7 on 7 LEAGUE RULES  

**MOUTH PIECES: It is required that mouth pieces be worn!**

1. Field Dimensions
a. Field Length: 30 yards (Field is marked at 10 yard intervals with cones.
b. End Zone: 10 yards deep

2. Ball Sizes
a. 3rd/4th grade uses Pee-wee (size 6) OR Junior (size 7) size ball
b. 5th/6th grade uses Junior size ball

3. Starting the game
a. A central game manager will be designated. All games will begin and end on this person’s instructions. He will also announce the time remaining at the 5 and 2 minute mark of each half.
b. Teams will flip a coin for possession of the football.
c. All teams must wear a jersey provided.
d. Ball is always placed on the 30 yard line to start the game or each new possession.
e. Referee will announce score before each offensive possession begins.

4. Moving the ball
a. Possession always begins at the 30 yard line. Placement of the ball will be enforced by officials, once the ball has been advanced.
b. No penalty will be assessed in excess of the 30 yd line. On an unsuccessful or successful offensive play from the 30 yard line resulting in an offensive penalty: The ball will be returned to the 30 yard line and 1st down will become 2nd down; 2nd down will become 3rd down; and 3rd down will result in a turnover.
c. Both offenses always move in the same direction.
d. Should a swing pass not cross the LOS and before the 4 second count has expired, a defensive player tags the ball carrier behind the 30 yard line, it is a safety.

5. Special Rules
a. No offensive blocking.
b. Receiver/Ball carrier is legally down when touched with one or both hands. (Excessive force by shoving, pushing, or striking a blow will be penalized by automatic first down and 5 yards. Expulsion of a player(s) if ruled unsportsmanlike & flagrant).
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. A delay of game penalty on the extra point try results in a turnover.
e. All penalties will be marked off on a 4 second count, EXCEPT for pass interference. (Pass interference will be penalized normally even if the 4 second count has expired (see below)
f. Defensive Pass Interference is automatic 1st down & spot foul up to 10 yds.
     i. Responsibility to avoid contact is with the defense. There will be NO chucking, deliberate bumping or grabbing. These actions will result in a “tack on” penalty at the end of the play (5 yard penalty)
     ii. Offensive pass interference is a 10 yard penalty iii. Interceptions may be returned (“no blocking” rule applies). If an interception is returned beyond the 30 yard line (the offensive origination point) it is a touchdown and point after attempt should ensue. The teammates of the person who intercepted the ball may trail the runner so as to be in position to take a backwards pass. They may not block for or screen for the runner.
g. 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.
h. The offensive center is not an eligible receiver (teams must have a center). The ball may be tossed to the QB from a player kneeling down on a knee.
i. The center will be responsible for setting or re-positioning the Referee’s bean bag (rubber dot) at the line of scrimmage.
j. On change of possession, the team moving to offense will ensure the bean bag gets to the new scrimmage line. (centers on both teams responsible).
k. No taunting or “trash talking”. (5 yard penalty & expulsion if flagrant).
l. The offense must gain at least 10 yards in the first 3 or less plays or the defense takes over (There is no kicking/punting). Four down territory occurs only after offense proceeds to or inside the 10 yard line cone (third quadrant).
m. Fighting: the player(s) involved will be ejected from the game.
n. Any dead ball foul on a play that results in the defense getting the ball will result in a loss of down penalty. The defense, now the offense, would be starting play with 2nd down.
o. There will be an area referred to as the tackle box that extends 3 yards on both sides of the center and extending 3 yards deep into the backfield. No eligible receiver may align within the tackle box.
p. For an offensive formation to be legal, there must be at one receiver on the LOS on both sides of the tackle box.
q. If a ball is fumbled or a player is tagged (after a swing pass) behind the 30 yd line (offensive origination point), the result is a safety. The defensive team receives 2 points and gets offensive possession of the ball at the 30 yard line.

6. Scoring
a. 6 points for TD
b. 1 point for PAT from 3 yard line, 2 point PAT from 10 yard line
c. 2 points if the defensive team returns a PAT back across the 30. d. Official score is kept by field referee and game manager

7. Tie Breaker
a. Game can finish in a tie.

8. Time
a. 15 minute halves (continuous clock for each half—see: “Starting the game”).
b. 7 on 7 rules require that all games start/end at the same time.
c. Teams must be on site and ready to play when scheduled.
d. If teams are late and can not start when the game officially starts, they will begin play with whatever time is left on the game clock – not to exceed 10 minutes of 1st half.
e. Forfeit will occur after 10 minutes of the 1st half.
f. Injury time outs may reduce the amount of time between halves and/or between games to maintain the game schedules.

1st-2nd Grade Specific League Rules Addendum
--A coach for your team will play QB.

--After attempting the throw, coaches can not participate in the play in any manner. The coach should remain where he attempted the throw until the play is whistled dead.

--A parent can be the team’s QB but they need to have completed an FCA MLA.

--Teams will be allowed to attempt a pitch/toss in lieu of a forward pass.

--The ball must clearly travel through the air, handoffs are not allowed.

--Once the ball has been pitched/tossed, it cannot then change hands again. A second pitch/toss, or a pass is not allowed.

--If the pitch is not successfully completed, it will be treated like an incomplete pass. The play is dead and the ball will return to the original spot for the next play.

--Once the ball has left the hand of the QB, defenders are free to make a play on the ball and do not need to respect the line of scrimmage anymore.