Offense: Snapping the Ball

• The ball must be snapped between the legs
• No snapping of the ball, off to one side, to start play

Offense: Running the Ball

• The quarterback cannot run with the ball unless it has been previously handed off to another player and returned to him.
• QB can field a snap that bounces to him or flies untouched over his head.
  • The ball must be picked up and handled cleanly.
• If the QB drops the ball it is a dead ball at the spot where it hits the ground.
• Offense may use multiple handoffs, laterals, or direct hand offs.
• The QB must make a clean exchange of the ball to the running back.
• Center Sneak Rule: The QB cannot receive the snap from under center and then hand it back to the center between the center’s legs. If this occurs it is a dead ball loss of down.
• Laterals, hand offs or pitches are allowed behind the line or in the field of play. If in the field of play this play MUST be backwards. No forward pitch.
• NO RUN ZONES: Located 5 yards from each end zone and 5 yards on either side of midfield, are designed to avoid short-yardage.
  • Offense MUST PASS in these zones
  • A pass in this zone MUST be across the line of scrimmage and eliminates power running situations.
• The player who takes the handoff can throw the ball from behind the line of scrimmage.
  • If the player hands off the ball to another player ,that player can throw OR run.
• Once the ball has been handed off, all defensive players are eligible to rush.
• Spinning is allowed. Players cannot dive forward into a defensive player to advance the ball.
• Ball carriers may jump side to side to avoid a flag pull, however no contact can be made with a Defender, or it will be called a roughness penalty.
• The ball is spotted where the ball carriers’ hips are located when the flag is pulled, not where the ball is located.
• Defense may dive to pull a flag reaching for flag and not holding the O player. 
  • If the O player falls down and no flag is pulled, it is a tackle.
  • If the O player falls down, but a flag pulled, it is a clean tackle.

Offense: Passing The Ball

• The QB can throw any type of pass forward (i.e. shovel is OK). 
• The pass does not have to be beyond the line of scrimmage UNLESS in the NO RUN ZONE.
  • Once the pass is caught ALL Defense can rush in the backfield.
• If in the NO RUN ZONE, the WR must be across the line of scrimmage to receive the pass.
• QB has a seven-second pass clock
  • If a pass is not thrown within the seven seconds, play is dead, loss of down.
  • Once the ball is handed off, the seven-second rule is no longer in effect.
  • All defenders are eligible to rush the QB once the ball is handed off.
• If a later is made behind the line of scrimmage, defenders cannot rush until the ball is caught by the RB/WR.

Offense: Receiving The Ball

• All players are eligible to receive passes
  • Includes the quarterback, if the ball has been handed off behind the line of scrimmage
• As in the NFL, only one player is allowed in motion at a time
• A player must have at least one(1) foot inbound when making a reception

Defense: Rushing The Quarterback

• All players who rush the passer must be a minimum of seven(7) yards from the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped
• Only one(1) RUSHER can rush the QB
• Any player from any location on the field may rush if they are 7 yards back
  • Example: a corner may rush the QB if they are behind the marker
• Players not rushing the quarterback may defend on the line of scrimmage
• Once the ball is handed off, the seven-yard rule is no longer in effect, and all defenders may go behind the line of scrimmage
• A special marker, or the referee, will designate seven yards from the line of scrimmage
• Remember, no blocking or tackling is allowed