Winter 2024
Football (Flag) League - December 15 to February 16, 2024
[Event is Over]
TEMPO 7v7 League Rules
1. Field Dimensions:
a. Field Length--45 yards long
b. Field Width--160 feet (60 feet to hash mark, 45 feet between)
c. End Zone--10 yards deep
2. Player Equipment:
a. T-shirts, compression shirt, or basketball type sleeveless shirts are the only choices of acceptable jerseys. No player will be allowed to participate without a shirt.
b. A cap-style soft shell helmet is required and must be worn properly and fully fastened. No player will be allowed to participate without a fully fastened, properly worn cap-style soft shell helmet.
c. Mouthpieces are required.
*Ball Size current grade:
• 3rd – 6th Grade - Junior
• 7th – 8th Grade – Youth
• 9th – 12th Grade – Official
3. Starting the game:
a. Each field will have their own timekeeper. All games will begin and end on this person’s instructions. They will also announce the time remaining at the 5, 2, and 1-minute mark only.
b. There will be no coin flip. The home team will start on offense.
4. Moving the ball:
a. Offensive plays must all be forward passes. (no run plays)
b. Field is marked at 15-yard intervals with cones with 1st downs at the 30- yard line and 15-yard line. Each zone will be 3 downs, except when the ball is inside the 15-yard line. Then, the team will have 4 downs to score.
c. Possession always begins at the 45-yard line at the right hash mark. Hash mark placement of the ball must be enforced by officials, in accordance with NCAA rules, once the ball has been advanced. Offensive Coach may be in huddle in Youth grades 8th & below. No Coaches on the field in JV or HS Varsity
d. No penalty will be assessed in excess of the 45 yd line. On an unsuccessful or successful offensive play from the 45 yard line resulting in an offensive penalty: The ball will be returned to the 45 yard line and 1st down will become 2nd down; 2nd down will become 3rd down; and 3rd down will result in a turnover.
e. Offenses always move in the same direction
f. All passes must be forward. A pass caught behind the line of scrimmage must be a forward pass
g. No flea flickers or double passes or laterals at any time
5. Special Rules:
a. No blocking.
b. Receiver/Ball carrier is legally down when touched with one or both hands below the neck. (Excessive force by shoving, pushing, or striking a blow will be penalized by automatic first down and 5 yards. Expulsion of a player(s) if ruled unsportsmanlike & flagrant).
c. Fumbles are dead balls at the spot with the last team retaining possession. A muffed snap is not a fumble/dead ball. The 4.0 second count remains in effect on snaps.
d. Two delay of game penalties in the same possession results in a turnover. A delay of game penalty on the extra point try results in a turnover.
e. The QB is allowed 4.0 seconds to throw the ball. The Official timekeeper starts a stopwatch on the snap of the ball from center and stops the watch as soon as the QB releases the ball.
f. If release is 4.0 seconds or under, the play goes on.
g. If the timekeeper sees that the clock has exceeded 4.0, he waits until the play is over then brings the ball back to the original line of scrimmage with loss of down.
h. The only infractions possible when a 4 second count is called are holding, pass interference & unsportsmanlike acts.
i. Defensive Pass Interference will be a spot foul but not to exceed 15 yards (1st down at the spot).
j. Offensive pass interference is the same as NCAA rules. (15-yard penalty)
k. Offensive team is responsible for retrieving and returning the ball to the previous spot or the new scrimmage spot in a timely fashion. Failure to do so can result in a delay of game penalty.
l. The offensive center is not an eligible receiver (teams must have a center or use a QB Tee).
m. The center will be responsible for setting or re-positioning theQ Referee's cone at the line of scrimmage. On change of possession, the team moving to offense will ensure the cone gets to the new scrimmage line. (centers on both teams responsible).
n. No taunting or "trash talking". (5-yard penalty & expulsion if flagrant).
o. The offense must gain at least 15 yards in the first 3 or less plays or the defense takes over in all zones
p. Fighting: the player(s) involved will be ejected from the game. If a team fight occurs, the teams involved will be ejected and denied participation in any league play.
q. The offense (wide receivers) has to line up outside the tackle box, and one receiver has to be on the line on each side.
r. There are no safeties. If a ball carrier is tagged behind the 45-yard line, the ball is spotted at the 45-yard line.
s. A shovel pass can be overhand or underhand but must go forward.
t. There must be at least 3 defensive of players within 7yds of the line of scrimmage before the snap takes place.
u. Pre snap penalties are a loss of down and -5 yards. If this occurs at the 45Q
yard line then it’s only a loss of down.
