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Sports | WCFL Home | Fall '07 | Directions | History | Game Rules |
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Game Rules
The League * 7 vs 7 - Limited Contact * ** NEW ** Any team fielding less than 5 players is an automatic forfeit. The teams can still play if they wish but it's still a loss for the team with less than 5 players, even if they win. * Players must play in 2 regular season games to qualify for the playoffs. * Players must be 18 years of age. * Official NCAA rules are used, except for the modifications listed here.
Playing Equipment: * Footballs - Must be at least high school regulation. * Uniforms - Each player needs to wear a jersey that matches his team. * Team Colors - In the event that two teams have similar jersey colors, the home team will be given the right to retain their jerseys, as the road team will be given colored pennies to wear.
Playoffs * American Division - the teams with the 4 best records will make playoffs. The #1 and #2 seeds will receive a bye during the first week of the playoffs. Seeding will be overall record first, using head to head as the first tie breaker, then divisional record as a second tiebreaker. * National Division - all 6 teams will make playoffs. Seeding will be overall record first, using head to head as the first tie breaker, then divisional record as a second tiebreaker.
Prohibited Equipment * Jewelry, metal cleats, forward facing baseball caps, sunglasses, casts & other hard objects.
Coin Toss * Each game will begin with a coin toss to determine possession and defending sides. * Teams will switch sides at half and will switch possession from opening kick.
Game Clock * The Head Official keeps time. * Each half is 20 minutes. Clock stops on Injuries & Timeouts (by players and officials). Teams have 1 minute to kickoff after the extra point attempt. * Time will be stopped within the final two minutes of the half for all of the following: Penalties, Injuries, Time outs, Incomplete Pass, 1st Downs, Change of Possession & Out of Bounds Ball Carriers. * All game times are forfeit times. * The clock will stop at the end of each extra point attempt.
Overtime * Regular Season - Each team will have 4 downs to score as many times as possible from the 10 yard line. Ball can be advanced each attempt. No extra points. Game will end as a TIE if neither team is ahead after each team's 4 down attempts. * Playoffs - Sudden Death, first team to score wins. Coin flip determines possession.
Scoring * Touchdowns - 6 Points * Extra Point Options: 1 Point - Pass from the 5-yard line. 2 Points - Run from the 5 or 10-yard line or a pass from the 10-yard line. * No defensive touchdowns on extra points.
1st Downs * 80 yard field is divided into 4 20 yard zones. * Offensive team must advance the ball to the next 20 yard zone within four downs to gain a 1st down.
Flag Rules * Each player must wear a Flag Belt with 3 flags. * Flag belts are to be clipped - NO TYING! * Flags must be worn over the player's uniform, making the flags and belt as available for removal as possible. * All other players starting without flags are immediately one hand touch.
Removing of the Flag * Ball carrier is considered down when flag is cleanly removed by the opposing team. * The ball will be spotted where the ball is at the point of flag removal. * If the flag is removed inadvertently or accidentally, ball carrier is down upon ONE HAND TOUCH. * One knee down is considered down. * ** NEW ** If the quarterback has the ball in his hand, even if it's going forward, and his flag is removed the quarterback IS ruled down. The ref will make the judgment whether or not it was in his hands or out.
Line of Scrimmage ** NEW ** * The ball must be set and the ref giving the ok to hike the ball. * The defense DOES NOT have to be set to snap. * You can not hike the ball to anyone who is not designated to be in the backfield. A person defined to be in the backfield is anyone 2 yards(6 feet) behind the line of scrimmage. This way it is very distinct who is in the backfield and who isn't.
Punts * After the snap, the offense has 3 seconds to punt. * A delay of game penalty will be assessed if the punt is not away in 3 seconds. * Offense has the choice of whether or not they wish to declare a punt. If they declare a punt before they are in their set formation, then the defense is not allowed to rush, otherwise the defense may rush or use a blitz. * The offense may leave the line of scrimmage as soon as the ball is snapped.
