SECTION 1: THE GAME
Article 1. To start the game captains from both teams will meet at midfield to conduct the coin toss
The visiting team or lower seed captain will call the toss
The winner will choose either offense or defense
The loser of the toss will choose which end zone they will defend
Article 2. Offensive team will then start the game at their own 5 yd line and has four downs to cross midfield. Once a team crosses midfield, it has another 4 downs to score a touchdown.
Article 3. 6u If the offense fails to cross midfield or fails to score, the ball changes possession and the new offensive team takes over on it’s own 5 yd line. Intereceptions - teams retain the ball at the dead ball spot.
Article 4. 8u & 10u - The offensive team may choose to punt the ball on 4th down. If so, the opposing team will retain the ball on their own 5 yd line. If the offensive team goes for it and does not get the yard to gain or score a touchdown, the opposing team will retain the ball at the dead ball spot.
Article 5. Team changes side at half. Possession changes to the the team that started the game on defense.
Article 6. Ball is spotted where the ball is.
Article 7. Only THREE coaches will be allowed to be on the field with their team. This includes media person, team mom, or club owner. However you split up the three is up to you, but only allowed three adults on sideline.
SECTION 2: EQUIPMENT
Article 1. All players must use a mouth guard and soft shell helmet at all times on the field.
Article 2. Shorts cannot have pockets. Pockets cannot be taped.
Article 3. No jewelry is allowed to be worn.
Article 4. No metal cleats
Article 5. Football Sizes for the 6u and 8u division is Pee Wee or size 6. 10u Size football is Junior size. Or size 7.
Article 6. Referees will check everyone’s equipment prior to the start of game to make sure that all are abiding by the equipment rules.
SECTION 3: TIME
Article 1. Pool play play time will be one 15 minute running clock duration. There are no timeouts and no clock stoppages. If a division only has 4 teams in the division their pool play games will be 20 minute running clock.
Article 2. Each time the ball is spotted the offense has 25 seconds to snap the ball.
Article 3. Elimination playing time will be a 20 min play clock duration, divided into two 10 minute halves. Both halves will have a running clock of 9 minutes until it reaches the final minute warning. There will be a two minute halftime period before the start of the second half.
Article 4. The final minute of each half will be regulation clock. (Stops on out of bounds, incomplete pass, 1st downs, sacks & changes of possession.) Officials can stop the clock at their discretion. In the event of an injury, the clock will stop and then restart when the injured player is removed from the field of play.
Article 5. The clock will also stop if an offensive play fails to gain any yards. So there is no kneeling out the clock in the final minute.
Article 6. Each team will get two 25 second timeouts to use per half. Time outs do not carry over.
SECTION 4: PASSING
Article 1. The quarterback has 5 seconds to throw the ball. If a pass is not thrown within the 5 seconds, the play is whistled dead and it’s a loss of down. The spot remains the same
Article 2. RUSH = RUN. If the quarterback is blitzed he is allowed to run the ball across the los without a double handoff.
Article 3. A pass is considered a ball that is thrown forward. The pass does not need to be cross the line of scrimmage to be considered a forward pass. Shovel passes are allowed.
Article 4. If a ball is intercepted and returned for a touchdown during the extra point the defensive team will be awarded 3 pts.
SECTION 5: RECEIVING
Article 1. All players are eligible to receive a pass, including the qb if the ball has been handed off behind the LOS.
Article 2. Motions and shifts: Multiple offensive players are allowed to shift prior to the snap of the ball. Only one player is allowed to be in motion simultaneous to the snap.
Article 3. A player must have at least one foot inbounds when making a catch. One foot must land inbounds prior to the second foot landing out of bounds.
Article 4. There is no blocking at any time
Article 5. There is no laterals allowed once the ball has passed the LOS
SECTION 6: Running
Article 1. Direct handoffs, pitch, & tosses behind the LOS are permitted.
Article 2. Teams may perform multiple handoffs as long as they remain behind the LOS.
Article 3. The player who receives the handoff can throw the ball as long as he/she remains behind the line of scrimmage.
Article 4. The ball is spotted where the ball is when the flag is pulled.
Article 5. No Screening or blocking. No running next to the ball carrier. All other offensive players must come to a stop when the offensive player is running pass the LOS.
SECTION 7: NO RUN ZONE
Article 1. No run zones are located 5 yds before midfield and 5 yards before the end zone. If the ball is spotted on or inside the No run zone the offense must use a pass play to achieve a first down.
Article 2. No run zones are the only area’s that the rush run rule does not exist. The qb can not run the ball when the ball is spotted in the no run zone.
SECTION 8: RUSHING THE PASSER
Article 1. Player rushing the passer must be 7 yards from the LOS when the ball is snapped. Before each play, an official will mark the 7 yd rush line.
Article 2. THERE IS NO IMPEDING THE RUSHER PENALTY. The rusher must rush with caution and avoid running into any offensive player. Running into an offensive player will result in an Illegal contact penalty or an unnecessary roughness penalty pending the severity of the collision.
Article 3. If a rusher leaves the rush line early, the rusher must return to the rush line, reset and then legally rush the passer.
Article 4. Players not rushing the passer may defend on the line of scrimmage, but may not enter the backfield unless the ball is handed off.
Article 5. Players rushing the passer may not attempt to block the pass by raising their arms/hands once they cross the LOS. Penalty will result in a 5 yd penalty.
SECTION 9: PENALTIES
Article 1. The referee will call all penalties. They will determine incidental contact that may result from normal run of play. This is considered a judgement call.
Article 2. Players may not question calls. Only coaches may ask the referee questions about rule clarifications or interpretations.
Article 3. All penalties will be assessed from the LOS, except for spot fouls.
Article 4. Games cannot end on a defensive penalty unless the offense declines. If the distance to the goal is shorter than the penalty yardage, then the penalty will be assessed half the distance to the goal.
Article 5. Loss of down on the fourth down results in a turnover on downs and the other team taking possession.
Article 6. Respect the call. Referees are human and therefore not perfect. They will do their best to call all that they see, but they may miss a few. Always be respectful in dealing with the referees and be great examples to your kids.
SECTION 10: DEFENSIVE PENALTIES
Article 1. +5 yds from LOS & automatic 1st down: Offside, Illegal rush, Illegal flag pull, Holding, Stripping.
Article 2. +10 yds & automatic 1st down: Defensive pass interference, roughing the passer, Unnecessary roughness, and Unsportsmanlike conduce.
SECTION 11: OFFENSIVE PENALTIES
Article 1. -5yds from LOS & Loss of down: Offside/False start, illegal forward pass, illegal motion, delay of game, illegal procedure, flag guarding, screening, blocking, impeding the rusher.
Article 2. -10 yds & loss of down: Charging, Taunting, Unsportsmanlike Conduct and Unnecessary roughness
Article 3. The offense/defense may choose to decline or accept a penalty. They can opt to take the result of the play.
Article 4. Personal fouls. If a player is called for 2 personal fouls, they will be subjected to immediate ejection and will not be allowed to play in their next game. Unsportsmanlike conduce/unnecessary roughness/roughing the passer are deemed as personal fouls.
SECTION 12: LIVE BALL DEAD BALL
Article 1. The ball must be snapped between the legs at the start of each play. Only the 6u division and QB or center of opposite sex or gender may snap the ball from the side.
Article 2. The ball is ruled “dead” when:
Ball carriers flag is pulled
Ball carriers steps out of bounds
Incomplete pass
Ball hits the ground
Touchdown, PAT, or safety is scored
Ball carriers knee hits the ground including Hiking the ball
Ball carriers flag falls out; defense must conduct a one hand touch to be ruled down.
If a player flags/belt falls out during a play and receives a handoff or a pass the defense must touch the player with one hand to be ruled down.
Article 3. A legal flag pull takes place when the ball carrier is in full possession of the ball. A defensive player may not pull the flags off of a player who does not have possession of the ball.
Article 4. Defenders can dive to pull a ball carriers flag, but CANNOT hold, tackle or run through the ball carrier when attempting to pull their flags.
Article 5. It is illegal to attempt to strip or pull the ball from the ball carrier that has full possession of the ball.
Article 6. Flag guarding is the attempt by the ball carrier to obstruct the defenders access to the flags by stiff arming, dropping the hand, arm, shoulder or head or covering the flags with the football or jersey.
Article 7. There are no fumbles. Ball is spotted where the ball carriers feet were at the time of the fumble.
Article 8. In the case of an inadvertent whistle, the offense has two options: Take the ball where it was when the whistle blew, or replay the down from the original LOS.
SECTOIN 13: OVERTIME
Article 1. Winer of the coin toss will select to be offense or defense first for the overtime period.
Article 2. The offensive team will select to go for a one or two point conversion.
Article 3. After the 1st team goes the opposing team will have a chance to either go for one or two point conversion. If a tie still remains at the end of the 1st overtime they will go to a second overtime period with the opposing team going first.
Article 4. In the second overtime period and so forth both teams will have to go for a two point conversion.
Article 5. If the game get’s to a 3rd overtime the game will be settled with the longest yard. Each team will have one play to gain as much yards as possible. The team that gains the most yards wins.
SECTION 14: COACHES/PARENTS CODE OF CONDUCT
Article 1. COACHES AND PARENTS WILL BE HELD TO THE HIGHEST OF STANDARDS. CURSING, THREATENING, OR ANY SIMILAR TYPE OF BEHAVIOR TOWARDS THE REFEREES, STAFF, OR OPPONENTS WILL RESULT IN AN IMMEDIATE TERMINATION OF YOUR TEAM FROM THIS TOURNAMENT AND ANY FUTURE DRIP MISSION EVENTS FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. THIS EVENT IS FOR THE KIDS. NOT THE PARENTS OR THE COACHES. PLEASE LEAVE YOUR EGO’S AT HOME. COACH AND CHEER APPROPRIATELY AND MAY THE KIDS HAVE FUN AND ENJOY A GREAT, FUN, COMPETITIVE TOURNAMENT.
