2013 Rules

GENERAL RULES

1.      BLOCKING: No contact above the shoulders or below the waist. No high blocks or low blocks. 10yd penalty from the spot of the foul and an automatic 1^st down. Player may be ejected.

2.      CAPTAINS: Each team will have a field captain who speaks to the refs to discuss certain penalties.

3.      CHARGING: Charging is when an offensive player lowers his shoulders in an attempt to run through a defensive player. Play is dead at the spot of the foul. At no point during the game is this allowed. Unless player is running the sidelines and is about to get hit out of bounds.

4.      CHUCKING: Chucking off the line is permitted within 5 yards from the line of scrimmage.

5.      CLIPPING: clipping is contact to the back of an opponent who is not the runner. Play will end at the spot of the foul.

6.      DIVING: Diving is illegal (except to pull a flag). Ball is dead at the spot where the player left the ground. Player can only dive into the Endzone if there is no defensive player near him. (dive to celebrate a TD)

7.      FIGHTING: Fighting is not allowed for any reason. Team Owners are responsible for the players they bring into the league. Players will be ejected from the league and the teams will be fined $100.oo which is due before their next game. If the money is not paid the team will forfeit their games until it is. If the money is not paid, then the players and owners will not be permitted to participate in the league. Fine will continue to add on with every forfeit.

8.      FLAGS: Flags are to be worn by every player. They must be worn and kept on either side of the players hips. Cannot be kept in the front or in the rear of a player. Players cannot have their jerseys cover their flags. Flags must be approved by the majority of the team owners. Team owners that do not show up for the owners meeting forfeit their right to vote on anything. Those players are considered to be ineligible to receive the ball and the play will be incomplete.

9.      FLAGS FALLS OFF: Revert to 1 hand touch If the player’s flags fall off by accident. Defensive players cannot pull opponents flags until the offensive player at least touches the ball.

10.  FLAG GUARDING: Illegal use of hands to keep opponents from pulling your flag is illegal. You can smack an opponent’s hands down or stiff arm but you cannot hold on to your flag in order to keep it from getting pulled. Play is dead at the spot of the foul.

11.  MOTION: Only one man can be put in motion at a time. Player must set for at least 1 second before the ball is snapped. Play will not count, and the down is repeated. Player cannot turn up the filed until ball is snapped.

12.  OUT OF BOUNDS: Player must have 2 feet in bounds and possession of the ball in order for it to be considered a legal catch. Stepping on the line is considered being out of bounds and player can be pushed out to make the pass incomplete.

13.  FALSE STARTS: On the Offensive line only. Any movement made by the Oline, or TE, will result in a False Start penalty and a 5 yard penalty and replay of down. Play will be blown dead.

14.  ENCROACHMENT: If anyone from the defensive line passes the neutral zone, (1 foot away from the line of scrimmage), before the ball is snapped, may result in a 5 yard penalty and replay of down, that can be refused by the Offense. (play will not be whistle dead) If the defense jumps pass the neutral zone and causes the offensive line to jump,  or touches an i=offensive player,will also cause for an encroachment penalty. The play will be called dead and 5 yards will the penalty. Defense cannot pass the neutral zone.

15.  PASS INTERFERENCE: Impeding a player from catching the ball. Both players have the right to make a play for the ball. You cannot use both hands to pull; push off, or keep a player from raising his hands to make an effort to catch the ball. Face guarding (putting your hands up and not looking back) is considered pass interference. You have to look back and make an effort to catch the ball. A defensive player cannot try to play through an offensive player in an  attempt to intercept the ball. If he hits the offensive player in a manner that can cause a injury, the defensive player may be ejected from the game. Penalty is a first down, and 10 yards / half the distance to the goal, from the spot of the foul. If the players make accidental contact, ie tangled feet, that will not be considered a penalty. That is considered incidental contact and will not result in a penalty.

16.  QUARTERBACKS: The quarterback must receive the ball from the center. It is illegal for the defense to touch the center’s arm unless the ball is snapped. If the center picks up the ball to simulate a snap (after he adjusts the ball) it will be considered a snap and the ball will now be live. 

17.  ROSTER: Each team should have a full roster by the beginning of the season. They should have an 8 man roster at the very least by the end of May. No additions are to be made to any roster without the league’s permission. No addtions after week 2. Any teams that are found to add people to their rosters will forfeit any wins on their records ( or next 2 games). And must cut their roster back. Each player is reguired to have a jersey with their own name on it. Players without jerseys cannot take the field.

