GRIDIRON FOOTBALL LEAGUE MIDWEST 2011 Season Rules Playing Field: 1.A grass or acceptable playing surface. 2.A lined field of 100 yd long X 53 yd wide, with 10 yd end zones. 3.Goal posts. If no goalposts, both teams have to agree to use field. 4.Bathrooms or port-a-potties 5.Optional: Stands for fans. 6.Lined out fields every 5 yards. 7.1st Down Chains with Chain Crew. Basic Rules to Start the Game: 1.Any rules not specified herein will be enforced per current Official NFL Rules. 2.Game consists of no Kick-offs. Each half or following a score, teams start play from the 30-yard line with a 1st down. 3.10 yards are needed for 1st downs, and each team gets 4 downs to achieve a 1st down. 4.At the 45-minute mark a 5-minute halftime will take place, teams will change direction on the field, and the team who started the game on defense now has the ball offensively. 5.On 4th down, teams may continue play to attain a 1st down or choose to give up the ball to the opposing team. If the offense chooses to give up the ball on any down (routinely 4th down), then 30 yards will be marked off from the last down the offense had the ball. The defending team will now take the ball on 1st down as the offensive team going the opposite way. If the ball is within the 30 yard line to the goal, and the offense gives up the ball, then it is placed on the 5 yard line. 1st down going the other way. PLAYERS ON THE FIELD: OFFENSE: 1.Each team will have 8 players maximum for Offense or Defense. Players can play both Offense and Defense, and can be substituted freely. 2.The Offense must have Four (4) players on the Line-of-Scrimmage for each play. There must be a Center over the ball, and a Tackle and Tight end or another (Tackle) on each side of the Center. The 4th player can be used as a WR or additional TE, but must be on the line of scrimmage. The 4th player (WR/TE) covers up the Tackle and makes him ineligible. To make the TE on the other side eligible, the WR must be off the line of Scrimmage. 3.Unlike the NFL rules, there could be 2 wide receivers on a single side that are both lined up on the line of scrimmage that are eligible as long as they are split out from the contiguous interior line. Example of a formation: WR WR T C T (TE) QB WR (off LOS to uncover TE) 4.The QB can run on any play, and he must be out of the pocket to throw the ball away. 5.Blocking at the LOS may not be below the thigh pads of the defense player (No Cut Block to knees or 15 yd unsportsmanlike penalty). 6.Teams may attempt to kick extra points and field goals.On place kick attempts the defense may only rush 4 players thru the offensive line box (contiguous interior line) (See: Defense 1 & 2). The extra point attempt, if blocked, is a dead ball. For field goal attempts, if the ball is touched behind the LOS, the ball is live and may be recovered and advanced by either side. If the ball is in the field of play beyond the LOS, only the defense may recover and advance the ball, unless legally touched by a defensive player. Field goal attempt recoveries are per NFL Rules. 7.Following a safety the defense will receive the ball on their own 40 yard to begin their offensive series. DEFENSE: 1.The Defense may rush as many players as desired as long as the rush comes through the “Box”. (See 3 below for actions that negate the Box prohibitions)The Box is defined as the outside shoulders of the contiguous offensive line. The offensive line consists of the center and all other adjacent down-stance linemen on the LOS. Examples of the Box: TCTETCTTE QBQB 2.The outside defensive player must rush from within the Box (defined as outside shoulders of offensive line). In other words, a Defensive end must initiate contact at the LOS through the outside shoulder of the offensive lineman if he is rushing to the outside. If the Defensive end rushes inside and a linebacker is blitzing, then the linebacker must blitz within the zone of the original box. This could mean no contact if the offensive tackle blocks inside; the original positions of the offensive line should be noted for the first second or two after the snap.If there is an open gap (daylight visible) between the end of the offensive line and the defensive rusher that crosses the LOS at the snap, a 5-yard illegal procedure penalty will result. Examples of rushes in the Box: Legal rushes.No daylight between outside shouldersIllegal rushes.DE has gap visible of line and DE or LB.LB outside the Box comes insideoutside of line. LB obviously vacates Box before he crosses the LOS.the Box to rush. 3.4.5.6.7.The prohibition on rushing through the Box is negated (i.e. any rush may from any location on the field) when any of these conditions occur: a.Ball is fumbled. Any defensive player may rush to recover the