New York City

New York City - New Jersey
8-man B & C Division Rules
2003

Rule 1

Number of players

Teams play with 8 players on the field. Less than seven players will be a forfeit

Rule 2

Field dimension

Fields will be 80 yards long by 45 yards wide with 10-yard end zones. First downs will be achieved by passing the line markers that are spotted at twenty-yard intervals.

Rule 3

Defensive rush

Teams will have a two- (2) Mississippi count and one blitz every time a first down is achieved. Defensive players can not drop back into coverage before the three count. If the defense still has a blitz and the defense drops back into coverage, that will be considered their blitz. If on a blitz a bad snap hits the ground before reaching the QB, the blitz is still alive. The blitz can not be used on punts. If the QB leaves the pocket or an offensive lineman releases his position the count will stop and the defense can rush. The defense can chuck the receiver once within 5 yards of the line of scrimmage. Any interceptions in the end zone are dead balls. Defensive team will start first down at the twenty-yard line.

Rule 4

Equipment

*All teams must have matching jerseys by week 2.

*The triple threat flag belt is the only acceptable flag belt.

*Any NFL or college ball is legal to use.

*No metal cleats allowed.

*No hard football pads may be worn.

*Mouthpieces are suggested.

*All hats must be worn backwards.

*Cut off jerseys must not cover flag belt.

Rule 5

Roster

Rosters are limited to 20 players. No player can be added to roster after the 4^th game. Teams are allowed to have 3 players on their injured reserve (IR) list. IR names must be written on team waiver before each game with the letters IR next to their name.

Rule 6

Standings

Standings will be decided as follows:

1. Win-loss record

2. Head to head competition

3. Points for

4. Points against

5. Points maintained

6. Coin Toss

Rule 7

Contact

OPEN HAND blocking only. Thrust outward from your chest; not load up from the sides. No fumble recoveries, The ball is dead whenever dropped to the ground. No two on one blocking or cracking back.

Rule 8

Scoring

Scoring will be as follows:

Touchdown - 6 points

Field goals - 3 points

Safety - 2 points

Extra points will be as follows:

Run, pass, or kick from 5 yard line- 1 point

Run or pass from the 10-yard line - 2 points

Defensive team can return an interception for 2 points on a 2-point conversion attempt.
Mercy rule is 35 points at half and 18 points at two-minute warning. (No exceptions)

Rule 9

Sidelines

No player or coach may leave the areas of the 20-yard lines. All coaches are responsible to keep spectators 10 yards from the sidelines. Anytime a coach enters the playing field to question a call a time-out will be charged. Coaches are responsible for making sure their sidelines are clean before leaving the field.

Rule 10

Protest

there are no protest. Referees judgment is final.

Rule 11

Game clock

The length of the game is 60 minutes, divided into two halves of 30 minutes each. Running time with no clock stoppage is used for the first 28 minutes of each halves. The clock will stop at the final 2:00 minutes of each half and will restart at the snap of the ball. During the final 2 minutes of each halves, traditional clock stoppage is used only when the ball carrier steps out of

bounds incomplete pass, a change in ball possession, or a score is achieved.

Rule 12

Timeouts

Each team gets 3 timeouts per half. Only two timeouts can be used inside the two-minute warning.

Rule 13

Play clock

The offence has 30 seconds from the time the referee declares the ball ready for play. The referee will give a 10-second warning and if the offence doesn't start the play before the 10 seconds are over they will get delay of game penalty. The defense is responsible for retrieving the ball.

Rule 14

Overtime

Tie games at the end of regulation will be decided in a "shoot out" Format. Each team will take possession at opposing teams 10-yard line and will be given four downs in which to score a touchdown or a field goal. Opposing team shall be given the same opportunity. If at the end of the first "shoot out" score remains tie, each team will be given another series of downs from the 10-yard line until a winner is decided. Missing field goals (not a botched snap) will result in a

change of possession regardless of the down. A "botched" snap in OT will result

in a loss of down - Unless the play was on 4^th down, in which a change of possession

would take place.

