Read through the General Rules first, as they apply to every style we offer, then also make sure and check out the style-specific rules below that are unique to this format.

 

RULE 1. OVERVIEW

SECTION 1. THE FIELD

Article 1. Standard dimensions of the field are 80 yards long by 50 yards wide with 10 yard endzones. 

 

Article 2. If an 80-yard field is used, line-to-gain markers are located on the 20-, 40-, and 20-yard lines.

 

Article 3. Offensive teams have four downs to successfully advance to the next zone-line-to-gain and earn a new set of downs.

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SECTION 2. THE GAME

Article 1. FORFEIT TIME – with a grace period of 5 minutes after game time, unless approved by commissioner.

 

Article 2. Minimum 6 players to start a game. May only have up to 7 players on the field at any one time.

 

Article 3. All players are eligible receivers. Down lineman must advance 1 yard from the line-of-scrimmage before being an eligible receiver. (see RULE 2 OFFENSE; Article 2)

 

SECTION 3. GAME CLOCK FORMAT

 

Article 1. Games are 40 minutes (two 20 minute halves). Halftime is two minutes.

 

Article 2. Each team will have two time outs per half.

 

Article 3. The clock will run continuously during the first 20 minutes of the first half unless a team timeout is used or play is stopped by an official (e.g. deal with an injury, challenge, referee conference, etc.)

 

Article 4. A “stop-clock” will be in effect in the last two minutes of the second half, unless the point differential is 19 points or more in the last two minutes of the second half.

 

Article 5. The head official will give a verbal two-minute warning as close as possible to the actual two-minute mark but will not interrupt a live play.

 

Article 6. The two-minute warning will stop the clock.

 

Article 7. The clock will not run during point-after-touchdown attempts (PATs) in last two minutes of the second half.

 

Article 8. The play clock is 25 seconds at the officials ready.

 

RULE 2. OFFENSE

SECTION 1. OVERVIEW

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Article 1. The Quarterback must be in shotgun formation no less than 4 yards from the Center before every snap..

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Article 2. The offense must have at least 3 down lineman. Down lineman consist of Guard - Center - Guard; Must have one Guard on each side of the Center, Guard must be within 3 yards of the Center.  

 

Article 2. Only one offensive player may be in motion at the snap and that motion must be parallel to the line-of-scrimmage. Any player in motion must be moving at least one yard off the line of scrimmage.

 

Article 3. Players who go in motion do not count as “being on the line”.

 

Article 4. The ball must be snapped in the middle of the field. The Referee may place the ball and or deem what is determined to be the middle.

 

Article 5. The offense has 4 downs to get a first down; The offense may choose to punt on 4th down.

 

SECTION 2. BLOCKING

Article 1. Contact blocking is allowed between the shoulders and waist only (a.k.a. “inside the frame”). Blocking in the back is not allowed.

 

Article 2. Blockers must be on their feet before, during and after contact is made with their opponents.

 

Article 3. No contact of any kind is allowed above the shoulders of an opponent. Illegal blocks include:

 

Leading with the shoulder outside the ‘free blocking zone’

Low/chop/cut blocks: An attempt by a player to block an opponent at the thigh level or lower.

Crack-back block: A blind-side block on a player by an opponent who starts downfield and then cuts back toward the original spot of the ball to make contact.

Blind-side block: Engaging an opponent who does not see the blocker approaching with anything other than fully extended arms and open palms.

Clipping: A player hitting an opponent from behind.

Tripping: A player using their leg or foot to stop an opponent’s forward motion.

Hook or hug block: A player gaining advantage of an opponent by turning or detaining the opponent by illegally tackling or using arms around the body, waist, shoulders or arms.

Rolling blocks: A player on the ground attempting to block or engage an opponent by moving or turning over and over on an axis.

Dive blocks: A player leaving there feet to engage an opponent.

Making contact with an opponent while swinging or flipping hands, arms or elbows.

Slapping, punching, or swinging at an opponent with hands, arms or elbows.

Grabbing or holding an opponent’s jersey while blocking.

Interlocking of blocker’s fingers or hands.

Laying on a downed defender

 

Article 4. Swim moves (a player using a maneuver similar to a freestyle swimming stroke to get past an opponent) are legal. However, if the swim move results in contact to an opponent above the shoulder (neck, head, or face) it is illegal.

