TABLEOFCONTENTS

Game...... 3

Terminology...... 4

Eligibility...... 5

Equipment...... 5

Field...... 6

Rosters...... 6

Timing and Overtime...... 7

Scoring...... 8

Coaches...... 8

LiveBall/DeadBall...... 9

Running...... 10

Passing...... 11

Receiving...... 11

Rushing the Passer...... 12

Flag Pulling...... 13

Formations...... 14

Unsportsmanlike Conduct...... 14

Penalties...... 15

RULES

1.Atthestartofeachgame,captainsfrombothteamsshallmeetatmidfieldforthecointosstodeterminewhoshallstartwiththeball.Thevisitingteamshallcallthetoss.

2.Thewinnerofthecointosshasthechoiceofoffenseordefenseandtheloserofthecointosshas thechoiceofdirection.

3.Theoffensiveteamtakespossessionoftheballatits5-yardlineandhasfour(4)playstocrossmidfield.Onceateamcrossesmidfield,theyhavefour(4)playstoscoreatouchdown. The team has the option on 4th down to punt or attempt a conversion. If the team fails to convert, the defense takes over on downs at the spot.

4.Iftheoffensefailstoscore,theballchangespossessionandthenewoffensiveteamstartsitsdriveonitsown5-yardline.

5.Iftheoffensiveteamfailstocrossmidfield,possessionoftheballchangesandtheoppositionstartsitsdrivefromitsown5-yardline.

6.Allpossessionchanges,exceptinterceptions,startontheoffense’s5-yardline.

7.Teamschangesidesafterthefirsthalf.Possessionchangestotheteamthatstartedthegameondefense.

Boundary Linestheouterperimeterlinesaroundthefield.Theyincludethesidelines,andbackoftheendzonelines.

LineOfScrimmage(LOS)animaginarylinerunningthroughthepointofthefootballandacrossthewidthofthefield.

Line-To-Gainthelinetheoffensemustpasstogetafirstdownorscore.

Offensethesquadwithpossessionoftheball.

Passertheoffensiveplayerthatthrowstheballandmayormaynotbethequarterback.

Downs(1-2-3-4)theoffensivesquadhasfourattemptsor“downs”toadvancetheball.Theymustcrossthelinetogaintogetanothersetofdownsortoscore.

DeadBallreferstotheperiodoftimeimmediatelybeforeorafteraplay.

Inadvertent Whistleofficial’swhistlethatisperformedinerror.

Charging themovementoftheballcarrierdirectlyatadefensiveplayerwhohasestablishedpositiononthefield.Thisincludesloweringthehead,makingcontactwiththedefenderwithashoulder,forearm,orthechest.

FlagGuardinganactbytheballcarriertopreventadefenderfrompullingtheballcarrier’sflagsbystiffarm,loweringelboworhead,or byblockingaccesstotherunner’sflagswithahandorarm.

Lateralabackwardsorsidewaystossoftheballbytheballcarrier.

1.Allplayers’legalguardiansmustagreetotheonlinewaiverformatNFLFLAG.comfortheirspecificleaguebeforeparticipating.

1.TheleagueprovideseachplayerwithaflagbeltandNFLFLAGpoweredbyUSAFootballNFLjersey.Teamswillusethefootballprovidedbytheirleague.

2.Playersmustwearshoes.Footballcleatsareencouraged;howevercleatswithexposedmetalarenotallowedandmustberemoved.

3.Playersmaytapetheirforearms,handsandfingers.Playersmayweargloves,elbowpads,andkneepads.Braceswithexposedmetalsarenotallowed.

4.Playersmustremoveallwatches,earringsandanyotherjewelrythattheofficialsdeemhazardous. ThisincludessunglassesunlessitisprescribedbyanOphthalmologist.

5.OfficialNFLFLAGpoweredbyUSAFootballNFLjerseysmustbewornduringplay.

6.Players’jerseysmustbetuckedintothepantsiftheyhangbelowthebeltline.

