permitted to run in these zones

• The player who takes the handoff can throw the ball from behind the line of scrimmage.

• Once the ball has been handed off in front or behind the quarterback, all defensive players are eligible to rush.

• Runners may not leave their feet to advance the ball. Diving, leaping or jumping is considered flag guarding.

• Spinning is allowed, but players cannot leave their feet to avoid a flag pull.

• Runners may leave their feet if there is a clear indication that he/she has done so to avoid collision with another player without a flag guarding penalty enforced.

• No blocking or “screening” is allowed at any time.

• Offensive players must stop their motion once the ball has crossed the line of scrimmage. No running with the ball carrier.

• Flag Obstruction – All jerseys MUST be tucked in before play begins. The flags must be on the player’s hips and free from obstruction. Deliberately obstructed flags will be considered flag guarding.

IX. Passing

• All passes must be from behind the line of scrimmage, thrown forward and received beyond the line of scrimmage.

X. Receiving

• All players are eligible to receive passes (including the quarterback if the ball has been handed off behind the line).

• A player must have at least one foot inbounds when making a reception.

• In the case of simultaneous possession by both an offensive and defensive player, possession is awarded to the offense.

• Interceptions change the possession of the ball at the point of interception. Interceptions are the only changes of possession that do not start on the 5-yard line.

• Interceptions are returnable, but not on conversions after touchdowns.

XI. Rushing the Passer

• Once the ball is handed off, the seven-yard rule no longer is in effect and all defenders may go behind the line of scrimmage.

• A special marker, or the referee, will designate a Rush Line seven yards from the line of scrimmage. Defensive players should verify they are in the correct position with the official on every play.
  • A legal rush is:
    • In the 2nd grade from a point (7) yards from the line of scrimmage
    • In the 3rd/4th grade from a point (10) yards from the line of scrimmage
    • In the 5th/6th grade from a point (12) yards from the line of scrimmage
    • Senior Division from a point (15) yards from the line of scrimmage
    • A rush from anywhere on the field AFTER the ball has been handed off by the quarterback.
    • If a rusher leaves the rush line early, they may return to the rush line, reset and then legally rush the quarterback.
    • If a rusher leaves the rush line early and the ball is handed off before they cross the line of scrimmage, they may legally rush the quarterback.
      
  • A penalty may be called if:
    
    • The rusher leaves the rush line before the snap and crosses the line of scrimmage before a handoff or pass – Illegal Rush (5 yards LOS and first down).
    • Any defensive player crosses the line of scrimmage before the ball is snapped – Offsides (5 yards LOS and first down).
    • Any defensive player, not lined up at the rush line crosses the line of scrimmage before the ball is passed or handed – Illegal Rush (5 yards LOS and first down).
  • Special Circumstances:
    
    • The Defense is NOT required to rush the QB however if they do send a rusher, the rusher must check in with the official.
    • If rusher leaves the appropriate rushing line before the snap, he/she may immediately drop back to act as a defender with no offside penalty enforced.
• Players rushing the Quarterback may attempt to block a pass. However, NO contact can be made with the quarterback in any way.
• Offense cannot impede the rusher in any way. The rusher has a CLEAR PATH to the QB and any interference that would impede his/her path to the QB will be considered screening. The defense may attempt to block a pass provided they do not strike the passer.
• Blocking the pass and then striking the passer will result in a 10-yard penalty.
• A Sack occurs if the QB’s flags are pulled behind the line of scrimmage. The ball is placed where the QB’s feet are when the flag is pulled.
  • A Safety is awarded if the sack takes place in the offensive team’s end zone.

XII. Flag Pulling

• A legal flag pull takes place when the ball carrier is in full possession of the ball.

• Defenders can dive to pull flags, but cannot tackle, hold or run through ball carrier when pulling flags.

• It is illegal to attempt to strip or pull the ball or pull from the ball carrier’s possession at any time.

