Tackle Football Rules
GREENWICH YOUTH FOOTBALL LEAGUE 2024 RULES AND REGULATIONS
PLAYING RULES:
FCIAC Rules, except as modified below, shall govern all play.
Quarters will be 12 minutes each. Time will stop if
Change of possession
- Once a touchdown is awarded
- Once the extra point is completed
Quarter Ends
- Clock will begin at the snap of the ball
- A ball goes out of bounds, clock will restart when the ball is placed
- Any on-field injury
Otherwise, it's a running clock. During the last 2 minutes of each half, time will stop per FCIAC rules.
The offense will have 30 seconds from when the play is called dead to run the next play.
Half-time will be limited to 5 minutes.
The on-field coach cannot speak to his players at the Bantam and Junior levels once the offense breaks the huddle.
The field of play is 43 X 80 yards for Bantams and 53-1/3 X 100 yards for Junior and Seniors.
All fumbles at the Bantam and Junior levels are considered a dead ball except for a fumbled snap.
If a snap (center/quarterback exchange) is fumbled, ONLY the quarterback can continue the play, including handing off the ball or attempting a pass (the running back cannot pick-up the ball and advance)
If the defense recovers a fumble, it’s a dead ball
No offensive player except for the quarterback can advance the ball
At the Senior level, all fumbles are live (including special teams) and may be recovered and advanced by either team. Designed fumble plays at all levels are prohibited, and a penalty for illegal procedure will be assessed.
Interceptions at all levels are live and may be advanced
Bantam penalty on holding and false start:
- Holding is a 5-yard penalty from the line of scrimmage
- A false start is a 3-yard penalty
The Junior level will permit the following:
- 1 Offensive Coach
Seniors: No coaches on the field
No huddle may be more than 10 yards from the line of scrimmage
- First offense is a warning
- Second offense is an unsportsmanlike penalty (15 yards)
No huddle may be more than 30 seconds long
- First offense is a delay of game (5 yard penalty)
- Second offense is an unsportsmanlike penalty (15 yards)
If a player received an unsportsmanlike penalty, they cannot participate in the following 5 plays. That player will be removed from the game if they receive a second unsportsmanlike penalty.
Offensive Formations and Restrictions:
Bantam and Junior Levels
The Offense must have 2 running backs in the backfield and a quarterback within the tackle box.
The Offense must have at least 1 receiver to either side of the formation as a Tight End or Split End. Use of a Flanker or Split End to one side of the formation is permitted. Flanker can line up in a traditional Slot/Wingback position or further out in a Twins formation. It is also acceptable to have a Split End on each side of the ball with a Flanker on one of the sides (i.e.-no Tight Ends in this set). No trips or bunch formations are permitted.
Splits between offensive linemen must not be more than 1 yard.
No motion may be employed, and unbalanced lines are not permitted.
All lineman (guards/tackles/TEs on LOS) must be in a 3-point stance.
Senior Level
Offensive formations are unlimited following FCIAC Rules.
This would include allowing the use of pre-snap motion.
Unbalanced lines are not permitted.
Tackles are permitted to be in a 2-point stance for pass-blocking situations. All other lineman must be in a 3 point stance.
All players registered under the “eligible as a 14-year-old” exemption (Enrolled in 8th Grade) will be considered Limited Players. All limited players may only play Offensive Guard, Tackle, Center on Offense, Defensive Tackle, or End on Defense. They can only play line within the box (line play) on special teams. They can also punt or kick field goals on special teams. They cannot play unlimited positions, such as Offensive End or Defensive End in the Goal Line, irrespective of their weight.
Teams are strongly encouraged to use Base, Spread, and Trips formations.
Defensive Team Formations and Restrictions:
Bantam Level
Defensive formations are limited to a 4-4-3 alignment, with defensive interior linemen covering the Offensive Guards and Tackles. At no time may a defensive player be lined up on the Center or a Tight End.
All-Defensive Linemen must be lined up head up on the Offensive Lineman with no shading to a side.
Defensive Lineman must be in a 3 or 4-point stance.
The 4 Linebackers may be no closer than 3 yards to the Line of Scrimmage but may not be moving forward at the time of the snap. Inside linebackers are NOT allowed to blitz.
The 2 inside linebackers must line up behind the offensive guards.
The 3 Defensive Backs must be no closer than 6 yards to the Line of Scrimmage and may line up anywhere from sideline to sideline but may not be moving forward at the snap. If covering a Split End, the Defensive Back may move up to 3 yards from the LOS.
Inside the 10-yard line, the Defense may use a 6-3-2 alignment. With Defensive Ends lined up on the Offensive Ends if they are Tight Ends or anywhere from the Tackle out if there is no Tight End on their side. Linebackers and Defensive Backs must still be 3 and 6 yards from the Line of Scrimmage.
Junior Level
Same as above with the following exceptions:
The outside linebackers (overhangs) can come down on the line of scrimmage against a tight end or sniffer. They must be heads up against a TE or on the LOS against a sniffer on their side.
