5V5 YOUTH RULES
RULE 1. OVERVIEW
AGE-DIVISIONS 6U-14U Competitive League Boys and Girls (Birth Certificates submitted)
SECTION 1. THE FIELD
Article 1. Standard dimensions of the field are 50 yards long by 25 yards wide with 5–7-yard endzones. Approved field sizes may fluctuate from 53-64 yards long when necessary, or 23-30 yards wide. Endzones should not be shorter than 5 yards.
SECTION 2. THE GAME
Article 1. Game Time is FORFEIT TIME – upon approval by head official or team is 10-min late
Article 2. Minimum 3 players to start a game. May only have up to 5 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. Choice in the 2nd half will be awarded to the team that did not have the choice 1st half.
Article 4. The offensive team takes possession of the ball at their 5-yard line and has 4 plays to cross mid-field (1ST DOWN). On 4th down, teams have 5 seconds to declare to go for it or punt. Once team passes mid field they have 4 plays to score, If team goes for it on 4th down and don’t get ball turns over where its located
Article 5. If the offense does not score, the ball changes possession. All drives start from the 5-yard line with the exception of an interception or failed 4th down conversion, where defense takes over at the spot on both ends of the field.
Article 6. No blocking is allowed. No intentional contact is allowed.
SECTION 3. EQUIPMENT
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.
Article 2. Approved football sizes:
Article 3. Teams must wear Shrummz, Sonic Flag-a-Tag flags, or league provided flags (if custom flags are worn they must be of equal dimensions as Sonic flags). 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. (Flags will be provided)
SECTION 4. COACHES
Article 1. Coaches are volunteers whose role it is to help young people learn to play and enjoy football. Parents are encouraged to support their youth and their coach at all times.
Article 2. Coaches (1 Coach per Team) in the 8U and under divisions only are permitted on the field to assist players with their position alignment and mentoring on offense only (no coaches allowed on the field while on defense). At the snap, on-field coaches must be 5 yards behind the quarterback and are not allowed to continue instructing or coaching until the play ends.
Article 3. Coaches of all other age divisions may not come on to the field of play during a game unless a player is injured. Coaches who come on the field of play anytime during a game will be penalized. One sideline warning per game will be issued after which the following penalties will result:
Article 4. Only three coaches per team are allowed on the sidelines. ONLY THE HEAD COACH CAN ADDRESS THE GAME OFFICIALS.
SECTION 5. GAME CLOCK FORMAT
Article 1. Clock is 25 minutes long.
Article 2. Each team has two 30 second timeouts PER GAME. If a time out is called after a TD the clock will not run until the change of possession and the offense snaps their ball.
Article 3. The play clock is 25 seconds from the end of the previous play.
SECTION 6. CLOCK
Article 1. The clock will run continuously during the 23-minutes of the unless a team timeout is used or play is stopped by an official (e.g. deal with an injury, challenge, referee conference, game management purposes, etc.)
Article 2. The official head will give a verbal 2-minute warning (for rule specific changes inside 1-minute)
Article 3. The clock will run during point-after-touchdown attempts (PATs) unless either team opts to use a timeout.
Article 4. The 2-minute warning will stop the clock if the score difference is 8 points or less.
Article 5. The official head will give a verbal 2-minute (for rule specific changes) and 1-minute warning as close as possible to the actual mark, but will not interrupt a live play.
Article 6. At the 2-minute warning officials will use a 'stop' clock mechanic for the remainder of the contest.
RULE 2. OFFENSE
SECTION 1. RUNNING
Article 1. The quarterback may not run unless the ball has been thrown back, handed or pitched to him/ her in the backfield, or rushed.
Article 2. Teams may handoff unlimited times in the backfield. Handoffs are allowed forward or backwards when behind the line of scrimmage, and only backwards beyond the line of scrimmage. A handoff DOES NOT count as a lateral/throwback.
Article 3. Lateral rules:
Article 4. A forward pass DOES NOT have to cross the LOS to be a legal play.
Article 5. If the ball is placed on the “Back” of ANY player, the player MUST run the ball (no give and go to the QB on the back)
No run zones are located 5 yards before the end zone. You may not run the ball in the no run zone (5-yards before end zone), only forward passes are allowed.
Article 7. Ball is spotted where the ball is at the time of the flag pull. The ball must break the plane of the midfield or goal line to be considered a first down or touchdown.
Article 8. Players may NOT block down field in any form.
