Playing Field:

• Length: 60 yards
• Width: 25 yards
• First down marks: Mid-field
• No run zones: Within 5 yards before the first down and within 5 yards of the end zone of the offensive team. Game Clock:

• Two 14 minute halves with a running clock format except for the final 1 minutes of second   half, unless it is a 9 point lead in the second half. A â??pro clockâ?? will be used during these times. The clock shall stop on incomplete passes, out of bounds, change of possession, extra point attempts.   The first half will have a 1 minute only, but no pro clock. It will stop on change of possessions and tds.   It will stop on penalties to set L.O.S.
• Clock starts after penalties when refs are set when: a) penalty is on offense and the offense is losing. b)   penalty is on the defense and the defense is losing. Otherwise is starts on the snap.
• Each team receives one 60 second time-out per game, unless taken away by the referee.
• Two minute half-time break if game starts on time.
• If a team is allowed to play even after their grace period expired, that team will forfeit all their time-outs for the game.
• Under 1 minute on a 5 second count call, the clock will still run.
• Under 1 minute on a muffed (fumble) ball the clock will still run. Attire:

• All players must wear shirts.
• No jewelry may be worn unless ears have been recently pierced: then they must be taped up.
• No metal spikes ever.
• Floppy hats are allowed; baseball caps must be worn backwards. If it falls off during play, player only has to be touched.
• All players must have the league flags. No junior flags. If you play a down with illegal flags, your team will be penalized. Flags:

• Once the receiver touches the ball the defender can pull the flag. If the catch is made the ball is spotted at the point of the flag pull even if the receiver juggles the catch and gets possession farther down field. This eliminates players tipping the ball to him self for additional yardage. It does not matter if the tip was intentional or not. If a defender touches the ball after the receiver touches it this rule starts all over again.
• If the player starts the play without complete flags and receives the ball in anyway he is down at the point of his possession; if he gets it in the endzone it is a safety. If a players flag falls off without being pulled by an opponent he is not down, but only must be touched for the tackle.
• It is NOT a penalty for having no flags since you would be down where you catch/get it and it is no advantage.
• If a center hikes the ball without a complete set of flags he his down right there. Clock rolls if under two minutes.
• It is an illegal flag pull if on a throw back the flag is pulled late in the eyes of the ref; or when a ref thinks that a defender pulls a flag of someone not with the ball on purpose.
• No altering the flags or suction cup in any way. You will be automatically thrown out of that game, your team will be penalized with a Unsportsmanlike penalty and a suspension likely will follow. Coin Toss:

• Whichever team wins the toss may select offense or defense. The opposing team will then get to pick which goal they want to defend. When the second half starts the ball will go to the team who started on defense in the first half and the teams will change sides of the field. Substitutions:
• Players may sub in during a dead ball, but must be on or off before the next play is snapped.
• If a player enters the huddle on offense another player must leave. If the same player leaves the field it is a penalty for â??illegal substitutionâ??; canâ??t break huddle with 5 players.
• All substitutions must be made from one side   OR the defense has to be given time to adjust. Drives:

• No kick offs or punts.
• All drives begin on the 5-yard line unless intercepted.
• Drives consist of 3 plays to make a first down (cross mid-field) or ball goes over on downs. If first down is made the team must score in 3 downs or the other team gains possession.
• Interceptions may be run back. Ball is spotted where the ball is when the flag is pulled.
• If the interception occurs in the endzone and the player â??takes a kneeâ??, the ball will be spotted at the 5-yard line. The player may return the ball if he chooses.
• Once a team achieves a first down by crossing mid-field that team can never get another 1 ^st down by crossing it again during the same offensive series. Example; A team crosses midfield for a 1 ^st down. The next play they get sacked back at the 5-yard line. The next play the defense is penalized so the offense now has a 1 ^st down and still short of mid-field. If they cross mid-field, they cannot get a 1^st down again (this would penalize the defense twice).
• All players on sidelines need to stay between the 5 yard lines.  Centering the ball :

