Tackle Football Rules

This is an instructional league introducing our youth to tackle football. The league will focus on teaching fundamentals, safety, and sportsmanship. Success should be measured in team and individual improvements, efforts and knowledge of the game of football, not by wins and losses.


Field & Equipment

  • Games will be played on a field 40 yards wide and 100 yards long or to the far hashmark on multiple use fields.

  • Every team shall use a junior size football.

  • Each team will have at least one home game per season minimum.

  • Each team shall mark all 5th grade players helmets with emblem/logo to allow referees a clear notice that the player is a 5th grader

Games Schedule

  • We will work together as a league to generate a schedule that works best for everyone.

  • We will play a regular season and a championship game between the top two (2) teams.

  • Post season play will be determined by record, head-to-head, and then by points allowed.

  • If a tie remains, then a coin toss will determine the teams that play in the championship game.

  • The top seed team will be the host for the championship game.

Team Responsibilities

  • Every team is required to provide liability insurance on its players.

  • Maintenance, reconditioning, or replacement of all equipment is each team's responsibility.

  • The home team is required to provide game officials. There must be at least three (3) officials on the field of which two (2) are KSHSAA certified.

  • Crowd control of fans and parents are the respective coaching staff's duty.

General

  • Four quarters will be played, each quarter will last ten minutes. .

  • Regular clock will be used during the last two minutes of each half.

  • The clock will be stopped at any time during the game for injuries, equipment, touchdowns, extra points, kickoffs, time outs, penalties, and change of possession.

  • The clock will continue to run during the entire first and third quarters except for the times listed above, and the first eight minutes of the second and fourth quarters.

  • Mercy Rule - if a team is winning by thirty points in the first half we will continue the half with regular clock rules. If a team is still winning by 30 points at any time in the second half, we will have a running clock except for touchdowns, PAT's injury time outs, or coaches time outs.

  • First down markers will be used.

  • The offense will have 30 seconds to snap the ball after the ball has been set for play. Warnings shall be issued, unless the referee deems it to be habitual, then a 10 yard penalty will be enforced.

  • Any punt that hits the back of the line shall be deemed a dead ball and turn over on downs.

Coaches

  • One coach from each team will be allowed on the field during play.

  • A maximum of five (5) coaches will be allowed per team.

  • Fans or parents are not allowed on the field or the sidelines. The only exception to this rule will be a parent or physician tending to an injured child.

Players

  • Each team will play eleven (11) kids.

  • Any participating town that has equal to or greater than thirty two (32) registered players is required to split and form 2 teams for the respective age group

  • Each player must play a minimum of one play in two quarters.

  • Each team shall mark all 5th grade players helmets with emblem/logo to allow referees a clear notice that the player is a 5th grader.

  • All teams are required to have a minimum of three (3) 5th grade players on the field at all times.

Weight Restrictions:

  • No player weighing in excess of 125 pounds (at the time of weigh-in at the beginning of the season) can play in the backfield, carry/receive the ball, or play any other ball carrying or receiving position.

  • A player’s weight will be determined before the start of the season and before the first game.

  • All players must be fully suited to weigh it. Any player not attending official weigh in, will be deemed ineligible to run the ball during the entire season. If a player is not available to attend official weigh in, prior arrangements must be made with league commissioner for a pre-weigh in opportunity. All league decisions on weight are final, and no other weigh-in will be scheduled after official weigh in.

  • During an official weigh in there must be a representative from another town to witness the weigh in and sign off on the roster.

  • Each head coach will be responsible for every player being weighed in and turning in a complete roster of players by number before the first game

Offense:

  • High school rules apply.

Defense:

  • There is no limit to the number of players that will be allowed in the box.

Kickoffs:

  • The ball will be kicked from the thirty-yard line.

  • All kickoffs are live, though no contact is allowed downfield.

  • When the ball is kicked out of bounds, the return team will have the option to put the ball on their own thirty-yard line, have the ball kicked again with a five-yard penalty, or placed at the spot where the ball went out of bounds.

  • The ball will be placed at the spot where the receiving team gains possession, not at the point where it is first touched.

  • The ball will be placed at the 15-yard line when it is kicked out of the end zone or downed by the receiving team.

Punts:

  • Punts will not be live.

  • Neither team will make contact or movement until the ball has been punted.

  • Receiving must have eight men within 5 yards of the line of scrimmage.

  • Any violation of these rules by either team will result in a five-yard penalty.

  • The ball will be placed where the receiving team gains possession.

  • There will be no contact downfield during punts.

Scoring:

  • Touchdowns 6 points

  • P.A.T. Run 1 point

  • P.A.T. Pass 2 Points