Official Rules: This league shall play using USA FLAG rules with the modifications/additions/exceptions listed below.

1) General Rules:

A) Rosters: A maximum number of 15 players and a minimum of 7 players are allowed per team.  A roster with players’ name and jersey number will be provided to all teams upon request.

B) Weight Limits: No weight limits apply

C) Lines to Gain & Field Set-Up: All flag fields shall be divided into 5- or 10-yard zones. The Line of Scrimmage (LOS) extends from sideline to sideline. All flag fields shall be marked with extended yard lines to mark Coach’s Boxes as follows: Coach’s Box extends from mid-field to the 20 yard lines. No people other than League Officials, Referees, Coaches, and Players are allowed in the box. Teams may be penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct and a 15-yard penalty shall be assessed if other people are in the box.

D) Chains: No chains will be used for flag games, although a down marker box may be used if available.

E)   Coaches on the field: Coaches on the field cannot give instructions once the QB has started his cadence.   Coaches must back up 10 yards behind the RB/QB.

             1. K-2nd grade: One coach on offense and one coach on defense allowed on the field.

             2. 3-6th grade: One coach on offense only allowed on the field.

             3. 7/8 th grade: No coaches allowed on the field.

F) Playing Up: A player in a younger grade can be moved up to a higher grade with Registration Committee approval only.

G) Injuries, Accidents & Safety Equipment: Certified Athletic Trainers are on-site for all CMYAC games played in Columbia to assess and treat sports injuries. “911”; shall be called for immediate medical assistance for any potentially serious or life-threatening injuries.

             1.Return to Play: The Athletic Trainer has the sole authority to determine a player’s eligibility to return to play after an injury sustained                                                 during a practice or game.

             2. Concussions: In the event a player appears to have suffered a potential concussion, the Athletic Trainer has the sole authority to allow or disallow                       a player to return to play.  Any Coach who returns a player with a suspected concussion to play without consent of the Athletic Trainer or other                               medical expert shall be immediately ejected from the game and be suspended from coaching indefinitely.  When In Doubt, Sit Them Out!

2) GAME & PLAY RULES

SECTION 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS

A) First Downs

             1.The offensive team takes possession of the ball at its 20-yard line and has four plays to gain a first down.

             2.First downs are awarded at the 40- and 20-yard lines regardless of drive distance.

B) Change of Possession

             1.If the offense fails to score, the ball changes possession and the new offensive team starts its drive on its own 20-yard line.

             2.If the defense intercepts the ball, a defensive player cannot attempt to return but the defense does take over possession at their 20-yard line.

SECTION 2: POSITIONS

A)Offense

             1.The seven players on offense consist of a center, a quarterback and five eligible receivers.

             2.Center. This player is responsible for snapping the ball and is eligible to go out for passes, once they have snapped the ball.

             3.Quarterback. The quarterback is the offensive player who first gets possession of the ball after the snap. The quarterback cannot directly run with                         the ball across the line of scrimmage.

             4.Receiver/Back. Any player who does not initiate the snap nor receive the snap is considered an eligible receiver/back and can either receive a                                 handoff or catch a pass.

B) Defense

             1.Can use any formation of 7 players they choose

             2.Defensive players may not cross the line of scrimmage prior to a handoff or pass. Following a legal handoff, any member of the defense can cross                        the line of scrimmage.

             3.Blitzer. A defender who lines up with all parts of their body more than 7 yards away from the scrimmage line; is an eligible blitzer. A blitzer may                            rush behind the line of scrimmage to “sack” the QB before a handoff or pass. Only one defensive player may blitz per down.

SECTION 3. EQUIPMENT

A) Flag Belts

             1.Players must use flag belts provided by the organization. During a game, both teams should be provided with matching flag belts.

B) Footwear

             1.Cleats with exposed metal are never allowed and must be removed.

C) Uniform Standards

             1.Players must wear jerseys provided by the league.

             2.Jersey numbers will not be restricted by position at all.

D) Mouthguards

             1.All players must wear mouth guards while on the playing field.

E) Soft Shell Helmets

             1.All players must wear soft shell helmets while on the playing field.

 Ball Sizes:

The home team shall supply the game ball. The visiting team may use their ball if preferred.

1. K-4th: Pee Wee/K2 Size football
2. 5/6th: Junior Size football
3. 7/8th: Youth Size football

LEAGUE PLAY

SECTION 1. LEAGUE PLAY

A) Game Clock Settings

             1.Games are played on a 40-minute continuous clock with two 20-minute halves. The clock stops for timeouts or injuries only, though officials can                           stop the clock at their discretion for injury, to stop a team from delaying or other unsportsmanlike conduct.