ball. b.The QB initiates a play action by either: i.lowering the ball and rushing forward ii.attempting to hand off the ball (successful or not; i.e. a fake) iii.leaving the pocket (i.e. exiting the Box) iv.forward pass is attempted (i.e. ball leaves QB’s hands) NOTE: This means the Box rush prohibition is for a drop-back pass stance as long as the QB motion is evasion of rush within the pocket/Box, ball at ready for a throw.Once a fumble or play action occurs any defensive player may pursue the ball-carrier from any position on the field. TACKLING: 1.No leading with the Crown of Helmet on either Offense or Defense or a 15 yd penalty results. This means neither a defender nor a ball-carrier may use his head as ram to strike opponents.Rule of thumb:If the facemask is parallel to the ground, the head is down. 2.Tackle Zone: From the yoke of the jersey down to the feet. If the head of the ball-carrier is the only point of contact, this is an illegal tackle, resulting in a 15 yard penalty. a.A tackle below the thigh pads is an acceptable only when the tackler has his arms wrapped around the ball-carrier or makes an attempt to wrap the ball-carrier. NOTE: Diving at the knees/feet of the ball carrier without extending the arms is NOT legal. EXCEPTION: If the ball-carrier leaves the ground in an attempt to hurdle the tackler, discretion should be used as to whether the leg contact by the tackler was initiated by the ball carrier, in which case it is NOT a penalty. However, if the ball carrier is a receiver in the air to catch a pass, the tackler may NOT run through the legs of the receiver for the tackle without attempting to wrap with the arms, as the impetus of the contact is on the tackler. b.A tackle made in the body of a ball carrier by running through the carrier or by shoulder block push/tackle IS acceptable within the rules of sportsmanship (i.e. unnecessary use of force or intent to injure are penalties). Example: Meeting a ball carrier shoulder to shoulder for the stop/tackle is acceptable. SCORING: 1.6 pts for a touchdown. 2.3 pts for field goal kick.If missed then 1st down for opposing team at spot of the attempted kick (spot of the holder). 3.1 pts for PAT kick from the 2.5-yard line. 4.1 pt for run or pass plays from the 2.5-yard line. 5.2 pts for run or pass play from the 5-yard line. Sportsmanship: 1.Intent to injure (15 yd penalty, ejection and $50.00 fine to league). If the intent to injure is a pre-planned act prior to game time or during game time, then the player is ejected from the league, the team owner is fined $100.00, and both player and owner are subject to legal action if intent to injure to the player result in an injury. (consult local law for Assault & Battery provisions) 2.Fighting (15 yd penalty, ejection and $50.00 fine to league). For a confrontation that is controlled within reason the player will not be ejected or fined but still may result in an unsportsmanlike penalty. The player will be warned and second offense, controlled or not, will result in an ejection and fine. Using helmet or any other object as a weapon results in a penalty and fine.(consult local law for Assault & Battery provisions)A 2nd violation to ejection for fighting will result in ejection from league. 3.Only designated team captains or coaches are allowed to talk to the referees during game time for clarification of game conduct, rules application, or penalty determinations, otherwise an unsportsmanlike penalty can be called with discretion of referee. Game Timing: 1.Games are 90 minutes long with 5-minute halftimes. The clock continues to run regardless of out-of-bounds, dropped pass or timeout EXCEPT: a.Each team has 2 (two) one-minute timeouts per half. However, only timeouts during last 2 minutes of that half of the game will stop the game clock. b.During the last 2 minutes of each half, clock management rules that stop the game clock are utilized.Clock resumes at next regular snap.The events that stop the clock are: i.The 2 minute warning. ii.A called timeout. (as in Game Timing 1.a. above) iii.Ball out of bounds through run or fumble. iv.Incomplete pass. v.Scored touchdown.PAT is untimed. vi.A turn over on downs by: ·Fumble recovered by defense. ·Interception, after ball-carrier is tackled or runs out of bounds. ·Offense gives up the ball. (See Basic Rules 5) 2.Game must start at appointed time unless delayed by referee approved reason (e.g. weather, field still in use).Failure to start on time will result in loss choice in coin toss for delaying team and a 15 yard penalty at start.At 10 minutes to game start, the referee will flip a coin for option of possession at start of game.The away team has the option to call the coin toss. 3.Referees will conduct time on field, and will instruct