 

Article 5. Downfield blocking for the ball carrier is allowed.

 

Article 6. Blocking downfield while the ball is in the air is pass interference except if the pass is behind the line of scrimmage.

 

Article 7. Two-on-one blocking is permitted as long as both blockers are engaging the opponent above the waist.

 

Article 8. If a player turns to expose their back, it is not an illegal block as long as their opponent maintains contact with the player from the initial block.

 

SECTION 3. RUN PLAYS

Article 1. The quarterback  — the player initially receiving the snap — may run to advance the ball at any time.

 

Article 2. The offense may use multiple backward hand-offs or laterals.

 

SECTION 4. PASS PLAYS

Article 1. Teams can make an unlimited number of backward passes and then throw a forward pass provided the player throwing the ball is behind the line of scrimmage.

 

RULE 3. DEFENSE

 

SECTION 1. RUSHING

Article 1. The center is considered a defenseless player while their head is down in the snapping position and cannot be contacted until they assume a blocking position or has fired out into their pattern.

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SECTION 2. ROUGHING THE PASSER, CENTER

Article 1. Defensive players must make a concerted effort to avoid charging into an unprotected player.

SECTION 3. PASS COVERAGE

Article 1. Contacting receivers within the initial five yards from scrimmage is allowed as long as the ball is not in the air.

 

Article 2. Contact within the initial five yards must be continuous (i.e. no “re-loading”) and applied “inside the frame” of the body.

 

Article 3. A defender may turn an opponent “off their route” as long as the defender’s hands are “inside the frame”.

 

RULE 4. KICKING

SECTION 1. KICK OFFS

 

Article 1. The Kicking team will kick from their 40-yard line unless moved by penalty. Kickers are allowed to free-kick or kick off tee (team must provide their own tee).

 

Article 2. All players of the kicking team must start with one foot on the kicking line with the exception of the kicker. (no run up allowed)

 

Article 3. The receiving teams restraining line will be 5-yards from the kicking teams restraining line.

 

Article 4. Four players on the receiving team must start the play within 5 yards of the receiving teams restraining line.

 

Article 5. A kick that breaks the goal line is still live and may be carried out (returned) by the receiving team. 

 

Article 6. If a kickoff goes out of bounds untouched beyond the receiving team’s restraining line, but before the 35-yard line, the ball is put in play at the point where the ball left the field of play plus a 5 yard penalty tacked on.

 

Article 7. If the ball goes out of bounds untouched between the 35 yard line and the goal line the ball is put in play at the 30 yard line.

 

Article 8. Touchbacks will be spotted at the 20 yard line.

 

Article 9. The kicking team may only return the ball if the ball is lateralled and intercepted before touching the ground. If the ball touches the ground and the kicking team touches the ball, the ball is dead at the dead ball spot.

 

Article 10. The kick receiving team must be given an opportunity to field the kick in the air; therefore, there will be a 10 yard penalty if touched in the air beyond the LOS by the kicking team.

 

Article 11. The kick receiving team may field a kick in the air, off of a bounce (one or more), or directly off of the ground, if fielded cleanly. 

 

Article 12. When a kick is left unattended, it becomes dead where it rolls still.

 

Article 11. Kicks muffed by the receiving team will be downed where the ball lands; If the ball lands in the end zone before possession, and ball hits in or out of the end zone, it will be a touchback. If the ball is touched in the air or on the ground by the kicking team in the end zone, it is a touchback.  If a kick receiver who has gained possession of the punt in the end zone is deflagged prior to crossing the goal line into the field of play, it is a touchback. If kick receiver remains in the end zone for 5 seconds after fielding the kick, or downs kick by knee or ball touching ground after possession, it is a touchback.  

 

Article 12. If at any point on a kick return (or interception) the ball is advanced or received out of the end zone and lateralled back into the end zone and muffed, it is considered a safety.

 

 

SECTION 2. PUNTING

 

Article 1. The offense may choose to punt on 4th down.

 

Article 2. NO FAKE PUNTS ALLOWED.  The offense must have 6 players on the LOS at the snap. The defense must have 4 downline men within 1 yard of LOS.

 

Article 3. NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO RUSH or BLOCK THE PUNT(er).

 

Article 4. If a punt is to be made, the offense must announce it to the referee before the ball can be declared ready for play. Offense must declare within 10 seconds after asked by the referee on 4th down play or will be forced to use a timeout to declare punt if after 10 sec.

