Season Goals, In Order Of Importance:
- Have fun and be "good sports".
- Learn about football and become comfortable with contact (to ready players for tackle).
- Learn to compete and strive to win.
Rules Overview:
- Flag age group is 6 and 7 year olds.
- As of Oct 1st, player cannot be 8 years old.
- All games will be scheduled for Knox Park on Sundays.
- Players must be wearing a cup and mouth guard. Football pants do NOT need worn to practice.
- Cleats (plastic or rubber - NO metal) are recommended.
- Field - 80 yards long, standard width.
- 8 players on the field normally, game can continue if only 7 are available.
- JERSEYS MUST BE TUCKED IN with FLAGS ON HIPS.
- Games consist of 2 twenty minute halves. Clock runs constantly except for last 2 minutes of each half or if there is an injury, score, timeout, or delay of game penalty.
- Coin toss to determine initial possession.
Kicking:
- Kickoffs from a tee at start of game and start of 2nd half only. After a score opposing team gets the ball on their own 20 yard line.
- No on-side kickoffs are allowed and a kickoff must travel at least 10 yards. Any ball recovered by the kicking team is considered a dead ball and the return team takes possession from that spot.
- Teams may punt but must inform opponent of intent to punt.
- Opponent may NOT rush punts.
- Punting team MUST have 5 players on the line while the receiving team MUST have 4 on the line.
- Kicker can walk up and take the snap and walk back into position to punt. Dropped ball can be picked up and still punted.
Positions:
- Delay of game occurs after 60 seconds, one warning is provided.
- There MUST be 5 offensive lineman on the line of scrimmage.
- There can be a maximum of four defensive linemen within 1 yard of the line of scrimmage.
- Ball is snapped between the center's legs only.
- There is to be NO nose tackle and the defense must line up no closer than one yard from line of scrimmage.
- The defensive line is NOT to assume a three point stance, they should have hands on knees in an effort to avoid head-to-head contact.
- Offense Lineman MUST set in a three point stance.
- The Center and two Guards are the only INELIGIBLE players to receive or carry the ball.
- There is NO blitzing and linebackers/defensive backs may not cross the line of scrimmage until there is a hand-off or the quarterback leaves the pocket.
- Blocking must be to the chest/waist ONLY.
Penalties:
- Stiff arms by the ball carrier are NOT allowed and player is penalized down at the spot of the foul.
- Flag guarding is NOT allowed and player is penalized 15 yards.
- Blocking in the back & clipping is NOT allowed and penalized 5 yards from spot of the foul.
- Defense cannot push offensive player out of bounds. They must go for the flag. 5 Yards awarded to offense from spot of going out of bounds if this occurs.
- Fumbled balls hitting the ground are blown dead at that spot. If a fumble is recovered in the air, it may be advanced by recovering team.
- Unsportsmanlike Conduct, swearing, taunting are 15 yard penalties.
Sportsmanship:
- At least 5 different players MUST carry the ball each game.
- A player may score only two offensive touchdowns per game. Additional defensive touchdowns scored by this player are also counted.
- If a player with two offensive touchdowns catches a kickoff or punt, the play is blown dead. The player also cannot play quarterback again for the remainder of the game.
- At least 2 of every 4 offensive plays MUST be HANDOFFS (not just QB runs this way, QB runs that way).
- As an instructional league, each player, during the course of the season, must be given the opportunity to play:
- at least one half at quarterback - at least two halves at running back. - The Referee may remove (and the league could then suspend) any player, parent or coach for unsportsmanlike conduct. Profanity or excessive force are not tolerated.
Scoring:
- 6 Points for a touchdown.
- Extra Points - 1 point awarded if scored from 3 yards out, or 2 points if scored from 10 yards.
Slaughter Rules:
- If up by 19 or more points with the ball, a team must start possessions at its own 20 yard line and run only up the middle while the losing team starts possesions at midfield or better.
- If a three touchdown lead is achieved, the leading team's backfield MUST be replaced. If the gap narrows, they can return but scoring rules still apply.
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