teams 10 minutes before start of game. Teams can adjust their watches to referees time on field.If a scoreboard is present, the referees must coordinate with the time keeper to track the official time. 4.Team must have minimum of 8 players at start of game to play game. $75.00 will be paid by team short of players to an opposing team. 5.10 minutes past the game start, if team has not increased in players to mandatory limit, an additional $75.00 will be paid to the GFL and a shortened 45 minute game (one half) will be played with an additional 21 points given to opposing team. (We must cover the cost of the referees and field for the opposing team more so than the league) 6.No Show Team. $100.00 to opposing team and $100.00 to 8FL from the No Show team. If time permits game will be rescheduled later. If the game results in forfeit, the show up team receives 21 points. If there is a field cost, the No-Show Team must cover full cost of the field rental. TEAMS: 1.Team rosters are 40 players maximum per team. 2.Initial team roster must be turned in on Wednesday, 18, 2011.After this date, additions and subtractions of players to rosters must be added to the GFL Web Site to be official the Wednesday before the game starts. After the initial roster is posted, teams may only add up to 2 players per week as long as they also remove a player from the roster (i.e. you may replace a player if you remove a player, 2 maximum per week) until Wednesday, June 29, 2011.Team rosters becomes locked at this point and no additions may be made. 3.A roster check can be made at anytime. Referees will check against a team’s roster, viewable on the GFL website, before or after games if there is question of player eligibility.A player must show some type of picture ID to verify who they are against the roster. If a player is identified as illegal before the game, the player is not allowed to play. If caught after the game, the game will be reviewed by the league for violation (violation consists of a forfeit by 21 points). 4.Players that have signed contacts with one GFL team may not jump to another GFL team without a release from the team that holds the signed contract.After the initial team roster is filed with the league, failure to include a player on the official team roster within 10 days of contract signing, or removal from the roster, constitutes a release of that player.To keep players under obligation, they must be on the team roster once season starts. Player Equipment/Uniforms: 1.All players must have protective equipment specified by NFL rules. 2.Each team’s Helmet colors, and decals if present, must match. 3.Each team’s jerseys and pants must match. Only actual football jerseys and pants can be used. 4.Referees will not let players on field if they do not match. Overtime: 1.If a game time ends with a tie score, one overtime period will be played. 2.A coin toss will occur, away team has choice to call, and winner gets to determine if they want the ball first. 3.Each team gets the ball at the 10 yard line for 4 plays, and may score 1 point for crossing the goal line as many times possible in 4 downs.Progress toward the goal line will count with the ball placed for the following down at the end of the run.Once the ball touches the goal line, the following play will be placed back at the 10 yard line. 4.If the overtime ends in a tie score, then the game is counted as a tie unless it is a playoff game.Playoff games must have a clear winner, and overtime periods will continue (4 downs per team per period) until the tie is broken. 5.No extra points after each overtime score.Penalties apply as normal to downs in overtime. Playoff Structure 2011: 1.The league is divided into two Conferences (National and American) with two Divisions (North and South) in each Conference.Total game record will be used to determine ranking for eight teams to be seeded in the playoff brackets. 2.The team with the best game record in each Division (Division Winner) has an automatic berth in the playoff brackets.Each Conference will have two more teams added to the playoff brackets based on total game record of the remaining teams in the Conference. 3.In the event that teams have the same total game record, ranking will next be evaluated based, in order until one team out ranks the other, on: a.Point differential ratio: Points scored divided by points allowed, then b.Total points allowed, then c.Total points scored. 4.The playoff brackets will be separated by Conference, with the final GFL Champion 2011 determined by a game between the two Conference Champions.The Conference brackets will be seeded based on high vs. low team matchups by total game record ranking.The winners from each bracket matchup will play for Conference Champion.