Spring & Summer 2025 Rules

Field Dimensions

•Field Length: 50 yards

•Playing Field: 40 yards

•Field Width: 160 feet

•End Zone: 10 yards deep

Starting the Game:

1. Team sidelines must be on opposite sides of the field.

2. Only coaches, active players, and approved media are allowed on the field.

3. The home team starts with the first possession.

4. A central timekeeper will manage all games. Games start and end on their instruction.

5. The ball is always placed on the right hash mark at the 40-yard line to start.

6. Each team uses its own ball during offensive possessions.

7. The referee announces the score before each offensive possession.

Moving the Ball:

First Downs:

•Achieved by crossing the 25-yard line and the 10-yard line.

•Teams have three downs to gain a first down, even inside the 10-yard line.

Key Rules:

•Offense begins each possession at the 40-yard line on the right hash.

•No penalties exceed the 40-yard line; instead, a loss of down is enforced.

•No kicking or punting.

•Offenses always move in the same direction.

•Passers cannot run with the ball unless playing in the 3rd–4th grade or Girls 7v7 divisions.

•All passes must be forward.

•Special Situations:

•A defensive tag behind the 40-yard line without a forward pass results in a safety.

•Fumbles are dead balls; muffed snaps are not fumbles.

•Interceptions can be returned for touchdowns, but no blocking is allowed.

Timing to snap & throw the ball:

•Offense has 25 seconds to snap the ball after it is marked ready for play. Delay results in a 5-yard penalty.

•The quarterback has 4.0 seconds to throw the ball. Passes released after this count are treated as incomplete.

Penalties:

•Defensive Pass Interference: Spot foul or 15 yards, whichever is lesser.

•Offensive Pass Interference: 15-yard penalty and loss of down.

•Deliberate bumping or grabbing by defense: 5-yard penalty added to the play.

Contact:

•Players are down when tagged below the neck with one or both hands. Excessive force leads to penalties, ejections, and potential removal from the league.

•No blocking or pressing at the line of scrimmage is allowed.

Division-Specific Rules for 3rd–4th Grade & Girls 7v7:

•A coach may be on the field during offensive plays but must stay behind all players.

•Quarterbacks have 6.0 seconds to throw the ball.

•Teams must pass on 1st and 2nd downs; running is allowed on 3rd and 4th downs (There are four downs to reach a first down)

•Additional Rules:

•QB tee is provided, but if chosen as an option, snapping must occur between the center’s legs. The center may kneel but must deliver the ball under their leg.

Scoring

•Touchdown (TD): 6 points

•PAT (Point After Touchdown):

•1 point from the 5-yard line

•2 points from the 10-yard line

•Defensive PAT Return: 2 points

Official scores are kept by the referee and visible on the Zorts App within 24 hours.

Game Timing

•Each game lasts 25 minutes with a running clock.

•No time-outs except for injuries. Both games on the field pause during injury time.

•Teams must be ready at the scheduled time. A forfeit is declared after 10 minutes of delay.

•Two forfeits due to lateness or insufficient players result in league removal.

Tie Breaker (End-of-Season Tournament Only)

1.No overtime in pool play games.

2.Overtime begins with a coin flip for first possession.

3.Teams alternate 3-down series from the 10-yard line.

4.If tied after one overtime, teams run one play each from the 40-yard line. The longest gain determines the winner.