2022 Tournament Rules
General
Age Divisions 9u, 10U, 11u, 12U, 13U, and 14U
June 4th of the current 7v7 tournament  is the date used to determine eligibility for age divisions
OR their current grade as of Spring 2022
Only (4) four coaches per team are allowed on the sidelines. All team photographers, managers, position coaches, team moms, fans, etc. must remain a minimum of 10 yards off the field in the end zone area.
Coaches, this is your responsibility to keep your fans in the designated area
Failure to do so will result in an Unsportsmanlike Conduct penalty
All decisions made by Alpha Athletics staff are final
Coach & Spectator Conduct/Responsibilities
Alpha Athletics LLC  may require coaches, family members, parents, and spectators to observe the contest from designated areas
Coaches must agree to sign a coaches code of conduct and strictly adhere to our guidelines for coach conduct and attitude
If a coach displays any type of negativity toward his/her players, coaches or staff, the coach will be removed from the field immediately and unable to coach for the remainder of the tournament
All family members, parents and spectators will observe play from the designated areas. Participants, coaches, parents and family members must conduct themselves appropriately during tournament
Inappropriate, rude or confrontational behavior by any coach, team or parent(s) may lead to a team’s disqualification from a tournament at the sole discretion of Alpha Athletics LLC
Misconduct by any individual may lead to removal from the premises at the sole discretion of Alpha Athletics LLC
Check-in & Registration
Participation requirements and registration guidelines are provided to each head coach/club admin when registering for a tournament via Zorts Sports
An Alpha Athletics  LLC, PARTICIPATION AUTHORIZATION, RELEASE & WAIVER OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNITY & GENERAL RELEASE AGREEMENT FORM, signed electronically by a parent or legal guardian, must be submitted by the participant. Participants will not be eligible to play without the proper waivers submitted via Zorts Sports
Roster changes are no longer available once your first game has started
Roster additions after the deadline will cost $25/player (Deadline is midnight before the first game)
Alpha Athletic LLC  reserves the right to disqualify players and/or teams if individuals do not meet the Tournament Requirements set forth in the current 7v7 season
At least (1) one coach/representative must check-in on the Saturday of the tournament to receive wristbands for players and coaches, please allow yourself at least an hour before your scheduled game to complete the check-in process
Subject to change based on Tournament Directors discretionary
Rosters
All rosters must be completed through via Zorts Sports
Teams must consist of at least (7) players with a maximum of 30 players per team
Teams must start games with a minimum of (7) players
In the event of an injury, a team with insufficient substitutes players may play with (7) players on the field but no fewer than 7
All roster protests will be addressed, by the Alpha Athletics Tournament Director, either prior or during game play only
Coaches will need to immediately notify tournament staff when submitting a roster protest
Game play and time will not be stopped, both teams will continue to play during the roster protest
If a roster is ruled illegal, the team at fault will forfeit the game, awarding the other team a 28-0 victory
If a roster is proven legal, the game will be recorded as is
Roster protests will not be valid after a game has been played
Players may only play for a (1) team per age division
Players may play for current age division while playing up at the next age division
Organizations with Multiple teams in the same age division
Once a team is eliminated from tournament play that disqualifies those players on the losing team from further play during that day.  
Wristbands are not interchangeable among players.
All players must have a wristband to be eligible to compete.
