·       A coin toss determines 1st or 2nd half possession.

·       The offensive team takes possession of the ball at their 5-yard line and has (3) plays to cross midfield. If the offense fails to cross midfield, the ball changes possession and the opposing team take over on their 5-yard line.

·       Once a team crosses mid-field, they will have three (3) plays to score a touchdown. If the offense fails to score, the ball changes possession and the opposing team take over on their 5-yard line.

·       Interceptions can be returned and were their flag is striped they start from.

·       Two (2) 12 minute halves with running time. At the 1 Minute Warning, the clock stops. Anything inside 1 minute, the clock stops at the referee's whistle for: out of bounds, incompletion, on each touchdown, on change of possession, and for each penalty. Time does not run on the extra point conversion attempt. Clock resumes on the next snap following stoppage.

·       Each team will have 2 timeouts, 30 seconds each, for the entity of the game. Timeouts may not be carried into overtime. 1 timeout will be given for each team during the overtime.

·       From the time the ball is spotted, the offensive team has 30 seconds to snap the ball.

·       The spot of the play is dependent on the spot of the ball.

·       The youth field shall measure 30 yards wide by 60 yards long with a 10-yard end zone on either end.

·       The adult field shall measure 35 yards wide by 60 yards long with a 10-yard end zone on either end.

·       The playing field will be divided into two halves by the midfield line and/or marker.

·       Balls, pennies, and flag belts will be provided by the Granite Bowl Staff.

·       Shoe Policy: Each player must wear sneakers or turf shoes. Shoes with metal, ceramic screw in or detachable cleats are Illegal. Game officials have the authority to disallow any shoe which they feel would endanger the person wearing the shoe or his opponents.

·       Shirts - must be long enough so they remained tucked into the pants.

·       Pants - each player must wear either shorts or pants that completely cover the thighs. Players are encouraged to wear long pants and long sleeves to prevent cuts or turf burns.

·       No stickum or similar substance will be allowed. Infractions will result in removal from tournament until the player has removed the substance from their person and is allowed back in by the Granite Bowl Staff after a check of substance removal.

·       Helmets, football pads, casts and/or metal braces are not allowed. Special exceptions may be made on an individual basis.

·       Baseball caps may not be worn.

·       MOUTH PIECES ARE REQUIRED and may be purchased on game day.

·       Youth teams shall have no more than five (5) players on the field at any point.

·       Adult teams shall have no more than six (6) players on the field at any point.

·       Teams must have a minimum of five (5) players on the field to constitute a team.

·       Mercy Rule - at any time if a team is winning by 28 points, the game is over.

·       Touchdowns are worth six points. Following each touchdown, an extra point conversion will take place

·       Extra point attempts from 5 yards out are worth 1 point.

·       Extra point attempts from 10 yards out are worth 2 points.

·       No extra point attempts can be returned by the defense.

·       A safety is worth 2 points.

• Overtime will only be used in the playoffs. If a game is tied after 24 minutes in pool play, the game will result in a tie.
• A coin toss determines possession for overtime.
• Overtime rules will follow the NCAA football format.

·       Each team will play a minimum of three (3) games during pool play, weather permitting.

·       Tournament seeding will be determined by pool play records. Tiebreakers between 2 teams will be determined in the following manner: head-to-head, point differential, points allowed, points scored, coin toss. Tiebreakers between 3 or more teams will be determined in the following manner: head-to-head record between all teams involved in the tiebreaker, point differential, points allowed, points scored, coin flip.

·       A single elimination tournament will be held at the conclusion of pool play.

·       If teams are tied after pool play they will be seeded according to the following tie breakers:

o   2 teams tied:

1.     Head to head competition

2.     Point differential (Points scored - Points allowed)

3.     Points allowed

4.     Points scored

5.     Coin toss

o   3 teams tied:

1.     Head to head record between all teams involved in the tiebreaker

2.     Point differential (Points scored - Points allowed)

3.     Points allowed

4.     Points scored

5.     Coin toss

·       The QB CANNOT run at any time past the line of scrimmage with the ball in hand. The QB is defined as the player who receives the snap.

·       Only direct hand-offs behind the line of scrimmage are legal. The offense can use multiple handoffs.

·       The player who takes the hand-off can throw the ball as long as he does not pass the line of scrimmage, and he receives a backwards hand-off. If the player takes a forward hand-off, no player can pass the ball for the remainder of the play.

·       Absolutely NO laterals or pitches of any kind.

·       "No run zones" are located 5-yards before mid-field and 5-yards before the end zone in each offensive direction.

·       Spinning is allowed but players cannot leave their feet to avoid a defense player.

·       Absolutely no diving.

·       Jumping for a pass is allowed. However, at least one foot must remain in contact with the ground at all times when in possession of the ball.

·       The spot of the play is dependent on the spot of the ball.

·       There is NO Blocking allowed. Offensive players must stand still once a ball is received from a pass, or the runner crosses the line of scrimmage.

·       Diving is prohibited and will result in a 10 yard penalty.

·       Players may not dive to catch the ball or to pull an opposing players flag.

·       Players cannot dive to cross the goal line or scrimmage line.

·       Tackling is done by pulling the flags.

·       Physical tackling is illegal and ruled as unnecessary roughness.

·       In the case of flagrant tackling, the offender will be ejected from the game and for the remainder of the event.

·       Physical tackling is ruled as when defense puts an arm around the runner in order to pull the offensive player's flag.

·       Players must play the flag. If the shirt or pants of an offensive player is grabbed, a penalty will result dependant on the severity.

·       If a flag belt inadvertently falls to the ground, a one-hand tag anyplace on the body or extremities constitutes a tackle.

·       All players are eligible to receive a pass.

·       A player must have two feet in bounds in order to constitute as a catch.

·       One player is allowed in motion only in a lateral or backwards fashion. Players moving forward at the snap of the ball will be assessed a false start penalty. If more than one player is moving at the time of the snap, a false start penalty will be assessed.

·       All passes must be forward.

·       The QB has a 7 second "pass clock". If the pass is not thrown within the 7 seconds, play is dead, a loss of down is assessed and the ball returns to line of scrimmage. Once the ball is handed off, the 7-second clock is dead. The referee behind the line of scrimmage will physically count off 7 seconds using a hand motion.

·       Interceptions can be returned. The defense takes possession of the ball from the point in which they were tackled after returning the interception.

·       Ball must be snapped between legs, not off to one side.

·       Play is dead when:

§  The ball carriers flag is pulled.

§  The ball carrier steps out of bounds.

§  A touchdown is scored.

§  The ball carriers flag falls off inadvertently and is one hand touched.

§  The ball carriers knee, waist, forearms, head, or body hits the ground.

·       There are NO fumbles.

§  The ball is spotted where it hits the ground. If the ball touches ground inside the end zone, a safety or a touchback will be assessed.

§  If the offense fumbles the ball in their defending end zone or a snapped ball touches ground inside the defending end zone, a safety is assessed.

§  If the offense fumbles the ball into the offensive end zone, a touchback is assessed and the defense takes possession at their defending 5-yard line.

§  Anytime the ball touches the ground, it is dead.

·       All players that rush the QB must be 7 yards from the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped. Players not rushing the QB may defend at the line of scrimmage.

·       Once the ball has been handed off, the 7-yard rule is no longer in effect and all defenders are eligible to rush, regardless of their pre-snap position.

·       A referee will designate 7 yards from the line of scrimmage.

·       Each team is allowed two (2) time outs that will last 30 seconds a piece for the entity of the game.

·       Unnecessary delay of the game is prohibited. If the ball is not put into play within 30 seconds after being spotted by the referee, it will be considered delay of the game.

·       A team in possession of the ball has three (3) downs to score or advance the ball into the next zone.

·       All center snaps must be made between the legs of the player snapping the ball.

·       Sleeper plays are not allowed. Whoever breaks the huddle is an eligible receiver. Once a player is set, no substitutions are allowed.

·       Unlimited substitution will be permitted throughout the course of a game. Referees will allow for adequate time for substitution.

·       All players are eligible receivers. The passer becomes eligible to catch his pass after the ball is touched by a defensive player.

·       Forward passes may be made from any place behind the line of scrimmage.

·       Quarterbacks must have a verbal indication to snap the ball on every play. There are no silent snaps. Each player must be set for at least one (1) second prior to snap of the ball with the exception of the player in motion. Before going in motion, the player must be set for at least one (1) second.

·       There are no fumbles. When the ball touches the ground after a muff or a fumble, it is a dead ball.

·       When the play ends in the offense's defending end zone, it is a safety.

·       When the flag belt is clearly taken from the ball carrier, the play shall end. If a flag belt inadvertently falls to the ground, a one-hand tag constitutes tackle.

·       Tripping deemed intentional by the referee will be penalized from the point where the ball carrier is tripped.

·       There is no pushing out of bounds.

·       The defensive player shall not hold, grasp or obstruct the forward progress of a runner when in the act of removing the flag belt.

·       Interceptions may be returned and the defense will take possession from the spot in which they were tackled. Extra point attempts may not be returned for a score.

• A Zero Tolerance policy will be in effect for all games. Any conduct that is deemed harmful will result in a PLAYER DISQUALIFICATION AND EJECTION FROM THE EVENT.

·       Hurdling by a ball carrier is illegal.

