8v8 Rules 

 

 Approved field sizes may fluctuate from 100-120 yards long when necessary, or 50-53 yards wide. Endzones should not be shorter than 9 yards.

 

Article 2. Zone lines-to-gain markers are located at the 20-, 40-, 40-, and 20-yard lines on a 100-yard field.

 

Article 3. If an 80-yard field is used, line-to-gain markers are located on the 20-, 40-, and 20-yard lines.

Article 4. Offensive teams have four downs to successfully advance to the next zone-line-to-gain and earn a new set of downs. 

 

SECTION 2. THE GAME

 

Article 1. Game Time is FORFEIT TIME – upon approval by an FFWCT director

 

Article 2. Minimum 6 players to start a game. May only have up to 8 players on the field at any one time.

 

Article 3. A coin toss determines 1st possession. The team can elect to have offense, defense, defer or direction.

 

Artical 4. Choice in the 2nd half will be awarded to the team that did not have the choice 1st half.

 

Article 5. All players are eligible receivers.

 

Article 6. Mercy Rule: No Mercy Rule during pool play games.  If a team is up by 28 or more points at any time during bracket play, the game will end.

 

SECTION 3. ATTIRE Article 1. Teams also must have the same color shirts and have an alternative color (one dark color/one light color). They do not have to be official uniforms. If both teams are wearing the same color, there will be a coin toss, and the losing team will need to change into a different color. Failure to provide a secondary uniform or unwillingness to change will result in a forfeit.

 

SECTION 4. GAME CLOCK FORMAT Article 

 

1. Games are 40 minutes (two 20 minute halves). Halftime is two minutes. 

 

Article 2. Each team will have two timeouts per half. 8v8 CONTACT 8v8 CONTACT 79 FFWCT.com 

 

Article 3. The clock will run continuously during the first 18 minutes of each half unless a team timeout is used or play is stopped by an official (e.g. deal with an injury, challenge, referee conference, etc.)

 

Article 4. A “stop-clock” will be in effect in the last two minutes of the first and second half, unless the point differential is greater than 17 points in the last two minutes of the second half.

 

Article 5. The head official will give a verbal two-minute warning as close as possible to the actual two-minute mark but will not interrupt a live play. 

 

Article 6. The two-minute warning will stop the clock. 

 

Article 7. The time remaining on the clock will be announced after every play inside the final two minutes of the contest. 

 

Article 8. The clock will not run during point-after-touchdown attempts (PATs) in last two minutes of each half. 

 

Article 9. The play clock is 25 seconds at the officials ready. 

 

RULE 2. OFFENSE SECTION 1. OVERVIEW

 

Article 1. The offensive may not have more than four players in the backfield at the snap.

 

Article 2. Only one offensive player may be in motion at the snap and that motion must be parallel to the line-of-scrimmage. Any player in motion must be moving at least one yard off the line of scrimmage. 

 

Article 3. Players who go in motion do not count as “being on the line”. 

 

Article 4. The ball must be snapped from the ground in a fluid and continuous motion between the center’s legs. 

 

Article 5. There are no required distances between the center and other offensive players on the line. 

 

Article 6. No offensive player may start a play closer than five yards from the sideline.

 

 Article 7. The ball must be snapped while positioned between the hashmarks on a regulation field. If no hashmarks are available, it must be snapped between the width of the goalposts. 

 

SECTION 2. BLOCKING 

 

Article 1. Contact blocking is allowed between the shoulders and waist only (a.k.a. “inside the frame”). Blocking in the back is not allowed. 

 

Article 2. Blockers must be on their feet before, during and after contact is made with their opponents. 