This will be monitored by tournament staff
Any players/teams that are caught competing without a wristband will be automatically eliminated from the tournament
Pool & Bracket Play Format
Teams will play a minimum of (3) games in pool play
Teams could potentially play a 4th pool play game if the schedule could be accommodated
Subject to change based on Tournament Directors discretionary
Divisional Tie Breakers
Two teams tied for one place
Head-to-head competition
Point Differential
Total Points Allowed
Total Points Scored
Coin Toss
Three or more teams tied for one place
Point Differential
Total Points Allowed
Total Points Scored
Coin Toss
Playoffs and Champions
Single Elimination playoff bracket games will be scheduled after pool play official results are submitted via Zorts Sports
Subject to change based on Tournament Directors discretionary
Divisional playoff seeds are determined by
Overall Record
Point Differential
Total Points Allowed
Total Points Score
The Game
At the start of each game, captains from both teams meet at midfield for the coin toss to determine who starts with the ball
During bracket play, the higher seed will choose which team gets the ball first
i.e. #4 seed plays #5 seed, #4 seed will choose which team gets the ball first
Offense always starts on the 40-yard line with their choice of the hash. After any change of possession
NOTE: Interceptions are to start on the 30-yard line
If using a center to snap the ball, the center is ineligible to catch a pass
Offense has three (3) downs per line-to-gain. Line-to-gains will be at the 25-yard, 10-yard and Goal lines
Red zone 4th down option, offense may elect to go for it on 4th down only inside the 10-yard line (Red zone).
If successful, the offense will be rewarded the touchdown
If not successful, the defense will be rewarded 4 points
Note: An interception still results as a defensive stop and will not be awarded additional 3 points
A player is legally down when the ball carrier is touched with at least one hand below the neck
Excessive force by shoving, pushing or striking a blow will be penalized by Automatic 1st down and 5 yards.
Expulsion of player if ruled unsportsmanlike & flagrant
The QB will have 4.0 seconds to throw. Refs will 3-chop and the 4th chop is the whistle. (Stopwatches may be used for verification.)  The four second clock starts on the snap of the ball
Running/Rushing plays are not permitted
Blitzing is not permitted
Equipment
Mouth guards are MANDATORY
Soft shell helmets are highly recommended
Soft shell helmets but they must be secured at ALL times while on the playing field
Teams must provide their own matching uniforms
Secondary uniforms are mandatory (Black or White shirts are acceptable)
Numbers are recommended but not mandatory
If teams are wearing the same color, there will be a coin toss, the losing team will need to change to a different color
Suggestion, bring an extra white shirt or backup color
Home teams wear dark color jerseys. Visiting teams wear light color jersey
Subject to change based on Tournament Directors discretionary
Teams will provide their own footballs
PeeWee - Size 5 (5U - 9U)
Junior - Size 6 (10U - 11U)
Youth - Size 7 (12U - 14U)
Players must wear closed toed shoes. Cleats are allowed, however, no metal cleats are permitted
Subject to change based on certain facility rules
Players may tape their forearms, hands, and fingers. Players may wear gloves, elbow pads and knee pads. Braces with exposed metals are permitted
Players must remove all jewelry, hats, and do-rags. Winter beanies are allowed
Field
Field Length will be 50 yards x 45 yards wide
40-yard playing field with a 10-yard end zone
Line-to-gains will be at the 25-yard, 10-yard and Goal lines
1st line-to-gain will be 15 yards (25-yard line)
2nd line-to-gain will be 15 yards (10-yard line)
3rd line-to-gain will be the Goal line
Timing & Overtime
Game time is Forfeit time
Registration will not be a reason to hold up games
Forfeited games will result in a 7-0 final score
Subject to change based on Tournament Directors discretionary
Games are played on a 25-minute continuous clock unless one team gains a 28-point advantage at any time, which will then end the game
Clock stops only for timeouts or injuries at the officials/tournament director’s discretion
Each time the ball is spotted, a team has 25 seconds to snap the ball
Offense is responsible for retrieving the football after every play and spotting the ball with the line judge official
Each team has (1) 30-second timeout per game ONLY DURING BRACKET PLAY
The game clock does not run during extra-points after a time out has been called
Officials can stop the clock at their discretion
In the event of an injury, the clock will stop then restart when the injured player is removed from the field of play
Injured player must take off for at least one play if attended to during an injury timeout
If the score is tied at the regular game play, an overtime period will be used to determine a winner during BRACKET PLAY ONLY. Pool play games will be allowed to end in a tie
Overtime period format is as follows:
Higher seeded team will choose Offense of Defense
Each team will receive 3 plays from 10-yard line, choice of hash
If the offense scores, they MUST go for 2 points from the 10-yard line
If after the 1st overtime is still tied each team will get ONE (1) play from the 40 and the team that produces the most yardage off of that play will win
2nd OT the higher seed will choose to play Offense or Defense first
There are no timeouts
An INT will end the game
Scoring
6 points for a Touchdown
A team that scores a touchdown must declare whether it wishes to attempt a 1-point conversion (from the 5-yard line) or a 2-point conversion (from the 10-yard line). Any change, once a decision is made to try for the extra point, requires a charged timeout. A decision cannot be changed after a penalty
0 points are awarded to the defense for on offensive Turnover on Downs.
