Rules and Penalties
Regulations
The Field
- The football field is 100 yards from goal line to goal line. The width of the field voices between High school, College, and Pro play.
- Endzones are 10 yards with a goal post on the back end line.
- Every 5 yards are marked with a line across the field. On every 10 yards the line is numbered moving from 10 to 50 on each side of the field.
- Every yard is marked a small line called a hash mark. There are two rows of hash marks are used to mark the ball exactly. If the play is stopped on the right side hash mark the ball will be placed on the right hash mark. If the play is stopped on the left the ball will be marked on the left side hash mark. If the play is stopped between the hash marks it will be marked between the two rows of hash marks.
Time
- In Pro and College the time is 15 minutes per quarter.
- In high school Varsity play is 12min.
- In high school Junior Varsity play is 10min.
- In middle school play 8min.
- There are four quarters seperated into two halves. 2 quarters per half seperated by a 15 minute halftime.
- In the event of a tie there will be a 15 minute overtime played on a "Sudden Death" basis. Sudden Death means the first team to score wins. After the overtime and there is no winner only then is the game declared a draw.(Unlimited overtimes in playoffs.)
In the case of College and High school Varsity play there is a 12 to 15 minute overtime played on a "Kansas City Shootout" basis:
Kansas City Shootout Rules
- Each teams gets the ball on their opponents 20 yard line and they have 4 downs(chances) to score. First team not to match the other loses.
- Each team has 25 seconds to begin the play during the game. The ball must be snapped before the 25 seconds are up.
Moving the Ball
- The ball can be advanced by running the ball.
- The ball can be advanced by passing down field.
- The ball be intercepted by the defense. The quarterback's pass is caught by a defensive player.
- The ball can be fumbled. This happens when the offensive ball carrier drops or has the ball knocked lose.
- Returning a blocked punt or field goal.
- Penalty- A breaking of a rule or committing an infraction. Yards will be fined against the team who committs teh infraction or breaks the rule. Yards are based on the serverity of the penalty.
Scoring
- Field Goal- Worth 3 points. This occurs when the offensive team kicks the ball between the uprights of the goal post.
- Touchdown- Worth 6 points. This occurs when the offense or defense breaks the plane of the goal line with the tip of the football.
- Extra Point- Worth 1 points. This after a touchdown when teh ball is kicked from the two yard line through the uprights.
- Two Point Conversion- Worth 2 points. This occurs after a touchdown when the ball is advanced across or breaks the plane of the endzone from the two yard line after a touch touchdown has been scored.
- Safety- Worth 2 points. This occurs when the ball carrier is tackeled in his own endzone. After this the offensive team will have to kick the ball off to the defense from their own 20 yard line.
Rules
The Kick-off
- Each half shall begin with a kick-off from the kicking teams 30 yard line.
- The ball must land in bounds. If the ball lands out of bounds the receiving team gets the ball on their 35 yard line.
- If the ball lands in the endzone and is left there or rolls out the back the ball will be spotted on the 20 yard line of the receiving team. This is called a touchback.
- If the ball goes only 10 yards it is a free ball and either team can fall on it and recover it. This is referred to as an onside kick.
- If the ball touches a member of the receiving team it is a free ball also and any team can recover.
- A member of the receiving team can call for a fair catch by waving his arm high in the air. All kicking team members must give him a two yards berth (or stay at least 2 yards away from him). The player who calls for a fair catch can not advance the ball after doing so.
- No player on the kicking team may run down field until the kicker has made contact with the ball.
Play
- No one on the offensive line may move until the ball is snapped by the center.
- Line of scrimmage- is the imaginary line that run across the field the width of the football from tip to tip.
- Only one offensive back may move at one time behind the line of scrimmage.
- A defensive player may step into the neutral zone (area where the ball is placed between the offensive and defensive lines) as long as they move back before the ball is snapped. But the player may not completely cross it or may not line in the area.
- The ball must be snapped (or given to the quarterback) before the 25 second clock runs down.
- Once a player passes the line of scrimmage he may no longer pass the ball forward he may pass it laterally only.
- When player is tackled he will be ruled down if his knee touches the ground or his forward momentum is stop completely.
- Each team gets four chances or (downs) to score or either get a first down (moving the ball 10 yards.)
- On offense 7 men must be on the line of scrimmage any change in this either way will result in a penalty.
- On fourth down the offense has a choice of either punting the ball down field or try for the 1st down. If the 4th down attempt fails the defense takes over the ball at his last spot after the play.
Punting
- Any contact with the punter in the follow through position after the punt is forbidden.
- A player on the punting team cannot advanced a "muffed"
(dropped) punt.
Instant Replay
- Each coach is given a red flag and if he thinks the officials made the wrong call he must throw it onto the field immediately following the play before the next one starts. Once the flag is acknowledged the Referee will go to a special screen and look over the play. If the referee sees it was an incorrect call the play will be overturned. If the referee sees that the call was correct the team will be fined a timeout. Each coach gets two challenges one per half. A challenge may not be used after the two minute warning before the end of the each half.
*College and high school play do not have the Instant Replay system.
