FVM Rule Book

	A	B	D
1	doub	FARMINGTON VALLEY MUDHOGS \| FLAG FOOTBALL RULES
2		PENALTIES	LIVE BALL / DEAD BALL
3		The referee will call all penalties.	Substitutions may be made on any dead ball. You must always substitute from the same side of the field.
4		Referees determine incidental contact that may result from normal run of play. This is considered a judgement call.	Team must have a minimum of four (4) players but no more than five (5) on the field at a time. if not, illegal procedure pen
5		Only the head coach may ask the referee questions about rule clarification and rule interpretations	The play is ruled "dead" when:
6		All penalties will be assessed from the line of scrimmage, except for SPOT FOULS.	- Ball-carrier's flag is pulled
7		Games cannot end on a defensive penalty unless the offense declines.	- Ball-carrier steps out of bounds
8		If distance to the goal is shorter than penalty yardage, then the penalty will be assessed half the distance to the goal.	- incomplete passi*
9		Any loss of down on the fourth down results in a turnover on downs and the other team taking possession.	- Ball hits the ground***..
10		Def penality during 2-pt conversion not only moves ball up, but team can still run or pass the ball for two points	- Touchdown, PAT or safety is scored
11		SPOT FOULS	- Ball-carrier's knee or body hits the ground (hand no included)
12		Defensive (automatic first down)	- Ball-carrier's flag falls out (ball is spotted where the flag is on the ground)
13		. Defensive pass interference (contact with the reciever to render him unable to catch)	- Receiver has one (l) or no flags when catching the ball {ball is spotted where the receiver caught the ball)
14		. Holding (preventing a player from moving)	Any player who starts a play without a flag is down where he or she touches the ball
15		. Stripping (stripping the ball carrier of the ball)	There are no fumbles! Ball is spotted where the ball-carrier's feet were at the time of the fumble.
16		. Defensive unnecessary roughness (roughing another player with intent)	ln the case of an inadvertent whistle, the offense has two options:
17		Offensive (automatic loss of down)	l. Take the ball where it was when the whistle blew down is consumed
18		. Screening, blocking (they should get out of the way of the ball carrier and not prevent D from reaching ball carrier)	2. Replay the down from the original line of scrimmage
19		. Charging	OVERTIME
20		. Flag guarding	No Overtime in Regular Season. Overtime will only happen in the playoffs
21		. Offensive unnecessary roughness	- Winner of the coin toss chooses offense or defense first
22		DEFENSIVE PENALTIES	- Each team takes turns getting one play from the defense's 5 yard line for 1 point or defense's l0 yard line for 2 points.
23		5 YARDS FROM LINE OF SCRIMMAGE & AUTOMATIC 1st DOWN	- Whether to go for one or two points is up to the offensive team
24		Offside	- Whether or not the team that begins on offense converts, the defensive team gets their turn on offense (same rules)
25		illegal rush (only blitzer can cross LOS before handoff, YOU CAN RUSH AS MANY AS YOU WANT)	- lf both teams score and complete the same amount of points on conversions, then the process is repeated once more.
26		illegal flag pull (runner must have posession of the ball, and be on the ground before flag is pulled)	- The team that lost the first coin toss getting to choose offense or defense for the start of the second round of OT.
27		Roughing the passer (this is obvious)	Final points earned after the FINAL overtime, will be added onto both teams' total score.
28		OFFENSIVE PENALTIES	EQUIPMENT
29		5 yards and loss of down.	Home team wears dark jerseys. Away team wears light jerseys.
30		Offside / false start (no one can be moving forward when play stars, motions are allowed but must be lateral or back	Players jerseys must be tucked in at all times
31		Center Sneak (ball is handed directly to the center after play starts)	Players must remove jewelry deemed hazardous by the officials
32		Offensive pass interference (pushing away the DB to catch the ball)	All players must wear shoes. Cleats are allowed. However, cleats with exposed metal are not permitted.
33		illegal Motion (more than one person is in motion at a time)	SPORTSMANSHIP PENALTIES
34		Delay of game (7 seconds after qb has ball, or 30 seconds in 7-8 division)	10 yards from line of scrimmage & automatic first down (Defense) or loss of down (Offense)
35		Purposely impeding the rusher (delibarate effort to make it so the rusher cant rush, otherwise incidental)	Taunting (If it happens twice by same player, they will be ejected from game)
36		illegal Procedure (throwing over the line, throwing after 7s on handoff, illegal play (coaches cant get involved))	Unsportsmanlike conduct (If it happens twice by same player, they will be ejected from game)
37		FARMINGTON VALLEY MUDHOGS \| FLAG FOOTBALL RULES
38		GAME	RECEIVING
39		Rock, Papper, Scissor by team captains will determine who starts with the ball	All players are eligible to receive a pass (including the QB if the ball has been handed off behind the LOS).