7.Pantsorshortswithbeltloopsorpocketsmustbetaped.

1.Thefielddimensionsare30yardsby70yardswithtwo10-yardendzones,andamidfieldline-to-gain. No-Run Zones precede each line-to-gain by 5 yards (DOES NOT APPLY FOR AGES 6/7 AND BELOW)

2.Steppingontheboundarylineisconsideredoutofbounds.

3.Each offensive squad approaches only TWO No-Run Zones in each drive (one zone 5 yards from midfield to gain the first down, and one zone 5 yards from the goal line to score a TD) 6/7 AGE GROUPS AND BELOW DOES NOT APPLY

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30YARDS

1.Hometeamsweardarkcolorjerseys;visitingteamswearlightcolorjerseys.

2.Teamsmustconsistofatleastfiveplayers,withamaximumoftenplayers.

3.Teamsmuststartagamewithaminimumoffiveplayers.Intheeventofaninjury,ateamwithinsufficientsubstituteplayersmayplaywithfiveplayersonthefield,butnofewerthanfive.

1.Gamesareplayedona40minutecontinuousclockwithtwotwentyminutehalves.Theclockstopsonlyfortimeouts.

2.Halftimeisthreeminuteslong.

3.Eachtimetheballisspotted,ateamhas40secondstosnaptheball.Teamswillreceiveonewarningbeforeadelay-of-gamepenaltyisenforced.

4.Eachteamhasone60-secondtimeoutsperhalf.

5.Officialscanstoptheclockattheirdiscretion.

6.Intheeventofaninjurytheclockwillstopandthenrestartwhentheinjuredplayerisremovedfromthefieldofplay.

7.Ifthescoreistiedattheendof40minutes,thegameshouldbedeterminedatie.(However,someleaguesmaydecidetoinstituteanovertimeperiod).

8.Intournamentorplayoffsituations,anovertime(OT)Periodwillbeusedtodetermineawinner.OTformatisasfollows:

a.Eachteamisallowedminimum of onepossession. The only exception is if the first offensive team throws an interception and that team then scores.

i.Firstpossessionchoicegoestothewinnerofregulationcointoss.

b.Allregulationperiodrulesandpenaltiesareineffect.

c.Therearenotime-outs.

d.If both teams score touchdowns and complete the same amount of points in conversions, the process is repeated.

e.Change of Possession

i.Change of possession takes place when Team A’s forward progress is halted on downs or scores a touchdown.

ii.Team B takes possession on the same 5 yard line as Team A and advances in the same direction. Team B begins on the 5 yard line regardless of whether or not Team A’s possession ended in an interception.

f.Multiple OT periods:

i.FirstOTperiod

1.Scoringteamscangofor1or2pointPAT.

ii.SecondOTPeriod:

1.First possession goes to loser of regulation coin toss.

2.Scoring teams must go for 2-point PAT.

1.Touchdown:6points

2.PAT(PointAfterTouchdown)1point(2-yardline)or2points(5-yardline)

3.Safety:2points

a.ASafetyoccurswhentheballcarrierisdeclareddowninhis/herownendzone.Theycanbecalleddownwhentheirflagsarepulledbyadefensiveplayer,theirflagfallsout,theystepoutofboundsortheyhitthegroundwiththeirkneeorarm.ASafetyalsooccurswhenthereisanoffensivepenaltyintheendzone.

4.MercyRule:Afteroneteamiswinningbytwentyeightpointsormore,thelosingteamgetsoneoffensiveseriestocontinueregulationplay.Afterthetenminutemarkinthesecondhalf,thegameisover.

5.Official game scores are not kept at age 7 and below.

1.Coachesaretypicallyvolunteerparentsorfamilymembershelpingtheplayerslearnandenjoythegame.Parentsareencouragedtosupportthecoachatalltimes.

1.Theballisliveatthesnapoftheballandremainsliveuntiltheofficialwhistlestheballdead.