6. Scoring:
a. All TD's 6 pts
b. 1 point for PAT from 5-yard line, and 2-point PAT from 10-yard line
c. 2 points if a team returns a PAT back across the 45
d. Interceptions returned past the 45 yard line are worth 6pts
e. All Scoring is kept by Head Official, and he shall announce score to each bench after each score
7. Tie Breaker:
a. There is no overtime in regular season games. Overtime will only be used in playoffs.
b. After coin flip to determine first possession, teams will alternate 4 down series from the 15-yard line.
c. A winner is determined when one team scores during its possession and the other does not.
d. If a second overtime period is necessary, each team must then go for two points on the conversion attempts.
8. Time:
a. Teams will play two 12-minute halves (continuous clock for each half -see: "starting the game".
b. No time outs. (Exception: Injuries. Both games on the Field will halt until player(s) can be removed as soon as safety dictates).
c. There are no halftimes.
d. Forfeit will occur after 5 minutes of the 1st half.
e. Injury time outs may reduce the amount of time between halves and/or between games to maintain the game schedules.
9. Rosters:
a. Rosters will be capped at 15 players. Special circumstances may apply, but the coach will need to get approval from the league before the start of the season.
b. A player may not be on the roster of 2 teams in the same division.
c. All players must be on the team’s roster and in the Zorts app.
i. Roster checks will be performed throughout the season. If a player is not on the roster they will be removed from the field, and the coach will not be able to coach that game.
Fighting will not be tolerated. If a player throws a punch, he is ejected immediately, and CAN NOT return to the game. 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 referee has the right to throw out any player, players, or team out of the game. The 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 field immediately. A referee can also give a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty.
There will be one offensive coach allowed on the field at any time and THREE (3) active athletes behind him only. No defensive coaches allowed on the field.
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 you pass the other teams hash, you will be penalized for taunting.
PLEASE HELP US KEEP OUR FIELDS CLEAN; EACH TEAM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CLEAN UP OF WATER BOTTLES AND TRASH ON THEIR OWN SIDELINES. THANK YOU!!
1. Field Dimensions:
a. Field Length--45 yards long
b. Field Width--160 feet (60 feet to hash mark, 45 feet between)
c. End Zone--10 yards deep
2. Player Equipment:
a. T-shirts, compression shirt, or basketball type sleeveless shirts are the only choices of acceptable jerseys. No player will be allowed to participate without a shirt.
b. A cap-style soft shell helmet is required and must be worn properly and fully fastened. No player will be allowed to participate without a fully fastened, properly worn cap-style soft shell helmet.
c. Mouthpieces are required.
*Ball Size current grade:
• 3rd – 6th Grade - Junior
• 7th – 8th Grade – Youth
• 9th – 12th Grade – Official
3. Starting the game:
a. Each field will have their own timekeeper. All games will begin and end on this person’s instructions. They will also announce the time remaining at the 5, 2, and 1-minute mark only.
b. There will be no coin flip. The home team will start on offense.
4. Moving the ball:
a. Offensive plays must all be forward passes. (no run plays)
b. Field is marked at 15-yard intervals with cones with 1st downs at the 30- yard line and 15-yard line. Each zone will be 3 downs, except when the ball is inside the 15-yard line. Then, the team will have 4 downs to score.
c. Possession always begins at the 45-yard line at the right hash mark. Hash mark placement of the ball must be enforced by officials, in accordance with NCAA rules, once the ball has been advanced. Offensive Coach may be in huddle in Youth grades 8th & below. No Coaches on the field in JV or HS Varsity
d. No penalty will be assessed in excess of the 45 yd line. On an unsuccessful or successful offensive play from the 45 yard line resulting in an offensive penalty: The ball will be returned to the 45 yard line and 1st down will become 2nd down; 2nd down will become 3rd down; and 3rd down will result in a turnover.
e. Offenses always move in the same direction
f. All passes must be forward. A pass caught behind the line of scrimmage must be a forward pass
g. No flea flickers or double passes or laterals at any time
5. Special Rules:
a. No blocking.
b. Receiver/Ball carrier is legally down when touched with one or both hands below the neck. (Excessive force by shoving, pushing, or striking a blow will be penalized by automatic first down and 5 yards. Expulsion of a player(s) if ruled unsportsmanlike & flagrant).
