ARTICLE 1. Youth football shall be played under Rules 1 to 13 with the following changes.
ARTICLE 2. The maximum total playing time in a game shall be 48 minutes, divided into four periods of 12 minutes each.
ARTICLE 3. There shall be no blocking below the waist except against the ball carrier.
ARTICLE 4. The point value of scoring plays shall be:
| Touchdown | 6 Points |
| Field Goal | 3 Points |
| Safety (points awarded to opponents) | 2 Points |
| Successful Try Touchdown | 2 Points |
| Successful Try Field Goal | 2 Points |
| Successful Try Safety | 1 Point |
ARTICLE 5. a. Tripping is intentionally using the lower leg or foot to obstruct an opponent (including the ball carrier) below the knees.
b. There shall be no tripping (including against the ball carrier).
ARTICLE 1. 5 on 5 football shall be played under Rules 1 to 11 with the following changes. Where a rule is in conflict with Rules 1 to 11 or clearly does not apply, the 5 on 5 rule takes precedence.
ARTICLE 2. a. The game shall be played between two teams of no more and no less than 5 players each.
b. The number of players in a squad and the number of those permitted to be in uniform shall be determined by the organiser of the tournament.
ARTICLE 3. The game shall be played under the supervision of one or more officials.
ARTICLE 4. The field shall be a rectangular area of length 60 yards and width 30 yards. The goal line, the end line, midfield line, the 12-yard line (no more than 2 yards long and in the centre of the field) and the 5-yard line (as a hashed line) are the only lines permitted on the field.
a. If both head coaches agree, hash marks 23 feet wide may be used. They may be marked on the field or their position indicated by pylons or cones placed at least 3 feet off the end line at each end of the field.
b. Otherwise, an unmarked line running down the centre of the field from end line to end line shall be indicated by a pylon or cone placed at least 3 feet off the end line at each end of the field. At the end of every play, the ball's lateral position shall be relocated to the centre of the field.
ARTICLE 5. There shall be no goal posts.
ARTICLE 6. There shall be no line to gain indicators. The use of a down box is recommended.
ARTICLE 7. The ball shall be that mandated by the competition organiser and shall be appropriate for the age group of the competing teams. Teams may use their own footballs when they are in possession, provided that they are legal.
ARTICLE 8. The following definitions of a blitz and the no-run zone shall apply to these 5-on-5 rules only.
a. A blitz is when a Team B player crosses the neutral zone:
2. Before a change of team possession.
3. Before the player who receives the snap has handed off or passed the ball.
b. Only one Team B player is eligible to blitz during a down. Prior to the snap, he must be lined up either:
1. In a three or four-point stance, within one yard of the line of scrimmage, and immediately opposite the ball. If there is such a player, he is the only player eligible to blitz.
2. In Team B's backfield, seven yards from the neutral zone.
c. If the player who receives the snap fakes a handoff or backward pass, fumbles and the ball touches the ground, or if the snap is muffed and touches the ground, any Team B player may blitz.
1. Team B shall not engage in any tactic designed to confuse Team A as to the identity of the legal blitzer after the ball becomes live, or any other tactic that violates the spirit of this rule.
ARTICLE 9. The no-run zone is established when the ball becomes dead and is located so that any part of the ball is either breaking the plane of or inside Team B's 5-yard line. When the line of scrimmage is in the no-run zone, Team A must throw a legal forward pass at some point during the down, unless the ball becomes dead behind the line of scrimmage.
ARTICLE 10. There shall be no kicking of the football. If the ball is punted, place-kicked, or drop-kicked, it is dead. If a loose ball is kicked it remains live.
ARTICLE 11. The game clock is any device under the direction of the appropriate official used to time the duration of the game.
a. The duration of the game may be varied by competitions.
ARTICLE 12. The 30-second clock is any device under the direction of the appropriate official used to time the 30 seconds between the ready-for-play signal and the ball being put into play.
ARTICLE 13. Each half shall start with a snap from the offensive team's 5-yard line.
a. Before the game, the Referee shall toss a coin at midfield, in the presence of not more than two captains from each team and (if present) another game official, first designating the captain of the visiting team to call the coin toss.
b. The winner of the coin toss has first possession. The loser chooses which end of the field to defend and shall have first possession in the second half. The winning captain may not defer his choice.
