rules

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HOW TO PLAY THE GAME

1. TEAMS AND ROSTERS

Team Rosters must consist of at least 8 Players. There is no limit to the amount of players on your team.
You must be at least 18 years old with a valid state issued ID.
Player’s can only play on ONE team per season.
ALL PLAYERS MUST WEAR THE CURRENT SEASON’S TEAM SHIRT TO PLAY (Without a Penalty)
Each team will field a maximum of 8 Players (typically 6 men & 2 women) during play.
If a team cannot field 8 Players, they can still play with a minimum of 6 players.
A maximum of 6 men per team is allowed during play, with no minimum requirement of men.
A minimum of 1 woman per team is required during play.
All possible combinations are listed below:

6M-2W 5M-3W 4M-4W 3M-5W 2M-6W 1M-7W 0M-8W 6M-1W 5M-2W 4M-3W 3M-4W 2M-5W 1M-6W 0M-7W 5M-1W 4M-2W 3M-3W 2M-4W 1M-5W 0M-6W

2. FORFEITS

Every team must submit a $70 forfeit bond prior to the start of the season (captain’s responsibility)

The $70 Forfeit Bond will be returned to you at the end of the season, provided that your team follows the Forfeit Bond Policy, as stated below.
Game time is forfeit time (The referee will always start the game clock on the hour of the scheduled game time).
Any team that cannot field the required number of players (minimum of 5 players – including at least 1 female) by the scheduled game time will forfeit the game unless both captains agree on a delayed start until the required number of players arrive (the game clock will start running at the scheduled game time resulting in a shortened half). Please refer to the Teams & Rosters section for details on fielding a legal team.
ANY TEAM THAT IS UNABLE TO FIELD THE REQUIRED NUMBER OF PLAYERS BY THE SCHEDULED GAME TIME MAY DO THE FOLLOWING ONLY IF THEY ARE IN JEOPARDY OF FORFEITING.
- The team that is in jeopardy of forfeiting may ask the opposing team for permission to borrow an “Officially Registered SFL Player” from another team in the same league. (An “Officially Registered SFL Player” is defined as someone who has paid their current season’s registration fee and has legally accepted and/or signed the current season’s liability waiver).
- If the opposing team accepts the request, the game will be played and refereed as an official game and the final outcome will be scored accordingly.
- No more than two players (maximum one male and one female) will be accepted as substitutes for a game to be played without an automatic forfeit. This means if your team is short more than two players or more than one of either gender from the absolute minimum requirements, your team will automatically forfeit the game.

If a team does not think they will be able to field enough Players for Saturday's game, THEY MUST CONTACT SFL STAFF BEFORE THURSDAY @ 5PM OF THE CURRENT WEEK’S GAME to be in compliance with the Forfeit Bond Policy and avoid the $70 fine.
- If a team does not contact SFL Staff by the designated time, the following actions will take place:
  - The forfeit bond will not be returned at the end of the season.
  - Every forfeited game costs the team $70 and the team will not be allowed to play their next game(s) until the $70 forfeit bond is replenished

3. REFEREES

The SFL will provide a paid head referee and paid line judge for every game.
All judgment calls made by either the Head Referee or the Line Judge are final.
If a ruling by either the Head or Line Referee is questioned by either team, ONLY THE CAPTAIN may review the rule in question with the referees BUT captains must have a copy of the current rules in their possession to question any rule/call.
Either the Head Referee or the Line Judge may eject a player at any time for unsportsmanlike behavior or actions that may cause injury to another person. The ejection is at the official’s discretion, and may be as little as one play and as much as the remainder of the game in which the infraction occurred.
Suspensions beyond the official’s responsibility will be determined by SFL Management.
All ejection and suspension decisions are final.

4. PUCK TOSS

The winner of the puck toss will choose to start the game on offense or on defense. The loser of the puck toss will choose which side of the field they will start the game on.
The team that receives the ball first will start their offensive series at their own five-yard line (same spot as the one point conversion).
At the start of the 2nd half, the teams will switch sides and the team who was on defense to start the game will now start on offense.

5. GAME CLOCK

The game clock will run for 20 minutes in the 1st and 2nd halves. Games are approximately one hour.
The game clock will run continuously for 20 minutes in the 1st half, with only time outs, injuries, and extra point(s) tries within two minutes of the half stopping the clock. Halftime break time is usually ten minutes, but can vary.
If a time-out is called immediately following a touchdown, the clock WILL NOT run during the extra point(s) try, and will not start again until the hike of the ball to start the next offensive drive.
In the 2nd half, the game clock will run continuously for 18 minutes until the two minute warning, with only time outs and/or injuries stopping the clock.
Once the game clock reaches the two minute warning in the 2nd half, the clock will stop for the following: incomplete passes, ball carrier or ball goes out-of-bounds, either team scores, change of possession, penalties, injuries, Referee and Team time-outs.
Game clock does not run on any extra point(s) try with less than two minutes in either half.
If the game clock expires on a scoring play (TD or Safety), the offense may attempt the extra point(s) try if necessary.
If the game clock expires on a play in which the defense commits a penalty, the offense may choose to run an additional play, if the penalty is accepted. If the offense scores a TD on the additional play, they may also attempt an extra point(s) try.
If either team is ahead by 17 points or more, the clock will not stop during the last two minutes of the 2nd half.
When the clock is running, the offensive team has 25 seconds to snap the ball once the referee has spotted the ball.
Both teams will have (2) one minute time-outs per game. After a time-out is called, the referee must blow the whistle to signal the time-out has ended.
If both teams are ready to play before the allotted one minute is up, the referee must shorten the time-out accordingly.