 

Article 3. No contact of any kind is allowed above the shoulders of an opponent. Illegal blocks include: • Leading with the shoulder outside the ‘free blocking zone’ • Low/chop/cut blocks: An attempt by a player to block an opponent at the thigh level or lower. • Crack-back block: A blind-side block on a player by an opponent who starts downfield and then cuts back 8v8 CONTACT FFWCT.com 80 toward the original spot of the ball to make contact. • Blind-side block: Engaging an opponent who does not see the blocker approaching with anything other than fully extended arms and open palms. • Clipping: A player hitting an opponent from behind. • Tripping: A player using their leg or foot to stop an opponent’s forward motion. • Hook or hug block: A player gaining advantage of an opponent by turning or detaining the opponent by illegally tackling or using arms around the body, waist, shoulders or arms. • Rolling blocks: A player on the ground attempting to block or engage an opponent by moving or turning over and over on an axis. • Dive blocks: A player leaving their feet to engage an opponent. • Making contact with an opponent while swinging or flipping hands, arms or elbows. • Slapping, punching, or swinging at an opponent with hands, arms or elbows. • Grabbing or holding an opponent’s jersey while blocking. • Interlocking of blocker’s fingers or hands. • Laying on a downed defender 

 

Article 4. Swim moves (a player using a maneuver similar to a freestyle swimming stroke to get past an opponent) are legal. However, if the swim move results in contact to an opponent above the shoulder (neck, head, or face) it is illegal. Article 

 

5. Downfield blocking for the ball carrier is allowed. Article 6. Blocking downfield while the ball is in the air is pass interference except if the pass is behind the line of scrimmage. Article 

 

7. Two-on-one blocking is permitted as long as both blockers are engaging the opponent above the waist. Article 8. If a player turns to expose their back, it is not an illegal block as long as their opponent maintains contact with the player from the initial block. SECTION 3. RUN PLAYS 

 

Article 1. The quarterback — the player initially receiving the snap — may run to advance the ball at any time. 

 

Article 2. The offense may use multiple backward hand-offs or laterals. Article 3. To execute a center sneak, the ball must completely leave the center’s hands on the snap and they must take at least one step backwards off the line-of-scrimmage before receiving direct hand-off from the quarterback before advancing the ball. 

 

8v8 CONTACT 81 FFWCT.com SECTION 4. 

 

PASS PLAYS 

 

Article 1. Teams can make an unlimited number of backward passes and then throw a forward pass provided the player throwing the ball is behind the line of scrimmage. 

 

RULE 3. DEFENSE SECTION 

 

1. RUSHING Article 1. Defensive lineman may not line up directly in front of an offensive lineman (i.e. head-to head). They must “shade” (face toward each other but shoulder-to-shoulder) to one side or the other of their opponent for safety reasons.. 

 

Article 2. The center is considered a defenseless player while their head is down in the snapping position and cannot be contacted until they assume a blocking position or has fired out into their pattern. 

 

SECTION 2. ROUGHING THE PASSER, KICKER, HOLDER, CENTER Article 

 

1. Defensive players must make a concerted effort to avoid charging into an unprotected player. Article 2. To assist defensive players to avoid unnecessary contact with the passer the covering official will endeavor, but is not required, to announce “balls away” when the ball has left the passer’s hand. 

 

Article 3. In general, defensive players may not “crash” the passer’s throwing arm, shoulder or body even if the ball is touched first. This rules applies to holders and kickers as well. Article 

 

4. An insignificant “brush-by” may be allowed by the referee but is not guaranteed. Article 

 

5. Making contact with the quarterback while blocking a pass or attempting to block a pass may result in a roughing the passer penalty. Article 

 

6. Whether or not a ball is tipped in the air by the defense has no bearing on the play as it applies to fouls (roughing, personal fouls, etc.). Article 

 

7. The defense can knock a pass down, but the ball must have left the passer’s hand. Otherwise this is Stripping. 

 

Article 8. A roughing penalty will not be enforced if a passer initiates contact with a defensive player while in the throwing motion; for example, during the passer’s follow through makes contact with an opponent’s hand, arm, or shoulder. In this instance the energy of the contact is the action of the passer and not the defender. This is a judgment call.  

 

Article 9. It may be a personal foul if the passer’s follow through hand or arm makes contact with an opponent’s head, neck or face. This is a judgement call. 

