5th and 6th Grade Game Rules
5th and 6th Grade Game Rules Field Size Game Length Game Clock Play Clock Time Outs Halftime Overtime
Scoring
Kickoff
Punting
Coaches
80 yards where possible. No less than 60 yards. Teams will play four quarters at 15 minutes each. Running clock quarters with the stop time rules being used during the last 2 minutes of each half. Quarter length can be adjusted upon agreement between both coaches. 1. The clock will be stopped for injuries, immediately after a score and change of possessions. 2. Clock will be stopped for extra point attempts. 3. Game clock and play clock will start when ball has been placed down for play. Play clock will be 40 seconds. If there is a delay of game violation, the penalty is loss of down. Three timeouts per half. No carryover. Five minutes for halftime Ties are decided by each team attempting to score from the 10 yard line. Each team will begin with 1st and goal. If neither team scores after one possession each, the game ends in a tie. No game clock. Play clock will be used. One additional timeout for OT. 1. Touchdown: 6 points 2. Safety: 2 points 3. Point after touchdown (PAT): Ball will be placed at 3 yard line. a. Rushing Score: 1 point b. Passing Score: 2 points No kickoffs. Ball will be placed at the 15 Yard line on 80 yard fields. 10 yard line on fields less than 80 yards. 1. Teams are not allowed to rush the punter. 2. No fake punts or quick punts. Punts must be executed out of the punting formation. 3. You must notify the official of your intent to punt. 4. Players on either side of the ball cannot move until the ball has been punted. 5. The punter may take the ball from the center in any manner. If the ball is dropped, the punter may pick it up and punt the ball. 6. If the ball is punted into anyone on the line of scrimmage on offense or defense, the ball is dead and is spotted at the original line of scrimmage. It will be treated as a turnover on downs. 7. Offensive formation: 9 linemen, 1 personal protector, 1 punter 8. Defensive formation: 9 linemen, 2 punt returners 9. If the ball rolls into anyone on offense or defense down field, the ball is dead at that spot. 1. Offense: One coach may be on the field. On-field coach must be 10 yards behind the line of scrimmage when snapped. 2. Defense: One coach may be on the field. On-field coach must be 10 yards behind the safety (or deepest defensive player) when the ball is snapped. If the on-field coach impedes any game action, a 10-yard penalty will be assessed at the end of the play. 3. First violation to these rules will result in a warning. Any additional violations will result in removal of on-field coach from the field during game play. As always, referee discretion will prevail. We will ask referees to be clear when a warning is issued.
5th and 6th Grade Game Rules 1. Certain rules have been modified to accommodate the goals of our league. At times, there may be confusion as to the specific rules and rule modifications. Please be courteous and professional in your interactions with the referee. Officiating 2. If a coach believes that a ruling by a referee is incorrect may ask for an official timeout. Both head coaches and the referees are to come together to discuss and review the ruling. Referees will have final decision authority. Penalties cannot be challenged unless it is believed that the referee improperly applied or misinterpreted a rule. There is a ZERO tolerance policy for coach misconduct toward a referee, coach or player (of either team). This will be an automatic ejection Coach Conduct from the game. The offending coach will not be allowed to coach for 1 week, game or practice. 1. No QB sneaks between the guards. 2. Any facemask will be a 10 yard penalty and automatic first down. 3. No blitzing. Violation of this rule will be a 10-yard penalty and a first down. If the QB leaves the area between the tackles, he will be considered a runner. Example: If a linebacker sacks the QB in the backfield within the tackle box during a pass play, it will be a 10-yard penalty.
Other Rules
4. No defensive player is allowed to line up over the center. 5. 4-4 Defensive Alignment: Defensive Tackles must line up in a three point stance head up over offensive guard. Defensive End must line up in a three-point stance head up on the offensive tackle. If the formation includes a tight end(s), the Defensive End may choose to line head up on the tight end. Defensive End must be lined head up, no shading to an edge or gap. Linebackers must be 5 yards off the line of scrimmage. Goal line situations, you may bring linebackers to within 2 yards of the the line of scrimmage. Inside linebackers must be 'stacked' over the Defensive Tackle. Outside LB cannot line up outside of the edge of the offensive line formation but does not need to be stacked on a particular player. This does not apply if Outside LB is needed for pass coverage. 6. No "shooting the gap" between the center and the guard. Defensive tackles must engage the offensive guard before moving through that gap. This is to protect the center and QB. All other gaps are considered open for defensive movement. 7. A minimum of two officials are required for each game. One official should be an adult. 8. Spiking the ball in the final two minutes of a half is allowed to stop the clock. 9. Ringer rule is in effect. At or above 125 pounds can only play on the offensive and defensive line. A sticker to identify 'ringers' will be placed in the center of front of the helmet. Weigh-ins will take place prior to game 1 at host site. 10. All fumbles will be live balls but cannot be advanced past the recovery spot. EXCEPTION: QB-Center exchange (shotgun formation included) can be picked up by QB and play will continue. 11. Interceptions are live and can be returned. 12. Pass interference penalties will be 10 yards from the original line of scrimmage and a first down. All other non-personal foul penalties will be 5 yards. Holding penalties will be 5 yards from the spot of the infraction. All personal foul penalties will be 10 yards and an automatic first down. 13. Unsportsmanlike Conduct: 1st offense will result in a ten yard penalty and the offending player must be removed from the field of play until the next change of possession. 2nd offense will result in player removed from the field of play for the remainder of the game (ejection). 14. Mercy Rule: If at any point in the second half the margin is 21, the game clock will only stop for timeouts and injuries. If a team is winning by 30 or more at any point in the second half of play, the game will end.