SECTION 2. PASSING
Article 1. The quarterback has 5 seconds to pass the ball if there is no rush. If the ball is not thrown, then the play is dead. After the ball is ruled dead it is returned to the line of scrimmage. LOD
Article 2. Once the ball is handed off or pitched backwards the 5 second count stops. If the defensive team rushes, then there is no 5 second count.
Article 3. There is no arm in motion, if the ball is in hand when the quarterback’s flag is pulled then it will be ruled a sack.
Article 4. Interceptions may be returned.
Article 5. The rusher may not have any contact with the QB (no hitting the QB arm or knocking the ball out of the QB hand).
Article 6. If ANY part of the players body is behind the LOS it is a legal pass
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.
Article 2. Players must have at least one foot in bounds when making a catch.
RULE 3. DEFENSE
SECTION 1. RUSHING THE QUARTERBACK
Article 1. Rushing the quarterback is allowed for all divisions.
Article 2. Players that blitz/rush the quarterback must be a minimum of 5 yards from the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped. You can rush any number of players
Article 3. The 5 yards will be measured off by a referee.
Article 4. Players that are not 5 yards from the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped may not enter into the backfield until there is a change of possession. (Handoff/ lateral)
Article 5. The blitzer/rusher is allowed a direct lane to the line of scrimmage as long as he or she rushes from either side of the center or outside the bunch formation. The offense must avoid interfering with the rusher if he or she has established a lane. Officials will announce LANE or NO LANE for rushers/blitzers prior to the snap. This is a judgement call/decision based on the spacing between the players in the offensive formation.
Article 6. The rush of a blitzer has to be immediately after the snap, quick and straight towards the point where the quarterback receives the snap in order to retain the right of way. If a blitzer is rushing late, slowly, aiming at another spot, changing direction during the rush or just does not rush the quarterback, the player loses the right of way but still can participate as any other defensive player.
SECTION 2. PASS COVERAGE
Article 1. Contacting receivers is not allowed
Article 2. Pass interference normally occurs above the waist; entangled feet are not considered pass interference. Incidental contact is not considered pass interference.
Article 3. 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 4. 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 5. If defensive pass interference occurs in the end zone the ball will be placed on the one-yard line, automatic first down.
Article 6. Interceptions may be returned. 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 5-yard line.
Article 7. Contact away from the direction of the pass is not considered pass interference but may be considered illegal contact.
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. Examples of pass interference include:
RULE 4. SCORING
SECTION 1. 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 try even if they call a timeout.
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 (e.g., 2-point PAT attempts will be spotted at the 6-yard line, 1-point PAT attempts will be spotted at the 2.5-yard line). 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) may result in penalty yardage assessed and the down replayed.
Article 6. Fouls by the offense during a successful 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.
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 by the defense during an unsuccessful PAT attempt will result in a retry after the options are administered.
Article 9. If the PAT-attempting team throws an interception and then commits a flagrant foul after the interception during the attempted return (physically contains the ball carrier; bear hugs, aggressively holds, tackles, etc. without making a clear, legal attempt to pull the ball carrier’s flag, the ball carrier will be awarded two points.
SECTION 3. OVERTIME EXTRA POINT SHOOT-OUT (Playoffs)
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
Article 4. Winner will be determined once the value of the extra point exceeds the other team’s attempt.
SECTION 4. MERCY RULE
Article 1. No Mercy Rule during pool play games. If a team is up by 28 points or more during bracket play at any time, the game will be over.
RULE 5. PENALTIES
Penalty Yardage Penalty Assessment Result
Flag Guarding 5 Spot foul Loss of down
Illegal Advancement 5 Previous spot Loss of down
Illegal Forward Pass 5 Previous spot Loss of down
Offensive Pass Interference 10 Previous spot Loss of down
Defensive Pass Interference 10 10 from Previous spot Auto 1st down
Personal Foul 10 End of the play or previous spot Offense: Loss of down
Defense: Auto 1st down
Roughing the Passer 10 Previous spot Auto 1st down
Delay of Game 5 Dead ball- Previous Spot Replay down
False Start 5 Dead ball – Previous spot Replay down
Offsides 5 Previous spot Replay down
Illegal Shift or Illegal Motion 5 Previous spot Loss of Down
Early Flag Pull 5 Previous spot Auto 1st down
Illegal Blocking 5 Spot foul- previous spot Loss of down
Holding 5 Previous spot Auto 1st down
Charging 5 Spot of the foul Loss of down