| Adult Rules-Game Overview |  |
- A coin toss determines 1st or 2nd half possession.
- The offensive team takes possession of the ball at their 5-yard line and has (3) plays to cross midfield.
- Once a team crosses mid-field, they will have three (3) plays to score a touchdown. If the offense fails to score, the ball changes possession and the new offensive team take over on their 5-yard line.
- If the offensive team fails to cross mid-field, possession of the ball changes and the opposite team starts their drive from their 5-yard line.
- Interceptions can be returned and where their flag is striped they start from.
- (2) 12 minute half’s running time, At the 1 Minute Warning Clock stops, Out of Bounds, Incompletion and scores each
- The time the ball is spotted a team has: 30 seconds to snap the ball.
| The Playing Field | |
- The field shall measure 40 yards wide and 60 yards long with 10-yard end zones.
- The playing field will be divided into two (2) zones by one line.
| Equipment | |
- Balls and vests will be provided by the Granite Bowl Staff
- Shoe Policy: Each player must wear shoes. Shoes with metal, ceramic screw in or detachable cleats are Illegal. Game officials have the authority to disallow any shoe which they feel would endanger the person wearing the shoe or his opponents.
- Shirts - must be either long enough so they remained tucked in the pants or short enough so as not to clearly touch the belt.
- Pants - each player must wear pants that completely cover the knees. Players are encouraged to wear long pants and long sleeves to prevent cuts.
- No stickum or similar substance will be allowed. Infractions will result in player disqualification.
- Football pads, casts or metal braces are not allowed.
- Baseball caps may not be worn.
- MOUTH PIECES ARE REQUIRED and can be purchased on game day.
| Players | |
- Seven (7) players are on the field for each team at one time.
- Teams must have a minimum of five (5) players on the field to constitute a team.
| Scoring | |
- Mercy Rule (At any time if a team is winning by 28 points, game is over).
- Touchdown=six points, extra point= (5 yards out), 2 (12 yards out), Safety=2 points.
| Overtime | |
- Overtime will only be used in the playoffs. If a game is tied after 24 minutes in pool play, the game will result in a tie.
- A coin toss determines possession for each overtime.
- Each team receives one offensive play. 5 yards will equal 1 point, 12 yards will equal two points.
- If the teams are tied again, overtime repeats until there is a winner.
| Pool Play | |
- Each team will play a minimum of three (3) games during pool play.
- Tournament seeding will be determined by pool play records.
| Tournament | |
- A single elimination tournament will be held at the conclusion of pool play.
- If teams are tied after pool play they will be seeded according to the following tie breakers:
- Head to head competition
- Total points allowed during pool play
- Point differential (points scored - points allowed)
- Coin Toss
- Total points allowed during pool play
- Point differential (points scored - points allowed)
- Total points scored
- Draw for seed
| Running | |
- The QB cannot run the ball unless they are rushed by an opponent
- Only direct hand-offs behind the line of scrimmage are legal. Offense can use multiple handoffs.
- The player who takes the hand-off can throw the ball as long as he does not pass the line of scrimmage.
- Absolutely NO laterals or pitches of any kind.
- “No run zones" are located 5-yards before mid-field and 5-yards before the end zone in each offensive direction
- Spinning is allowed but players cannot leave their feet to avoid a defense player (no diving)
- The ball is spotted where the ball carriers belt is when the flag is pulled, not where the ball is.
- There is NO Blocking
| Diving | |
- Diving is prohibited and will result in a 10 yard penalty
- Players may not dive to catch the ball or to pull an opposing players flags
- Players cannot dive to cross the goal line or scrimmage line
| Tackling | |
- Tackling is done by pulling the flags
- Physical tackling is illegal and ruled as unnecessary roughness.
- Flagrant tackling, the offender will be disqualified.
- Physical tackling is also ruled when defense puts arms around the runner in order to pull the offensive player’s flag.