Scoring
Kickoff
Punting
Coaches
80 yards where possible. No less than 60 yards. Teams will play four quarters at 15 minutes each. Running clock quarters with the stop time rules being used during the last 2 minutes of each half. Quarter length can be adjusted upon agreement between both coaches. 1. The clock will be stopped for injuries, immediately after a score and change of possessions. 2. Clock will be stopped for extra point attempts. 3. Game clock and play clock will start when ball has been placed down for play. Play clock will be 40 seconds. If there is a delay of game violation, the penalty is loss of down. Three timeouts per half. No carryover. Five minutes for halftime Ties are decided by each team attempting to score from the 10 yard line. Each team will begin with 1st and goal. If neither team scores after one possession each, the game ends in a tie. No game clock. Play clock will be used. One additional timeout for OT. 1. Touchdown: 6 points 2. Safety: 2 points 3. Point after touchdown (PAT): Ball will be placed at 3 yard line. a. Rushing Score: 1 point b. Passing Score: 2 points No kickoffs. Ball will be placed at the 15 Yard line on 80 yard fields. 10 yard line on fields less than 80 yards. 1. Teams are not allowed to rush the punter. 2. No fake punts or quick punts. Punts must be executed out of the punting formation. 3. You must notify the official of your intent to punt. 4. Players on either side of the ball cannot move until the ball has been punted. 5. The punter may take the ball from the center in any manner. If the ball is dropped, the punter may pick it up and punt the ball. 6. If the ball is punted into anyone on the line of scrimmage on offense or defense, the ball is dead and is spotted at the original line of scrimmage. It will be treated as a turnover on downs. 7. Offensive formation: 9 linemen, 1 personal protector, 1 punter 8. Defensive formation: 9 linemen, 2 punt returners 9. If the ball rolls into anyone on offense or defense down field, the ball is dead at that spot. 1. Offense: One coach may be on the field. On-field coach must be 10 yards behind the line of scrimmage when snapped. 2. Defense: One coach may be on the field. On-field coach must be 10 yards behind the safety (or deepest defensive player) when the ball is snapped. If the on-field coach impedes any game action, a 10-yard penalty will be assessed at the end of the play. 3. First violation to these rules will result in a warning. Any additional violations will result in removal of on-field coach from the field during game play. As always, referee discretion will prevail. We will ask referees to be clear when a warning is issued.
5th and 6th Grade Game Rules 1. Certain rules have been modified to accommodate the goals of our league. At times, there may be confusion as to the specific rules and rule modifications. Please be courteous and professional in your interactions with the referee. Officiating 2. If a coach believes that a ruling by a referee is incorrect may ask for an official timeout. Both head coaches and the referees are to come together to discuss and review the ruling. Referees will have final decision authority. Penalties cannot be challenged unless it is believed that the referee improperly applied or misinterpreted a rule. There is a ZERO tolerance policy for coach misconduct toward a referee, coach or player (of either team). This will be an automatic ejection Coach Conduct from the game. The offending coach will not be allowed to coach for 1 week, game or practice. 1. No QB sneaks between the guards. 2. Any facemask will be a 10 yard penalty and automatic first down. 3. No blitzing. Violation of this rule will be a 10-yard penalty and a first down. If the QB leaves the area between the tackles, he will be considered a runner. Example: If a linebacker sacks the QB in the backfield within the tackle box during a pass play, it will be a 10-yard penalty.
Other Rules
4. No defensive player is allowed to line up over the center. 5. 4-4 Defensive Alignment: Defensive Tackles must line up in a three point stance head up over offensive guard. Defensive End must line up in a three-point stance head up on the offensive tackle. If the formation includes a tight end(s), the Defensive End may choose to line head up on the tight end. Defensive End must be lined head up, no shading to an edge or gap. Linebackers must be 5 yards off the line of scrimmage. Goal line situations, you may bring linebackers to within 2 yards of the the line of scrimmage. Inside linebackers must be 'stacked' over the Defensive Tackle. Outside LB cannot line up outside of the edge of the offensive line formation but does not need to be stacked on a particular player. This does not apply if Outside LB is needed for pass coverage. 6. No "shooting the gap" between the center and the guard. Defensive tackles must engage the offensive guard before moving through that gap. This is to protect the center and QB. All other gaps are considered open for defensive movement. 7. A minimum of two officials are required for each game. One official should be an adult. 8. Spiking the ball in the final two minutes of a half is allowed to stop the clock. 9. Ringer rule is in effect. At or above 125 pounds can only play on the offensive and defensive line. A sticker to identify 'ringers' will be placed in the center of front of the helmet. Weigh-ins will take place prior to game 1 at host site. 10. All fumbles will be live balls but cannot be advanced past the recovery spot. EXCEPTION: QB-Center exchange (shotgun formation included) can be picked up by QB and play will continue. 11. Interceptions are live and can be returned. 12. Pass interference penalties will be 10 yards from the original line of scrimmage and a first down. All other non-personal foul penalties will be 5 yards. Holding penalties will be 5 yards from the spot of the infraction. All personal foul penalties will be 10 yards and an automatic first down. 13. Unsportsmanlike Conduct: 1st offense will result in a ten yard penalty and the offending player must be removed from the field of play until the next change of possession. 2nd offense will result in player removed from the field of play for the remainder of the game (ejection). 14. Mercy Rule: If at any point in the second half the margin is 21, the game clock will only stop for timeouts and injuries. If a team is winning by 30 or more at any point in the second half of play, the game will end.