Penalties and Infractions
- Holding-Grabing a hold of or impeding the movement of someone to deliberately keep them out of the play. Results in a 10 yard penalty from the spot of the foul.
- Clipping-Hitting someone in the back or passing the head across the back of an opponent when in the act of blocking. Results in a 15 yard penalty from the spot of the foul.
- Face Masking-Garbing a hold of the opponent's face mask while either blocking or tackling.
- Normal face masking-Putting the hand on the face mask then taking it off immediately. 10 yards from spot of the foul.
- Personal foul face masking-putting hand on face mask and jerking and/or pulling down the opponent by it and not removing it. 15 yards from the spot of the foul.
- Illegal motion-Is when an offensive player on the line moves or simulates the start of the play before the ball is snapped. 5 yards from the spot of the foul
- Illegal Shift-Is when more than one offensive back is in motion before the ball is snapped. 5 yards from the spot of the foul
- Offsides-A defensive player jumps across the line of scrimage before the ball is snapped. 5 yards from the spot of the foul
- Encroachment- (also called lining up in the neutral zone) A player lines up in the area between the two lines when the ball is snapped. 5 yards from the spot of the foul.
- Chop Block- One player blocks an opponent high while a teammate hits him below the waist. 15 yards from the spot of the foul.
- Delay of Game- The ball is not snapped before the 25 second play clock runs out. 5 yards from spot of foul
- Illegal Man Down Feild- Offensive linmen on a passing play can only go down feild for 5 yards. 10 yards from the spot of the foul.
- Pass Interference- If there is any illegal contact between receiver and defender that might inhibited one catching a catchable ball. 15 yards from the spot of the foul.
10 yard chuck rule- pushing and use of hands can be used by the defender and receiver 10 yards past the line of scrimmage.
- Illegal Participation- There is a 11 men allowed on the field for both the offense and defense. If either team has over 11 or under 11 men this penalty will be enforced. 10 yards from spot of foul.
- Roughing the Passer- Hitting the quarterback after the ball has been well thrown or attempting to purposly injure the passer. etc... Picking up and driving into ground. 15 yards from the spot of the foul.
- Roughing the Kicker- Running into or hitting the kicker while he is attempting or has already kicked the ball. 15 yards from the spot of the foul.
- Illegal Motion on a Kick-off- If the ball is kicked out of bounds on the kick-off. Ball is given to the receiving team on the 35 yard line. Or getting a head of the kick on the kick-off, which results in a rekick.
- Spearing- Leading with the very top of the helment into a tackle. 15 yards from the spot of the foul.
- Personal Foul- Doing anything that might be deamed as unesseary roughness during the act of tackling or blocking. 15 yards from the spot of the foul.
- Inetentional Ground- This occurs when the quarterback throws the ball out of bounds or where there is not an eligable receiver when outside the area between the two offensive tackles. 10 yards from the spot of the foul.
- Tripping- Kicking legs out from under a player. 10 yards from the spot of the foul.
- Late Hit- Hitting a player when he is out of bounds or after the play has been whistled dead. 15 yards from the spot of the foul. Usually classified as a Personal foul penalty.
- Unsportsmanlike Conduct- Any type of conduct that might be deamed unprofessional or unsportman like ie: fighting or mouthing at an official. 15 yards from spot of foul
- Illegal Use of Hands- Using the hands or arms to club an opponent to the head, using out stretched arms to side to block. 10 yards from the spot of the foul.
- Illegal Forward Pass- Attempting to pass the ball forward after passing the line of scrimmage. 10 yards from the spot of the foul
Other Officating Signals for General Game Procedures
Start Clock
Dead Ball
Loss of Down
Disreguard Flag
First Down
Touchdown/Field Goal/Extra Point Good
Safety
Ejection
Incomplete Pass/Field Goal/Extra Point No Good
The Officials
Officials wear a black shirt with white pin stripes (which lead to them being refered to a "Zebras") They wear black hats except for the Referee who wears a white hat. They also wear white pants (almost like knickers) or white shorts. Each official is equiped with a whistle and a yellow flag weighted with bee bees or sand in their back pocket. Whistles are used to signal the end and beginning of a play and when there is a penalty.
Referee- Is in charge of the game at all times. He supervised the other officials, decides an all matters not under other officials' specific jurisdiction, and enforces penalties. Identifiable by a white cap.
Umpire- Makes decisions on questions concerining the players' equipment, their conduct, and positioning.
Linesman- Marks the positions of the ball at the end of each play. The linesman's assistant usually work the 1st down chains. He also watches for violations in play positions.
Field Judge- Times the game on the field using a stopwatch in case something goes wrong with the stadium clock.
Back Judge- Stands in secondary of the defense and watches for infractions.
Line Judge- Watches for offsides, encroachment, and neutral zone infractions.
Side Judge- Stands to the side of the lined up teams to watch for infractions.
Player Numbers
In football the jersey numbers are used to identify the players' position.
1-19 Quarterbacks and Kickers
20-49 Running backs and Defensive backs
50-59 Centers and Linebackers
60-79 Defensive and Interior Offensive Linemen
80-89 Wide Receivers and Tight Ends
90-99 Defensive Lineman
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