- If a flag belt inadvertently falls to the ground, a one-hand tag between the shoulders and waist constitutes capture.
| Receiving | |
- All players are eligible to receive passes.
- Player must have two feet in bounds when making a catch.
- One player is allowed in motion only in a lateral motion.
| Passing | |
- All passes must be forward and received beyond the line of scrimmage
- QB has a seven (7) second "pass clock." If the pass is not thrown within the seven (7) seconds, play is dead, a loss of down and the ball returns to line of scrimmage. Once the ball is handed off, the seven (7)-second clock is dead.
- Interceptions can be returned.
| Dead balls | |
- Ball must be snapped between legs, not off to one side.
- Play is dead when:
- Ball carriers flag is pulled.
- Ball carrier steps out of bounds
- Touchdown is scored
- Ball carriers flag falls out-one hand touch
- Ball carriers knee hits the ground
- No fumbles, ball is spotted where it hits the ground.
- Anytime ball touches the ground, it’s dead.
| Rushing the Quarterback | |
- All players that rush the QB must be 7 yards from the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped.
- Players not rushing the QB may defend at the line of scrimmage
- Once the ball has been handed off the 7 yard rule is no longer in effect and all defenders are eligible to rush
- A special marker, or the referee, will designate 7 yards from the line of scrimmage.
| Plays | |
- Each team is allowed one time out that will last one (1) minute.
- Unnecessary delay of the game is prohibited. If the ball is not put into play within 30 seconds after being spotted by the referee, it will be considered delay of the game - Penalty - 5 yards.
- A team in possession of the ball has three (3) downs to score or advance the ball into the next zone.
- All center snaps must be made between the legs of the player snapping the ball.
- Sleeper plays are not allowed. Intended receivers must be five (5) yards from the side lines and on their feet when the ball is snapped.
- Substitutions - Unlimited substitution will be permitted.
- EligiblePass Receivers - All players are eligible receivers. The passer becomes eligible to catch his pass after the ball is touched by a defensive player.
- Forward passes may be made from any place behind the line of scrimmage.
- Quarterbacks must call set on every play. After calling set, there must be a one (1) second delay before the ball is hiked.
| Defense | |
- Fumbles - There are no fumbles. When the ball touches the ground after a muff or a fumble, it is a dead ball and belongs to the team muffing it.
- Safeties - A ball becoming dead behind one's goal line is an Automatic Safety
- Removal of Flag Belt - When the flag belt is clearly taken from the ball carrier the down shall end and the ball is declared dead. If a flag belt inadvertently falls to the ground, a one-hand tag between the shoulders and waist constitutes capture.
- Tripping - Tripping deemed intentional by the referee will be penalized ten (10) yards from the point where the ball carrier is tripped.
- Pushing a ball carrier out of bounds is legal as long as the ball carrier is within 3 yards of the sideline. There is a fine line between a legal push and unnecessary roughness. The call is a Judgment call by the referee.
- The defensive player shall not hold, grasp or obstruct the forward progress of a runner when in the act of removing the flag belt. (Penalty - Personal Foul - 10 yards)
| Conduct of Players | |
- A Zero Tolerance policy will be in effect for all games. Any conduct that is deemed harmful will result in a PLAYER DISQUALIFICATION.
- Hurdling in an attempt to gain yardage by a ball carrier is illegal and will constitute a personal foul.
- Runners shall not flag guard by using their hands, arms or the ball to deny the opportunity for opponents to pull or remove the flag belt.
- Flag guarding includes:
- Swinging the hand or arm over the flag belt to prevent an opponent from de-flagging.
- Placing the ball in possession over the flag belt to prevent an opponent from de-flagging.
- Lowering the shoulders in such a manner which places the arm over the flag belt to prevent an opponent from de-flagging.
- The runner shall be prohibited from contacting an opponent with extended arm or hand. This includes the use of a "stiff arm" extended to ward off an opponent attempting to de-flag.