B) Halftime

             1.Halftime is five minutes.

C) Delay of Game

             1.Each time the ball is spotted, a team has 45 seconds to snap the ball. Teams will receive one warning before a delay-of-game penalty is enforced.

D) Timeouts

             1.Each team has two 30-second timeouts per half.

E) League Play Overtime

             1. A coin flip will determine the team that chooses to be on offense or defense first.

                    a. If a second round of overtime must be played, the team that lost theCoin toss will get to choose offense or defense for the start of                                               the second round of overtime. This process continues with teams alternating who gets to choose to be on offense or defense to start out                                         during every round of overtime.

                    b. The referee will determine on which end of the field the overtime will take place.

                    c. No charged team timeouts shall be granted.

             2.In the first extra period, each team will have one series starting at the mid-field. In the first series, if the defense intercepts the ball and scores, then                     the overtime period is over.

             3.Each team retains the ball during its series until it scores (including try downs for 1 or 2 points) or exhausts its series of downs. The ball remains alive                   after a change of team possession until it is declared dead. The series ended even if there is a second change of team possession during that down.

             4.If after the first period (with 2 series including tries) the score is still tied, the second and following periods consist of a series with each team playing                   a 1-point try from the 5-yard line. The overtime ends when the score after a period is no longer a tie or the defense scores during the first series of a                     period.

             5.The team scoring the greater number of points during overtime shall be declared the winner.

LIVE BALL / DEAD BALL

SECTION 1. DEAD BALL

A) Dead Ball Definition

             1.Any official can whistle the play dead.

             2.Play is ruled “dead” when:

                    a.The ball hits the ground. i. If the ball hits the ground as a result of a bad snap, the ball is then placed where the ball hit the ground.

B) Inadvertent Whistle

             1.In the case of an inadvertent whistle, the offense has two options:

                    a.Take the ball where it was when the whistle blew, and the down is consumed.

                    b.Replay the down from the original line of scrimmage.

GAME PLAY

SECTION 1.SCORING

A)Touchdown

             1.Touchdown: Six 6 points

B)Extra Points PAT (point after touchdown) 1 point (5-yard line) or 2 points (10-yard line).

             1.A team that scores a touchdown must declare prior to the snap whether it wishes to attempt a one- or two-point conversion. Any change, once a                          decision is made to try for the extra point, requires a charged timeout. A decision cannot be changed after a penalty.

C)Safety

             1.2 Points

                    a.A safety occurs when the ball-carrier is declared down in his or her own endzone. Runners can be called down when their flags are                                                 pulled by a defensive player, a flag falls out, they step out of bounds, a knee or arm touches the ground, a fumble occurs in the endzone                                         or if a snapped ball lands in or beyond the end zone. A penalty in the end zone (i.e. flag guarding) can also be ruled a safety.

SECTION 2.RUNNING

A)Spotting the Ball The spot of the ball is the position of the ball when the flag is pulled, not the location of the hips.

B) Legal Running Plays Only direct handoffs behind the line of scrimmage are permitted. Handoffs may be in front, behind or to the side of the offensive player butmust take place behind the line of  scrimmage. The offense may use multiple handoffs. The quarterback cannot directly run with the ball.

             1.The “center sneak” play is not allowed as centers are ineligible to receive handoffs.

             2.Any player who receives a handoff can throw the ball from behind the line of scrimmage.

             3.Once the ball has been handed off in front, behind or to the side of the quarterback, all defensive players are eligible to rush.

C)Flag Guarding

             1.Flag guarding is an attempt by the ball-carrier to obstruct the defender’s access to the flags by intentionally covering the flags with their hands,                            football jersey, or anything else.

             2.Runners may not leave their feet to advance the ball. Diving, leaping or jumping to avoid a flag pull is considered flag guarding.

             3.Spinning is allowed, but players cannot leave their feet to avoid a flag pull.

D) Blocking / Screening No blocking or “screening” is allowed at any time.

E) Running With the Ball-Carrier Offensive players without the ball must stop their motion once the ball has crossed the line of scrimmage. There is no running with the ball-carrier.

SECTION 3. PASSING

A) Forward Pass

             1.A pass is considered a forward pass if the ball first touches anything beyond the spot where the ball is released. All other passes are backward                              passes, even if it is lateral (parallel to the scrimmage line).

                    a. The quarterback may throw the ball away to avoid a sack. The pass must go beyond the line of scrimmage and be in the vicinity of a                                              receiver.

                    b.Any player who has received a legal handoff can throw the ball forward as long as they are still behind the line of scrimmage.