ARTICLE 14. a. The total playing time (excluding extra periods) shall be 30 minutes divided into two halves of 15 minutes each (unless varied according to Rule 14-2-11-a). The half-time interval shall be 2 minutes.
b. The clock shall start on the first snap of the game.
c. Outside the last two minutes of a half, the clock shall normally only be stopped for charged team timeouts, penalty enforcements, and changes of possession. The clock shall continue to run after a scoring play until the try down has been completed. The referee shall declare and charge himself with a timeout if an injured player requires one. He may also declare and charge himself with a timeout if there is a significant delay in spotting the ball for the next down, or for any contingency not elsewhere covered by the rules.
d. After a charged team timeout or change of possession, the clock starts on the snap. After any other timeout, the clock starts on the ready-for-play signal.
e. When the ball is dead and two minutes or less remain in a period, the referee shall order the clock stopped (if necessary) to inform the head coach and field captain of each team. The 30-second count must not be interrupted to give the two-minute warning. The clock shall start on the snap.
f. After the two-minute warning, normal game timing applies. Refer to Rule 3.
g. Competitions may adopt regulations for either normal game timing or a running clock (as defined in (a) to (e) above) for the entirety of the game. In either case, the referee shall still issue the two-minute warning.
ARTICLE 15. a. Each team is entitled to two charged team timeouts during each half. During extra periods, each team shall have one charged timeout per period. Charged timeouts may not be retained into the succeeding half or extra period.
b. Charged timeouts shall last no more than 60 seconds.
ARTICLE 16. The ball shall be put in play within 30 seconds of it being declared ready for play, unless play is suspended during that interval. If play is suspended, the 30-second count will start again. Consuming more than 30 seconds after the ball has been declared ready for play is an illegal delay.
ARTICLE 17. Team A has four downs to progress to the midfield line. If successful, they shall have a new series of four downs to score.
a. At the start of a half, the team with the right to start the half takes possession at its own 5-yard line.
b. After a try down, the team that conceded the touchdown takes possession at its own 5-yard line.
c. After a safety, the team that scored the points takes possession at its own 5-yard line.
d. After a touchback, the team awarded the touchback takes possession at its own 5-yard line.
e. If Team A fails to achieve the line to gain after fourth down, Team B shall take possession at its own 5-yard line.
ARTICLE 18. Prior to a change of possession, the runner may pass the ball backwards or hand the ball in any direction, provided the handoff or pass is completed behind the neutral zone, except to throw the ball intentionally out of bounds to conserve time.
ARTICLE 19. Prior to a change of possession, the player who receives the snap may not advance the ball beyond the neutral zone until the ball has been in the possession of another player.
ARTICLE 20. a. No two players shall wear the same number during any scrimmage down.
b. Team A must have at least two players legally positioned on their scrimmage line when the snap starts. One other player may (if desired) be in position to receive a hand-to-hand snap. There are no restrictions on the position of the other players, provided they are on their side of the neutral zone.
ARTICLE 21. The player who receives the snap for Team A may make one forward pass during each down before team possession changes, provided the pass is thrown from a point in or behind the neutral zone.
a. The player who receives the snap has 7 seconds to give up possession of the ball. When he does so, the 7 second limit no longer applies. The ball is dead if the player who receives the snap exceeds the 7-second limit. If in doubt, he has not exceeded the limit. (Exception: If the actions of an illegal blitzer cause the limit to be exceeded, the ball is dead but there is no foul for exceeding the limit.)
b. The passer may legally throw the ball away to avoid loss of yardage or a 7-second foul if the ball lands or would have landed in or past the neutral zone extended. If the ball does not reach the neutral zone, or would not have reached it, a receiver must have had a reasonable opportunity to catch the ball.
c. No player shall throw an illegal forward pass as defined by Rule 7-3-2 (Exception: Rule 7-3-2-f does not apply).
ARTICLE 22. At the snap, all players are eligible to touch a forward pass or receive a forward handoff. (Exception: The passer is not eligible to touch a forward pass until it is touched by another player.)
ARTICLE 23. The point value of scoring plays shall be:
| Touchdown | 6 Points |
| Safety (points awarded to opponents) | 2 Points |
| Successful Try Touchdown (from 5 yard line) | 1 Point |
| Successful Try Touchdown (from 12 yard line) | 2 Points |
| Successful Try Touchdown (scored by Team B) | 2 Points |
NOTE: The try will be from the 5-yard line unless the captain or coach of the scoring team informs the referee that it will be from the 12-yard line. This option must be chosen before the ready for play.
