Field & Game Set-up

• Games shall be comprised of (2) 20 minute running time halves with a 5 minute halftime (45 minutes total)

  • There shall be NO overtime during the regular season

  • There will be a running clock except for the last 2 minutes of the game where the clock will stop on all scores/changes of possession, incomplete passes and out of bounds.

• Fields will be approximately 40 yards long with a 10 yard end-zone

  • 6-7-8th grade teams will play on a standard width field

  • 3-4-5th grade teams may shorten width of the field

• First team listed shall be the visitors and wear WHITE; second teams listed shall be home and wear their COLOR. 

• Teams shall line up on the SAME side of the field

  • HOME (dark jersey) Team shall sit between the 10-20 yard lines

  • AWAY (white jersey) Team shall sit between the 30-40 yard lines

Teams & Season

• Prior to the season there will be a player combine for all registered players

• After the combine teams will be formed with the following considerations:

  • Teams will be drafted by head coaches

  • Competitive balance is of the utmost importance

  • All teams are to be Coed to the fullest extent possible

  • All teams will have an appropriate age distribution within the team

• Athletes will be divided evenly into teams with roughly 8-10 players per team

• Regular season will consist of 8 weeks (weather pending)

  • Games will be played on Sunday evenings at the Triangle Football Complex.

  • Games will be played on Saturdays around Spring Break and Mother’s and Father’s Day

• Playoffs will be after the regular season

  • All teams will make the playoffs

Player Equipment

• Each player will be given a reversible NFL Jersey

• All players MUST wear sneakers or standard athletic cleats (metal cleats are NOT permitted)

• It is recommended that all players wear mouth guards

• Flags are to be positioned outside the jersey with the flag sockets angled outward.

• Players are permitted to wear gloves, elbow &/or knee pads at their discretion

• Players are permitted to wear soft helmets at their discretion

  • Standard tackle football helmets are NOT permitted

• Players MUST remove all jewelry

• Only prescription glasses or sunglasses are permitted

Basic Game Rules

• Each team shall field (7) players on the field

• Visiting team shall call the coin toss

  • Winner of the coin toss can elect to play offense or defense in the first half

• At the start of the game, start of the half and at each change in possession the ball will start on the 40 yard line going into the endzone

  • An interception will result in a change of possession and the offense will assume the ball at the 40 yard line going into the endzone

  • If an interception is returned for a touchdown the original offense will retain the ball on the 40 yard line

• First down can be obtained at the 20 yard line, or by penalty

• Teams have (4) downs to make the line to gain (or score)

• Teams shall have 30-seconds between plays

• Teams are allowed (1) timeout per half, the game clock will stop

• (1) Offensive and (1) Defensive coach will be allowed in the huddle

• Teams are required to play all players the same number of snaps throughout the game

Offense Rules

• General & Formations

  • Offense shall be comprised of the following positions:

    • (1) - Center

    • (1) - QB

    • (5) – Receivers/ Backs

  • All players (excluding quarterback) are eligible to catch a pass

  • There is NO blocking

  • (3) Players, including the center, must be on the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped

  • Only 1 player may be in motion prior to the snap of the ball

    • Motion CANNOT be made towards the line of scrimmage 

  • Snaps can be shot-gun between the legs or shot-gun side snap

  • Once the ball is snapped the QB has (4) seconds to pass or hand-off the ball

    • After (4) seconds the ball is dead on the LOS

    • Delayed hand-offs are not permitted

  • Once a player is in possession of the ball beyond the LOS all offense players are to remain motionless

    • Picks, screens or blocking is NOT permitted

• Running:

  • The QB is NOT permitted to run the ball past the line of scrimmage

  • The center is NOT permitted to run the ball.  The center is eligible for a pass.

  • The ball may NOT be handed off and then passed

  • Only one run play permitted per 4 down series

  • The ball may only be handed off ONE time per play from scrimmage

    • Once a runner is past the line of scrimmage the ball cannot be handed off.  No laterals.

  • There is a “NO RUNNING ZONE” 5 yards from the end-zone & first down marker 

  • Once the ball is handed off all defensive players are eligible to rush

  • Ball carriers are NOT permitted to leave their feet (no diving or jumping to avoid a defender)

  • A fumbled ball is dead where the ball is dropped

• Receiving:

  • All players (excluding quarterback) are eligible to catch a pass 

  • A player must have (1) foot in bounds for a legal catch

  • Interceptions are returnable

  • Once a receiver catches the ball they become a runner (see rules above)

Defense Rules

• General & Formations

  • The defense may play zone or man-to-man defense

• Blitzing

  • There will be NO blitzing

• Dead Balls

• A play is over when:

  • Ball carrier flag is pulled

  • Ball carrier steps out of bounds

  • Ball carrier falls to the ground

  • Ball carrier knee hits the ground

  • Ball carrier crosses the end zone

  • Ball is fumbled or touches the ground

  • Play reaches 4-seconds and the QB is still in possession of the ball

Scoring

• Touchdown – 6 points

• Extra Points – (ball on the 5 yard line) – 1 point

  • No run plays

• Extra Points – (ball on the 10 yard line) – 2 points

• Interception – 3 points

  • No points on an interception of a PAT

• Interception Returned for a Touchdown – 6 points + 3 points for the interception

  • No PAT’s after a Defensive Touchdown

• Turnover on Downs – 2 points

Roster Considerations on Game Day

• 7 v 7 is the standard number of players

• If one team has 6 players, the game will be played 6 v 6.

• If one team has 5 players, the game will be played 5 v 6.

• If one team has fewer than 5 players, the game will be a forfeit.

• In all cases where there are less than 7 players, the coach with the higher number of players may allow non-rostered players to play in the game.

• It is suggested to reduce the size of the field for 6 v 6 and highly recommended for 5 v 5.

Penalties

Defensive Penalties: