Section A: General Game Rules:

Part 1: Start of Game

1. A coin toss will determine which team will have first possession. The team that wins the coin toss will have the choice to either start the game on offense or defer

to start the second half on offense.

2. Game will be played 7 on 7.
3. Teams must field a minimum of five (5) players at all times.
   
4. In the event a team only has five players, the game will be played 5-on-5.

        f.   If the game has not started, coaches areencouraged to share players in an effort to

             balance the teams and provide theplayers with the opportunity to still play a game.

Part 2: Game Duration:

1. Games will consist of two (2) 20-minute halves for the 5-6, 7-8 year olds with a 5-minute half time.
2. Time will be kept via a running clock.
3. The clock will automatically stop after the extra point attempt to allow the ball for 

the next offensive possession and the clock will be started once the ball is set.

      d.   The clock will automatically stop for an injury. 

      e.   Teams are encouraged to warm-up prior to the start of the game.

  Part 3:Scoring:

1. Touchdown:6 points
2. Extra Point: From the 3 yard line= 1 point. From the 10 yard line= 2 points.
3. Safety:No Safeties

 Part 4:Equipment:

1. Players must wear the official team jersey, which must be tucked in during game play.
2. Players may not wear pants/shorts that are the same color as their flags.
3. Players must wear the league provided flag belts with the flags positioned on the players side
4. Rubber/molded cleats are allowed
5. Players must wear a mouth guard
6. Players are not allowed to wear any loose articles that interfere with the flag belt

Section B: Officiating

Part 1: Officials

a. Field Marshall’s shall maintain discipline on the field.Actions such as rough play,

    temper tantrums,or verbal abuse from players will not be tolerated. Players will be

    ejected from the game.

b. Head coaches are the only persons on the sideline who may attempt to engage in

    conversation with the field Marshall.

Part 2: Time outs

a. Each team has one (1) 60-second and (1) 30-second time-out per half.

Part 3: Dominant Player Rule

a. A player is only allowed to score three times per game.

b. Once a player has scored three times in one game, coaches must move the player to

    position other than quarterback, running back or receiver.

c. If a dominant player scores more than three times, the touchdown will not count and

    and the ball will be spotted at midfield. The offensive team will have its remaining

    number of downs to attempt to score.

Part 4: Delay of Game Limit

a. Once the ball is spotted and the Field Marshall has given the ready signal, the offensive

    team has 60-seconds to snap the ball.

b. Teams will receive one warning before a delay of game penalty is enforced.

Section C: Penalties

Part 1: General Penalty Information

a. If the Field Marshall witnesses any intentional acts of tackling, elbowing, cheap shots,

    or any unsportsmanlike act, an unsportsmanlike penalty will be called.

    Continued violations may result in ejection of the player. FOUL PLAY WILL NOT

    BE TOLERATED.

b. Failure of the player to leave the field and/or acts of continued unsportsmanlike

    conduct from the player, coaches, parents or fans will result in a forfeit.

c. Trash talking is illegal. Field Marshall’s have the right to determine offensive language

    at their own discretion.If trash talking occurs, the Field Marshall will give one (1)

    warning. If it continues, the player or players will be ejected from the game.

d. All penalties will be called by the Field Marshall and enforced from the line of

    scrimmage.

e. Only the head coach may ask the Field Marshall questions about rule clarifications and

    interpretations.Players/coaches cannot question judgment calls.

f. Games cannot end on a defensive penalty unless the offensive team declines it.

h. A team may elect to decline a penalty and take the result of the play (with the 

    exception of illegal motion.

i. Unsportsmanlike conduct will be assessed a 15-yard penalty.