 

Article 3. When the offense declares punt, it becomes a guaranteed punt; the offense may change their declaration if they use their timeout. 

 

Article 4. Both teams must have 4 players on the LOS and must remain in that zone until the ball is kicked.

 

Article 5. After the punt is declared, it must be made and neither team may cross the LOS until the ball is kicked. 

 

Article 6. If the punt hits a member of the punting team, which has not crossed the LOS, it is dead at that spot. Any member of the punting team may down the punt if it is beyond the LOS and has touched the ground prior to being downed. The punt will be declared dead at the spot where it is first touched by the punting team. 

 

Article 7. The punt receiving team must be given an opportunity to field the punt in the air; therefore, there will be a 10 yard penalty if touched in the air beyond the LOS by the punting team.

 

Article 8. The punt returning team may have 3 returners in deep position. 

 

Article 9. The punt receiving team may field a punt in the air, off of a bounce (one or more), or directly off of the ground, if fielded cleanly. When a punt touches a player on the receiving team who is in bounds and the ball rebounds into the air, all players become eligible to intercept and advance the ball before it touches the ground.

 

Article 10. When a punt is left unattended, it becomes dead where it rolls still.

 

Article 11. . Punts muffed by the receiving team will be downed where the ball lands; If the ball lands in the end zone before possession, and ball hits in or out of the end zone, it will be a touchback. If the ball is touched in the air or on the ground by the punting team in the end zone, it is a touchback.  If a punt receiver who has gained possession of the punt in the end zone is deflagged prior to crossing the goal line into the field of play, it is a touchback. If punt receiver remains in the end zone for 5 seconds after fielding punt, or downs punt by knee or ball touching ground after possession, it is a touchback.  

 

Article 12. If at any point on a punt return (or interception) the ball is advanced or received out of the end zone and lateralled back into the end zone and muffed, it is considered a safety.

 

SECTION 3: ONSIDE PLAY OPTION

 

Article 1. The option is only available to the team behind in score during the final 2 minutes of the second half and only immediately after the trailing team has scored a touchdown. 

 

Article 2. This is NOT an untimed down.

 

Article 3. This option is not available after the trailing team has scored a safety. 

 

Article 4. This option is never available to the team ahead in points.

 

Article 5. After the trailing team has scored and attempted the extra point, the team captain of the trailing team must inform the referee they intend to attempt an onside play. 

 

Article 6. The ball is placed on the teams 20 yard line, going out.

 

 Article 7. This play is treated exactly like a 4th down play including the assessment of penalties with one exception. If a foul occurs that includes an automatic first down (ie. roughing the passer) the offense will not receive a new set of downs. They will receive the 15 yard penalty and replay the down, (ie, fourth and five from the 35 yard line, line to gain is the 40 yard line.)

 

 Article 8. The offense must advance the ball to the 40 yard line or beyond, after all live ball penalties have been accessed in order to retain the ball. 

 

 Article 9. Dead ball penalties will not be considered in determining if the line to gain was achieved.

 

 Article 10. If the offense retains the ball the next zone-line-to-gain will be determined. 

 

 Article 11. If the offense does not retain the ball the defense will take possession of the ball where it became dead (end of the run or previous LOS) ands the next zone-line-to-gain will be established.

 

 Article 12. Interceptions returned to the end zone by the defense during an onside play are worth 6 points and a PAT attempt.

 

 Article 13. Timeouts limit the amount of onside plays a team may use.

 

RULE 5. SCORING

SECTION 1. POINTS

 

Touchdown: 6 points

Point After Touchdown (PAT)

1 point from the 5-yard line – run or pass

2 points from the 10-yard line – run or pass

3 points from the 20-yard line – run or pass

Interceptions returned on PAT’s are worth 3 points

Safety: 2 points

 

SECTION 2. MERCY RULE

 

Article 1. There is no mercy rule during regular season, but there is during single elimination playoffs.

 

Article 2. During Play-offs the mercy rule will be automatically invoked if the score differential reaches 28 or more points in the second half.

Article 3. Forfeits that occur prior to the game will be recorded as 28-0. Forfeits that occur during the game will be recorded as 28-0 or the actual score of the game at the time of the forfeit, whichever is the larger differential.

 

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