Game Times

• 4 quarters, 12 minute running clock for 4th - 8th grade.  4 quarters, 10 minute running clock  for 3rd grade, time will stop during final two minutes of each half for all age groups.
• Each team has three one-minute time outs each half.
• After a time-out, the clock will continue outside of the last two minutes of each half.
• Halftime will last 10 minutes.
• If a player is injured on the field the official will call an injury time-out.
• If one team is leading by more than 21 points, there is no stoppage of time after the 2:00 mark in the second-half.
• Time between plays will be 30 seconds for the 5th, 6th, 7th & 8th grade league, 45 seconds for the 3rd & 4th grade league.

 Extra Points

• No extra points will be kicked after a touchdown.
• Teams have the option to go for one or two points.
• Teams will receive 1 point if they successfully score from the 3-yard line.
• Teams will receive 2 points if they successfully score from the 5-yard line.
• Teams can choose to spot the ball in the middle or on the hash mark.
• Extra point play is a dead ball situation.
• Offensive penalties will be enforced.
• Defensive penalties before the snap will result in moving the ball half the distance to goal line for same point value.
• Defensive penalty after the snap can be declined or accepted.

 Kickoffs

• There will be no live kickoffs.
• The ball will be placed on the receiving team’s 20-yard line.
• After a safety the ball will be placed on the 40 yard line.

 Punt Return / Coverage

• There will not be live punts.
• The ball will be moved 30 yards but no deeper than the 20 yard line.

 Overtime

§ * ALL TIES WILL BE PLAYED OFF FROM THE 10 YARD LINE.

§ * THE TEAM WINNING THE COIN TOSS AT THE START OF OVERTIME HAS THE OPTION OF PLAYING OFFENSE OR DEFENSE FIRST. §  *EACH TEAM HAS FOUR DOWNS TO ATTEMPT TO SCORE, GAME CLOCK IS OFF, BUT PLAY CLOCK IS USED.

§  *A LOSS OF POSSESSION BY FUMBLE OR INTERCEPTION TERMINATES A FOUR-DOWN ATTEMPT TO SCORE.

§  *ONLY THE TEAM ON OFFENSE CAN SCORE.

Game Balls

• 3rd grade - K2
• 4th & 5th grade - TDJ Football
• 6th & 7th grade - TDY Football

Coaches

• Each team will enter the draft with no more than three coaches and their sons. 
• All coaches must submit to a MRYC Background Check and complete "Heads Up Training" - free concussion training.

 Coaches on the Field

• 3rd - 5th grade – One coach per team will have the option to be on the field under the direction of the game officials.
• Once a play is called, coaches must stay behind the officials during the entirety of play.  Defensive coaches are not allowed to instruct or advise his players as to the direction of the opponents play once the huddle has been broken.
• Coaches must stay behind the officials during the entirety of the play

      6th & 7th grade - no coaches allowed on the field

Weight Restrictions

• Weight restrictions will be placed on all offensive skill positions (QB, RB, WR, and TE) or anyone who carries the football.
• All players will be weigh with shoes on at an "official" weigh-in
• The play will be blown dead when a player outside of the weight restriction has the ball on offense.
• No restrictions for any defensive player who advances a turnover.
• Ball carriers will be designated with a back or receiver number. No lineman may be used in a back or receiver position.
• Any player that is over the designated weight limit for their particular age group will ONLY be allowed to line up no further than linebacker depth (3-4 yards) from the line of scrimmage. The referee will discuss with the coach to correct the problem. If the issue is not resolved then the team will be penalized 5 yards for each occurrence.
• Players who are not eligible to advance the ball that line up as a tight end/down lineman outside of the offensive tackle, does not have to be covered up by an eligible player.

6th & 7th grade - no limit

4th & 5th grade - 120 pounds

3rd grade - 90 pounds

 Team Play Requirements

• Defense: Must have a minimum of 4 down lineman.
• There will be no inside stunts( No stunts in A, B or C gaps.. A linebacker must be 3 yards off the ball.  1st offense warning. Then an unsportsmanlike penalty of 15 yards will be assessed.
• Offense: Must have at least 5 down lineman, 7 players on the line
• Offense - an unbalanced line is allowed as long as there are 5 down lineman and 7 players on line of scrimmage.
• Shotgun offense is allowed
• No nose guard. Cannot line up over center except for the 6th grade

 Practice

• Teams will be assigned a practice time and place by the Madison Parks & Recreation Department.
• Practices are limited to 3 times per week with a maximum of 90 minutes per practice.
• Teams are also allowed to hold a "walk-thru" practice 1 time per week (no pads allowed)
• Teams are not allowed to scrimmage another team outside of the MRYC organization.  A scrimmage will be considered a practice.

Officials

• If an official's call is disputed during the game only the Head Coach of that team can discuss with the Head Referee.

 Roster and Participation

• Minimum roster requirement is 15 players.
• Teams are required to play every player a minimum of 8 plays per half.

 Personal Fouls (All Grades)

• Any player or coach who receives one unsportsmanlike penalty, he or she will be forced to sit out the rest of the contest. Unsportsmanlike penalties will be recorded.
• If a player or coach receives two unsportsmanlike fouls they will be removed from his or her roster and unable to play for the remainder of his team’s games at the USA Football Classic.

 Rules of Play

• 3rd grade league - Defensive lineman cannot line up in gaps and must be head up over an offensive line aside from the center.  Interior players must be aligned with the offensive guards.  Once the ball is snapped, they are allowed to play football as usual.  
• 4th - 5th grade league - Defensive lineman are allowed to line up in gaps.  Interior players must not be lined up over the center but can lineup in the A gaps.  Once the ball is snapped they are allowed to play football as usual.
• 6th grade league - Defensive lineman are allowed to line up in gaps and teams are allowed to play players at nose tackle over the center.
• Linebackers are not allowed to stunt.  This means they are not allowed to start play before the ball is snapped and must be 3 - 4 yards from the line of scrimmage.  Once the ball is snapped, the player is allowed to play football as usual.  The referee will discuss with the coach to correct the problem.  If the issue is not resolved, the team will be penalized 5 yards for each occurrence.
• Defensive pass interference will result in a 10-yard penalty.  The play will not consist of an automatic first down. 

 Additional Rules

• Any coach who is warned the third time by referee must coach from the sideline for the rest of game; if one coach is instructed by referee to coach from sideline then both offensive and defensive coaches are not allowed to coach on field. On the field coaches can communicate with players on the field until the offense breaks the huddle.
• If a team has less than 10 players it’s an automatic forfeit; if team has 10 players the game can be played, however the team with 10 players must have 7 players on the line of scrimmage.
• This season all games will count toward determining teams playing in the championship. The tie breakers will be 1) Head to head 2) Points allowed 3) Points scored 4) coin toss. The tie breaker data will come only from the games counting towards the championship.

 The MRYC Football League uses High Schools (NFHS) base rules. Contact your local high school to review the NFHS rule book.