18.  ILLEGAL USE OF HANDS: Defenders cannot reach over the top of an offensive lineman and grab their jersey to pull them away from the line. This will result in a penalty of 5yds and a replay of the down. ( OFFENSIVE LINEMEN ARE ALLOWED TO USE THEIR HANDS BUT ONLY TO THE INSIDE OF THE OPPONENT SHOULDERS. HE IS ALLOWED TO HOLD BUT ONLY IF HE USES THIS TECHNIQUE. ONCE HIS HANDS GO TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE OPPONENT'S SHOULDERS, IT WILL BE CALLED A HOLDING PENALTY AND COST THE OFFENSE 5 YRDS)

19.  ROUGHING THE PASSER: Hitting the quarterback if the ball is not tipped is roughing the passer. Any late hit. Play will result in an automatic first down. Ball will not move. First down marker may be adjusted if needed. Quarterback can be treated as a running back and attempts to strip the ball from his hands are allowed. One attempt and you can not grab onto his jersey. Hitting the Quarterback to cause him to hit the floor is illegal.

20.  RUNNER: Runner is not allowed to lower his shoulders unless he is protecting himself from a hit on the sidelines. The play will end at the spot of the foul. If the runner does it more than once, he will be ejected from the game. And suspension may follow.

21.  STIFF ARMS: Stiff arms are legal. Stiff arms are to be kept between the shoulders and now lower than the waist. Play will end at the spot of the foul if it looks intentional. Any stiff arm that reaches the neck and/or face will cause the play to stop at the spot of the foul and a 10 yrd penalty from the spot of the foul. If it looks intentional, player may be ejected.

22.  STRIPPING THE BALL: Stripping is only legal if you can strip the ball in one full motion. No holding on or trying to wrestle the ball away. It will be considered to be holding and will result in a 10 yard penalty from the spot of the foul.

23.  TACKLING: Tackling is illegal. If it’s done to prevent a touchdown, then the touchdown will be good. If a hold is done to prevent a touchdown, then the touchdown will be recorded. Tackling may also result in ejection from the game. You can not pull a player’s jersey down in order to get him to the ground.

24.  TRIPPING: tripping is illegal. Play will result in a 1^st down.

25.  HOLDING: Holding is illegal. It will result in a 10yd penalty.

26.  KICK OFFS: kick offs are live. Ball must pass mid field, before making contact with the ground, in order for the kicking team to be eligible to gain possession of the loose ball. If it doesn’t reach mid field, the kicking team must move back to nearest cone and kick it from there. They will continue to move back until they are throwing from their own endzone.

27.  UNSPORTMAN LIKE CONDUCT: Any disruption that a player may cause that a delay of play. Disrespecting a referee in any manner. This will result in a 5 yd penalty and/ or player ejection. No player(s) can come off of the sideline to confront a opposing player or ref for any reason. Player may be ejected and a delay of game will be called and will result in a 5 yard penalty. Any team owner(s) that cannot control their teams may cause their teams to be disqualified and forfeit rules will apply. Refs have the final say so and their calls will be respected and followed. Any disagreements with the refs will not be tolerated. Captains and Team Owners are the only players allowed to discussed penalties with the refs.

28.  SIDELINE HITS: Sideline hits are allowed but the runner must be at very least, a foot away from the sidelines. Any hits towards the middle of the field or further than a foot away from the sidelines will result in a illegal contact and may result in a 5 yard penalty from the spot of the foul. And replay of down.

29.  HUDDLES: Offenses have 25 seconds from the spot of the ball to snap the ball. Penalty is 5 yds and repeat of the down.

30.  SCHEDULES: All teams are required to finish out their ENTIRE schedules. Failure to do so will result in forfeiting any and all awards your players may have gotten.

31.  NEW SCORING SYSTEM: TDs are 6 points no longer 1. You can go for 2 from the first cone with 1 attempt. If you fail in your attempt than you will stay with just 6 points. If you decide not to go for it, you will receive an extra point to bring your score to 7. Games will be an hour long.

32.  SAFETY: Tackling (flag pull) of an opponent in their own endzone will result in a safety and 2 points awarded to the defense. They will no longer need to score from the first cone. And they will receive the ball back via kickoff.

33.  FORFEITS: Not showing up for games or showing up to the field 15 minutes late will result in an instant loss. Teams will be fined 50.oo for the first 2 games. Not showing up or showing up late for your 3^rd game will result in being thrown out of the league. Team owners and players will not be allowed to come back into the league. Teams must have atleast 8 players with flags on their hips and ready to play before the 15 minutes are up. Once the field is set up Teams will have 15 minutes to take the field. Delays will not be tolerated.

34.  REFEREES WILL HAVE THE POWER TO EJECT ANY PLAYER FROM THE PLAYING FIELD. THEY CAN RECOMMEND FOR ANY PLAYER TO GET KICKED OUT OF THE LEAGUE. THAT DECISION WILL BE MADE THE LEAGUE OWNER AND WILL BE FOLLOWED THROUGH WITHOUT ANY HESITATION. REFEREES WILL BE PAID BEFORE THE GAMES START.