GENERAL INFORMATION
- Length of Season
• Teams play 8 games consisting of 7 regular season games + 1 season ending “Bowl Game”
• Games are played on Saturdays with 1-2 games played “Under the Lights” during the week at Glenbard South High School and/or Village Green Park.
GENERAL RULES
- Format
• 1st/2nd Grade: 9v9
o Positions: Quarterback, center, 2 linemen and 5 eligible receivers/backs
• 3rd/4th & 5th/6th Grade: 7v7
o Positions: Quarterback, center and 5 eligible receivers/backs - Field Dimensions
• 30 x 70 yards (two 10-yard end zones; 50-yard field of play) - Coin Toss
• At the start of each game, captains from both teams meet at midfield for the coin toss to determine who starts with the ball. The visiting team calls the toss.
• The winner of the coin toss has the choice of offense or defense. The loser of the coin toss has the choice of direction. Possession changes to start the second half to the team that started the game on defense. Teams change direction after the first half. - Game Clock
• All games will consist of two 20-minutes halves with a 3-minute halftime (5 minutes if cheerleaders are present).
• Each team will be allowed two 30-second timeouts per half. Unused timeouts do not carry over.
• The clock will run continuously except for timeout or injuries.
o 1st/2nd Grade: Not Applicable
o 3rd/4th & 5th/6th Grade: 5 yards before each end zone; no running plays allowed inside these zones. Not applicable on PAT. - Referees
• There are no referees. Coaches will maintain time, call penalties and spot the ball. - Game Play
• Offense starts at own 5-yard line and has 4 plays to cross mid-field. After crossing mid-field, the offense has 4 plays to score.
• Offenses must have a minimum of one player on the line of scrimmage (the center). The quarterback must be off the line of scrimmage.
• The snap must be a continuous motion between the legs or side to a player in the backfield.
• Only one first down per possession (by crossing midfield).
• All possession changes (except interceptions) begin at the 5-yard line of the offense.
• Play Clock:
o 30 seconds to snap after ball is spotted (1 warning before delay of game penalty)
• QB Restrictions:
o The quarterback cannot directly run the ball.
o A 7-second pass clock begins upon the snap until there is a handoff or pass. If the 7-second clock expires while the quarterback still has the ball, the play is blown dead, a down is lost and the ball is returned to the line of scrimmage as if an incomplete pass occurred.
• All players are eligible to receive passes.
• Center sneaks are not allowed. Centers are ineligible to receive handoffs.
• Any player receiving a handoff may throw from behind the line of scrimmage.
• Maximum of 4 handoffs per player in a game. Receiving touches are unlimited.
• Ball carriers may not be physically pushed forward. - Motion
One player is allowed in motion, per play and perpendicular to the line of scrimmage, at the time of the snap. - Fake Handoffs
• 1st/2nd Grade: Fake handoffs are allowed.
• 3rd/4th & 5th/6th Grade: Fake handoffs are allowed; however a defensive player that crosses the line of scrimmage on a fake cannot make a play on the quarterback. - Blocking/Screening
• 1st/2nd Grade: Players are allowed to block at the line of scrimmage.
• 3rd/4th & 5th/6th Grade: Players will be allowed to shadow block. (This is where a player mirrors another player’s movements with their hands across their chest, like playing defense in basketball). Contact is NOT allowed by either team during shadow blocking.
• Crackback blocks and blindside screens are strictly prohibited and not allowed at any level. - Fumbles/Interceptions
• If the ball is dropped/fumbled behind the line of scrimmage, it is a dead ball and loss of down (no yardage loss)
• If the ball is dropped/fumbled beyond the line of scrimmage, the ball is spotted at the point of the fumble.
• Interceptions are returnable; possession changes and ball spotted at the end of the return. - Mulligan Rule (1 per half)
• May be used for a bad center/QB or QB/RB exchange.
• If Mulligan is used, teams cannot huddle and should line up immediately and run the play again. - Scoring
• Touchdown – 6 points
• PAT (Point After Touchdown)
o No Run Zone not applicable on PAT.
o Run – 1 point from 5-yard line
o Pass – 2 points from 5-yard line
• Defense Touchdown on Try – 2points
• Safety – 2 points
• Safety on Try – 2 points - Defensive Alignment
• 1st/2nd Grade: Max of 4 defensive tackles on the line (aligned over offensive guards).
• 3rd/4th & 5th/6th Grade: Max of 2 defensive tackle on the line (aligned over offensive guards).
• No one may line up directly over center.
• No stacking the box; all other defenders must be LBs or DBs, positioned 5 yards off the line of scrimmage. - Crossing Line of Scrimmage
• 1st/2nd Grade: Defense not allowed to cross line of scrimmage.
• 3rd/4th & 5th/6th Grade: Defense can cross line of scrimmage after a legal handoff (with the exception of when a blitz is called see Blitz Rules). - Blitz Rules
• 1st/2nd Grade: No blitzing allowed.
• 3rd/4th & 5th/6th Grade: One blitz every 4 downs and no more than 1 blitzer when used.
o Must declare by hand signal (raising hand) at least one second prior to snap.
o Blitzer must start a minimum of 7 yards behind the line of scrimmage.
o On a designated blitz, the quarterback is allowed to run. - Dead Ball Situations
• Play stops when:
o Ball hits the ground.
o Bad snap – ball placed where it lands unless Mulligan is used.
o Flag is pulled.
o Player steps out of bounds.
o Touchdown, PAT or safety scored.
o Any body part other than hands/feet touches the ground.
o Flag falls off.
o Receiver catches the ball without one or both flags. - Sportsmanship
• Promote positive play and respect for opponents.
• After a flag pull, hand flag back to the player.
• No pulling hands during post-game handshakes.