B) Shovel Pass

             1.Shovel passes are allowed but must be received beyond the line of scrimmage.

C) Pass Clock

             1.A pass clock begins upon the snap and continues until there is a handoff or pass. If the pass 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.

                    a. K-2nd: 6 second limit

                    b. 3rd -5th: 5 second limit

                    c .6th -8th: 4 second limit

SECTION 4. RECEIVING

A) Eligible Receivers All players – are eligible to receive passes.

B) Legal Reception A player must have at least one foot inbounds to make a legal reception.

C) Simultaneous Possession In the case of simultaneous possession by both an offensive and defensive player, possession is awarded to the offense.

D) Interceptions: Interceptions are not returnable and result in a change of possession on the 20-yard line.

E) Roughing the Passer

             1.Players blitzing the quarterback may attempt to block a pass; however, NO contact can be made with the quarterback in any way. Blocking the pass                      or attempting to block the pass and then making contact with the passer will result in a roughing the passer penalty.

F) Shielding

             1.Shielding is obstructing an opponent without contact by moving into their path. A moving player without right of way who impedes an opponent                        from running a pass route, getting to the runner or impedes a legal blitzer is guilty of shielding. A player standing still (with the right of place) is not                      shielding, even if the player is obstructing an opponent.

SECTION 5. FLAG PULLING

A) Legal Flag Pull

             1.A legal flag pull takes place when the ball-carrier is in full possession of the ball.

B) Diving and Holding

             1.Defenders can dive to pull flags but cannot tackle, hold or run through the ball-carrier when pulling flags.

C) Stripping

             1.It is illegal to attempt to strip or pull the ball from the ball-carrier’s possession at any time.

D) Inadvertent Loss of Flag

             1.If a player’s flag inadvertently falls off during the play, the player is down immediately upon possession of the ball and the play ends. The ball is                             placed where the flag lands.

E) Illegal Flag Pull

             1.A defensive player may not intentionally pull the flags off of a player who is not in Possession of the ball. a. If a defender makes a good-faith flag                          pull while a receiver bobbles or juggles what will be a completed catch, the ball is down where possession is made.

SECTION 6. UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT

A) Intentional Contact If the field monitor or official witnesses any acts of intentional tackling, elbowing, cheap shots, blocking or any unsportsmanlike act, the game will be stopped, and the player will be ejected from the game. The decision is made at the referee’s discretion. No appeals will be considered.

FOUL PLAY WILL NOT BE TOLERATED!

             1.Players may not physically or verbally abuse any opponent, coach or official.

             2.Ball-carriers MUST make an effort to avoid defenders with an established position.

             3.Defenders are not allowed to run through the ball-carrier when pulling flags.

USA FOOTBALL RECOMMENDATION: FOR TEAMS STILL LEARNING BASIC FOOTBALL SKILLS, REMOVE ANY PLAYER WHO COMMITS AN UNSPORTSMANLIKE ORDANGEROUS ACT FROM THE FIELD TO RECEIVE INSTRUCTION FROM A COACH AND A COOLING OFF PERIODS. OFFICIALS CAN EJECT THE PLAYER AT THEIR DISCRETION IF THERE ARE CONTINUED INFRACTIONS THAT ARE DEEMED INTENTIONAL.

B) Offensive Language

             1.Offensive or confrontational language is not allowed. Officials have the right to determine offensive language. If offensive or confrontational language                  occurs, the referee will give one warning. If it continues, the player or players will be ejected from the game.

C) Spectator Conduct Fans must also adhere to good sportsmanship as well:

              1.Yell to cheer on your players, not to harass officials or other teams.

              2.Keep comments clean and profanity free.

              3.Compliment ALL players, not just one child or team.

D) Field Safety

             1.Fans are required to keep fields safe and kid-friendly:

                    a.Keep younger kids and equipment such as coolers, chairs and tents a minimum of 10 yards off the field in the end zone area.

                    b.Stay in the end zone area, not between fields. The Administrative Zone is reserved for league administration, game officials, medical personnel,                             coaches and players only.

                    c.Dispose of ALL trash in designated trash cans.

E) Unsportsmanlike Conduct Penalty

             1.Unsportsmanlike conduct penalties:

                    a.Defense + 10 yards from line of scrimmage and automatic first down

                    b.Offense – 10 yards from line of scrimmage and loss of down

F) Fighting: Any player ejected for fighting shall be subjected to an incident review by the CMYAC Rules Committee. Any player involved in a fight may be suspended for a period of not less than one game or up to the remainder of the season and/or permanently from the CMYAC.