Part 2: Defensive Penalties

a. Offsides: 5 yards, replay the down.

b. Pass Interference: 10 yards, automatic First Down

c. Illegal contact (holding): 5 Yards, Replay the down

d. Illegal Block (Arms spread out): 5 yards, replay the down

e. Illegal Flag Pull (before receiver has the ball): 5yards, replay the down

f. Illegal Rushing: 10 yards, replay the down

Part 3: Offensive Penalties

a. Illegal Motion: 5 Yards, Replay the down

b. Pass Interference: 10 Yards, Replay the down

c. Illegal Contact: 5 Yards, replay the down

d. Delay of Game: 5 yards, replay the down

e. Diving or hurdling: Play is stopped, ball is spotted at the point of the infraction.

Section D: Game Play

Part 1: Common

a. The game is played on a field 50 yards long and 25 yards wide with 10-yard end zones.

b. All possessions will start at each team own 10-yard line with the exception of an

    interception.

c. The offensive team will have four downs to score or cross midfield. If the offense

     does cross midfield in four downs, they will be given a First Down and have four(4)

     additional downs to score.

d. If the offensive team fails to cross mid-field or crosses mid-field but fails to score in

    the allotted number of downs, the ball changes possession and the opponent’s offense

    will take over at its own 10-yard line.

e. The ball must be snapped between the legs, not off to one side, to start play.

f.  No tackling is allowed.

g. Blocking is allowed. Physical contact is allowed while blocking. The offensive players

    can move forward off the line of scrimmage during running plays to block as long as

    the blockers elbows are in and arms are not fully extended. Blockers must keep their

    elbows bent and block with their hands (arms cannot be extended to their full wing

    span.

h. No kicking or punting

i. Each team is allowed two (2) coaches on the field during play.

j. Coaches must call Offensive/ Defensive plays in the huddle.

k. Once the quarterback is over the Center, the coaches must stay 10-yards away from the

    ball and remain silent until the play has completed. Field Marshall may offer a

    warning,violations are subject to unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. If there is

    continued abuse oft his rule, the coach or coaches will be removed from the field.

l. Player substitutions can be made on any dead ball.

Part 2: Running

a. The quarterback may run with the football outside of the tackles only.

b. Only direct hand offs behind the line of scrimmage are permitted. The offense may

    use multiple hand offs provided they occur behind the line of scrimmage.

c. The player who takes the hand off can throw the ball behind the line of scrimmage.

d. Spinning is allowed   

e. Players are not allowed to leave their feet to avoid a defensive player (no diving or

    hurdling)

f. Once a play is over, the ball is spotted at the place where the ball carrier’s feet were

    when the flag was pulled.

Part 3: Receiving

a. Only running backs are eligible receivers (center and tackles are not eligible). The

    Quarterback is eligible if the ball has been handed off behind the line of scrimmage.

b. Only one player is allowed to motion at a time.

c. All players must have at least one foot in bounds when making a reception.

d. Any player stepping out of bounds before a pass is thrown is an ineligible receiver.

    The exception is if in the Field Marshall judgment the offensive player was knocked

    out of bounds by the defensive player, he may re-enter the field of play as an eligible 

    receiver.

Part 4: Passing

a. All passes must be forward and received beyond the line of scrimmage.

b. Shovel passes are allowed, but must be received beyond the line of scrimmage.

c. If a reception is made behind the line of scrimmage, the play will be blown dead and

    and treated as an incomplete pass.

Part 5: Defense

a. No players are allowed to rush the Quarterback immediately.Will wait 5 seconds

    before rushing.

b. Defensive players may not cross the line of scrimmage until the ball is handed off.

c. Once a defensive players pulls the ball carriers flag,they are to stop and hold the flag

    above their head to alert the Field Marshall.

d. Passes are considered live. A pass can be intercepted by the defense and returned. The

    intercepting team will take possession of the ball where the play was blown dead. The

    dominant player rule does not apply to an interception.

Part 6: Dead Ball

a. Play is ruled “dead” when:

    · Ball carrier’s flag is pulled.

    · Ball carrier knocks his own flag off or touches the ball while missing a flag.

    · Ball carrier steps out of bounds

    ·Touchdown, extra point is scored

    · Ball carrier’s knee hits the ground

    · Ball hits the ground during live play (Fumble) or is an incomplete pass.