3 points for an interception (no runbacks or “pick-six”)
NOTE: New offensive possession at the 30-yard line
4 points will be awarded for a defensive stop during a 4th down option (Only in the Red Zone)
Turnover on a PAT is a dead ball.
Interceptions on a PAT are worth the amount the offense is attempting.
If there is an interception that occurs with no time on the clock, three (3) points for the interception will awarded
Official scores will be kept by the officials
Coaches
Only (4) four coaches per team are allowed on the sidelines. All team photographers, managers, position coaches, team moms, fans, etc. must remain a minimum of 10 yards off the field in the end zone area
Only (1) one offensive coach is allowed on the field at any time. Penalty is delay of game and a loss of down
Only (2) two substitute players can be on the field (players must be on one knee) during play. Penalty is delay of game and a loss of down
The offensive coach must be positioned behind the offensive huddle and not coaching after the ball is snapped. Penalty is delay of game and a loss of down
Offenses/Defenses cannot set up on the field until the opposing team reaches the 10-yard line. Penalty is delay of game and a loss of down
No defensive coaches can be on the field at any time
Coaches will be given 1 sideline warning during play. Second warning will result in a 10-yard penalty or half the distance to the goal. Third warning will result in coach’s ejection
Live Ball/Dead Ball
The ball is live at the snap of the ball and remains live until the official whistles the ball dead
The official will indicate the neutral zone and line of scrimmage
It is an automatic dead ball foul if any player on defense or offense enters the neutral zone. Regarding the neutral zone, the official may give both teams a “courtesy” neutral zone notification to allow their players to move back behind the line of scrimmage
A player who gains possession in the air is considered in bounds if the first foot contacts the ground in the field of play
The defense may not mimic the offensive team signals by trying to confuse the offensive players, while the quarterback is calling out signals to start the play. This will result in an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty
Substitutions may be made on any dead ball
Any official can whistle the play dead.
Play is ruled “dead” when:
When touched below the neck with one hand
The ball hits the ground
If the ball hits the ground because of a bad snap, the ball is then placed where the ball hit the ground
The ball-carrier steps out of bounds
A touchdown, PAT or safety is scored
The ball-carrier’s knee or arm hits the ground
The receiver catches the ball while in possession of one or no flag(s)
The 4 second pass clock expires
Inadvertent whistle
Note: There are no fumbles. The ball becomes a dead ball. (If the ball is fumbled forwards, then it will be spotted where the ball carrier lost possession
If inadvertent whistle occurs the offense has two options
Take the ball where the whistle blew, and the down is consumed
Replay the down from the original line of scrimmage
Note: If it occurs on the last play of the half or game, the offense will be awarded one untimed down and given those two options
Offense
The ball is spotted where the ball is when the runner is touched
The offense may never run the ball at any time
The quarterback has a four-second “pass clock.” If a pass is not thrown within the four seconds, the play is dead, the down is consumed, and the ball is returned to the line of scrimmage.
