Youth Indoor Football

INDOOR FOOTBALL RULES & GAME PHILOSOPHY

2011

General

As a general statement, the fundamentals of Indoor Football mirror high school beliefs. ◦ Sportsmanship

Expectation of Coaches and Players Player safety is paramount Common sense officiating

◦ If it feels and looks wrong…it probably is.

Playing field◦ Approx. 60 yds by 28 yds total

50 yds Goal line to Goal line 5 yds each End Zone Entire field surrounded with padding over the walls

and netted Equipment

◦ Standard High School Football @ 15 yr games (2011)

◦ Standard Jr Size Footballs permitted @ 13 yr &below (2011)

◦ Standard High School Football Player Equipment◦ Coaches to confirm legal equipment to Referee◦ Tinted visors are NOT permitted without

authorized physicians document

The Game

The Game

Equipment Continued◦ Legality of Equipment is ruled by the Umpire◦ Legal Equipment (minimum)

Helmet Shoulder Pads Mouthpiece Hip-,Tailbone-,Thigh-,Knee-pads

◦ Illegal Equipment (not limited to) Tied or Taped Jerseys Tinted eye shield (unless physician authorized) Jewelry (earrings, necklaces) Equipment, in the judgment of the Umpire, that is

potentially dangerous to the player or others. (armbands, bandanas, ect)

Even Play Rule◦ In the sense of fair play, when one team leads by

a score of 19 points or more, the leading team shall replace the staring QB, RB and (2) primary WR’s. They may play in another position.

◦ IF the lead grows to a 26 point differential then these players must be replaced at their position once again.

◦ Lineman and all defensive positions may remain regardless of the score throughout the contest.

The Game

Timing◦ (4) 10:00 Quarters◦ 25 second play clock (including between score and next kick off)◦ Halftime 10:00 length◦ One minute warning at the end of each half shall

be 90 seconds in length.◦ Time between quarters shall be 90 seconds in

length.◦ Team Timeouts are 60 seconds in length.

The Game

Timing Continued Clock starts following kick legally touched

◦ Continuous Clock Clock stops for

Time Outs – Player or HC on field (3 per half) Injured Player Officials time out for rule clarification, not to exceed 60

seconds If in the opinion of the officials excessive time is being

consumed after a PAT or successful FG (2010)

Inside 1 minute of half - Incomplete passes (start on snap) - First Downs (start on ready) – Player down/Out of Bounds (tackle in boards–start on

snap) - Change of possession including kickoff (start on snap

except kickoff start on touching by R)

The Game

Overtime◦ Overtime Rules

Two Minute Intermission following regulation Coin Toss – Captains visitors call- winning team

choice Offense/Defense or End of field NO CHOICE to DEFER

OT begins with a free kick (kickoff) from defensive team free kick line.

Each team is allowed an offensive attempt unless the opponents score is by the defense.

Ball does not turn over on downs BUT is kicked off from the new defensive team goal line.

If the game remains tied at the end of both team possessions, then a ‘Kick Off’ will follow. There is no additional coin toss. Alternate options are exercised. (2010)

The Game

Overtime◦ Overtime Rules continued

No Clock in overtime – ONLY 25 Second play clock Timeouts

1 per team per overtime period Do not carry over from regulation or each overtime

period. All time outs are 30 seconds in length in OT.

The Kick Off event allows each team the opportunity to kick FG’s until a winner is declared. Each team will attempt from the 2 yd line and move back 5 yds each OT until a winner is declared with one team scoring and the other missing. (2010)

The Game

Out Of Bounds◦ Definition

Walls are IN BOUNDS for a player in possession of the ball UNTIL contact with the wall is made as a RESULT OF DEFENSIVE CONTACT.

A forward pass that comes in contact with the Wall is dead (incomplete).

A receiver in contact with the wall when completing a catch is IN BOUNDS and legal.

A free kick (kickoff) or a fumble that comes in contact with the Wall is LIVE until recovered.

A player on top of the wall, or using the wall to leap is out of bounds and a reception is incomplete.

