Field Diagram and General Rules

Rules of the Game

6U & 8U LEAGUES

Field Diagram and General Rules

Total Dimensions:40 yards X 25 yards

End Zones: 5 yards X 25 yards
Net Playing Field: 30 yards X 25 yards
Mid Field Stripe: 15 yards

Offense Starting Point:5 yard line

The offensive team is awarded a first down when it crosses the midfield line.
The offensive team begins the game and second half by taking possession of the ball at its 5-yard line.
All players MUST have shirt tucked in.

Down Format

The offensive team has four plays to gain a first down by crossing midfield. Once a team crosses midfield, it has four plays to score a touchdown.
If the offensive team fails to cross midfield in four downs or score a touchdown, the other team takes possession on its own 5-yard line.

Offensive Starting Points

Start of Game & 2nd Half:Offense’s 5 yard line

Turn Over on Downs: Offense’s 5 yard line

After Interception: At the spot of the interception

Fumble: Possession will not change; spot of the fumble

Game Format

- Game will consist of four 10-minute quarters and an 8-minute half-time.
- There will be a 3-minute break between the 1st & 2nd quarters and a 3-minute break between the 3rd and 4th quarters.
- The clock will remain running during the entire time of play.
- There will be a 30-second play clock after the ball is spotted for play. If a play is not run in time, a delay of game has occurred and a loss of down will occur.
- A team will call the coin toss. The team that wins the coin toss may choose to play offense or defense first. The other team will choose the direction of their offense. The team that plays defense first will play offense to start the 3rd quarter.

- Possession will not change at the end of the 1st and 3rd quarters.

- There will be 5 players on the field at a time for each team.

- 6U ONLY: Coaches will play the quarterback position. The coach can hand off or pass the ball. Only a player can advance the ball beyond the line of scrimmage. In no way can the coach simulate advancement of the ball while the ball is in his possession. The coach cannot move laterally with the ball in his possession.
- Coaches for each team may be in the huddle (offense and defense). Coaches are encouraged to help teams line up and get the play off in time. The Defensive Coach will assist the Referee by placing marker at line of scrimmage. The Referee will spot the ball, begin the 30-second play clock and the 6-second clock for passing plays (see details below under Offense - Passing Plays).

- Coaches on the field cannot have any contact (verbal/physical) with players after the snap.

Playing Time & Substitutions

These guidelines are designed to provide everyone equal playing time and teaching for both offensive and defensive skills.

- No player can sit out more than one possession at a time, unless due to injury.
- Every player must play both offense and defense in every game.
- Every player must start on either offense or defense in every game.
- Coaches should monitor the playing time of each player and make it as even as possible throughout the year.

- Each quarter, a Coach should have an offensive unit for the team and a defensive unit for the team. This group will change or rotate in each quarter and substitutions may occur to ensure equal playing time. 8U ONLY: Helpful Coaching Tip: Make sure there is a player capable of passing on each unit, so as the units rotate each quarter so that the team always has a passer in the game.

*These guidelines are strictly on the honor system and the referees are not expected to monitor or enforce the playing time rules. Abuse of these guidelines could result in corrective action such as the forfeit of a game or other measures to be determined by league staff.

Scoring

Touchdown: 6 points
Safety: 2 points; scoring team will also get possession on its own 5-yd line

Offense

- 5 players on field for each possession.
- Minimum of 3 players must be on the line of scrimmage at every snap.
- The ball must be snapped to begin each play. This can be a traditional under

center snap or a side snap. Side snap must be one motion. Dropping the ball during the snap will be a fumble, loss of down and the ball will be marked at the spot of the fumble. 6U Only – If the Center drops the ball while hiking it to quarterback coach, ball will be re-hiked with no penalty assessed.

- Only one player may be in motion at the time of snap.
- Low-profile cone will be placed by Defensive Coach prior to play to mark the line

of scrimmage.
- "Right of way"
Right of way is given to a moving player and opponents have to avoid contact.
The right of place has more worth than the right of way.

- "Right of place"
Right of place is given to a standing player and opponents have to avoid contact. Standing means to remain at the spot and not moving in any direction, to make a move or jump for throwing or catching a pass at this spot does not give up the right of place.
- If these are broken, it's considered Illegal Contact: 10 yards from spot of foul.

Running Plays

- The quarterback is not allowed to run the ball across the line of scrimmage (must hand-off or pass the ball). Option plays are not permitted.
- Direct hand-offs or pitches behind the line of scrimmage are permitted. Multiple exchanges behind the line of scrimmage are also permitted. However, once the ball crosses the line of scrimmage, hand-offs and laterals of any kind are not permitted.

- No “quick hand-offs to the Center are permitted. The Center can receive the ball on a pass OR the Center can snap the ball and step back into the backfield; then he would be eligible to receive a hand-off.

- The player receiving the hand-off or pitch may pass the ball (half-back pass) from behind the line of scrimmage.
- A ball carrier may not dive. A dive will be a penalty (see details below under Penalties).

- The ball carrier’s feet determine the spot of the football when a flag is pulled, not the location of the football.
- Blocking – other players may block for the ball carrier; offensive player cannot initiate contact with defense; blocking is a non-contact move that must occur with hands at player’s side; this is like a moving screen or shield.

Passing Plays

- All 5 players on the field are eligible receivers. Quarterback becomes eligible after a direct hand-off or pitch. (Exception: 6U Only – Once quarterback coach has handed off the ball, he is not allowed to handle the ball again during the play.)
- Completion requires receiver to gain control of the football with at least one foot in bounds. Receiver may advance the ball upon making reception.

- If the receiver catches the ball with their knee(s) in contact with the ground or while seated, the reception is valid; the play is dead (ball may not be advanced) and the ball will be spotted at the point of the catch.
- The quarterback has 6 seconds to pass the ball. If a pass is not thrown within 6 seconds, it will be treated as an incomplete pass and a loss of down.

Dead Balls or End of Play

- Ball carrier’s flag is removed (pulled or falls off)

- Ball carrier steps out of bounds
- Ball carrier’s knee touches the ground

- Touchdown or Safety is scored

- Incomplete pass
- Point of an interception

- Point of a fumble

Defense

- Defensive teams may play man-to-man or zone defense.
- Interceptions may not be returned. Change of possession will occur at the point of the interception.
- "Right of way", “Right of place”
*See Offense above for explanation

Defensive Running Plays

As soon as the quarterback hands the ball off or pitches the ball, the defense may cross the line of scrimmage to pursue the ball carrier.

Defensive Passing Plays

The defense is not allowed to cross the line of scrimmage.

Penalties

6U ONLY - Coaches for either team may call a penalty and are encouraged to work together to teach the players – use these as teaching moments!

8U ONLY - Referee will call all penalties.

If any penalty results in yardage placing the ball in either end zone, then the penalty will be half the distance to the goal.

DEFENSIVE

- Illegal Rushing – Defensive player(s) cross the line of scrimmage during the 6-second pass count. 5 yards from line of scrimmage and replay of down.

- Encroachment – Defensive player(s) cross the line of scrimmage before the snap of the ball. 5 yards from line of scrimmage and replay of down.
- Pass Interference – 10 yards from line of scrimmage and automatic first down.
- Illegal Contact – Pulling or holding jersey, pulling or holding shorts/pants or any other illegal use of hands. 10 yards from the spot of foul.

- Illegal Flag Pull – Removing flag of player that is not in possession of ball. 10 yards

from the spot of the foul or result of play. Offensive coach has option to decline penalty.
- Defensive Diving: Legal as long as no illegal contact is made. Illegal contact is 10 yards from spot of the foul.

- 2nd and 4th quarters cannot end on a defensive penalty.

OFFENSIVE

- Illegal Motion – More than one player in motion at the time of snap. 5 yards from the line of scrimmage and replay down.
- Illegal Formation – Less than three players on the line of scrimmage. 5 yards from the line of scrimmage and replay down.

- Illegal Pass – Passer crosses the line of scrimmage before passing the ball. 5 yards from the line of scrimmage and replay down.
- Delay of Game – Failure to snap the ball within 30-second play clock. 5 yards from line of scrimmage and replay down.

- Illegal Block – Holding, initiating contact or blocking without hands at player’s side. 5 yards from the spot of the foul and replay down.

- Illegal Run – Quarterback runs the ball beyond the line of scrimmage without handing off, pitching or passing. 5 yards from the line of scrimmage and replay down.
- Pass Interference – 10 yards from line of scrimmage and loss of down.

- Flag Guarding: Intentional or unintentional use of the arm, football or body (positioning body and running backwards) to prevent the flag from being pulled. 5 yards from the spot of the foul. Stiff-arming – 10 yards from spot of foul and loss of down.
- Diving/Jumping: Ball carrier dives or jumps to gain yardage. 10 yards from the spot of the foul. Jumping to change direction is legal.

