| Youth 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 were 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.
| General Rules | |
- The game will consist of 5-vs-5.
- Each player is required to begin the game with flags around their waist.
- Cleats are not allowed.
- Players are not allowed to flag guard, jump, or hurdle players (this is a safety issue).
- If a player’s flags fall off while running without the ball and they end up catching the ball, the game turns to a one-hand touch game.
- Flags must be dropped and not thrown after making a pull.
- There are no fumbles. The ball is spotted where it hits the ground.
- All penalties will result in a loss of five (5) yards.
- There will be a ZERO tolerance rule of poor sportsmanship. This is set to eliminate fighting, pushing, swearing, and taunting.
| 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 one (1) point, 12 yards will equal two (2) points.
- If the teams are tied again, overtime repeats.
| 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
| Passing | |
- All passes must be forward and received beyond the line of scrimmage
- QB has a: 7 second "pass clock". If the pass is not thrown within the: 7 seconds, play is dead, loss of down, Ball returns to line of scrimmage. Once the ball is handed off, the: 7-second clock is dead.
- Interceptions can be returned.
| Running | |
- The QB cannot run the ball.
- 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.
| 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.
| 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.
| Plays | |
- Each team is allowed one time out that will last one (1) minute.
- 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.
- Substitutions - Unlimited substitution will be permitted.
- Eligible Pass Receivers - All players are eligible receivers.
- Forward passes may be made from any place behind the line of scrimmage.
| 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
- The defensive player shall not hold, grasp or obstruct the forward progress of a runner when in the act of removing the flag belt.
| 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.
| Penalties | |
- Offense:
- Flag Guarding
- Pass Interference
- Illegal Contact
- Unsportsmanlike Conduct
- Blocking
- Holding
- Offsides
- 7 second pass clock
- Defense:
- Tackling
- Tripping and/or Holding
- Pass Interference
- Illegal Contact
- Trying to cause a fumble
- Offsides
- Unsportsmanlike Conduct
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