All passes must be from behind the line of scrimmage, thrown forward and ball out of hand prior to breaching the line of scrimmage
No blocking or “screening” is allowed at any time – THIS WILL RESULT IN A 5-YARD PENALTY FROM THE PREVIOUS LINE OF SCRIMMAGE AND A LOSS OF DOWN
Offensive players without the ball must stop their motion once the ball has crossed the line of scrimmage. No running with the ball-carrier
All offensive formations must be legal sets. The offense (wide receivers) has to line up outside the tackle box, and one receiver has to be on the line on each side. Illegal Formation, 5 yard penalty and replay the down
All offensive substitutions must enter through the back of the offense
Only one player is allowed in motion at a time. All motion must be parallel to the line of scrimmage and no motion is permitted toward the line of scrimmage
Multiple players may go in motion but will all need to come to a full stop before snapping the ball. Illegal Shift, 5 yard penalty and replay the down
A player must have at least one foot in bounds, contacting the ground first
In the case of simultaneous possession by both an offensive and defensive player, possession is awarded to the offense
Interceptions are not returnable
Defense
A player is legally down when the ball carrier is touched with at least one hand below the neck
Excessive force by shoving, pushing or striking a blow will be penalized by Automatic 1st down and 10 yards.
A player can be ejected from the game if ruled Unsportsmanlike or Flagrant
Defense is allowed to jam within 5 yards and play tight defense. Excessive holding, hands to the face, slapping head or throwing player down will not be tolerated.
Excessive force or shoving will not be tolerated and will be penalized with automatic first down and 10 yards.
NO BLITZING ALLOWED in the ENTIRE game (INCLUDING overtime). If a team blitz’s, they will be penalized 15 yards Unsportsmanlike penalty
An interception will result in an immediate stoppage of play and a change of possession with the interception team gaining possession at the 30-yard line and awarded 3 points
If an unsportsmanlike penalty is given to the interception team, they will be penalized 10 yards and will start from the 40-yard line
Defensive pass interference will result in a 15-yard penalty if infraction spot is greater than 15-yards or spot foul if infraction spot is less than 15-yards and automatic 1st down
Defensive holding will result in a 10-yard penalty and automatic 1st down
Penalties


Penalty
Yards
Spot Assessed
Result
Offsides
5
Previous Spot
Replay Down
False Start
5
Previous Spot
Replay Down
Illegal Formation
5
Previous Spot
Replay Down
Illegal Shift
5
Previous Spot
Replay Down
Illegal Motion
5
Previous Spot
Replay Down
Delay of Game
5
Previous Spot
Replay Down
Illegal Participation
5
Previous Spot
Replay Down
Illegal Blocking
5
Previous Spot
Loss of Down
Offensive Pass Interference
10
Previous Spot
Loss of Down
Defensive Pass Interference
Spot/15
Spot or Previous Spot
Auto 1st Down
Defensive Holding
10
Previous Spot
Replay Down
Illegal Blitzing
15
Previous Spot
Auto 1st down
Excessive Celebration


No Extra Point
Loss of Down
Unsportsmanlike Penalty
10
Previous Spot
By the offense: Loss of Down
By the defense:
Auto 1st down

No penalty may be assessed in excess of the 40 yard line. If a penalty would move the offense beyond the 40 yard line, the offensive team will only be charged with loss of down.
Celebrations / Fighting Conducts
We encourage celebrations. However, we do not tolerate taunting. Keep it fun and keep it quick so as not to unnecessarily delay game play. If during a celebration your players pass the other team's hash, you will be penalized for taunting. If a team is penalized for excessively taunting, the result is an unsportsmanlike penalty, a loss of down and ejection of the player.
BALLHEAD NOTE: Circling or touching players from the opposite team will result in a double taunting penalty plus two (2) points being awarded to the non-offending team. A second violation may result in ejection at the discretion of the Tournament Director
Fighting will not be tolerated.
If any coach encourages inappropriate behavior and acts aggressively towards other coaches or players, the coach will be ejected from the event after one warning
If any coach touches any player from another team, the coach will be ejected from the tournament
If a player throws a punch, he is ejected immediately and CANNOT return to the tournament
If players are involved in pushing or shoving, they may be ejected immediately from the game at the referees’ discretion
If a second incident occurs with the same player(s), they will be ejected from the tournament in its entirety
If a team’s bench clears, resulting in a fight, both of the teams are ejected, resulting in a forfeit
The officials have the right to throw out any player, players, or team out of the game
The tournament staff has the right in extreme cases to eject players, coaches, teams, and by-standers of any tournament and they will have to leave the facility immediately. A referee can also give a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty