TEAMS 

Pee Wee 5 max / 4 to start / Min 4 to complete
Junior 6 max / 4 to start / Min 4 to complete
Intermediate 5 max / 4 to start / Min 4 to complete

Grace 
Period          

10 Minutes (First game only) No Grace Period for Second Game
Failure to start a game at referees’ command may result in a forfeit by one
or both teams. 

LENGTH 

OF 

GAMES

(4) 10 minute - Running Clock except for time outs and during the following
     times: 
Time Outs - (2) 60 second per team, per half >no carryover.          
Official time-outs are not called for equipment repair or for bringing in the
ball. 
OT = 1 Time Out. 
Clock  Stops last (2) minutes of the second and fourth quarters for Punting
plays and as in regulation tackle football (incompletion, out-of-bounds).
Restart after first downs, penalties, injuries, change of possession, and
dead balls, once the ball has been set. 

Coin Toss          

Visitors call coin toss. 
Winner has choice of goals, to receive or kick, or defer. 
Second half, the loser has choice to receive or kick. 
Exception, if a team defers, they will have the choice in the second half.          
Note: Inform Coaches that deferring may result in an opponent RECEIVING
        Kick-Off to start BOTH halves
Teams must switch sides for 2nd half. (at Half Time)

Tech Area

3 Feet beyond Bench
Only two Coaches, with current Badges, are allowed in Tech Area or on the
Coaches side of the field No Badge - No Participation. If a team does
not have a “badged-up” adult or approved youth volunteer coaching the
game will result in a forfeit. City Staff may fill in to avoid forfeiture.

Coaching

Coach on Field permitted ... All Divisions 
MAY NOT converse with players, once offensive line is set until 
the end of the play. Penalty: 5 yds from line of scrimmage. 
         
The Head Coach is the official team representative. Head coach and
his/her staff are responsible for the conduct of her/her spectators. 
Officials may penalize (or even forfeit) a team for undesirable behavior
of its spectators, as determined by the game officials. Spectator Coaching
is NOT allowed. 

Spectators

No one is allowed to be behind the end zones. Spectators must be a
minimum of 6 feet from sidelines. This is a safety + insurance issue and
a preventative measure to minimize spectator interference. Spectators
cannot coach from the sidelines or participate in coaching, during
Time Outs or Half Time.

Huddle 2 
Snap

Must Put Ball in Play - 30 seconds from Marked Ball and Whistle.
No play will start until ball is marked and whistle is blown. 

Neutral 
Zone

5 Yards – All Divisions (Immediate Rush on Snap)

Kick 
Off

 40 yd line all divisions.
 Safety = Kick or Punt at 20 yd Line – 
 Out of Bounds kick-off – 30 yd line to receiving team.
 Touchbacks = Receiving teams 14 yd. line.

Kick Offs must travel a minimum of 10 Yards, before the Kicking Team can
"Down the Ball".

A kickoff is illegal unless it travels 10 yards (or more) OR is touched by the
receiving team. Once touched by the Receiving Team, the kick shall be
treated as legal. Penalty for Kicking Team "Downing the Ball" short of the
10 Yards, will result in the Receiving Team having the option: 
 
A) accept the result of the play 
                    or 
 B) a 5 yard penalty to be applied to the re-kick - Kick to be re-taken from
     KT 35 Yard Line

If the Kicking Team Illegally kicks the ball out of bounds, short of 10 yards,
they will be penalized 5 yards. The Receiving Team will take possession at
RT 35 yard line.  

Kick-off 
Receiving 
Team

Minimum (3) on Their Own 20 Yard Line

OFFENSE

Minimum (1) player (Center) on line of scrimmage. 

DEFENSE

1. The defensive “line of scrimmage” or restraining line is 5 yds in front of
    the ball.
Exception: With less than 5 yards to a 1st Down or to the End Zone, mark
half the distance as the Neutral Zone. 
There MUST be a minimum of 1 Yard Buffer Zone, for safety reasons.

2. A legal “tackle” is made by pulling a flag from the ball carriers flag belt. 
   The defender will hold up the flag for the referee to see. Tying flags
   prohibited. 

3. Defensive player(s) may NOT: - Grab or hold any part of a ball carrier’s
   body or clothing or Tackle the ball carrier. 

4. If a ball carrier is missing a flag, the defense merely has to one hand
   touch the ball carrier anywhere between the shoulders and waist to
   make a legal “tackle.” 

5. Defensive players must go around a screen blocker. The defender may
   only touch the screen blocker to keep balance: pushing, pulling, or sliding
   across a screen blocker is not permitted. 