• The ball must be snapped between the legs.
• Once the mark is spotted by the ref and the 7-yard mark is set, a team has 25 seconds to snap the ball.
• If the center is to receive a hand-off, he must receive it from the side: not on his back. Other players may receive it on their back.
• Center must have both flags on when centering or he is down when the play starts. Passes
• Throw-backs are allowed in ALL divisions.
• Only one double pass in all other divisions. More than two passes/laterals and play is dead. Clock stops if under 2 minutes.
• Shovel passes are allowed.
• QB has 5 seconds to pass ball IF no rush. If a rush ensues, he has all day to pass.
• Failure to get off a pass in 5 seconds (if there is no rush) will be treated as a loss of down. The clock will not stop. There is no penalty.
• A backwards pass/lateral that is dropped will be spotted where it lands with the clock NOT stopping.
• QBs can jump to throw a pass even if being pursued by a rusher; if the QB does not throw the ball when he jumps he will be penalized for â??flag guardingâ??. Flag guarding in the endzone is a safety. Otherwise 10 yards from the spot of infraction. The play is marked off before going to the next play. An example would be if it is 3 ^rd down and the line to get is mid-field. If an offensive play flag guards 9 yards past the 1st down line (mid-field). The penalty would be marked off 10 yards which would put the offensive team behind the 1 ^st down line by 1 yard therefore turning the ball over on downs.
• Intentional grounding. If all receivers are past the LOS the QB, in an attempt to â??throw the ball awayâ?? to avoid an â??imminent sackâ?? must throw the ball back to the LOS or it is a penalty. Intentional grounding in the endzone is a safety. This is a judgment call.
• All passes in the No Run Zone need to be beyond the line of scrimmage or a penalty.
• No part of QB can cross the LOS. Ball has to be released before LOS. Receiving

• All players are eligible to receive passes, except players behind the LOS in a â??no run zoneâ??.
• The receiver must have at least one foot in bounds when making the catch.
• Forced out rule         a.  If a receiver catches the ball and is forced out, the ref has the right to award a catch if he feels he would have landed inbounds.       b.  If  player is forced out he can still make the catch. There will be a   penalty assessed on the defense. Running Plays

• Unlimited handoffs behind the LOS.
• No back to back handoffs. You can not hand the ball off then get the ball right back from that same player on a hand off.
• QB does not have to be lined up behind the center.
• One lateral or pitch is allowed behind the LOS. If the pitch is forward the receiver is only allowed to run. If it is backwards he may run (if not in no-run zone) or pass. A second lateral and play is blown dead. If under 2 minutes clock stops.
• The no run zone is designed to prevent short yardage power running. It is located 5 yards from the endzone and 5 yards from the midfield line. The line itself is part of the no run zone.
• The player who receives the handoff may pass as long as he doesnâ??t pass the LOS.
• QB canâ??t run the ball unless it is handed or passed back to him.
• The QB canâ??t bounce the ball off of a players back and catch it and run.
• On all handoffs, the QB must let completely go of ball. Scoring

• Touchdown= 6 points (Co-rec division: Female catches a TD or runs for a TD gets 9 points
• Safety=2 points
• Extra Points: From 5 yards out= 1 point, no-run zone / 12 yards out= 2 points. Holding, after an interception is a 10 yard penalty assessed NEXT time the intercepting team is on offense (could be the next half). Forward Progress

• The balls forward progress is measured from the farthest advancement of the ball, not the hips.
• Defense has the option if ball is dropped: They can choose where it landed or where it left the players hand. Dead Balls

• When the ball hits the ground.
• If a playerâ??s hand touches the ground he is not down unless the ball was in the hand that touched the ground.
• No fumble recoveries unless muffed and does not hit ground.
• When flag is pulled.
• If a playerâ??s flag â??falls offâ?? he is not down. The defender must touch him from the shoulders down. If the ref believes he was touched, regardless of the fact, he is down.
• When the ball carrier kneeâ??s touch the ground.
• When the ball carriers steps out of bounds.
• If there was no handoff or pitch and the QB steps on/over the LOS, the play is over: no penalty. The clock continues to run.
• If non-original QB crosses the LOS in no run zone, play continues but flag is thrown. The defense has opportunity to intercept ball if thrown. Rushing the QB or crossing the â??line of scrimmageâ?? (LOS)

• An official will designate the 7 yard rushing mark: if the offense is in â??hurry upâ?? or not and the ref is slow marking the â??rush lineâ??, the rusher must make an attempt to be 7 yards away himself.
• Rushers must be 7 yards beyond LOS when the ball is snapped
• Any number of players may rush.
• If the rusher enters the 7 yard neutral zone before the snap, he must get back behind the 7 yard mark before the snap of the ball or he can not rush that down. After the ball is snapped he canâ??t go back to the 7 yard mark and then rush. He is not eligible to rush that play.
• Rusher may go for the flags or to block the pass. He can not hit the QBâ??s hand or arm: this is illegal contact.
• No player is allowed to bat the ball out of any playerâ??s hand: this is a penalty.
• The rusher has a direct line to the QB only if he positions himself with no player in his line. If he lines up with a player between himself and the QB he does not have the right of way. If the rusher changes his direction before he crosses the LOS he loses his right of way.
• Once the ball has been handed of or pitched all defensive players are allowed to cross the LOS and rush even if they are not behind the 7 yard mark. If the QB has not released the ball only the players behind the 7 yard rush mark can cross the LOS or it is an â??illegal rushâ??.
• If the rusher pulls the flag before the ball is released it is a sack even if QBâ??s arm is going forward.
• â??Impeding the rushâ?? can not be called if it is an illegal rush. Overtime