Kickoffs * Free kick from the kicking teams 30-yard line will begin play prior to each half and after touchdowns. * Receiving team must have 3 players lined up on the receiving team's 30-yard line. * Onside kicks are permitted. Ball must travel 20 yards. The last team to touch a free ball before it hits the ground, gains control of the ball. * All fumbled kickoffs are considered a dead ball at the spot where the ball hits the ground or travels out of bounds. * Kicks out of bounds past the receiving team's 30-yard line will be spotted on the 30-yard line. * Kicks out of bounds prior to the receiving teams 30-yard line will be spotted where the ball crossed over the sideline. * Kickoffs beyond the end zone are touchbacks. Ball will be spotted on the 20-yard line. * Receiving team may make lateral throws throughout the return. * Offense takes possession where the ball is downed at. The defense may rush from seven yards or the first down marker (20 yardline) which ever is closer. If the ball is downed between the goalline and the 13 the rush remains seven yards even if the ball is advanced.
Fumbles * All fumbles touching the ground result in a dead ball, spotted where ball hits the ground or crosses over the sideline.
Offensive Use of Hands * Ball carrier is not permitted to protect the flag by stiff-arm or slapping. Spin moves are allowed. * Flag guarding is a 5 yard penalty from the point of the infraction. * NO BLOCKING or SCREENING ALLOWED! When a ball carrier is running with the ball, other players from his team may NOT be moving in FRONT of the ball carrier in a manner that interrupts a defenders route to the ball carrier.
Defensive Use of Hands * NO TACKLING or HITTING ALLOWED!!! * ** NEW ** 2-handed bumps within 2 yards of the line of scrimmage are permitted. * Defense may force a ball carrier out of bounds with an open handed push, but, otherwise, may not hold, grasp, push, slap, strike or obstruct the ball carrier at any time. Excessive force will result in a penalty. * No contact, other than flag removal, is allowed on the QB except contact to his throwing arm AFTER a ball has been tipped.
Rushing the Quarterback * Intended rusher must line up behind the marker set at 7 yards from the line of scrimmage. The official will mark the 7 yards. * Rush is immediate for the intended rusher. * When less than 7 yards from the scoring goal line the rusher can line up on the goal line. Rush remains immediate. * As soon as the player receiving the snap moves left, right, towards the line of scrimmage, or gives up possession of the ball, or when any rusher crosses the line of scrimmage, it becomes immediate rush for any defensive player.
Motion / Men in Backfield * Only one offensive player may move in motion, parallel to the line of scrimmage, at the snap. * The motion player does not need to be set prior to the snap. * Only 2 offensive players may be in the backfield prior to the snap, either may receive the snap. * Any additional offensive players that move into the backfield after the snap will create an immediate rush for any defensive player.
Blitzes * 2 blitzes are permitted per half. * You may carry one unused blitz to the 2nd half. * Blitzes do NOT have to be declared to the official.
Avoiding Contact * Both the offensive and defensive players are responsible for avoiding contact. * The defensive player has the right to stand his ground, and a ball carrier may not purposely run into a defensive player.
Fighting * At the referees' discretion, any fighting can result in an immediate ejection from the game. All fighting will result in the players appearing before a review committee, which will include at a minimum their Captain and Coach. The results of the committees' counsel can include expulsion from the league.
Forfeits * Forfeits will be recorded as a win & loss for the respective team and that points for and points against will be averaged out and used for that weeks scores. |
Infractions
5 YARD PENALTIES:
* Offsides
10 YARD PENALTIES:
* Blocking, screening or moving picks
15 YARD PENALTIES:
* Unsportsmanlike conduct - (2) results in game ejection.
PASS INTERFERENCE:
Assessed at the spot of the infraction or 15 yards, which ever is LESS, plus a 1st down. If in the end zone, the ball comes back to the one yard line.
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