6. Roughing the passer is defined as: when momentum carries the
   rusher(s) into the quarterback’s arm or body. 

7. A defensive player who intercepts in the end zone may either down the
   ball for a touchback or advance the ball at own risk. 

8. Safety - the team charged with a safety will either kick
   (from the tee or ground) or punt the ball from their 20 yd. line. 

SUBSTITUTIONS 

Failure to 
comply with this 
rule may result in 
forfeiture of the 
game and/or 
suspension of 
the Coach for 
one game

Quarters ONLY ... NO substitutions during quarters, except for Injuries or
Disiplinary Actions. 
All participants must play at least one entire quarter in each half...
(Half of each half)

If a player is injured, the opposing Coach will choose the replacement
Player. As soon as the Injured/Disiplined Player is healthy enough to
re-enter, swap him/her back and bring the Player that replaced him/her
back to the sideine 

Late Player(s) 
After Start/Prior to 2nd quarter = must play 2nd quarter and at least
(1) quarter in 2nd half. 
         
After 2nd /Prior to 3rd must play at least (1) quarter in 2nd half. > 

After 3rd quarter start/Prior to 4th must play 4th quarter. 
         
EXCEPTIONS: A referee and opposing coach are notified, prior to the game,
that a player is sick, injured, or being disciplined by the league, or game
official. 

EQUIPMENT 

AND 

UNIFORMS 

Mouth Piece          
Manditory

Players must wear City jerseys with numbers tucked in player’s shorts at
ALL times. 
   No jewelry or hair clips or sunglasses. Prescription eyeglasses must be
   secured. 
   NO bandanas or Hats with solid brim or beenie.
   No Earrings and NO ... Tape over is not allowed.          
   Molded cleats or tennis shoes. NO Metal spikes, screw-in or squared off
   molded cleats. 
   Long sleeves/ long pants allowed in cold weather under official uniform. 
   NO Clothing that conceals flag (prohibited).          
   Examples - players shorts same or similar color as flags, thick stripes on
   shorts that are the same or similar color as flags; 
   No pockets or belt loops 
   Only elbow and kneepads allowed. Taping of pads or body not permitted.          
   Mouthpiece - Mandatory (EXCEPT THE INSTRUCTIONAL DIVISION.) 
   No hard casts. Soft casts must be approved by the officials.
   Medical ID - Wrist = ¼” pad + tape / Chest = Taped - 
   All MUST be FLUSH to body. MUST STILL BE SAFE in Referee's opinion

SCORING

Touchdown = 6 Points
Safety = 2 Points
Extra Points – 3yd = 1 Point / 10yd = 2 Points / 20yd = 3 Points 

RULES OF PLAY 

Kick Off point - 40 yd line all divisions. 
All kicks from either a tee or the ground only. Kicking tee must be placed
at least 10 yards from each sideline. No Onside Kicks. 
         
Receiving team is always in possession of a kick-off. 
(However, if the receiving team tries to lateral the ball or it deflects off of
an Offensive Player, and the kicking team catches the ball before it hits the
ground, the kicking team will have possession of the ball). 

Out of Bounds kick-off – 30 yd Line placement for receiving team.
         
Kick-off receiving team must have 3 players on their own 20-yd line until
ball is kicked off. 
        
A kick-off receiver may advance a kick-off that is caught on the fly or
picked up on bounces. 

A kick-off receiver may not advance a kick-off: If the receiver muffs the
ball and the ball hits the ground. The ball is dead where it first hits ground. 
         
If the ball is touched by the receivers teammate(s) and the ball hits the
ground the ball is dead where it hits the ground. 

If a bouncing ball is downed by the kicking team, kicking team cannot down
ball until the ball hits the ground. 

As soon as kick-off receiver fields the ball, all screening rules go into effect 
         
         Touchbacks = Receiving teams 14 yd. line. 
         
         First Down - Team reaches a 20 yd. Marker in (4) downs or less.          
         
OFFENSE - minimum (1) players on line of scrimmage. (Center)          
All offensive players must be in the huddle between plays. 

Officials must be notified of all “No huddle” situations. Referee will notify
defensive coach. Once first play is completed and referees spots ball and
blows whistle, offense may run second play without huddle. 
         
All offensive players are eligible receivers. 

Receivers (or defenders) must have one foot in bounds to catch pass. 
If a player while on knee(s), catches ball - legal catch but play is dead at
spot of catch. 
        
Only one forward pass is permitted per down, regardless of whether or
not they are still behind the line of scrimmage. 

Pass or lateral to teammate who’s even with or behind the ball carrier is
permitted, regardless of whether the ball is ahead of or behind the line of
scrimmage. 

Any player may hand the ball forward or backward at anytime. 
         
A ball carrier may NOT: 
Stiff arm - 
Shield flags in any way - 
Slap a defender reaching for ball carrier's flag(s) - 
Jump into an opponent - 
Dive to avoid having flag(s) pulled - 
Charge into a defender who has established position 
(defined as not trying to avoid a defender)

NOTE: Contact may occur. It is the referee's judgment if contact was
           caused by ball carrier, defender or incidental contact (no penalty).

The center may receive a hand-off - if the hand-off is completed
at least 1 yd. behind the line of scrimmage. 
NO QUARTERBACK SNEAKS

All Snaps (except Pee Wee) from center must be caught in the air. 

A snap that bounces before it gets to intended player is down at the spot
where it first hit the ground. The down is not replayed. 
         
Quarterbacks (except Pee Wee) must be at least 2 yards back from the
center. 
         
A fumble or free ball will be dead at the spot where it first hits the ground
and will belong to the team that last had possession. The play counts and
down will advance as usual. 

When a returnee muffs a punt or kick-off, the ball immediately will be dead
at the spot where the ball first hit the ground after being touched by the
returnee. 
If the ball first hits in the end zone, after the returnee touches the ball,
a touchback will be awarded. In both cases, the ball belongs to the
returnee’s team. 
         
Forward fumbles are not allowed. Sometimes a ball carrier will intentionally "fumble”
the ball forward in an attempt to gain extra yardage or a first down. In this situation, the ball
will be returned to the spot where the ball carrier “lost possession” of the ball. 

If a defender should catch the ball before the ball hits the ground, the ball
would belong to the defense. If the ball is fumbled forward into the end
zone, the play will result in a touchback for the opposing team. 

PUNTING 
         

1. A punt must be announced and completed during the 30 seconds allotted
   to snap the ball. 
   (5 yard Penalty) It is offensive coach’s responsibility to advise the referee. 

2. The punter picks up ball at line of scrimmage, then proceeds to punt ball.          
    No part of the punter's body may cross the scrimmage line when making
    the punt.  The punting team must stay behind the line of scrimmage
    until the punt is away. 

3. There is no minimum number of players that need to be on the
   defensive scrimmage line when receiving a punt. The defense may not
   block a punt. 
NOTE: During last 2 minutes of a half, the clock will be stopped for all
          punting plays. 

4. Quick-kick - The offense may quick-kick on 1st, 2nd, or 3rd down by
    lining up in regular offensive formation and announcing to the official
    that they are punting. 

    All players will not move until the punt is away. 

PENALTIES 

5 Yards Loss

A. Dead Ball Fouls;
    Delay of Game - Encroachment - False Start - Illegal Snap 

B. Live Ball Fouls;
    Illegal Equipment - Substitution Infraction - Illegal Motion - Illegal Shift -
    Intentional Grounding* - Illegal Forward Pass* 
         
         *=Loss of Down 

PENALTIES 

10 Yard Loss

Illegal Player equipment - Quick Kick - Two or more encroachment
penalties - 
Offensive Pass Interference**,  Defensive Pass Interference, 
Illegally secured flag belt*** - Unsportsmanlike Conduct - Stripping the ball
-  Illegal Contact - Hurdling - Roughing the Passer** - 
Illegal Screen Blocking - Flag Guarding - Illegal Participation - Unfair Acts 
         
*=Loss of Down 
         **=Automatic first down 
         ***=Loss of Down on Offense, Automatic First down on Defense 
         
Loss of 10 yards PLUS Ejection
         Flagrant Unsportsmanlike Conduct 
         Flagrant Personal Fouls 
         Illegally Securing Flag Belt 
         All Penalties may be declined, 
         except player disqualification and forfeit          

OVERTIME

(None for Regular Season Games. 
Games finish as they end, even if it's a tie.) 

Procedure:
Each team begins at 20 yard line, with up to four plays to score more
points or gain more yards than the opposing team to win the game.
If a team turns the ball over (i.e. interception) all yards gained prior to turnover
are nullified. Once a team gains more yards than the other team, that team
wins, and the game is over. For example, team one runs four plays and 
gains 10 yards. Team two runs one play and gains 11 yards, the game is
over, and team two wins. It is not necessary to run all four plays to win the
game. 
All penalty yardage gained by team offensive is included when determining
what team gained more yardage.