Rule 15

Delay of game

Teams have 15 minutes from scheduled start time to field a minimum amount of players. Any time wasted will be deducted from the first half. The team that was late will loose the coin toss and will get a 15-yard penalty on the kick off.

Rule 16

Coin toss

The team winning the coin toss can

1. Defer choice to second half

2. Receive

3. Take direction

4. Kick

It is possible to receive the ball at the start of both halves. Captains are responsible to bring completed waiver form and referee fees to coin toss.

Rule 17

Kickoff

Kicking team kicks from the 20-yard line. The receiving team receives on the 40-yard line. The receiving team must have 4 men on the line.

If the ball does not travel 20 yards in the air or the ball goes out of bounds before the receiving teams restraining line the ball is dead at the spot. If the ball goes out of bounds after the receiving teams restraining line, but before the goal line, the receiving team will start from their restraining line. If the ball goes out of the end zone or is downed in the end zone it is a touch back. The ball will be spotted on the 20-yard line. Once the ball travels the 20 yards in the air and remains on the playing field, the team with the first contact will get possession of the ball. The defensive team can not advance the ball. All muffs are dead at the spot. After a safety, the kicking team lines up on their 20 yard line and the receiving team lines up on their 40 yard line. The kicking team can either punt or place kick the ball. All other rules for kickoffs will apply.

Rule 18

Punts

No contact will begin until the ball has been kicked. Punts cannot be faked. No one except for the WR's can release until the ball has been kicked. Punts that enter the end zone are touchbacks.

Rule 19

Field goals

The offence must declare a field goal and have have 5 men on the line of scrimmage. The defensive team must have 5 men on the line of scrimmage. Three must be lined up no further than the outside shoulder of the offensive tackles. The other two men can split out but must be on the line of scrimmage. You can not leave your feet to block a kick. No one can rush the center gaps. The nose guard must hold his position. Anyone can rush outside the offensive tackle shoulders. If a player rushes up the center gaps, comes in contact with the center, holder, or kicker, or dives; this player may be ejected from the game. The kicking team can either take the result of the play and add penalty to kickoff, take the points or take the penalty which would be 15 yards and a first down. There is no penalty for being blocked into the kicker. On fields that have no goal post the kicking team is responsible for holding the temporary goal post. Missed field goals that fall short of the end zone can be returned like punts. Missed field goals inside the 20-yard line are brought out to the 20. Missed field goals outside the 20 are placed at the previous spot.

Rule 20

Extra points

All kicked extra points are from the 3-yard line. (Same rules for field goal applies).

Rule 21

Offensive formation

Must be balanced (Tackle-Center-Tackle) no more than one foot apart and the ball must be snapped between the centers legs. Offensive lineman cannot catch passes, including tipped balls. Contact must be open hand blocking. Tackles must be in three point's stance.

Rule22

Ball carrier

The ball carrier or receiver that falls or dives to make a catch can get up and run unless he was touched before he gets up on both feet. The ball will be dead at the spot of the touch. The ball carrier cannot:

1. Flag shield

2. Run directly into a defender

3. Crawl

4. Dive to advance the ball

All are 10-yard penalty from spot and loss of down. The ball carrier can jump but must land on both feet. Stiff arm is legal but must only be applied to the chest area. Illegal stiff arm will be a 10-yard penalty from the spot of the foul.

Rule 23

Legal receptions

The receiver must have one foot in bounds for a legal reception. If a player steps out of bounds on his own he cannot reenter play.

Rule 24

Quarterback

Quarterback can only throw one forward pass per play. Ball must be snapped to the QB or another back. Intentional grounding is legal if the QB is outside the tackles. "Quick-spikes" to stop the clock are legal if the snap is shot-gunned.

Rule 25

Offensive scrimmage

Offensive line consists of three linemen. A center and two tackles. The rest of the players can line up in any type of formation. Either on or off the line and still be eligible.

Rule 26

Tackle eligible

The only time a tackle is eligible for a pass is on the tackle eligible play. The offensive team must notify the referee who does not notify the defense. Only one tackle can go out for a pass.

