League Rules

Area 728 Youth Football League Rules

* denotes new rule or change for 2007

football pants which have knee, thigh and hip protective

padding to all practices and games. A player must always

wear his mouth piece attached to his helmet.

including practices and games for the first two weeks of the

year. After the first two weeks, they should play no more

than 3 days a week including practices and games. No

practice should last for more than two hours. No practices

should be conducted in bad weather, weekends or on holidays

or held in darkness.

As many practices as coach’s desire may be held until first

game. Thereafter, a maximum of two practices with two

games or three practices with one game per week. No

practice should last for more than two hours. No practices

should be conducted in bad weather, weekends or on holidays

or held in darkness.

The game shall begin with a coin toss with team captains and

the game officials. The winner of the coin toss will have the

touchdown is scored as 6 points. Extra points are

awarded as follows: If scored by pass, 2 points are

awarded. If scored by run, 1 point is awarded.

quarters. Each team receives two (2) timeouts per half. No

carry over of time outs. Modified stop time means clock

should stop for: change of possession, extra point attempts,

penalties, injuries, or measurements. In the last two minutes,

time can be stopped for: incomplete pass, running out of

bounds, after a touchdown is scored or for the moving of

down markers.

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fields the kick off is on the 40 yard line), they cannot go past

the 35 yard line until the ball has been kicked (if they cross

the 35 yard line prior, they are off-sides). KICKOFF will be

from the 30 yard line in Rogers. The receiving team must

have 5 members on the opposite 35 yard line. IF THE BALL

IS KICKED OUT OF BOUNDS, it is considered a penalty

and the receiving team shall have the option to take the ball

where it was kicked out of bounds, have the kicking team rekick

with a 5 yard penalty or have the ball spotted at the

receiving team’s 30 yard line.

line and can be punted or kicked. This setup shall be the same

as a kickoff.

punting team must have 7 players on the line of scrimmage.

The punter must be 3-5 yards behind the line of scrimmage.

The punting (offensive) team cannot go beyond the line of

scrimmage until the ball is punted. The defensive team must

have 5 people on the line of scrimmage. No player can move

or shift until the ball is punted.

A flip of the coin allows the coin flip winner their choice of

starting on offense or defense. The loser of the coin flip will

choose which end of the field the overtime will be played.

The offense has 4 plays, starting on the 10 yard line, to score

a touchdown. If a touchdown is scored, the extra point is also

attempted. Then, the other team receives the same

opportunity of 4 plays from the same 10 yard. If, after both

teams have had their opportunity to score and the score

remains tied, another coin flip is done with the same

procedure following. If after each team has 2 opportunities to

score and the game still remains tied, the game shall end in a

tie. There must be a winner in the playoffs. If the defense

scores, they win.

all coaches of their placement after the last game. If teams are

tied at the end of the season, point total of head to head

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competition decides place. If more than two teams are tied,

least amount of points given up for the year decides place, if

teams are still tied then coin flip shall determine seeding.

receivers) can weigh more than:

equipment on.

equipment on.

equipment on.

No player weighing more than above can carry the ball (or be

in a ball carrying position ) at any time, EXCEPT: If the ball

is turned over, fumbled, intercepted, or if there is an onside

kick or a bad punt that goes less than 5 yards.

Players that are too heavy to carry the ball under the

guidelines for each league will be identified with a black X

taped to the back of their helmet. This is to eliminate

confusion over which players are eligible to carry the ball and

which players are not.

enough players (7) on the line of scrimmage.

6-3-2, 4 down linemen must line up head up on the guards

and tackles. Defensive ends are not required to line up

directly across from the offensive ends. Linebackers 3 yards

off the ball and safeties and corners 7 yards off the ball.

GOAL LINE DEFENSE-effect only linebackers, they can

come up inside the gap to one yard from the line of

scrimmage. The intent is that the linebacker fill the hole and

not blitz the backfield. This can only take place when the

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offensive team has less than two yards to go, or when they

are inside the 5 yard line.

6-3-2 with at least 4 – 6 down lineman (ends can stand), 3

linebackers in the upward position, at least 3 yards from the

line of scrimmage and 2 safeties/cornerbacks which must be

to play a defensive lineman in the gaps between the center

and the guard. At any time a referee sees a defensive lineman

“crash” the center, a personal foul penalty will be called. The

intent is for the safety of the center with his head potentially

down.

GOAL LINE DEFENSE-effect only linebackers, they can

come up inside the gap to one yard from the line of

scrimmage. The intent is that the linebacker fill the hole and

not blitz the backfield. This can only take place when the

offensive team has less than two yards to go, or when they

are inside the 5 yard line.

until the ball is snapped.

linebackers in the upward position, at least 3 yards from line

of scrimmage and 2 safeties/cornerbacks which must line up

tackle must be head up on center.

linebackers in the upward position, at least 3 yards from the

line of scrimmage and 2 safeties/cornerbacks which must be

7 yards off the ball. You are allowed to play a defensive

lineman in the gaps between the center and the guard. At any

time a referee sees a defensive lineman “crash” the center, a

personal foul penalty will be called. The intent is for the

safety of the center with his head potentially down.

corners and Safety 7 yards off the ball.

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GOAL LINE DEFENSE-effect only linebackers, they can

come up inside the gap to one yard from the line of

scrimmage. The intent is that the linebacker fills the hole and

not blitzes the backfield. This can only take place when the

Offensive team has less than two yards to go, or when they

are inside the 5 yard line.

BLITZ AT ANY TIME.

Grade may blitz but the linebacker can not be closer

than 3 yards of the line of scrimmageat the snap unless

its short yardage or goalline.

field for the first 2 weeks. No coaches will be allowed on the

A 'Coaches Box' will be chalked or coned off on each

sideline of all fields. This box will 5 yards deep and will be

between the 20 yard lines. ONLY players and coaches will

be allowed in this area.

suspended not only for the remainder of that game, but from

the team's next game as well

A. Coaches are to make sure all players are equipped properly.

B. Coaches are to make sure all equipment given out to each player makes it back

to the equipment director in a timely fashion.

C. Ensure each player either starts the game on offense or defense and that each

player plays half the game.

D. Each coach is to make sure all paper work is collected and complete and turned

in to the league president or registration director, depending on paper work

being turned in.

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E. Each coach is responsible for having their team ready and prepared on picture

day.

F. Each coach shall keep their players parents under control during each game and

will assist the referees with that control. Each coach shall meet with the parents

of his players to explain the upcoming season and the rules. Rogers Youth

Football has implemented a zero tolerance/gag order for yelling at or

intimidating any official, coach or player. The first offense is an automatic 15

yard penalty. The second offense is ejection from the fields. Failure of the

parent to leave will cause the coach to be ejected and/or the game to be

forfeited.

5. Game Cancellation/Rescheduling Policy

To eliminate confusion between communities, a league-wide

policy on game cancellation/rescheduling has been adopted. The

guidelines are as follows:

lightning. Players should go to their cars and wait for 15

minutes to see if the storm passes. If the lightning persists, the

community league representative will determine whether to

continue waiting. While every effort will be made to get the

games in, delays of 30 to 45 minutes will result in cancellation

and/or rescheduling of the game.

conditions, etc will remain at the discretion of the community

where the game is scheduled to be played.

made up. If three full quarters are not completed, the

remainder of the game will be re-scheduled. EXCEPTION: If

the head coaches agree that the game is official, then it will not

need to be made up. An example would be if one team was

way ahead of another.

approval of the league presidents of each community. Games

must be rescheduled at least 2 weeks in advance. The coach

requesting a game to be rescheduled must demonstrate that the

reason for the request is valid and will make it very difficult or

impossible for his team to play at the scheduled day and time.

A few kids missing for tryouts for a different sport or reason to

this effect WILL NOT be considered a valid reason for

rescheduling a game. We have a limited time frame in which

to get our season completed, and every effort will be made to

play the games as scheduled.

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RULES CONTINUED

ALL RULES FOLLOW THE MINNESOTA STATE HIGH SCHOOL RULES,

HOWEVER, THE FOLLOWING RULES HAVE BEEN RESTATED.

A. TEN (10) YARD PENALTIES

1. Offensive or Defensive holding

or before this is called. If a block starts legal and the defensive players turns his

within 3 yards of line of scrimmage) Not permitted outside neutral zone.

foul

blitzing before ball is outside the tackles. Linebackers less than 3 yards from the

line of scrimmage at the snap. Except during short yardage or goalline.

Cornerbacks and Safeties being closer than 7 yards.

THESE ARE: Punching, hitting or kicking another player (disqualify)

Swearing at another player, official or coach (disqualify)

Taunting, talking trash, pointing finger, spiking the ball, etc

scrimmage.

B. FIVE (5) YARD PENALTIES

Dead ball.

has the option to accept or decline

of scrimmage. Not a dead ball penalty, defense has option to decline or accept.