The rules are revised each year to improve the sport's level of safety and quality of play, and to clarify the meaning and intent of rules where necessary. The principles that govern all rule changes are that they must:
These rules apply to all contests involving BAFA-affiliated teams and take effect from 1st March 2014 (Exception: Competitions that began before 1st March 2014 will continue to use 2013 rules until the end of their competition).
For brevity, male pronouns are used extensively in this book, but the rules are equally applicable to female and male participants.
BAFA has established a mechanism for discussing and deciding future changes to this book. Each organisation affiliated to BAFA has a voice on the Rules Committee. You may make suggestions for changes to your organisation's representative(s). Suggestions may be made at any time, but to eligible for consideration for the following year they must be received by 1st October.
Jim Briggs, BAFRA (Editor) on behalf of the BAFA Rules Committee
Those who find it necessary to write to the editor for interpretations of rules or play situations will receive prompt replies if they number their questions and email them to rules@britishamericanfootball.org.
The editor would like to thank the following people who assisted in the production of this edition of the rulebook (GB except where stated):
Amir Brooks Phil Clarke Alex DeVal John Griffin Rob Hill David Knight Lewis Lebolt (Sweden) Andrew Lovell James Meredith Russell Newton Peter Parsons Ian Sneddon Paul Sutton Ian Wainwright
Cover image by Sophie Robinson, Staffordshire Surge
Rules changes..........................................................4 Points of emphasis.....................................................7 The Football Code.....................................................10 BAFA Disciplinary Code................................................13 Rules and Interpretations.............................................26 Rule 1 -- The Game, Field, Players and Equipment....................28 Rule 2 -- Definitions...............................................43 Rule 3 -- Periods, Time Factors and Substitutions...................60 Rule 4 -- Ball in Play, Dead Ball, Out of Bounds....................78 Rule 5 -- Series of Downs, Line to Gain.............................82 Rule 6 -- Kicks.....................................................86 Rule 7 -- Snapping and Passing the Ball............................100 Rule 8 -- Scoring..................................................115 Rule 9 -- Conduct of Players and Others Subject to the Rules.......125 Rule 10 -- Penalty Enforcement.....................................144 Rule 11 -- The Officials: Jurisdiction and Duties..................152 Rule 12 -- Instant replay..........................................153 Rule 13 -- Standards for Game Management...........................162 Summary of penalties.................................................175 Officials' Signals...................................................186 Appendix A -- Guidelines for Game Officials to Use During a Serious On-Field Player Injury189 Appendix B -- Guidelines for Game Officials and Game Management To Use Regarding Lightning190 Appendix C -- Concussions............................................193 Appendix D -- Field Diagrams.........................................195 Appendix E -- Equipment: Additional Details..........................201 BAFRA Terms and Conditions...........................................203 Index of Rules and Interpretations...................................210
Editor: Jim Briggs, BAFA/BAFRA Rules Committee
rules@britishamericanfootball.org