c. Fumbles are dead balls at the spot with the last team retaining possession. A muffed snap is not a fumble/dead ball. The 4.0 second count remains in effect on snaps.
d. Two delay of game penalties in the same possession results in a turnover. A delay of game penalty on the extra point try results in a turnover.
e. The QB is allowed 4.0 seconds to throw the ball. The Official timekeeper starts a stopwatch on the snap of the ball from center and stops the watch as soon as the QB releases the ball.
f. If release is 4.0 seconds or under, the play goes on.
g. If the timekeeper sees that the clock has exceeded 4.0, he waits until the play is over then brings the ball back to the original line of scrimmage with loss of down.
h. The only infractions possible when a 4 second count is called are holding, pass interference & unsportsmanlike acts.
i. Defensive Pass Interference will be a spot foul but not to exceed 15 yards (1st down at the spot).
j. Offensive pass interference is the same as NCAA rules. (15-yard penalty)
k. Offensive team is responsible for retrieving and returning the ball to the previous spot or the new scrimmage spot in a timely fashion. Failure to do so can result in a delay of game penalty.
l. The offensive center is not an eligible receiver (teams must have a center or use a QB Tee).
m. The center will be responsible for setting or re-positioning theQ Referee's cone at the line of scrimmage. On change of possession, the team moving to offense will ensure the cone gets to the new scrimmage line. (centers on both teams responsible).
n. No taunting or "trash talking". (5-yard penalty & expulsion if flagrant).
o. The offense must gain at least 15 yards in the first 3 or less plays or the defense takes over in all zones
p. Fighting: the player(s) involved will be ejected from the game. If a team fight occurs, the teams involved will be ejected and denied participation in any league play.
q. The offense (wide receivers) has to line up outside the tackle box, and one receiver has to be on the line on each side.
r. There are no safeties. If a ball carrier is tagged behind the 45-yard line, the ball is spotted at the 45-yard line.
s. A shovel pass can be overhand or underhand but must go forward.
t. There must be at least 3 defensive of players within 7yds of the line of scrimmage before the snap takes place.
u. Pre snap penalties are a loss of down and -5 yards. If this occurs at the 45Q
yard line then it’s only a loss of down.
6. Scoring:
a. All TD's 6 pts
b. 1 point for PAT from 5-yard line, and 2-point PAT from 10-yard line
c. 2 points if a team returns a PAT back across the 45
d. Interceptions returned past the 45 yard line are worth 6pts
e. All Scoring is kept by Head Official, and he shall announce score to each bench after each score
7. Tie Breaker:
a. There is no overtime in regular season games. Overtime will only be used in playoffs.
b. After coin flip to determine first possession, teams will alternate 4 down series from the 15-yard line.
c. A winner is determined when one team scores during its possession and the other does not.
d. If a second overtime period is necessary, each team must then go for two points on the conversion attempts.
8. Time:
a. Teams will play two 12-minute halves (continuous clock for each half -see: "starting the game".
b. No time outs. (Exception: Injuries. Both games on the Field will halt until player(s) can be removed as soon as safety dictates).
c. There are no halftimes.
d. Forfeit will occur after 5 minutes of the 1st half.
e. Injury time outs may reduce the amount of time between halves and/or between games to maintain the game schedules.
9. Rosters:
a. Rosters will be capped at 15 players. Special circumstances may apply, but the coach will need to get approval from the league before the start of the season.
b. A player may not be on the roster of 2 teams in the same division.
c. All players must be on the team’s roster and in the Zorts app.
i. Roster checks will be performed throughout the season. If a player is not on the roster they will be removed from the field, and the coach will not be able to coach that game.
Fighting will not be tolerated. If a player throws a punch, he is ejected immediately, and CAN NOT return to the game. 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 referee has the right to throw out any player, players, or team out of the game. The 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 field immediately. A referee can also give a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty.
There will be one offensive coach allowed on the field at any time and THREE (3) active athletes behind him only. No defensive coaches allowed on the field.
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 you pass the other teams hash, you will be penalized for taunting.
PLEASE HELP US KEEP OUR FIELDS CLEAN; EACH TEAM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CLEAN UP OF WATER BOTTLES AND TRASH ON THEIR OWN SIDELINES. THANK YOU!!