 

SECTION 3. PASS COVERAGE Article 1. Contacting receivers within the initial five yards from scrimmage is allowed as long as the ball is not in the air. Article 

 

2. Contact within the initial five yards must be continuous (i.e. no “re-loading”) and applied “inside the frame” of the body. 8v8 CONTACT FFWCT.com 82 Article 

 

3. A defender may turn an opponent “off their route” as long as the defender’s hands are “inside the frame”. Article 

 

4. Pass interference normally occurs above the waist; entangled feet are not considered pass interference. 

 

Article 5. Incidental contact is not considered pass interference. 

 

Article 6. A player may “find” their opponent by reaching out and placing a hand on them as long as touching does not delay, impede, twist, or turn their opponent. This is not considered pass interference.  

 

Article 7. Contact away from the direction of the pass is not considered pass interference but may be considered illegal contact Examples of pass interference include: • Shoving or pushing off to create separation. • Playing through the back. • Hook and turn: grabbing the torso and turning an opponent before the pass arrives. • Defender is looking at the receiver and makes significant contact materially impeding the receiver. • Arm bars, hooking, restricting, grabbing wrists, or turning a receiver. • Blocking downfield before the ball has been touched, commonly seen through “pick plays”. • Cutting off the path of a receiver by being in front of them and slowing down or being beside them and “riding” them off there path to the ball. 

 

Article 8. Whether a pass is catchable or uncatchable has no bearing on pass interference. The benefit of the doubt is given to the receiver. 

 

Article 9. A player may use their arms or hands to intentionally obstruct the receiver’s view (face guarding) of the ball without turning their own head to play the ball as long as noteworthy contact is not made with the receiver. 

 

Article 10. The remedy for defensive pass interference is 15-yard and an automatic first down or half the distance to the goal and a first down, even if it occured in the end zone. 

 

Article 11. Interceptions may be returned. 

 

Article 12. Interceptions in the end zone that are not returned to the field of play will result in a touchback and the ball will be spotted on the 20-yard line. 

 

RULE 4. KICKING SECTION 1. KICK OFFS Article 1. The kicking team will kick from their 40-yard line unless moved by penalty. Article 

 

2. Teams have one minute from the end of PAT attempts to execute kick offs. 

 

Article 3. All players of the kicking team must start with one foot on the kicking line with the exception of the kicker (i.e. there is no ‘run up’ allowed). 

 

Article 4. The receiving team’s restraining line will be 10-yards from the kicking team’s restraining line. 8v8 CONTACT 83 FFWCT.com 

 

Article 5. Four players on the receiving team must start the play within five yards of the receiving team’s restraining line. 

 

Article 6. A kick that breaks the goal line is still live and may be carried out (returned) by the receiving team. 

 

Article 7. If a kickoff goes out of bounds untouched beyond the receiving team’s restraining line, but before the 35-yard line, the ball is put in play at the point where the ball left the field of play plus a 5-yard penalty tacked on. 

 

Article 8. If the ball goes out of bounds untouched between the 35-yard line and the goal line the ball is put in play at the 35-yard line.

 

 Article 9. Touchbacks will be spotted at the 20-yard line. SECTION 2. FIELD GOALS / PAT KICKS 

 

Article 1. Field goals may be attempted at any time. Snaps for field goals must be executed between ‘the hashes’.

 

 Article 2. A 1” or 2” kicking block may be used by the kicking team. 

 

Article 3. The offense must have at least four players on the line at the snap. Article 

 

4. Defensive players are not allowed to be in three or four point stances. 

 

Article 5. Defensive players cannot rush the Center/Guard gap (A Gap) if the Center/Guard’s feet are touching at the snap, unless they vacate the area on their own. 

 

Article 6. This gap will stay ineligible regardless if the offensive player’s feet are touching immediately after the snap. 

 

Article 7. The guard can move and block as long as he does not vacate his area (i.e. blocking down). 

 

Article 8. If the guard vacates (ex: pulls left or right), then players may rush the gap. 

 

Article 9. Offensive lineman cannot be forced to vacate their position. 

 

Article 10. Defensive players may legally rush through eligible offensive line gaps and outside the offensive line. 

 

Article 11. Fake field goals are allowed. 

 

Article 12. The holder can have one knee on the ground and get up and run or pass the ball during a fake field goal. 

 

Article 13. This is the only play that a runner with the ball can have a knee on the ground and play still be live. 

 

Article 14. The snap must be caught in one continuous motion and placed on the ground for the field goal attempt. 

 

Article 15. If the ball is snapped and hits the ground, the play is dead and the field goal attempt will be no good. 8v8 CONTACT FFWCT.com 84 

 

Article 16. The Center/Guard (A Gap) protection vanishes upon a fake field goal attempt (i.e. the holder rises up to run or pass) and the Defense is free to rush the A Gap. 

 

Article 17. A holder may not legally pass or flick the ball forward or backward without rising up from their knee. (illegal pass). 

 

Article 18. All roughing penalties during field goal attempts will result in an automatic first down and yardage if accepted 

 

Article 19. Whether or not a ball is tipped or blocked by the defense has no bearing on the play as it applies to fouls (roughing, personal fouls, etc.). Avoid the kicker, center, and holder! 

 

SECTION 3. MISSED OR BLOCKED FIELD GOALS 

 

Article 1. A missed or blocked field goal remains live until it hits the ground, goes out-of-bounds or otherwise becomes dead by rule.

 

 Article 2. A missed or blocked field goal is returnable by the defense to include returning it from the end zone. 

 

Article 3. The kicking team may recover but may never advance a missed or blocked field goal that has crossed the line-of-scrimmage that was not batted or deflected. 

 

Article 4. The kicking team may recover and advance a missed or blocked field goal that has crossed the line-of-scrimmage but was batted or deflected behind the kicking team’s line-of scrimmage. 

 

Article 5. A missed or blocked field goal attempt on first, second, or third down that is caught by the kicking team behind the line-of-scrimmage will be counted as a scrimmage play and the kicking team shall receive the next succeeding down. 

 

Article 6. The ball becomes dead when it strikes any part of the goal post crossbar or uprights. 

 

Article 7. After a missed or blocked field goal and when the ball becomes dead the new offensive captain has two options to put the ball back in play: • the previous line-of-scrimmage • the 20-yard line 

 

SECTION 4. PROTECTED PUNT Article 1. On any down, the offense may request protection for a protected punt. 

 

Article 2. Both teams must maintain at least 4 players on the line until the ball is kicked. 

 

Article 3. The offense cannot cross the line of scrimmage until the ball is kicked. 

 

Article 4. Lineman on the defensive line may raise their arms, and or jump to distract, or try to block the kick but may not cross the line of scrimmage. Defenders may not move laterally along the line of scrimmage until the ball is kicked. 

 

Article 5. The punter must receive the snap at least 5 yards behind the center and immediately punt the ball. No direct snaps are allowed. 

 

Article 6. If the punter drops the snap and the ball hits the ground, the ball is dead at the spot. 8v8 CONTACT 85 FFWCT.com 

 

Article 7. The penalty for not punting the ball immediately shall be a 5-yard, illegal procedure. 

 

Article 8. If a protected punt has been announced and a timeout is called, the team must re-declare their intention for a protected punt. 

 

Article 9. If a protected punt has been announced and then the kicking team runs an offensive play, the penalty shall be an immediate dead ball foul for unsportsmanlike conduct (15 yards and a loss of down). 

 

Article 10. All touchbacks will be placed at the 20-yard line. 

 

SECTION 5. FAIR CATCH KICK 

 

Article 1. After any fair catch, the receiving team may request a fair catch scrimmage kick for three points. 

 

Article 2. The team captain can choose any player to attempt the scrimmage free kick. 

 

Article 3. The free kick must be executed from anywhere between the hash marks regardless of where the fair catch was called. 

 

Article 4. The player executing the free kick may use a drop kick, a kicking block, or have a teammate place and hold the ball. Punting style or kicking tee may not be used. 

 

Article 5. On all free kicks the defense must be a minimum of 10-yards away from the kicking line and may not rush. 

 

Article 6. Unsuccessful free kicks cannot be returned. 

 

Article 7. No snap is required for a Fair Catch Kick. 

 

Article 8. Change of possession of unsuccessful free kicks will be at the spot of the unsuccessful free kick. 

 

SECTION 6. ONSIDE PLAY OPTION Article 

 

1. This option is only available to a team who has just immediately scored a touchdown or field goal, is losing, and during the final two minutes of the second half. 

 

Article 2. This is an untimed down.

 

 Article 3. This option is not available after the trailing team has scored a safety. 

 

Article 4. This option is never available to the team ahead in points. 

 

Article 5. After the trailing team has scored and attempted the extra point, the team captain of the trailing team must inform the referee they intend to attempt an onside play. 

 

Article 6. The ball is placed at the offensive team’s 20-yard line, going out. 

 

Article 7. This play is treated exactly like a fourth down play including the assessment of penalties with one exception. If a foul occurs that includes an automatic first down (ex: roughing the passer) the offense will not receive a new set of downs. They will receive the 15-yard penalty and replay the down, i.e. fourth and five from the 35-yard line, line to gains is the 40-yard line.   Article 8. The offense must advance the ball to the 40-yard line or beyond, after all live ball 8v8 CONTACT FFWCT.com 86 penalties have been accessed in order to retain the ball. 

 

Article 9. Dead ball penalties will not be considered in determining if the line-to-gain was achieved. 

 

Article 10. If the offense retains the ball the next zone-line-to-gain will be determined. 

 

Article 11. If the offense does not retain the ball the defense will take possession of the ball where it became dead (end of the run or previous line of scrimmage) and the next zone-line-to-gain will be established. 

 

Article 12. Interceptions returned to the end zone by the defense during an onside play are worth six points and a PAT attempt. 

 

Article 13. There is no limit to the amount of onside plays a team may use as long as the provisions of lines 1, 2 and 3 of this section are still valid. 

RULE 5. SCORING SECTION 

 

1. POINTS

 Touchdown • 6 points 

Point After Touchdown (PAT) • 1 point from the 3-yard line - run, pass or kick

 • 2 points from the 10-yard line - run, pass or kick • Interceptions returned on PAT’s are worth 2 points Field Goal / Fair Catch Kick 

• 3 points Safety 

• 2 points SECTION 

 

2. POINT AFTER TOUCHDOWN (PAT) Article 1. Following a touchdown, once the scoring team has informed an official of which point conversion choice they want to attempt the decision cannot be changed unless the scoring team uses a team timeout. 

Article 2. If a penalty occurs during an extra point attempt, the penalty will be assessed but the extra point value remains the same. 

 

Article 3. Decisions cannot be changed after a penalty. For example, if the offense attempts a 1-point PAT and is penalized five yards for a false start, they cannot change their mind and go for a 2-point PAT. They will still be attempting a 1-point PAT but it will be from the 8-yard line. 

 

Article 4. Defensive unsportsmanlike conduct, personal fouls, or roughing penalties during a successful touchdown attempt will be assessed at half the distance to the goal during the PAT attempt or on the kickoff. All other defensive penalties may be declined by the offense and the score will stand. 

 

Article 5. Dead ball fouls committed by the offense that do not carry a loss-of-down penalty (false start, offside, etc.) may result in penalty yardage assessed and the down replayed.

 

 Article 6. Fouls by the offense during a PAT attempt that carry a loss-of-down penalty (flag guarding, illegal advancement, illegal forward pass, etc.) will result in the PAT being “no good” and the attempt will not be repeated. 8v8 CONTACT 87 FFWCT.com

 

 Article 7. Fouls committed by the offense in unsuccessful PAT attempts will be declined by the defense and the PAT will be “no good” and will not be replayed. 

 

Article 8. Fouls simultaneous to the snap (illegal shift, illegal motion, illegal formation, etc.), if accepted, will result in penalty yardage assessed and the down replayed. 

 

Article 9. Fouls by the defense during an unsuccessful PAT attempt will result in a retry after the options are administered. The offense may opt to accept or decline penalty yardage before the retry. 

 

Article 10. Fouls committed by the defense during a successful PAT will result in the option for the offense to enforce the yardage on the kickoff. 

 

Article 11. Interceptions or returned blocked kicks that have not become dead by rule on any PAT attempt can be returned by the defense for two points. 

 

Article 12. Defensive unsportsmanlike conduct and personal fouls on successful PAT attempts will be enforced on the following kickoff. 

 

SECTION 3. AFTER A SAFETY 

 

Article 1. The kicking team (team giving up the safety) must free kick (punt, kick from a kicking block using a teammate to hold the ball on the block, or kick using a team mate to hold the ball on the ground) from its own 20-yard line. Kicking from a kicking tee is not allowed. 

 

Article 2. Snapping the ball is not required on a safety free kick. 

 

Article 3. Defensive players may not be closer than 10 yards from the kicker at the kick and may not rush. 

 

SECTION 4. OVERTIME EXTRA POINT SHOOT-OUT 

 

Article 1. A coin flip determines first possession, 1 timeout per OT period 

 

Article 2. Teams will go in reverse order if more then 1 OT is required 

 

Article 3. Teams can elect to go for 1 or 2 points, with a run, pass or kick option. 

 

Article 4. Winner will be determined once the value of the extra point exceeds the other team’s attempt. 

 

SECTION 5. MERCY RULE 

 

Article 1. There is no mercy rule during pool play, but there is during single elimination playoffs or double-elimination format tournaments. 

 

Article 2. During tournament or league play the mercy rule will be automatically invoked if the score differential reaches 17 or more points during the final two minutes of the second half or 28 or more points at any time in the second half. 

 

Article 3. Forfeits that occur prior to game will be recorded as 17-0. Forfeits that occur during the game will be recorded as 17-0 or the actual score of the game at the time of the forfeit, whichever is the larger differential. 8v8 CONTACT FFWCT.com 88 

 

RULE 5. PENALTY CHART 

 

Penalty Yardage Penalty Assessment

 

 Result Flag Guarding -10 Spot of foul Loss of down

 Illegal Advancement -5 Spot of foul Loss of down 

Illegal Forward Pass -5 Spot Foul or Previous spot if behind LOS Loss of down 

 

Intentional Grounding -5 Spot of foul Loss of down 

 

Offensive Pass Interference -15 Previous spot Loss of down

 

Defensive Pass Interference -15 Previous spot Automatic 1st down

 

Personal Foul/Unnecessary Roughness -15 End of the play or previous spot By the Offense: Loss of down By the Defense: Automatic 1st down Unsportsmanlike Conduct 15 End of the play or previous spot By the Offense: Loss of down By the Defense: Automatic 1st down

 

Roughing: Passer/Kicker/ Holder/Center -15 End of the play or previous spot Automatic 1st Down

 

Delay of Game -5 Dead ball - Previous spot Replay down

 

False Start -5 Dead ball - Previous spot Replay down

 

Offsides -5 Dead ball - Previous spot Replay down

 

Encroachment -5 Dead ball - Previous spot Replay down Cool Down Period 0 No foul Player must sit out 5 plays

 

Illegal Substitution -5 Dead ball - Previous spot Replay down

 

Illegal Shift or Illegal Motion -5 Previous spot Replay down –

 

Live ball penalty Stripping or Attempted Stripping -5 Spot of the foul Automatic 1st down

 

Illegal Contact -5 Previous spot or spot of the foul By the Offense: Replay down By the Defense: Automatic 1st Down

 

Early Flag Pull -5 Previous spot Automatic 1st Down

 

Illegal Participation -5 Previous spot Loss of down

 

Illegal Blocking -10 Spot foul or from previous spot if behind LOS Replay down Holding 10 Spot foul, previous spot if behind LOS or end of play if holding ball carrier Replay down

 

Illegal Formation -5 Previous spot Replay down

 

Charging -10 Spot of the foul Replay down I

 

llegal Touching -5 Previous spot Loss of down