·       Runners shall not flag guard by using their hands, arms or the ball to deny the opportunity for opponents to pull or remove the flag belt.

·       Flag guarding includes:

§  Swinging the hand or arm over the flag belt to prevent an opponent from tackling.

§  Placing the ball in possession over the flag belt to prevent an opponent from tackling.

§  Lowering the shoulders in such a manner which places the arm over the flag belt to prevent an opponent from tackling.

§  The runner shall be prohibited from contacting an opponent with an extended arm or hand. This includes the use of a "stiff arm" extended to ward off an opponent attempting to tackle.

§  The runner shall not grasp at a teammate or be grasped, pulled or pushed by a teammate. In addition, the runner shall not use a teammate in a non-stationary manner to prevent the defense from attempting a tackle.

§  The defensive players must "play the flag rather than the player."

§  Any player who is bleeding must be substituted for until the bleeding stops. Officials have the authority to remove a player that is bleeding. If by removing the player who is bleeding, the team falls below the minimum number necessary to play, the following will apply:

o   The game clock will stop and a maximum of five (5) minutes will be allowed for the player to stop the bleeding.

o   The Head Official and the trainer must approve the player to re-enter.

o   If the bleeding is not stopped within the allotted five (5) minutes, and no substitute can be found, the team will forfeit the game by the current score, unless winning. If the team that is force to forfeit is winning, the opposing team will win by a score of a point greater.

o   THE TIME ALLOWANCE IS ONLY FOR PLAYERS WHO ARE BLEEDING, AND THE TEAM CANNOT CONTINUE TO PLAY WITHOUT THEM.

§  NO player shall commit a personal foul during a period or an intermission. Any act prohibited hereunder or any other act of unnecessary roughness is a personal foul. NO player shall

§  Punch, strike, strip, steal or attempt to steal the ball from a player in possession while not playing the flag.

§  Trip an opponent.

§  Intentionally contact an opponent who is on the ground.

§  Throw the runner to the ground.

§  Shove or push the runner.

§  Hurdle any other player.

§  Intentionally contact an opponent after the ball is declared dead.

§  Make any contact with an opponent which is deemed unnecessary.

§  Clip an opponent.

§  Tackle the runner by grasping or encircling with the hand(s) or arm(s) and taking the opponent toward the ground as in tackle football. This will result in PLAYER DISQUALIFICATION AND EJECTION FROM THE EVENT.

·       Loss of 5 Yards

§  Delay of game.

§  Impeding or holding the rusher or replay of down.

§  Offsides.

§  False start by offensive team.

§  Illegal snap.

§  Illegal motion.

§  Illegal forward pass (loss of down).

§  Flag guarding.

·       Loss of 10 Yards

§  Offensive pass interference and loss of down.

§  Offensive holding or blocking.

§  Tripping.

§  Unsportsmanlike conduct (automatic first down

§  Roughing the passer.

§  Hurdling/Diving.

§  Stiff-arm by offensive player.

§  Loss of 15 Yards and Player Ejection

§  Striking, kicking, or kneeing (automatic first down).

§  Clipping (automatic first down).

§  Striking above neck or below waist (automatic first down).

§  Tackling the ball carrier (automatic first down).

§  Intentional contact with an opponent who is on the ground (automatic first down).

§  Spot of ball

§  Intentional grounding (loss of down).

§  Defensive pass interference (automatic first down).

§  If occurs in the end zone, ball is spotted at the 5-yard line.

·       On multiple live ball fouls against one team, only one penalty may be enforced at the offended team's choice.

·       A double foul is when both teams have committed a foul during the same live ball period, and team possession has not changed

o   Offsetting fouls will result in a replay of down.

·       All flagrant fouls will be penalized separately, and in addition to those occurring during a down by the same team.

·       When a foul assessment measurement cannot take the ball more than half the distance from the enforcement spot to the offending team's goal line, the ball is placed halfway from the enforcement spot to the goal line.

·       If a whistle is inadvertently blown by an official, the play is DEAD. The offensive team has a choice of either replaying the down from the original line of scrimmage or having the ball from the point where the ball was when the play became dead.

·       Defender must hand flag back to ball carrier. Excessive misuse will result in a defensive delay of game.

·       If the field monitor or referee witnesses any acts of tackling, elbowing, cheap shots, or a flagrant act:

§  The game will be stopped & the player may be ejected from the game.

§  Excessive misuse of foul language is illegal. Officials and Granite Bowl Staff have the right to determine language which is offensive. Violators will be dealt with on an individual basis.

·       A "One-Strike" rule will be implemented for foul language. A warning will be issued, and if excessive foul language continues to be used, the person will be asked to leave the event.

·       FOUL PLAY WILL NOT BE TOLERATED!!!!