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				 RULES FOR THE HTB FLAG FOOTBALL YOUTH LEAGUE 
			For the A, B, C, D, 
			Junior and Senior Divisions 
			Ages 5 to 18 
			
			  
			Field size 
				
				For the A, and B, Divisions, the field dimensions 
				will be 25 yards wide by 50 yards deep, with two 7 yard deep end 
				zones, and one fixed first down at mid field.
				For the C,  D 
				Junior and Senior Divisions the field dimensions will be 30 
				yards wide by 60 yards deep with two 7 yard deep end zones, and 
				two fixed first downs at the 20 yard lines 
			  
			Attire and Safety 
				
				It is strongly recommended that all players wear a 
				mouth piece. 
				
				It is strongly recommended that all boys wear a 
				protective cup.
				It is the responsibility of the parents to supply 
				and implement the use of these items.
				Cleats are recommended, but not required. No metal 
				cleats are allowed.
				Matching shirts are required to be worn, and 
				visible at all times, if players wear hoodies, the hood must be 
				on the head or tucked inside the shirt.
				No hard pads are allowed
				A flag belt must be worn by all players when on 
				the field. If the flag falls off untouched, then a one hand 
				touch will end the play.
				All offensive players must have a flag on at the 
				start of the play. If the play is started with player(s) not 
				wearing one, the play will be blown dead. This will result in 
				loss of down, unless a time out is used prior to the start of 
				the play. If this occurs within the last minute, a ten second 
				runoff will occur.  
			
			  
			Game Clock 
				
				The game will consist of two (2) 20 minute halves
				The clock will continue to run unless stopped by a 
				time out
				At the one minute mark of each half, a one minute 
				warning will be announced. During this last minute of the half, 
				the clock will stop on time outs, dropped passes, penalties, 
				change of possession, and stepping out of bounds. The clock will 
				not run during a point after attempt. Each team will receive two 
				(2) time outs per half, and may not be carried over. 
			  
				
				Game clock will start at the appointed time. Teams 
				must be at the field and prepared to play at least 15 minutes 
				before game time. Roster exchange will occur at this time. Late 
				player will have to wait until halftime to enter the game, 
				unless a timeout is used. Players entering without notification 
				will result in the team losing all time outs for the game.
				 If a team is late, They 
				have fifteen minutes from game time to field a team. The time 
				will be deducted from the game time. Furthermore, the team that 
				is late will not have choice at either half. 
				 
			  
			  
			Format 
				
				Each team will field 6 players on offense or 
				defense.
				In the  B, 
				C, D, Junior and Senior Divisions, you must field a minimum of 5 
				players, or the game will result in a forfeit
				In the A division you must field a minimum of 4 
				players, or the game will result in a forfeit.
				If a team is playing with 4 players in the A 
				Division or 5 in the B, C, or D Divisions, the opposing team 
				must play with the same amount of players. (except playoffs)
				Mercy rule, if a team has a lead of 18 point or larger, then they 
				will only have 4 downs to score. The team that is down by 18 
				points or more will start at mid field. The game will be deemed 
				over, if within the last minute, the team that is ahead, by 10 
				points or over has possession of the ball. 
			The Game 
				
				The home team will be determined by coin toss. 
				Home team has first choice to defer, 
			      
			receive the ball or choose field direction. (defer gives you 
			choice 2nd half ). 
				
				There is no 
				contact, any contact not deemed incidental will be penalized 
			Offense 
				
				The offense has 40 seconds, to call and start 
				execution of a play or from the time the ball is spotted, or 
				they will be penalized for delay of game.
				Offensive team starts on their own 5 yard line. 
				Team has 4 downs to reach 1st down marker, if so, they get 4 
				more downs to score, if not, the opposing team receives the 
				ball on their 5 yard line.
				A no run zone is enforced at both ends of the 
				field, If the ball is completely within the 2 yard marker the 
				offense MUST pass the ball to score. QB can run only if the 
				defense rushes in after the 3 mississippi count
				In the A Division, there is no no run zone
				1 coach is allowed in the huddle and on the field 
				while game is in play, but must back up behind the quarter back 
				at the snap. A, B, and C Divisions only
				There must be a clear separation between the 
				quarter back and center at the snap
				If the snap is dropped, the quarter back can pick 
				up the ball, and complete the play. Only the qb, and no other 
				player can pick up the ball. If a player other than the qb 
				touches the ball, then the play is ruled dead.
				QB is allowed 1 forward pass per play, pitch backs 
				are OK and does not count as a forward pass. Receivers must have 
				1 foot in bounds to be a legal catch.
				 Everyone is eligible to 
				receive the ball.
				Offensive player can set a stationary pick. Feet 
				must be planted. Raising of arms or forward contact by the 
				offensive player is illegal. Ball carrier must avoid defensive 
				players. NO charging.
				A motion pick is allowed by one player only, and 
				the player cannot change direction or impede a defensive player 
				in any way.
				A multiple pick is illegal, and will be penalized 
				if it is deemed by the referee that the formation was too tight 
				to allow penetration by the defensive players.
				The cluster play is not allowed. (at snap all 
				players surround the qb)
				If the defense intercepts the ball they can run it 
				back for a TD, if they get flagged before scoring 
				the spot will be marked back at the 5 yard line if the 
				mid field was not crossed  
				or mid field if the mid field line was crossed.
				Flag shielding and stiff arming is not allowed.
				Diving to advance the ball or scoring is not 
				allowed, spinning, and jumping for the ball is allowed
				The position of the ball determines the spot of 
				the ball,. If the ball crosses the down marker it is a first 
				down, and if it crosses the goal line, it is a score.
				Any time a player falls, or a knee touches the 
				ground, even if untouched, the play is ended. 
			