40		The winner of the RPS decides to take offense or defense first.	Only one {1) player is allowed in motion at a time.
41		The loser of the coin toss chooses the direction.	A player must have at least one foot inbounds when making a reception.
42		The offensive team takes possession of the ball at its own 5-yard line.	Once the ball is advanced beyond LOS, only the ball-carrier can possess the ball until the play is dead.
43		The offensive team has four downs to cross midfield for a first down. If they do, they get four more downs to score a TD	Once ball is pass the LOS, remaining offensive players cannot screen, block or run next to ball-carrier
44		If the offense fails to cross midfield or fails to score, the ball changes possession.	RUNNING
45		The new offensive team gets the ball on its own 5-yard line.	The QB cannot run beyond the line of scrimmage with the ball.
46		AII possession changes except interceptions start on the offense's 5-yard line.	Teams may perform multiple handoffs as long as they remain behind the LOS. Toss or pitches are now allowed.
47		Team change sides after the first half. Possession changes to the team that started the game on defense.	The player who receives the handoff can throw as long as they remain behind the line of scrimmage, and under 7s
48		TIMING	The ball is spotted where the runner's front foot is when the flag is pulled, not where the ball is.
49		Game times are 50 minutes long...25 minutes per half.	Center sneak is not allowed. However, a double exchange (not through the legs) is allowed.
50		Halftime is five minutes long. Teams change sides of the field in the second half	NO-RUN ZONE
51		Each time the ball is spotted, a team has 30 seconds to snap the ball.	"No Run Zones" are located 5 yards before midfield (first down) and 5 yards before the end zone.
52		Officials can stop the clock at their discretion.	If the ball is spotted on or inside the "No Run Zone," the offense MUST FORWARD PASS to achieve a first down or TD
53		SCORING	There is no "No Run Zones" in the Kindergarten through second grade division.
54		Touchdown: 6 points	SCORING
55		Safety: 2 points	Players that rush the passer must be 10 yards from the LOS when the ball is snapped.
56		Extra point: I point (from 5-yard line) OR 2 points (from 1o-yard line)	Before each play, an official will mark off the 10 yards from the LOS.
57		Once a team is up by 28 points or greater, the game is a mercy.	Impede a pass rushers path will be considered a block and the offense will be penalized.
58		Marcy Rules: Teams will continue to play, but no more keeping score. Also, no more extra points	lf a rusher leaves the rush line early, they can return to the rush line, reset and then legally rush the passer.
59		PASSING	Non-blitzing defenders may defend on the LOS, but may not enter the backfield unless the ball is handed off.
60		Double passes are now allowed in all divisions.	Players rushing the passer may attempt to block the pass, however NO contact can be made with the QB in any way.
61		The first pass must not be forward and must remain behind the LOS.	FLAG PULLING
62		Any pass or shuffle going forward is a forward pass.	A legal flag pull takes place when the ball carrier is in full possession of the ball.
63		All throws must be made seven {7) seconds after snap of ball. The referee will verbally count out the 7 seconds.	A defensive player may not pull the flags off of a player who does not have possession of the ball.
64		lf a pass is not thrown within the seven {7) seconds, the play is whistled dead and it's a loss of down.	Defenders can dive to pull a ball carriers flag, but cannot hold, tackle or run through the ball carrier to pull flag.
65		Once the ball is handed off, there is still seven (7) second rule from snap. However, RB can still run	It is illegal to strip or pull the ball from the ball carrier.
66		lf the QB's flag is pulled before the ball leaves their hand, it is a sack. The ball is spotted where the QB's feet are at.	It is illegal to pull/hold onto the ball-carrier's shorts or jersey while trying to pull the flag.
67		interceptions may be returned except for during a PAT.	FLAG GUARDING
68		A QB cannot catch a tipped or block ball. If they do, it's an incomplete pass.	Flag Guarding is an attempt by the ball-carrier to obstruct the defender access to the flag. This is includes.
69		The QB may throw the ball to avoid a sack. Pass does not need to go beyond the LOS.	Stiff arming, dropping the hand, arm, shoulder or head, or interntionally covering flag with football or jersey.
70		On 1-pt conversions, there must be at least one pass beyond the LOS.	Absolutely no jumping from ball-carrier to avoid flag pull. Spins are allowed.
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