I. Eligibility & Roster
- Eligibility: Players in grades K--8th as of the current school year.
- Players may only play on their one assigned team. Players are not allowed to play in more than one division or with more than one team per season
- A team must begin the game with no less than four (4) players. Teams will not be penalized if there is more than four players present, but the opposing team is not required to reduce number of players. If a team has less than 4 players, the game will be considered a forfeit and game can then be played as a scrimmage. Forfeits will be scored as 30-0.
II. Equipment
- Field is 30 yards wide and 50 yards long, including the 5 yard end zones (this may be modified due to fields)
- The offensive team provides the ball
- Kindergarten - 4th Grade will use Pee-Wee football.
- 5th - 6th Grade will use Junior football
- 7th – 8th Grades will use Youth football
- All Players must wear a mouthguard.
- Shorts worn by players may not have pockets or pockets must be tapped.
- No other material or items may be hanging on the player shirt or shorts (i.e. towels)
- The flag belts (not the flags themselves) must be secured to ensure they do not hang appearing to be a flag
- Officials may ban any equipment that they deem as unsafe or illegal.
- Shirts must be tucked in, No metal cleats
- Shorts and flag should have distinguishing colors as not to confuse opposing teams.
III. 6 v 6 Game Format
- Field is 30 yards wide and 50 yards long, including the 5 yard end zones (estimated).
- Games are six (6) vs six (6)
- All players are eligible!
- Two (2) 20-minute running clock halves, five (5) minute break at half-time) Time may be modified for playoffs
- Each possession starts at the five (5) yard line after scores, turnover on downs and/or halftime.
- Thirty (30) second play clock (45 second play clock for K-2nd Grade Division)
- The offensive team has three (3) downs to get a first down at mid-field, then four (4) downs to score once they have crossed mid- field.
- The clock will only stop for time-outs and injuries (it does not stop for incomplete passes, out of bounds, change of possession)
- 1 MINUTE WARNING The clock will also stop in the final one (1) minute of the game on incompletion, out of bounds, change of possessions, extra point attempts, QB sack & kneel downs and penalties. If it’s an offensive penalty the clock will start on the official unless dead ball foul.
- If a timeout is called after a touchdown, the clock will not start until the play after the conversion attempt.
- Coin flip determines choice of possession or direction (winning team can elect to defer to the 2nd half)
- Two (2) 30-second timeouts per half and Teams switch sides at halftime
- In the case of inclement weather during a game, a score will be final if one half of a game has been played. If less than one half have been played the game will be rescheduled and played in its entirety with the score returning to 0-0.
IV. Scoring
- Touchdowns = 6 points.
- Extra Point (5 yard line) = 1 pt.
- Extra Point (10 yard line) = 2 pts.
- Safety = 2 pts.
- A turnover during an extra point attempt returned for a score by the defense will result in the score of the point attempted by the offense. (1pt for 1pt and 2pt for 2pt).
- CATCHUP RULE or MERCY RULE - If a team is up by 30 or more they only have 2 downs to get a first down and 2 downs to score until that point difference is trimmed below 30 pts. Then regular game rules apply. The team that is behind by 30 or more points will start their offensive possession at the +10 yard line and get 4 downs to score. If the point difference is trimmed below 30 pts, then regular game rules apply.
V. Divisional Basic Rules
- 1st-2nd Grade Division Rules & Goals
- UNLIMITED Runs (Can run on extra point and within the 5 yard line)
- 45 second play clock
- ONE coach on the field for both offense and defense, but since our focus is developmental in this division, we will allow additionally coaches on the field to help direct players appropriately for the first 3 weeks, one coach starting week 4, this can be modified by discretion of the league.
- In this division, we want to get the players lined up properly and running in the right direction. We want to be flexible with the rules and teach the players the proper fundamentals of football. The Deception Rule will be in effect to help with the integrity of the passing game for both offense and defense. We want to be sure that we provide adequate time to get both offense and defensive players lined up before the ball snapped. If necessary, the referee will delay putting the ball down until both sides are ready. We expect the pace to become quicker as the seasons goes on.