2.Theofficialwillindicatetheneutralzoneandlineofscrimmage.Itisanautomaticdeadballfoulifanyplayerondefenseoroffenseenterstheneutralzone.Inregardtotheneutralzone,theofficialmaygivebothteamsa“courtesy”neutralzonenotificationtoallowtheirplayerstomovebackbehindthelineofscrimmage.

3.Aplayerwhogainspossessionintheairisconsideredinboundsaslongasonefootcomesdowninthefieldofplay.

4.Thedefensemaynotmimictheoffensiveteamsignals,bytryingtoconfusetheoffensiveplayers,whilethequarterbackiscallingoutsignalstostarttheplay.Thiswillresultinanunsportsmanlike penalty.

5.Substitutionsmaybemadeonanydeadball.

6.Anyofficialcanwhistletheplaydead.7.Playisruled“dead”when:

a.Theballhitstheground.

b.Theballcarrier’sflagispulled.

c.Theballcarrierstepsoutofbounds.d.Atouchdown,PATorsafetyisscored.

e.Theballcarrier’skneeorarmhitstheground.f.Theballcarrier’sflagfallsout.

g.Thereceivercatchestheballwhileinpossessionofoneornoflag(s).

h.Inadvertent whistle.

NOTE:Therearenofumbles.Theballisspottedwhere theballcarrier’sfeetwereatthetimeofthefumble.

8.Inthecaseofaninadvertentwhistle,theoffensehastwooptions:

a.Taketheballwhereitwaswhenthewhistleblewandthedownisconsumed.

b.Replaythedownfromtheoriginallineofscrimmage.

9.Ateamisallowedtouseatimeouttoquestionanofficial’sruleinterpretation.Iftheofficial’srulingiscorrect,theteamwillbechargedatimeout.Iftheruleisinterpretedincorrectly,thetimeoutwillnotbechargedandtheproperrulingwillbeenforced.Officialsshouldallagreeuponanycontroversialcallinordertogiveeachteamthefullbenefitofeachcall.

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1.Theballisspottedwheretherunner’sfeetarewhentheflagispulled,notwheretheballcarrierhastheball.

2.Thequarterbackcannotdirectlyrunwiththeball.Thequarterbackdoeshavetheabilitytoscrambleinthebackfield,butcannotadvancetheballbeyondthelineofscrimmage.Thequarterbackistheoffensiveplayerthatreceivesthesnap.

3.“CenterSneak”play–Theballmustcompletelyleavethecenter’shandsonthesnapandhe/shemuststepbackwardsoffthelineofscrimmageinordertoreceiveadirecthandofffromtheQBbeforeadvancingtheball.

4.Theplayerwhotakesthehandoffcanthrowtheballfrombehindthelineofscrimmage.

5.Runnersmaynotleavetheirfeettoadvancetheball.Diving,leaping,orjumpingtoavoidaflagpullisconsideredflagguarding.

6.Spinningisallowed,butplayersmaynotleavetheirfeettoavoidaflagpull.

7.Runnersmayleavetheirfeetifthereisaclearindicationthathe/shehasdonesotoavoidcollisionwithanotherplayerwithoutaflagguardingpenaltyenforced.

8.FlagObstruction–AlljerseysMUSTbetuckedinbeforeplaybegins.Theflagsmustbeontheplayer’shipsandfreefrom obstruction. Deliberately obstructed flags willbeconsideredflagguarding.

9.Absolutely No Laterals or pitches of any kind.

1.Allpassesmustbefrombehindthelineofscrimmage,thrownforwardandreceivedbeyondthelinescrimmage.

2.Shovelpassesareallowed

1.Allplayersareeligibletoreceivepasses(includingthequarterback,iftheballhasbeenhandedoffbehindthelineofscrimmage).

2.Onlyoneplayerisallowedinmotionatatime.Allmotionmustbeparalleltothelineofscrimmageandnomotionispermittedtowardsthelineofscrimmage.

3.Aplayermusthavealeastonefootinboundswhenmakingareception.