ARTICLE 24. No person subject to the rules shall commit a personal foul before the game, during the game or between periods.
a. There shall be no clipping at any time. (Exception: Against the runner)
b. There shall be no blocking below the waist at any time. (Exception: Against the runner.)
c. There shall be no blocking in the back at any time. (Exception: Against the runner.)
ARTICLE 25. There are no 15-yard penalties. All penalties that in 11-man football carry a 15-yard penalty shall carry a 10-yard penalty in 5-man football.
ARTICLE 26. Any penalty may be declined, except for a false start penalty. Disqualified players must leave the game.
ARTICLE 27. If not otherwise specified in these rules, the enforcement spot for live-ball fouls before a change of possession is the previous spot. (Exception: Roughing the passer -- if the pass is complete, the penalty is enforced from the end of Team A's run if it ends beyond the neutral zone.)
ARTICLE 28. The enforcement spot for any dead-ball foul is the succeeding spot.
ARTICLE 29. The enforcement spot for live-ball fouls after a change of possession is the spot of the foul. If this spot is behind a goal line, the penalty shall be enforced from the nearest 5-yard line.
ARTICLE 30. No distance penalty shall exceed half the distance from the enforcement spot to the offending team's goal line.
ARTICLE 31. When an accepted penalty moves the ball over a marked line on the field:
a. If the goal line is the line to gain and the ball is moved across the midfield line by penalty, the goal line is still the line to gain. If the ball is inside the no-run zone and is moved outside the no-run zone by penalty, Team A must throw a forward pass during any subsequent down until a down free from Team A fouls leaves the ball outside the no-run zone. This applies as soon as the dead-ball spot is ruled to be in the no-run zone.
a. If Team A has elected to go for one point and commits a foul not carrying a loss of down for which the penalty is accepted, the try is repeated after enforcement. Team A may not run, nor elect a two-point attempt.
b. If Team A elects to go for two points, and accepts a Team B penalty that does not result in an automatic score and leaves the ball inside the no-run zone, they may not run the ball, but a successful conversion will score two points.
c. If Team A commits any foul carrying a loss of down for which the penalty is accepted, the try is over and any score during the down is cancelled.
ARTICLE 33. a. There is no room for any acts of deliberately illegal tactics or blocking, "cheap shots" or any unsportsmanlike act by a player or coach. Foul play will not be tolerated. A player who persistently or flagrantly commits personal fouls shall be disqualified.
b. "Trash talking" (any talking which is deemed offensive, insulting or abusive to officials, opposing players, teams or spectators) or any other act of unsportsmanlike conduct is strongly discouraged. The officials are the sole arbiters of language or gestures that is offensive, insulting or abusive.
c. Any person disqualified from a game will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action. Any person subject to the rules may be disqualified and may not participate further in the game in any official capacity.
ARTICLE 34. Both teams shall submit roster forms for any game they play in, subject to the rules of the competition. A common roster for games played in a tournament format is acceptable if allowed by competition rules. Persons subject to the rules who are required to appear on the roster form and do not shall be disqualified upon discovery.
ARTICLE 35. If the score is tied after two periods, leagues or tournaments may mandate the use of extra periods. If not, the game is over and the result stands as a tie. Extra periods shall be based on the NCAA tiebreaker system detailed in Rule 3-1-3, with the following modifications.
a. The referee shall toss a coin at midfield in the presence of no more than two field captains from each team and (if present) another game official, first designating the field captain of the visiting team to call the coin toss. The winner of the toss may not defer his choice and shall choose one of the following options:
1. Offense or defense to start the first series of the first extra period.
2. Which end of the field shall be used for both series of that extra period.
b. The loser of the toss shall exercise the remaining option for the first extra period and shall have the first choice of the two options for subsequent even-numbered extra periods.
c. An extra period shall consist of two series with each team putting the ball in play by a snap from the midfield line.
d. Each team has four downs to score. The ball remains alive after a change of team possession until it is declared dead and the series is over. Team A may only have a new series of downs if Team B commits a foul that mandates an automatic first down.
e. Beginning with the third extra period, team scoring a touchdown must attempt a two point try. A one point try by Team A (although not illegal) will not score a point.
f. Extra periods will continue to be played until there is a winning team.
g. The team scoring the greater number of points during the regulation and extra periods shall be declared the winning team.
Flag football is played by the rules set down by IFAF. See the separate Rulebook for details.
Editor: Jim Briggs, BAFA/BAFRA Rules Committee
rules@britishamericanfootball.org