12U LEAGUE

Field Diagram and General Rules

Total Dimensions:60 yards X 30 yards

End Zones:10 yards X 30 yards
Net Playing Field:40 yards X 30 yards
Mid Field Stripe: 20 yards

Offense Starting Point: Point of kickoff reception

2 pt Conversion Point: 10 yard line

No Run Zones: 5 yards on each side of mid-field and 5-yard lines

The offensive team is awarded a first down when it crosses the midfield line.
No run zones in effect.
The offensive team begins the game and second half by taking possession at the

point of reception determined by kickoff.

All players MUST have shirt tucked in.

Down Format

- The offensive team has four plays to gain a first down by crossing midfield. Once a team crosses midfield, it has four plays to score a touchdown.

- On 4th Down, the Offensive Team has two options:

Gain a first down or touchdown. If offense fails to convert on fourth down, either by scoring or picking up a first down, the ball changes possession at the end of the play (ball will be spotted at the point on the field where the last play ended).
Offense may elect to “punt” as its fourth-down play. The coach should clearly indicate to the referee and opposing coach that they will be punting.

Punting

- Punting can be elected by the offense on 4th down.
- The offensive team coach must clearly announce their intent to the referee and

opposing coach to punt on 4th down.
- The ball must be snapped to the punter.
- Only two players are on the field for the punting team. (snapper and punter)
- No punt rush is allowed.
- No fake punts are allowed.
- No penalty for punting out-of-bounds.
- The ball will be dead as soon as it is possessed by the return team.
- No returns. (Safety of players is primary concern)
- If the snap hits the ground or the punter drops the ball and it hits the ground, the

receiving team gains possession at the spot where the ball hits the ground.
- If the ball is touched by the receiving team but no player gains possession and the ball rolls forward, it will be placed at the spot it was first touched. If the ball is touched and continues toward the receiving team's goal line, it will be spotted where the receiving team gains control of the ball.

Kickoffs

Start of Game & 2nd Half:

- To start the game, 2nd half and after all scores, kickoff will be from the 10-yard line.

- On-side kicks are not allowed.
- The kicker is the only player on the field for the kicking team
- A ball kicked out-of-bounds will be given to the offensive team with a 5-yard

penalty added at the spot where the ball goes out-of-bounds.
- The ball will be dead as soon as it is possessed by the return team. No returns.

- If the ball is touched by the receiving team but no player gains possession and

the ball rolls forward, it will be placed at the spot it was first touched. If the ball is touched and continues toward the receiving team’s goal line, it will be spotted where the receiving team gains control of the ball.

Offensive Starting Points

Start of Game & 2nd Half: Spot determined by kickoff

Turn Over on Downs: Spot of ball at completion of 4th down

After Punt:Spot determined by punt
After Interception: Spot of ball at completion of play;
Defense may advance the interception

Fumble:Possession will not change; spot of the fumble
If behind the line of scrimmage - Loss of down & spot of fumble
If beyond the line of scrimmage: Replay down at original line of scrimmage

Game Format
- Game will consist of four 10-minute quarters and an 8-minute half-time.
- There will be a 3-minute break between the 1st & 2nd quarters and a 3-minute break

between the 3rd and 4th quarters.
- The clock will remain running during the entire time of play.
- There will be a 30-second play clock after the ball is spotted for play. If a play is not

run in time, a delay of game has occurred and a loss of down will occur.
- A team will call the coin toss. The team that wins the coin toss may choose to

play offense or defense first. The other team will choose the direction of their offense. The team that plays defense first will play offense to start the 3rd quarter.

- Possession will not change at the end of the 1st and 3rd quarters.
- There will be 5 players on the field at a time for each team.
- Teams will switch ends of the field at the half, not after each quarter.
- Coaches are allowed to walk the sidelines for the entire length of the field. Coaches

can call the play from the huddle but must back away once players leave the huddle.

- Referee will spot the ball, begin the 30-second play clock and the 5-second clock for passing plays (see details below under Offense - Passing Plays).

Playing Time & Substitutions

These guidelines are designed to provide everyone equal playing time and teaching for both offensive and defensive skills.

-No player can sit out more than one possession at a time, unless due to injury.

- Every player must play both offense and defense in every game.
- Every player must start on either offense or defense in every game.

- Coaches should monitor the playing time of each player and make it as even as possible throughout the year.

player capable of passing on each unit, so as the units rotate each quarter, the team always has a passer in the game.

Scoring

Touchdown: 6 points

Extra Point: 5 yard line – 2 points only
Safety: 2 points; scoring team will also get possession on its own 5-yd line