• Flip for possession.
• Both teams get equal possessions. No sudden death.
• Go for extra points 1 or 2.
• No ties.
• Interceptions may be returned for scores.
• Re-flip after every 2 overtimes.
• In the 3^rd overtime the team going second has to go for the win (2 points if the first team makes their 1 point extra point.
• One 30 second time-out per overtime. Mercy rule

• Going up by 28 points or more
• 9 point lead or more, no pro clock in second half. Penalties

• Offensive penalties are 10 yards from LOS and loss of down, except flag guarding which is 10 yards from the spot of infraction.
• Defensive penalties are 10 yards from the LOS and automatic 1 ^st down except defensive pass interference which is a spot foul.
• On a defensive pass interference the offense has the choice of either a first down at the spot of infraction OR 10 yard penalty from the LOS and a first down.
•  Ã¢??Flag throwingâ?? rule. Deliberately throwing a flag away from the opponent in the last 2 minutes of the game will; stop the clock, 10 yard penalty and a first down.
• If Ralph Graham see unnecessary roughness he will come on the field and call the penalty himself
• It is a penalty to hit the ball out of the opponent hand.
• If an offensive player laterals the ball, it is up to the defense where the ball is spotted: either where it hits the ground OR where ball was when left his hand. It is considered a lateral if the player throws the ball down short of the first down.
• No cussing.
• Penalties can be assessed even at Halftime.
• Cussing or Personal fouls will not be a loss of down, but the second one on same player will result in a 3 minute ejection and subject to suspension. Offensive Penalties

• Illegal motion- more than one man in motion at the same time or forward motion before the ball is snapped.
• Illegal pass- QB releasing the ball beyond the LOS.
• Interference- Pick play, pushing off defender, holding, illegal contact.
• Flag guarding- swiping away defenders hand during flag pulling attempt.
• Stiff arming- Pushing away defender.
• Illegal contact- Blocking, holding, picks, pushing player out of bounds.
• Offsides / False start/delay of game â?? 5 yard penalty and a loss of down.
• Moving screen- Running along with ball carrier in order to prevent defense from flag pull.
• Charging. If a defender is set a offensive player can not run him over or throw his hips into the defender.
• Unsportsmanlike conduct- Excessive contact, rough play. Two unsportsmanship penalties and you will be thrown out of game, and also be subject to a suspension.You CAN be ejected for remainder of game if , Ralph or either ref thinks it warrants it on the first penalty. This is also a spot foul or a 10 yard penalty, defenses choice. Defensive penalties

• Offsides
• Illegal flag pull- Intentionally pulling flag before a player touches ball.
• Illegal flag pull- Pulling flag late in refs judgment of the QB who throws the double pass.
• Holding- 10 yard penalty from LOS if ball not thrown yet.
• Pass interference- If ball is thrown then spot foul or 10 yards from LOS. Offenses choice.
• Unsportsmanlike conduct- Excessive contact, rough play. Two unsportsmanship penalties and you will be thrown out of game, and also be subject to a suspension. You CAN be ejected for remainder of game if staff or either ref thinks it warrants it on the first penalty. This is also a spot foul or a 10 yard penalty, offenses choice. Addressing the Officials

• Only the designated team captain may ask the referee questions about rule clarification and interpretations.
• Players can not question judgment calls.
• Do not get too close to the ref. The ref has a 2 yard â??buffer zoneâ?? which he may enforce as unsportsmanlike conduct if you get inside it (in his face).
• During controversial matters teams will go to their sidelines while the refs discuss the ruling. If you donâ??t agree with the call (and you wonâ??t sometimes) understand this is part of the game that is not perfect and we all have to deal with it. Every attempt is made to give you the fairest games possible.
• All teams are required to have a copy of the league rules. If you believe the ref has made a mistake concerning the rules, call time-out, consult your rule book and then present your case in a sportsmanlike manner. If you are correct, your time-out will not be charged. If you are out of time-outs a 10 yard penalty and loss of down will be incurred.   You are responsible to know the rules.
• Verbally abusing the staff or anyone on our property will get you ejected quickly and possibly suspended from the league. Continue this from the sideline and your team will forfeit the game.
• Refs and players are to show respect for each other. Repeat offenders of poor sportsmanship will not be tolerated.
• Cussing or yelling at a ref is an Unsportsmanlike Conduct penalty. 2 and you are ejected from game and facing possible suspension.