4.Inthecaseofsimultaneouspossessionbybothanoffensiveanddefensiveplayer,possessionisawardedtotheoffense.

5.Interceptionsarereturnable;onextrapointconversions,interceptionfortouchdownis2pointstothedefense.

1.All players who rush the passer must be a minimum of seven yards from the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped. Any number of players can rush the quarterback. Players not rushing the quarterback may defend on the line of scrimmage.

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

3.A special marker, or the referee, will designate a Rush Line of seven yards from the line of the scrimmage.

4.Alegalrushis:

i.ArushfromanywhereonthefieldAFTERtheballhasbeensnappedbythecenter.

ii.Any rush from a point of 7 yards from the defensive line of scrimmage.

iii.If a rusher leaves the rush line early and the ball is handed off before they cross the line of scrimmage, they may be legally rush the quarterback.

5.Apenaltymaybecalledif:

i.Anydefensiveplayercrossesthelineofscrimmagebeforetheballissnapped–Offside(5yardsLOSS).

ii.The rusher leaves the rush line before the snap crosses the line of scrimmage before a handoff or pass – Illegal Rush ( 5 yard Loss and first down)

iii.Any defensive player, not lined up at the rush line crosses the line of scrimmage before the ball is passed or handed off – Illegal Rush ( 5 yard loss and first down)

6.Playersrushingthequarterbackmayattempttoblockapass;however,Intentionalcontactcannotbemadewiththequarterback.Blockingthepassorattemptingtoblockthepassandthenmakingcontactwiththepasserwillresultinaroughingthepasserpenalty.

7.Asackoccursifthequarterback’sflagsarepulledbehindthelineofscrimmage.Theballisplacedwherethequarterback’sfeetarewhenflagispulled.

a.ASafetyisawardedifthesacktakesplaceintheoffensiveteam’sendzone.

iXV.FlagPulling

1.Alegalflagpulltakesplacewhentheballcarrierisinfullpossessionoftheball.

2.Defenderscandivetopullflags,butcannottackle,holdorrunthroughtheballcarrierwhenpullingflags.

3.Itisillegaltoattempttostriporpulltheballfromtheballcarrier’spossessionatanytime.

4.Ifaplayer’sflaginadvertentlyfallsoffduringtheplay,theplayerisdownimmediatelyuponpossessionoftheballandtheplayends.

5.Adefensiveplayermaynotintentionallypulltheflagsoffofaplayerwhoisnotinpossessionoftheball.

6.Flagguardingisanattemptbytheballcarriertoobstructthedefender’saccesstotheflagsbystiffarming,droppingthehead,hand,armorshoulder,or

intentionallycoveringtheflagswiththefootballjersey.

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1.Offensemusthaveaminimumofoneplayeronthelineofscrimmage(thecenter)anduptofiveplayersonthelineofscrimmage.Thequarterbackmustbeoffthelineofscrimmage.

a.Oneplayeratatimemaygoinmotion1-yardbehindandparalleltothelineofscrimmage.

b.Nomotionisallowedtowardsthelineofscrimmage.

2.Movementbyaplayerwhoissetoraplayerwhorunstowardthelineofscrimmagewhileinmotionisconsideredafalsestart.

3.Thecentermustsnaptheballwitharapidandcontinuousmotionbetweenhis/herlegstoaplayerinthebackfield,andtheballmustcompletelyleavehis/herhands.

a.ThereisanexceptioninthePeeWeeDivisionwherecentersareallowedtosnaptheballfromhis/herside.

1.Ifthefieldmonitororrefereewitnessesanyactsofintentionaltackling,elbowing,cheapshots,blockingoranyunsportsmanlikeact,thegamewillbestoppedandtheplayerwillbeejectedfromthegame.Thedecisionismadeatthereferee’sdiscretion.Noappealswillbeconsidered.FOULPLAYWILLNOTBETOLERATED!