Senior Level
Even and odd fronts are allowed at the senior level.
The defensive end must align head-up on the offensive tackles.
All other defensive lineman must align head-up as well (Nose/D Tackle).
Defensive Lineman must be in a 3 or 4-point stance.
The inside linebackers heels may be no closer than 4 yards from the line of scrimmage. Inside linebackers are allowed to blitz.
The 2 inside linebackers must line up behind the offensive guards.
The outside linebackers (overhangs) can come down on the line of scrimmage. Outside linebackers (overhangs) cannot blitz inside the tackle or “twist”.
Secondary players must be 8 yards off the ball inside the T/TE box. Secondary players can be 3 yards x 3 yards off the end man on line of scrimmage based on zone coverage. Defensive backs outside the box can press if they choose to..
No stemming the front or shifting the defense based on the offensive formation.
Inside the 10-yard line, the Defense may use a 6 or 7 man front. With Defensive Ends lined up on the Offensive Ends if they are Tight Ends or anywhere from the Tackle out if there is no Tight End on their side. Linebackers must be at least 4 yards off the line of scrimmage and Defensive Backs must can be on or off the line of scrimmage when outside the box.
Special Teams Play:
All Levels
There are no Kickoffs at any level. At the beginning of each half and after a TD, the ball will be placed on the 25-yard line.
Bantam Punts:
On any down, a team may elect to punt. At the Bantam level, the ball will be placed 20 yards from the Line of Scrimmage. However, the ball cannot be placed within the receiving team’s 20-yard line.
Junior Punts:
Teams either have to go for it or punt on a 4th down.
All teams will punt from a 7-3-1 formation.
Punt return formation: 6-4-1 formation - 2 in front of gunners, 4 down lineman, 4 linebackers and only the back 1 (punt returner) can catch the ball.
The play will begin once the ball is kicked. No players may rush the punter.
There are no fake punts allowed.
Halo Rule: The kicking team must give the returning player 5 yards of space (in all directions) to return the punt. Violation of this rule will result in a 5 yard penalty. If the returner is touched or tackled, it is an automatic 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty.
The receiving team cannot move until the ball is kicked. The receiving team must line up heads up on the lineman and outside coverage men or “gunners”.
The center must be uncovered and cannot be touched.
A “muffed catch” by the receiving team is a dead ball at the spot and change of possession. If the receiving player catches the ball and makes a football move, and is stripped/fumbled, the ball is live but cannot be advanced (per junior rules). No punt return walls are allowed.
Senior Punts:
Same as above except the play is live, starts on the snap and fumbles are live once the receiving player catches the ball and makes a football move.
Only the 4 down lineman on defense can rush the punter.
Bantams Extra Points:
After a Touchdown, the Offensive team may elect to run or pass for an extra point. Extra points may be attempted from the 3-yard line for 1 point or the 5-yard line for 2 points
Juniors/Seniors Extra Points
1 point will be awarded for a run/pass from the 5 yard line.
2 points will be awarded for a kick from the 3 yard line (LOS).
Junior Extra Points/Field Goals:
This will be a dead-ball play. Defensive players can put their hands up but cannot rush.
Holder must be 5-7 yards behind the center. The Holder's knee must stay down. If the ball is fumbled out of reach of the holder, it is a failed attempt.
Senior Extra Points/Field Goals:
Same as above but these will be live plays (full contact).
The center must be uncovered and CANNOT be touched by the defense. Touching the center will result in an unsportsmanlike penalty.
Defensive lineman cannot line up in the A gap and should line up on the outside shoulder of the guard.
If there is a blocked or missed field goal inside the 20 yards line, the ball will be placed at the 20 (change of possession).
If there is a blocked or missed field goal outside the 20-yard line, the ball will be placed back at the line of scrimmage (change of possession).
Other:
After a Safety, the ball will be placed at mid-field to start the next possession.
Games tied after regulation will use the “Kansas City Tiebreaker” to determine a winner. The Visiting team will call the Referee’s coin toss, and the toss winner may choose Offense, Defense, or End of Field for play. The loser gets the remaining option. Each team has one possession from the 10-yard line in which to score.
If the score remains tied after each team has had a series of downs, there is no coin flip; rather, the loser of the Overtime coin flip is given his choice of the above options, and the process is repeated from the 10-yard line. Overtime will continue with the ability to choose first, alternating between the two teams. If a tie still exists after both teams have had 2 possessions, the ball moves to the 5-yard line until a winner is determined.
Interceptions and fumbles recovered by the defense will result in losing possession and be a dead ball. The defense can not score off of an offensive play in overtime. Beginning with the second overtime period, teams must go for two points following a Touchdown (Bantams and Juniors only). At the Senior level on the second series, the options will be to rush or pass only from the 5-yard line.
Each team will be allowed 1 timeout during each overtime period.
One Coach for each team will be permitted to be on the Field at the Junior Level. After the Offense breaks the Huddle, the On–Field Coaches may not provide additional direction to the Players other than to assist them in lining up in their appropriate location on the field.