Tournament rules

Starting Each Game

      • - A coin toss will determine which team gets the ball first. That team will begin possession of the ball on the 40-yard line with their choice of hash

      • - A whistle will begin each game

      • - Each game lasts 19 minutes with a running clock Pool Play — 22 minutes on Bracket Play

  • If a team scores a touchdown with no time remaining on the clock, and they are down by 2 points or less, they get to attempt their extra point(s)

      • - The official will declare when the clock is under 2 minutes

      • - The clock never stops, with the exception of an injury or referee timeout

      • - A whistle will end each game

      • - The referees will keep the official score and time on the field for each game

Moving the Ball

      • - Offense always starts on 40-yard line with their choice of the hash. After any change of possession

      • - Offense has three (3) downs to gain a first down. First down markers will be at the 25, and 10-yard lines

      • - Once inside the 10-yard line, the offense has 3 downs to score a touchdown

      • - The first person to control the football off the QB-Tee is the QB. The QB IS eligible to run if the defense uses its blitz. Once they cross the LOS, They may not pass or lateral the ball.

      • - The offense may run the ball as many times as they want on any down during the game; with the exception of overtime. The QB is allowed to make one exchange (ex. Pass, handoff or toss). No toss passes, reverses or hook and ladder

      • - Defensive players cannot cross the line on a run play until the quarterback hands the ball off to the RB

      • - After the offense scores a touchdown, they have the option of going for 1 point from the 5-yard line, or go for 2 points from the 10-yard line. Offense chooses hash for ball placement.  If the coach doesn’t respond to the official on which yard-line, the official will place the ball on the 5-yard line to go for 1 point.  Once this decision is made, coaches cannot overturn this decision

Coaching your Team

      • - There will be one offensive coach allowed on the field at any time

      • - The coach must be positioned behind the offensive huddle

      • - Coaches are not allowed to challenge any official ruling

      • - Remaining team coaches can work from the sidelines

      • - NO defensive coaches allowed on the field

      • - Coaches will be given 1 sideline warning during play. Second warning will result in a 10-yard penalty or half the distance to the goal. Third warning will result in coach’s ejection

      • - Any form of cheating qualifies for automatic team disqualification at the tournament!

Special Rules

      • NO BLITZING AT THE 40 YARD LINE ALLOWED. IF A DEFENSE BLITZES, THIS WILL BE DEEMED AN ILLEGAL PROCEDURE AND AN AUTOMATIC 1st DOWN AND FIVE (5) YARDS FOR OFFENSE. THE DEFENSE WILL GET THEIR BLITZ BACK IF IT WAS NOT ALREADY USED.

      • ONE BLITZ PER GAME IS ALLOWED – during regular game play once a yard is gained on the offensive possession, the defense can now use their blitz. Multiple players can blitz at one time. If a team has already used their ONE blitz any blitz thereafter will be penalized 15 yards (un-sportsman penalty) and the offense will get an automatic first down

      • NO OFFENSIVE PLAYERS BEHIND THE QUARTERBACK!

      • NO blocking – Blocking will result in a loss of down, return to the previous spot

      • Face guarding is allowed

      • Ball carrier is legally down when touched below the neck with one hand or the ball carrier’s elbow/knee, or the football touches the ground. A defender CAN leave his feet to make a tag. The offensive player can leave his feet also

      • Fumbles (Including snap) are dead balls at the spot with the last team in control retaining possession at the spot

      • Offensive team will have 25 seconds to put the ball into play. Delay of game is a loss of down

      • The offensive team is responsible for retrieving and returning the ball to the official. The clock does not stop, and any delay of the offense in retrieving and returning the ball to the official will result in delay of game

      • Defensive pass interference will result in a 15-yard penalty and an automatic first down. Defensive holding will result in a 10-yard penalty and repeat the down

      • Offensive pass interference will result in a return to the previous spot plus a loss of down

      • QB is allowed 4.0 seconds to throw the ball. Referees will stop play if 4.0 seconds is surpassed, which will result in a loss of down

      • An interception will result in an immediate stoppage of play and a change of possession with the interception team gaining possession at the 30-yard line. If an un-sportsman penalty is given to the interception team, they will be penalized 10 yards and will start from the 40-yard line

      • Excessive celebration is not allowed and will not be tolerated. At the discretion of the referee, if a team is penalized for excessively celebrating or clearing of the sideline, the result is an unsportsmanlike penalty and a loss of down

      • A game cannot end on a defensive penalty. If this occurs, the offense will have an untimed down if time has expired

      • The offense (wide receivers) has to line up outside the tackle box, and one receiver has to be on the line on each side.  If not, the offense will be penalized illegal formation and a loss of down

      • Fighting will not be tolerated. If a player throws a punch, he is ejected immediately and CANNOT return to the game. If players are involved in pushing or shoving, they may be ejected immediately from the game at the referees’ discretion. If a second incident occurs with the same player(s), they will be ejected from the tournament in its entirety. If a team’s bench clears, resulting in a fight, both of the teams are ejected, resulting in a forfeit. The referee has the right to throw out any player, players, or team out of the game. The staff has the right in extreme cases to eject players, coaches, teams, and by-standers of any tournament and they will have to leave the facility immediately. A referee can also give a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty.

Very Special Rules

Special Rule: RTP (Reverse the Play)

RTP (Reverse the Play) is a game-changing rule that can be used once per game per team, outside of overtime.

• RTP allows a team to reverse the outcome of any play, whether on offense or defense.

• Teams must signal RTP immediately after the play ends.

• If a defensive team uses RTP and returns a play: They automatically start at their opponent’s 10-yard line, no matter where they were on the field.

• If an offensive team uses RTP and returns a play: They automatically start at the 20-yard line, no matter where they were on the field.