RULE 1. OVERVIEW
SECTION 1. THE FIELD
Article 1. 46 yards from goal line to goal line with two end zones of 7 yards each.
Article 2. Field shall be divided into 2 zones of 23 yards each.
Article 3. Field shall be a minimum of 40 yards wide and a maximum of 53 1/3 yards wide.
Article 4. Marking the five (5) yard line and twelve (12) yard line are optional for use during the PAT. These may be marked as hash marks in the center of the field no more than five (5) yards in width
Article 5. Lines should be clearly marked and use of cones or yard line markers along the sideline to signify zone lines are strongly recommended for use during championship play.
SECTION 2. EQUIPMENT
Article 1. Approved football sizes:
Article 2. Teams must wear Youth Shruumz or Sonic Flag-a-Tag flags (if custom flags are worn they must be of equal dimensions as Sonic flags). NO NFL FLAG BELTS. Flags will not be allowed that have been altered (cut, taped, etc.). Mushroom Flags are not allowed for youth. The flags cannot be the same color as a player’s shorts.
SECTION 3. THE GAME
Article 1. The game shall be played between two teams of no more than seven (7) players each, on a rectangular field with a properly shaped, sized and inflated ball.
Article 2. A team may legally play with no fewer than six (6) players.
Article 3. To start the game, half, or after a touchdown, the offensive team takes possession of the ball at their 5 yard line and has four plays to advance to the midfield.
Article 4. If a team fails to secure a first down, the defense will take control of the ball at their own 5 yard line.
SECTION 4. GAME CLOCK FORMAT
Article 1. Tournament clock is 40 minutes long. Two 20 minute halves and a 2-minute halftime.
Article 2. The play clock is 25 second and starts once the official marks the ball ready for play. (Delay of Game penalty if exceed 25 seconds)
Article 3. Each team shall have two (2) time outs per half.
Article 4. After a team time-out, the game clock will start at the snap of the ball.
Article 5. Because the game clock is a continuous click, it does not stop during P.A.T. attempts or on change of possessions.
Article 6. The game clock will stop for team time-outs, official time-outs, and at the discretion of the official to retrieve long incomplete passes.
Article 7. The on-field captain or quarterback may request the amount of time left in the game from the officials at any time. Officials will be expected to give the correct time.
Article 8. A “stop-clock” will be in effect in the last two minutes of the first and second half.
SECTION 5. MERCY RULE
Article 1. At the two minute warning of the second half, if the score difference is 9 points or more, a pro clock will not be initiated and will continue with a running clock. Same applies if a team scores during the 2 minutes to create a 9 or more point lead. If a team scores to create a one possession game within 2 minutes of the second half, a pro clock will then be initiated.
Article 2. During bracket play, if a team is ahead by 28 points or more at any point in the game or 19 points at 2 minutes, the game will be over. This does not apply during pool play.
RULE 2. OFFENSE
SECTION 1. GENERAL
Article 1. Any number of players may be on the offensive or defensive L.O.S. at the snap. Defense line must be one (1) yard off the ball at the snap.
Article 2. There will be free substitution as long as players being substituted for are off the field prior to the next snap OR player is out of the area of play and is departing the field in haste. “Sleepers” on substitutions will not be allowed on any play. No player may line up closer than 5 yards from the sideline unless they came out of the huddle or unless they were on the field of play during the previous play and did not leave the field of play.
Article 3. Two or more offensive players may be shifting their position at the same time prior to the snap. Their movement may be in any direction but they must become set for one full count before the ball is snapped or before another player can go in motion prior to the snap.
Article 4. Only one player is allowed to be in motion at the snap and their movement must be parallel or away from the L.O.S. and must be continuous.
Article 5. Any stance is permitted. Any number of players may be on the offensive or defensive L.O.S. at the snap. Defense line must be one (1) yard off the ball at the snap. No defensive player may be within 4 yards of the ball if lined up directly in front of the center or within one yard of the ball if lined up to the side of the center at the snap.
Article 6. No direct snap may be taken at anytime. The snap must travel a minimum of 2 yards to be legal (either backwards or sideways).
SECTION 2. SCREEN BLOCKING
Article 1. Only screen blocking is permitted. Screen Blocking shall be defined as obstructing the rusher’s path to the quarterback or ball carrier, as long as it is done behind the L.O.S., with any part of the body except head, hips, and legs. There can be no independent movement of the elbows.
Article 2. Screeners must have their hands/arms by their side, behind their back, or directly in front of their body with arms fully extended down. A screener may not leave their feet to screen or use a screen to initiate any form of contact with the rusher. The screeners feet must be set and planted when in proximity with the rusher.
Article 3. The main responsibility of avoiding contact lies with the rusher, however the screener may not step into the rusher or initiate contact in any way.
Article 4. Moving screens shall be penalized from the end of run (E.O.R.) or the point of infraction (P.O.I.), whichever hurts the offensive team the most. If the illegal screen is judged to have caused excessive contact, it will be penalized 10 yards and loss of down.
SECTION 2. PASSING
Article 1. There can be only one forward pass per play.
Article 2. The quarterback or any player receiving the snap, hand-off or lateral behind the line of scrimmage can run at any time, at any point on the field.
SECTION 3. RECEIVING
Article 1. All players are eligible to receive a pass, including the quarterback, if the ball has been pitched or handed off in the backfield.
SECTION 4. RUNNING
Article 1. Teams may handoff (unlimited), pitch, or throw back in the backfield. UNLIMITED laterals or throwbacks behind the LOS are allowed for the player to remain eligible to pass.
Article 2. Pitching (backwards/laterally) is allowed downfield (unlimited). Handoffs are allowed in front or behind. A handoff DOES NOT count as a lateral/throwback.
Article 3. A forward pass DOES NOT have to cross the LOS to be a legal play.
Article 4. Players may NOT block down field in any form.
RULE 3. DEFENSE
SECTION 1. RUSHING THE QUARTERBACK
Article 1. A rusher must be one yard off the line of scrimmage and one yard outside of the center (not head up) in order to rush.
Article 2. A rusher may not run over a screen blocker. The rusher may not pull the screener toward him or push the screener away from him
Article 3. The defensive may rush as many players as it wishes.
SECTION 2. PUNTS
Article 1. There is no punting. If a turnover on downs occurs, the defense takes possession of the ball at their own 5 yard line.
RULE 4. SCORING
SECTION 1. POINTS