• If a player’s flag inadvertently falls off during the play, the player is down immediately upon possession of the ball and the play ends.

• A defensive player may not intentionally pull the flags off of a player who is not in possession of the ball.

• Flag guarding is an attempt by the ball carrier to obstruct the defender’s access to the flags by stiff arming, dropping of head, hand, arm or shoulder, or intentionally covering flags with the football or jersey.

XIII. Formations

• An offensive team must have a minimum of one player on the line of scrimmage (the Center) and up to four players on the line of scrimmage.

• The quarterback must be off the line of scrimmage.

• The center must snap the ball with a rapid and continuous motion between his/her legs to a player in the backfield, and the ball must completely leave his/her hands.

XIV. Unsportsmanlike Conduct

• If the referee witnesses any acts of intentional tackling, elbowing, cheap shots, blocking, or any unsportsmanlike act, the game will be stopped and the player will be ejected from the game. The decision is made at the referee’s discretion. .No appeals! FOUL PLAY WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.

• Offensive or confrontational language is illegal. Officials have the right to determine offensive language. If offensive or confrontational language occurs, the referee will give one warning. If it continues, the player or players will be ejected from the game.

• Players may not physically or verbally abuse any opponent or official.

• Ball carriers MUST make an effort to avoid defenders with an established position.

• Defenders are not allowed to run through the ball carrier when pulling flags.

XV. Penalties

General

• The referee will call all penalties.

• Referees determine incidental contact that may result from normal run of play.

• All penalties will be assessed from the line of scrimmage, except as noted (spot fouls).

• Only the head coach may ask the referee questions about rule clarification and interpretations. Players cannot question judgment calls.

• Games cannot end on a defensive penalty, unless the offense declines it.

• Penalties are assessed Live Ball then Dead Ball. Live Ball penalties must be assessed before play is considered completed.

• Penalties will be assessed half the distance to the goal yardage when the penalty yardage is more than half the distance to the goal.

5 Yard Penalties

• Offside
• Offensive pass interference (illegal pick play, pushing off/away defender)
• Screening, Blocking or Running with the ball carrier
• Defense Illegal contact (holding, blocking, etc.)
• Defense Illegal flag pull (before receiver has ball)
• Defense Illegal rushing (starting rush from inside 7-yard marker)

10 Yard Penalties

• Roughing the passer
• Taunting
• Unsportsmanlike conduct

Spot Fouls

• Flag guarding: 10 yards & loss of down
• Charging: 10 yards & loss of down
• Defensive Pass Interference: first down
• STRIPPING: 10 yards & first down
• Offensive Unnecessary Roughness: 10 yards & loss of down
• Screening, Blocking or Running with the ball carrier: 5 yards & loss of down
• Defensive Unnecessary Roughness: 10 yards & first down

Defense

• Offside: 5 yards from the LOS & automatic first down
• Illegal contact (Holding, blocking, etc.): 5 yards from the LOS & automatic first down
• Illegal flag pull (Before receiver has ball): 5 yards from the LOS & automatic first down
• Illegal rushing (Starting rush from inside 7-yard marker): 5 yards from the LOS & automatic first down
• Roughing the passer: 10 yards from the LOS & first down
• Taunting: 10 yards from the LOS & first down
• Unnecessary Roughness: Spot foul, 10 yards & first down
• Stripping: Spot foul, 10 yards & first down
• Defensive Pass Interference: Spot foul & first down

Offense

• Offensive pass interference (Illegal pick play, pushing off/away defender): 5 yards from the LOS & loss of down
• Flag guarding: Spot foul, 10 yards & loss of down
• Screening, Blocking or Running with the ball carrier: Spot foul, 5 yards & loss of down
• Charging: Spot foul, 10 yards & loss of down
• Offensive Unnecessary Roughness: Spot foul, 10 yards & loss of down
• Offside: 5 yards from the LOS & loss of dow