- Player must snap the ball (side snap is acceptable)
- 3rd-4th Grade Division Rules & Goal
- 30 second play clock
- ONE run per offensive possession
- NO runs 5yds from the End Zone
- NO runs on extra points
- ONE Coach is allowed on the field for both offense and defense
- In this division we want to encourage the teams to start focusing on passing the ball more than running the ball. The Deception Rule will be in effect to help with the integrity of the passing game for both offense and defense. We want the players to start applying proper QB, WR, and DB fundamentals in the passing game.
- Player must snap the ball between legs
- 5th-8th Grade Division Rules & Goals
- 30 second play clock
- NO Runs
- NO Coach allowed on the field
- n this division we make the transition into an every-down is a pass play or a scaled down version of HS 7v7 pass game. We want the players to start working on their skills as a QB, WR, and DB that they have learned from their coach and apply it in a fun, competitive format.
VI. 6 v 6 Basic Game Rules
- Each possession starts at the 5 yard line after scores, turnover on downs and/or halftime.
- Interceptions can be returned for a Touchdown, if intercepting teams flag is pulled before the end zone then possession will begin where the defender is flagged. (Interceptions that occur between the 5yd line and the end of the end zone and the defensive player either falls or is de-flagged in this area, the ball will be spotted at the 5 yd line (going out).
- If there is a bad snap, the ball is dead, placed at the LOS and a loss of down, but NO loss of yardage. A bad snap in the End Zone will NOT result in a safety. Possession is the key element when determining a bad snap or fumble.
- Center cannot take a handoff from the QB & snapped ball has to pass between the center’s legs EXCEPTION K-2nd Grade Division.
- The person who receives the snap from the center is deemed the Quarterback regardless of where they line up.
- The ball is spotted where the runner’s feet are when the flag is pulled, not where the ball carrier has the ball. Forward progress will be measured by the player’s front foot.
- Only one player is allowed in motion at a time. A motion player does NOT need to stop, prior to the snap of the ball. (lateral to the LOS, Canadian football style is not allowed).
- Three (3) Players must be on or near the LOS or it is an Illegal Formation. The center counts as one (1) player on the LOS.
- A receiver must have one (1) foot in bounds when making a reception (but can not have the other foot planted on the ground out of bounds
- Defensive players must start two (2) yards off the LOS. The exception to this rule is that the defender can defend the end zone goal line and the mid field yard line.
- No leaping or diving with the ball (if a player dives, the ball will be spotted where the runner left his feet)
- Absolutely no tackling or blocking (stationary pick is allowed but player cannot move)
- NO RUSHING THE QUARTERBACK! Unless the QB fakes a handoff which will trigger a defensive player to cross the LOS and rush the QB.
- Deception Rule: Defensive players can cross the line of scrimmage when a handoff, fake handoff or backward pass has occurred. This deception rule is applied to define the integrity of the LOS and developing of the passing game for both offense and defense. This rule applies to ALL Divisions.
- Games cannot end on a defensive penalty
- We do not use instant replay in any form. No photos or videos shall be used to contest or overturn an official's ruling during the game.
IX. Inadvertent Whistle
- If there is an inadvertent whistle during a play, the offense has the choice of either the result of the play at the point the whistle was blown or replaying the down.
- If there is an inadvertent whistle during a passing play and the ball is in flight, the down is replayed.
- The half or game cannot end of an inadvertent whistle. This would be an untimed down.
X. League Seeding
In case of a tie for award positions at the conclusion of the season, the following tie-breaker procedure will be used:
- Head-to-head results between teams tied. If all tied teams did not play head-to-head games against each other, head-to-head results will not be considered and tie breaker c will be used.
- If teams split in head-to-head matches, points against in those matches will be used.
- If teams are still tied, points against in all league matches for the teams tied will be used.
- If teams are still tied after the first three tie breakers a coin flip
- After first place team has been determined, revert back to “a” (above) to determine second place from remaining teams tied.