2.Offensiveorconfrontationallanguageisillegal.Officialshavetherighttodetermineoffensivelanguage.Ifoffensiveorconfrontationallanguageoccurs,therefereewillgiveonewarning.Ifitcontinues,theplayerorplayerswillbeejectedfromthegame.

3.Playersmaynotphysicallyorverballyabuseanyopponent,coachorofficial.

4.BallcarriersMUSTmakeanefforttoavoiddefenderswithanestablishedposition.

5.Defendersarenotallowedtorunthroughtheballcarrierwhenpullingflags.

6.Fansmustalsoadheretogoodsportsmanship,aswell:

a.Yelltocheeronyourplayers,nottoharassofficialsorotherteams.

b.Keepcommentscleanandprofanityfree.

c.ComplimentALLplayers,notjustonechildorteam.

7.Fansarerequiredtokeepfieldssafeandkidsfriendly:

a.Keepyoungerkidsandequipmentsuchascoolers,chairsandtentsaminimumof10yardsoffthefieldintheendzonearea.

b.Stayonthesidelinearea,notbetweenfields.

i.General

1.Therefereewillcallallpenalties.

2.Refereesdetermineincidentalcontactthatmayresultfromnormalrunofplay.

3.Allpenaltieswillbeassessedfromthelineofscrimmage,exceptasnoted.(spotfouls)

4.Onlytheteamcaptainorheadcoachmayasktherefereequestionsaboutruleclarificationandinterpretations.Playersmaynotquestionjudgmentcalls.

5.Gamesmaynotendonadefensivepenalty,unlesstheoffensedeclinesit.

6.Penaltiesareassessedliveballthendeadball.Liveballpenaltiesmustbeassessedbeforeplayisconsideredcomplete.

7.Penaltieswillbeassessedhalfthedistancetothegoalyardagewhenthepenaltyyardageismorethanhalfthedistancetothegoal.

ii.SpotFouls

DefensivePassInterference / AutomaticFirstDown
Holding / AutomaticFirstDown
Stripping / +10yardsAutomaticFirstDown
DefensiveUnnecessaryRoughness / +10yardsAutomaticFirstDown
Screening,BlockingorRunningwiththeBallCarrier / -5yardsLossofDown
Charging / -10yardsLossofDown
FlagGuarding / -10yardsLossofDown
OffensiveUnnecessaryRoughness / -10yardsLossofDown

iii.DefensivePenalties

Offside / +5yards fromlineofscrimmageAutomaticFirstDown
IllegalRush / +5yards fromlineofscrimmageAutomaticFirstDown
Illegal FlagPull(Beforethereceiver has theball) / +5yards fromlineofscrimmageAutomaticFirstDown
RoughingthePasser / +10yardsfromlineofscrimmageAutomaticFirstDown
Taunting / +10yardsfromlineofscrimmageAutomaticFirstDown
DefensivePassInterference / SPOTFOUL,AutomaticFirstDown
Holding / SPOTFOUL, AutomaticFirstDown
Stripping / SPOTFOUL+10yardsAutomaticFirstDown
DefensiveUnnecessaryRoughness / SPOTFOUL+10yardsAutomaticFirstDown

iv.OffensivePenalties

Offside/FalseStart / -5yardsfromlineofscrimmageLossofDown
IllegalForwardPass
(Passreceivedbehindthelineofscrimmageorthrowingapassbeyondthelineofscrimmage) / -5yardsfromlineofscrimmageLossofDown
OffensivePassInterference / -5yardsfromlineofscrimmageLossofDown
Illegal Motion(Morethanonepersonmoving) / -5yardsfromlineofscrimmageLossofDown
DelayofGame / -5yardsfromlineofscrimmageLossofDown
ImpedingtheRusher / -5yardsfromlineofscrimmageLossofDown
Screening,BlockingorRunningwiththeBallCarrier / -5yardsLossofDown
Charging / SPOTFOUL,-10yardsLossofDown
FlagGuarding / SPOTFOUL,-10yardsLossofDown
OffensiveUnnecessaryRoughness / SPOTFOUL,-10yardsLossofDown