- The runner shall not grasp at a teammate or be grasped, pulled or pushed by a teammate.
| Unnecessary Aggressiveness | |
- The defensive players must "play the flag rather than the player."
- Any player who is bleeding must be substituted for until the bleeding stops. Officials have the authority to remove the player. If by removing the player who is bleeding, the team falls below the minimum number necessary to play, the following will apply: The game clock will stop and a maximum of five (5) minutes will be allowed for the player to stop the bleeding. The Head Official must approve the player to re-enter. If the bleeding is not stopped within the allotted five (5) minutes the team will forfeit the game. THE TIME ALLOWANCE IS ONLY FOR PLAYERS WHO ARE BLEEDING, AND THE TEAM CANNOT CONTINUE TO PLAY WITHOUT THEM.
| Player Restrictions | |
- NO player shall commit a personal foul during a period or an intermission. Any act prohibited hereunder or any other act of unnecessary roughness is a personal foul. NO player shall
- Punch, strike, strip, steal or attempt to steal the ball from a player in possession.
- Trip an opponent.
- Contact an opponent who is on the ground.
- Throw the runner to the ground.
- Hurdle any other player.
- Contact an opponent after the ball is declared dead.
- Make any contact with an opponent which is deemed unnecessary.
- Clip an opponent.
- Tackle the runner by grasping or encircling with the hand(s) or arm(s) and taking the opponent toward the ground as in tackle football. This will result in PLAYER DISQUALIFICATION.
- Penalty: 10 yards, and if flagrant, the offender shall be disqualified.
| Penalties | |
- Loss of 10 Yards
- Offensive forward pass interference (loss of down).
- Defensive forward pass interference (automatic first down).
- Holding (offensive) or illegal block.
- Striking, kicking, and kneeing (automatic first down).
- Clipping.
- Tripping, blocking or striking above neck or below waist.
- Unsportsmanlike conduct (automatic first down).
- Roughing the passer.
- Illegal use of hands or arms.
- Tackling the ball carrier (automatic first down).
- Contact with an opponent who is on the ground.
- Hurdling/Diving over someone to get yards.
- Illegal block.
- Stiff-arm by offensive player.
- Guarding the flag belt.
- Diving or leaving feet to recover a fumble or muff.
- Loss of 5 Yards
- Delay of game.
- Impeding rusher
- Offsides.
- False start by offensive team.
- Illegal formation.
- Illegal motion - only 1 offensive player may be in motion and that motion cannot be forward but only parallel to or away from the line of scrimmage.
- Illegal forward pass (loss of down).
- Intentional grounding (loss of down).
- Three (3) and Four (4) point stances
- Double and Multiple Fouls
- On multiple live ball fouls against one team, only one penalty may be enforced at the offended team’s choice.
- A double foul is when both teams have committed a foul during the same live ball period, and team possession has not changed, the down is replayed.
| Special Rules | |
- All unsportsmanlike fouls will be penalized separately, and in addition to those occurring during a down by the same team.
- Half the distance - A measurement cannot take the ball more than half the distance from the enforcement spot to the offending team's goal line. If the penalty is greater than this, the ball is placed halfway from the enforcement spot to the goal line.
- Two feet must make contact with the ground after a catch for it to be a completed pass.
- Inadvertent whistle - If a whistle is inadvertently blown by an official, the ball is DEAD IMMEDIATELY. The offensive team has a choice of either replaying the down from the original line of scrimmage or having the ball from the point where the ball became dead.
| Sportsmanship/Roughing | |
- Defender must hand flag back to ball carrier. Five (5) yard penalty
- If the field monitor or referee witnesses any acts of tackling, elbowing, cheap shots, blocking, or an unsportsmanlike act,
- The game will be stopped & the player can be ejected from the game
- Trash talking is illegal. Official has the right to determine language, which is offensive.
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