Walls are an extension of the ground.

The Game

Out Of Bounds Continued◦ Rulings

Force out completed catch - An airborne player in possession of the ball that is contacted by an opponent and lands out of bounds (force out) and maintains possession shall be ruled a completed catch.

One foot required to complete a catch- A player who gains possession of the ball with only one foot in bounds before going out of bounds retains possession of the ball at the spot where last in bounds.

The Game

Out Of Bounds Continued◦ Free Kick

The back wall net is an extension of the back wall. A ball is out of bounds when it completely leaves the field of play.

The sideline net is NOT an extension of the side wall and is out of bounds. Dead Ball at spot it went out.

A kick that hits the wall at any point on the field is IN PLAY

REMEMBER…The back wall and back wall net are playable and in bounds!

REMEMBER…A ball in contact with the side wall is live! Free kick lines: (2011)

15 – 5 yd line 13 U – 10 yd line

The Game

Out Of Bounds Continued◦ Free Kick – A Free Kick That Goes Out of Bounds...

…beyond midfield (25yd), BEFORE touching the ground or an R team player belongs to R at midfield (25yd).

...behind midfield (25yd) BEFORE touching the ground or an R player, the ball belongs to R at the spot it went out of bounds.

…anywhere from sideline/net AFTER touching the ground or an R player, shall be awarded to R at the point the ball went out of bounds.

…through the end zone AFTER touching the ground or an R player, shall be awarded to R at R’s 5 yard line.

…is DEAD Immediately when it hits the ceiling or any object suspended from the ceiling and awarded to R at midfield.

The Game

Out Of Bounds Continued◦ Scrimmage Kicks – That go Out of Bounds...

…through the end zone/failed belongs to R as follows:LOS outside R 20 yd then ball placed @ 20 yd lineLOS Inside R 20 yd then ball placed @ original LOS (2010)

…through the sideline at any point on the field, regardless of touching the ground or an R player, R is awarded the ball at the spot it went Out of Bounds.

…by hitting the ceiling or object suspended from ceiling (other than a flag) is awarded to R at the spot of interference (Referee to use best judgment). If the spot is inside the 5 yard line then the ball shall be spotted and awarded to R at the 5 yard line.

The Game

Out Of Bounds Continued◦ Fumble

Fumbled out of bounds or touched by a player and then goes out of bounds, shall belong to the team last in possession of the ball in the field of play.

Forward fumble out of bounds will be spotted at point of fumble.

Backwards fumble out of bound will be spotted at point it went out.

A fumbled ball in contact with the wall is in bounds. The ball must completely leave the field of play to be out of bounds.

The Game

Out Of Bounds Continued◦ Fumble Out of Bounds and the End Zone

A ball fumbled over the opponents goal line and out of bounds through the end zone… …with or without touching an opponent is a touchback

(5yd line) awarded to B. The ball must completely leave the field of play to be out of bounds.

If defense recovers a fumble or intercepts a pass in the end zone and does not move the ball outside of the end zone before the ball is dead, the defensive team shall have possession at its own 5-yard line.

The Game

Out Of Bounds Continued◦ Fumble in Own End Zone• When a player fumbles or directs the ball from the

field (Out of Bounds*) of play into his own end zone, where the ball goes out of bounds without possession being gained by either team, a safety shall be awarded.

*Ball must completely leave the field of play.

The Game

Fourth Down Fumble◦ Fourth down Fumble Rule – Only the offensive player

who fumbled the ball may recover and advance the ball. The ball will be placed at the spot of the fumble if recovered by another A team player. This also applies to PAT 2-point conversion attempts. During a blocked extra point all A team players are eligible to recover and advance.

The Game

Scoring◦ TD – 6 points◦ Field Goal – 3 points◦ Safety – 2 points◦ PAT

Place Kick – 2 points Run/Pass – 1 point Ball is dead on all failed PAT attempts

The Game

1/19/11 - Mechanics 1/26/11 - Penalty Enforcement

Thank You!

Coming Agenda