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. 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 24 minutes and the team that losses
the opening coin toss now has the option to receive the ball in the second
half.
Players/Game Schedules
Teams must field a minimum of four (4) players at all times.
Team Rosters will consist of 10-12 players (5 on 5 players on the field)
Timing/Overtime
Games are played to 48 minutes running time (Two 24 minute halves).
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.
Each team has one 60-second time out and one 30-second time out per half.
Officials can stop the clock at their discretion
The ONLY time the clock will stop is on a timeout (each
team gets two per half) and when a team scores a touchdown with less then
two minutes remaining in the GAME (clock will restart when the ball is
snapped on the next series by the opposing team). The clock WILLNOT
stop on incompletions or if a player steps out of bounds.
There will be no overtime during the regular season as
the game will end in a tie. During the playoffs if the game is tied at the
end of regulation, sudden death overtime will occur with the first team
scoring winning the game.
Scoring
Touchdown: 6 points
Extra point: 1 point (played from 5-yard line), 2 points (played from
12-yard line)
Safety: 2 points
Running
The quarterback cannot run with the ball.
Only direct handoffs behind the line scrimmage are permitted. Offense may
use multiple handoffs.
Absolutely NO laterals or pitches of any kind.
"No-running zones," located 5 yards from each end zone and 5
yards on either side of midfield, are designed to avoid short-yardage,
power-running situations.
The player who takes the handoff can throw the ball from behind the line
of scrimmage.
Once the ball has been handed off, all defensive players are eligible to
rush.
Spinning is allowed, but players cannot leave their feet to avoid a
defensive player (no diving).
Receiving
All players are eligible to receive passes (including the quarterback if
the ball has been handed off behind the line of scrimmage).
As in the NFL, only one player is allowed in motion at a time.
A player must have at least one foot inbounds when making a reception.
Passing
All passes must be forward and received beyond the line scrimmage.
Shovel passes are allowed but must be received beyond the line of
scrimmage.
The quarterback has a seven-second "pass clock." If a pass is
not thrown within the seven seconds, play is dead, loss of down. Once the
ball is handed off, the seven-second rule no longer is in effect.
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.
Dead Balls
The ball must be snapped between the legs, not off to one side, to start
play.
Substitutions may be made on any dead ball.
Play is ruled "dead" when:
Ball
carrier steps out of bounds.
Touchdown
or safety is scored.
At
the point of an interception (interception returns are not allowed).
Ball
carrier's knee hits the ground.
Ball
carrier's flag falls out.
Note: There are no fumbles. The ball is spotted where the ball
hits the ground.
Rushing the Quarterback
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.
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 seven yards from the line of scrimmage.
REMEMBER, NO BLOCKING OR TACKLING IS ALLOWED.
Sportsmanship/Roughing
If the field monitor or referee witnesses any acts of tackling, elbowing,
cheap shots, blocking, or any unsportsmanlike act, the game will be stopped
and the player will be ejected from the game. FOUL PLAY WILL NOT BE
TOLERATED.
Trash talking is illegal. Officials have the right to determine offensive
language. (Trash talk is talk that may be offensive to officials, opposing
players, teams or spectators.) If trash talking occurs, the referee will
give one warning. If it continues, the player or players will be ejected
from the game.
Penalties
All penalties will be called by the referee.
Defense: Offsides -- 5 yards
and automatic first down; Interference -- 10 yards and automatic first down;
Illegal contact (holding, blocking, etc.) -- 10 yards and automatic first
down; Illegal flag pull (before receiver has the ball) -- 10 yards and
automatic first down; Illegal rushing (starting rush from inside the 7-yard
marker -- 10 yards and automatic first down.
Offense: Illegal motion (more than one person moving, false start, etc.)
--5 yards and loss of down; Illegal forward pass (pass received behind line
of scrimmage) -- 5 yards and loss of down; Offensive pass interference
(illegal pick play, pushing off/away defender) -- 10 yards and loss of down;
Flag guarding -- 10 yards (from line of scrimmage) and loss of down; delay
of game -- clock stops, 10 yards and loss of down.
Attire
Cleats are allowed, except for metal spikes. Inspections must be made. All
players must wear a protective mouth piece; there are no exceptions.
Official Nike NFL Flag jerseys must be worn during play.
Note: There are no kickoffs, and no blocking is allowed.