			  
			
			  
			Scoring 
				
				Touch Down - 6 
				points, 
				extra point -1 
				(run or pass from 2 yd line) 
				2 point 
				conversion (run or pass from 5 yd line)
				Safety 2 points 
			
			  
			Defense 
				
				At the snap of 
				the ball the referee will count 3 mississippi, defensive players 
				must wait for the full completion of the count 
				before crossing the line of scrimmage. No Blitzing is 
				allowed
				If the quarter back hands off the ball, then the 
				count will stop and the defense may cross the line of scrimmage.
				Stepping in front of an offensive player and 
				causing contact is not allowed.
				1 coach may be in the defensive huddle, but must 
				back out of the way at the snap
				In the D, Junior 
				and Senior  Divisions the 
				coach is not allowed on the field 
			
			  
			
			  
			Penalties 
				
				Defensive- 
				Off-sides: (+ 5) yards and replay the down or “o” takes result 
				of play 
				Holding the ball 
				carrier: 5 yards added at the end of the run, down counts
				Interference: 10 
				yards from original spot, automatic 1st down or result of play
				Ball stripping: 
				5 yards from the spot of the foul, replay the down.
				If ball 
				stripping occurs within the 5 yard line, the result will be a 
				touchdown.
				Personal fouls: 
				tackling or pushing out of bounds, 10 yards and a warning (2nd, 
				eject) If occurred within the 5 yard line then its an automatic 
				touch down. 
			
			  
			
			  
			Offensive 
				
				Offensive- 
				Off-sides or false start: (-5) yards and replay the down
				Tying flag belt 
				(-10) and loss of down and possible ejection of player, coach, 
				and/or parent.
				Flag shield: 
				(-5) yards from spot of foul, down counts
				Interference: 
				Blocking (-5) yards from original spot, down counts 
				Illegal forward pass: passing beyond the line of 
				scrimmage. 5 yards from original spot, and loss of down.
				Forward lateral: 
				If after a forward pass, and/or past the line of scrimmage. 5 
				yards from the spot of the fowl, and the down counts.
				Personal fouls: 
				Charging (must avoid players) (- 10) from spot of foul, down 
				counts
				Stiff-arming: 
				(-10) from spot of foul, loss of down and warning (2nd, eject)
				Embellishment 
				–poor sportsmanship (-5 yds) down counts
				Cursing, and 
				aggressive behavior will not be tolerated 
				and will result in a (-10 yd) penalty on the team 
				
				Delay of game, 
				throwing or kicking the ball (-5 yd) spectators stepping on the 
				field or out of bounds line, one warning then (-5 yd)
				Diving to 
				advance the ball- 15yd penalty and loss of down.
				The coaches are 
				responsible for the conduct of their teams. This includes 
				spectators. Unruly behavior will result in a 15 yd 
				unsportsmanlike penalty on the team.
				A team having 
				been found to use unregistered players, will forfeit the game, a 
				second offence will result in the coach being suspended, and 
				would have to petition the committee for reinstatement. 
			
			  
			
			  
			Additional 
			All teams are 
			required to supply the league with individual pictures of their 
			players with name and birthdate of player on a word file. This will 
			then be placed online for player identification. 
			You must pick up all 
			your garbage when you leave 
			You must park in 
			designated spots 
			You must stay behind 
			the out of bounds line at all time (5 yd penalty after one warning) 
			There is no smoking 
			allowed at any field 
			Cursing or fighting 
			will result in ejection from the game. This includes spectators 
			Teams must be ready 
			to take the field five minutes before the scheduled time, if first 
			game or as soon as the prior game is completed. Referee will blow 
			the whistle and call for coaches and captains. The teams have two 
			minutes to comply.  If 
			one team is on the field an the other is not by the second whistle 
			that team will lose choice. If both teams do not comply then the 
			referee will start the game clock. This is for the start of the 
			game. The teams must still be at the field for roster exchange 15 
			minutes before scheduled game start. 
			
			  
			Footballs 
			A Divisions  
			mini ball 
			B Division    
			pee wee ball 
			C Division 1st season 
			choice pee wee or junior 
			Then junior ball 
			D and Junior Divisions junior ball 
			Senior Division Official ball 
			
			  
			
			  
			
			  
			
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