****Mouthpieces are mandated & headgear is encourages and available for purchase ********

1. Field Dimensions
A. Field Length--40 yards  
B. Field Width--53 yards  
C. End Zone--10 yards deep.

2. Time
A. Games are 20 minutes with the last minute being a pro clock.
B. Teams must be on site and ready to play when scheduled.
C. If a team(s) are late and cannot start when the tournament officially starts, they will begin  play with whatever time is left on the tournament clock.
D Forfeit will occur after 5 minutes of the game start time.
E. Injury time outs may reduce the amount of time between games to maintain the game  schedules.

3. Starting the game
A. Games are 20 minutes long with the last minute or the game being a pro clock.
B. There will be a running clock except for the last minute of the game.
C. Ball will start at the 40-yd line
D. Home team will start with the ball, playoffs and chip higher seed gets the option
E. Team Sidelines will be 10yds behind the los (Team on Offense) and on designated sideline  (Team on Defense)
F. Official will announce/post score before each offensive possession begins. *No defensive coaches allowed on the field.

4. Moving the ball
A. NO RUNS
B. All offensive plays must be passes (forward passes only).
C. There is no kicking or punting.
D. Each team has 3 downs to get a 1st down. To obtain a 1st down, teams will need to get to the  25-yard line and the 10-yard line.

E. No penalty will be assessed beyond the 40 yd line. On an unsuccessful or successful offensive  play from the 40 yd line resulting in an offensive penalty: The ball will be returned to the 40 yd  line and 1st down will become 2nd down; 2nd down will become 3rd down; and 3rd down will result  in a turnover.
F. Offenses always move in the same direction.
G. All passes must be forward. A pass caught behind the line of scrimmage must be a forward  pass.
H. Should a swing pass not cross the LOS and a defensive player tags the ball carrier behind the 40  yd line, it is a safety. Defense is awarded 2 points and the ball.
I. Field is marked at 15 yard intervals with double cones. 40-yard line, 25-yard line, and 10-yard line (3  first downs without a penalty would result in a touchdown). (First down after crossing the 25 yd  line and first down after crossing the 10 yd line).
J. Possession always begins at the 40-yard line.
K. Once the ball is marked for play, the offense has 25 seconds to snap ball.
L. There is a 3 (three) second count & whistle for 18u division, 4 (four) second count for the 15U, & a 5 (five) second count for the  12U& 10u divisions to throw the ball. After the count is reached, the play is whistled dead & a sack is awarded.

5. Special Rules
A. No blocking. Ball is marked at the spot of foul.
B. Receiver/Ball carrier is legally down when touched with one or two hands.
C. Fumbles are dead balls at the spot with the last team retaining possession. A muffed snap is  not a fumble/dead ball. The 4.0 second count remains in effect on snaps.
D. Two delay of game penalties in the same possession results in a turnover and defense is  awarded 2 points. A delay of game penalty on the extra point try results in a turnover but no  points to defense.
E. The QB is allowed 4.0 seconds to throw the ball. Referee will count the 4 count and stop  as soon as the QB releases the ball. If the QB has not thrown the ball when the 4 seconds is  up, then the play will be blown dead. The play will result in a sack with a loss of down.
F. If release is under 4.0 seconds; the play goes on.
G. If the 4.0 seconds are up and the QB is sacked on play starting on his 40 yard line the play  will result in a safety and the defense is awarded 2 points and possession of the ball.  
H. Defensive Pass Interference will result in an automatic 1st down & spot foul up to 10 yds. I. Offensive pass interference (10-yard penalty) and loss of down.
J. Offensive team is responsible for retrieving and returning the ball to the previous spot or the  new scrimmage spot in a timely fashion. Failure to do so can result in a delay of game penalty.
K. The offensive center is not an eligible receiver. The ball does not need to be snapped between the  legs, ball needs to start on the ground. (NO QB TEE’s ALLOWED). Since the Center is not an eligible receiver, he must get  away from the play or take a knee after the snapping the ball.
L. The center will be responsible for setting or re-positioning the referee’s bean bag at the LOS.  On change of possession, the team moving to offense will ensure the bean bag gets to the new  LOS.
M. No taunting or “trash talking”. (5-yard penalty & expulsion if flagrant).
N. The offense must gain at least 15 yards in the first 3 or less plays or the defense takes over.  (There is no kicking).
O. Fighting: the player(s) involved will be ejected from the game and tournament. If a team  fight occurs, the teams involved will be ejected from the tournament (NO TOLERANCE  POLICY).
P. Excessive Contact: The receiver or ball carrier is down when they are touched. There shall  be no excessive contact permitted other than necessary to touch the ball carrier.  Any player that uses excessive force or contact is subject to ejection. In an effort to maintain  control, the organizers, field manager or officials shall have the discretion to impose the  appropriate sanction.
Q. There will be an area referred to as the tackle box that extends 3 yards on both sides of the  center and extends 3 yards deep into the backfield. No eligible receiver may align within the  tackle box.
R. Mercy rule will come into play once a team is up by 21 points. At this time there will  be a running clock with no stoppage.
S. No bump off the line
6. Scoring
A. 6 points for TD (Offense only; No defensive TDs – only 3 pts for INT).
B. 3 points for an INT and 2 points for a defensive stop. (INT points and Defensive stop  points are not combined). Defensive stops can happen on any part of the field, not just the 40- yard line. If a defensive stop happens with any time left on the clock, 2 points will be awarded.  If a defensive stop happens with no time left on the clock there will be no points awarded.
C. INT and defensive stops are not combined. Defense only receives 3 points for interception.  Official score is kept by the game manager.

7. Overtime
A. Coin Toss, the winning team elects offense or defense. 1 drive, the team who gets awarded points wins.

8. Officials
A. 2 Officials on field


9. Coaches
A. Each team must have a coach accompany the team to any/all events to serve as an  administrator on duty for their particular organization(s). This individual is responsible for the  action of those representing his organization.
B. A team may not have more than four (4) coaches on the sideline.
C. ONLY TWO  OFFENSIVE COACHES CAN BE IN THE HUDDLE. ONCE THE OFFENSE  BREAKS THE HUDDLE THE COACHES MUST MOVE BEHIND THE OFFICIAL & BACK AND CANNOT YELL  INSTUCTIONS ONCE THE BALL IS SNAPPED.
D. No Defensive Coaches allowed on field.

PENALTIES
Offense: False Start (5 Yards + Loss of Down)
Offensive Pass Interference: 10 Yards + Loss of Down
Stiff arms: 5 Yards from Spot of Foul + Loss of Down
Illegal Offensive Contact: 5 Yards + Loss of Down
Delay of Game: Loss of Down
Illegal Formation: Warning, then Loss of Down
2 offensive penalties from the 40-yard line will result in a safety and 2 points for the defense with  possession.
Unsportsmanlike Conduct: 10 Yards + Loss of Down (Offense)
Unsportsmanlike Conduct: 10 Yards + Automatic First Down (Defense)
Defense
Offsides: 5 Yards (Live Ball foul)
Defensive Pass Interference: Spot Foul up to 10 Yards + Automatic First Down Defensive Holding or Illegal Defensive Contact: 5 Yards + Automatic First Down