The tackles spot must be filled by a tight end or running back immediately.

Rule 27

Inadvertent whistle

In case of an inadvertent whistle, the offence has a choice of yardage gained or replays the down. If time expired one more play will be allowed. If the ball is intercepted and then the inadvertent whistle is blown, the ball is dead at the spot and the defense takes over.

Rule 28

Spot of the ball

Since there is no diving to advance the ball in flag football the spot of the ball is always the torso of the ball carrier at the time of the flag belt removal.

Rule 29

Defensive formation

Defense must have three men on the line of scrimmage head to head. Lineman must wait for the 2 Mississippi count before rushing. If an offensive lineman makes contact or the QB rolls out the defensive line can rush. Any non-incidental contact with the QB may result in a roughing penalty.

Rule 30

Secondary

Only one receiver chuck allowed and it must be no more than 5 yards from the line of scrimmage. The defense cannot push a ball carrier out of bounds. If the ball carrier losses his flag belt one hand touch prevails. The defense cannot use contact to break up a pass play. It must be truly going for the ball. There is no ball stripping or deflaging a receiver before the reception. Standard pass interference rules apply. You cannot hold the jersey to pull the flag or tackle the ball carrier. (If it prevents a TD the referee can award a TD).

Rule 31

Head referee

Can reverse any other referee's call. Has the right to terminate any game at any point.

Rule 32

Spot foul penalties on first downs

If the offensive team achieves a first down and then receives a spot foul penalty that brings the ball back past the first down marker the offensive team would get a first down and have to get to the second marker to achieve the next first down.

Rule 33
Referee fee per game & bond
Teams are responsible for referee fee's paid at the start of each game. The fee is $70.00 per game per team.

The referee bond is $140.00 which is paid before the season starts. This bond is used in the event a team forfeits a game. Team that forfeits will not be allowed back until another bond is paid. If a team does not use its bond it will be returned at the end of the season via. mail.

Rule 34
Side Lines
Regular season: Team that shows up first gets to pick there side line for the game.
Playoffs: Team with the better record gets choice of side line.

Rule 35
League requirements to play season
Each team must be paid in full prior to the start of the season with referee bond, and completed registration form.

If a team forfeits a game within the first three (3) weeks of the season that team will be taken off the schedule and disqualified from the season, with no refund.

All teams are required to submit a roster by week 3. If a team does not submit a completed roster by week three a penalty will be enforced on the roster limit from 20 down to 17. Every week after that with out a roster submitted another slot will be taken off the roster sheet. This will be greatly enforced through out the league.

Rule 36
Schedule, and schedule changes
The schedule for the first four weeks will be posted on the website. After week four the remainder of the season schedule will be posted.

In the event a team is dropped from the league the schedule will be changed. All captains are responsible to check the website every Wednesday night to confirm game times for Sunday.

Rule 37
Co-ed Rule
There is no requirement for number of men or women to play.

Rule 38
Fighting & Verbal Abuse Policy.
Any person during a game that verbally or physically approaches another player during a game will receive a game misconduct unsportsmanlike penalty, and will be ejected from the game. There will also be a 2 game suspensions or possible ban on the player in question.

The player in question will be required to leave the area or the game will be called and the team will receive a forfeit.

In the event there are any fights prior, during or after a game at the field or surrounding area all team(s) involved even if it is one player will be kicked out of the league (No questions asked)

If a player threatens an official during a game his team will receive a forfeit loss on the spot. If a league member or fan threatens or physically approaches an official the parks department, or police will be called and charges will be filed.

If a suspended player, or team is in attendance at the field or surrounding area the referees will be required to contact either the parks department, or local police and have that person or team removed from the area.

Teams will also be responsible for their sidelines. Any verbal abuse toward a referee, or player will result in a 15 yard penalty, and automatic 1st down.

If the person in question is from another team they will be suspended from league play and be required to leave the permitted area. The game will be stopped until the person in question leaves.

If the person in question is a fan the game will be stopped until the person in question leaves. If the person in question does not leave the authorities will be called.