6. GENDER RULES

Teams MUST use a female player as an Operative Player within three consecutive plays, or a penalty will be assessed.
The cycle using a female player within three consecutive plays DOES NOT stop after a TD.
If a team runs two male plays in a row and scores a TD on the 2nd male play, a female MUST be used as an Operative Player for the extra point(s) try.
When punting, teams do NOT have to use a female as an Operative Player on a “forced gender play”.
During a forced gender play, in which the offense lines up with a male as the QB, the other offensive male players MUST stay behind the line of scrimmage until a female either touches the ball or has an opportunity to make a play on the ball. Once a play is made by a female, the offensive male players may break off of the line of scrimmage and the defense may break out of man-to-man coverage.
If a female is the QB on a forced gender play, all receivers may leave the line at the snap. If male receivers cross the line of scrimmage on a forced gender play and the female QB laterals or hands off the ball to a male behind the line of scrimmage during the play, it is an illegal gender play. The play is still live and the defense will have the option to accept the penalty once the play is over. On a forced gender play where a female is QB, any type of defense is allowable.
The gender count resets after each change of possession, or for specific penalties as defined by the referees.
If the offense is changing their gender ratio (standard 6 males, 2 females) from the previous play, they are required to notify the head referee and the opposing team. A quick substitution of different gendered players to gain an advantage in coverage is a penalty.
Examples of Accepted Gender Plays:
- A female lines up as the QB and is sacked by the defense. (Unless referee rules it as intentional)
- A female lines up as the QB and attempts a forward pass that crosses the line of scrimmage.
- A female lines up as the QB and runs the ball across the line of scrimmage.
- A female receives a lateral or hand-off and runs the ball.
- A female receives a lateral or hand-off and attempts a forward pass to anyone.
- A female is the intended receiver in the eyes of the referee.
- A female catches a forward pass or any deflected pass.

Examples of NON-Gender Plays:
- A female lines up as the QB and laterals, hands the ball off, or completes a pass to a male behind the line of scrimmage.
- A female hikes the ball into play.
- A female QB intentionally grounds or spikes the ball.
- A female QB takes a knee.
- A female QB passes the ball to a male, which is completed behind the line of scrimmage.
- A male is QB and intentionally (ruled by the referee) throws the ball at a female receiver's feet.
- A female OR male is QB and is sacked (ball is spotted at the location of the sack, loss of down, and gender play still enforced).
- A male is QB and laterals, pitches or hands the ball off to a female, who then laterals, pitches or hands the ball off, back to a male behind the line of scrimmage.
The definitions of an Operative Player:
- Attempts a forward pass behind the line of scrimmage.
- Receives a hand-off or lateral behind the line of scrimmage and is the primary runner.
- Is the intended receiver in the eyes of the referee.

7. PLAYING DEFENSE

Teams may play man-to-man or zone defense.
During forced gender plays, when the male is QB, the females may play any type of defense they wish. This includes double covering, zone, and prevent type defenses. Males MUST play man-to-man on forced gender plays when a male is QB and stay within ONE yard of the man they are defending.
If the offense has fewer players on the field than the defense, the male defenders may only double or triple cover the male QB on a forced gender play. No other offensive male players may be double or triple covered on a forced gender play.
If the ball comes within the one-yard coverage zone of the player you are covering (during a gender play) you may legally make a play on the ball, as long as you do not leave the one-yard coverage zone of the offensive player you are covering.
Men may not cover women or play back in the defensive zone on a forced gender play, unless the offense has more female players (only when the offense has more than two females) than the defense. In this case, ALL the females on the defense MUST play against the females and any amount of extra females on the offense is how many males may play in the coverage against them.
On a forced gender play where a female is QB, any type of defense is allowable.
The Defensive Rush:
- The Line Judge is responsible for shouting out the rush count after the ball his hiked.
- All Line Judges will estimate a five second count in the following manner: “1 – ONE THOUSAND, 2 – ONE THOUSAND, 3 - ONE THOUSAND, 4 - ONE THOUSAND, 5 – ONE THOUSAND, GO”
- The defense may not cross the line of scrimmage until the Line Judge finishes his rush count and says “GO”.
- The defense may, however, cross the line of scrimmage BEFORE the Line Judge finishes his rush count, once the ball leaves the QB's possession.
- The QB MUST release the ball before the defense can pull his/her flag for a sack and loss of yards.

8. FLAG SPECIFICS

Each player on the field will wear a belt at the waistline with three (3) flags attached but not tied thereto; one flag on each side of the body , and one in the middle of the back.
Wrapping, tying or in any way securing the flags to clothing and/or belt is illegal and will result in a 10 yard penalty. SONIC Socket Release flags will be used.
No FLAG GUARDING ***The play/down counts, and the penalty will result in a 5 yard penalty from the spot where the penalty occurred. Note: If the flag guarding occurs on fourth down and the resulting yardage, after the penalty is marked off (5 yards), does not make a first down then it is a turnover on downs. Defensive player returning an interception, who flag guards, will be penalized 5 yards from the spot of the infraction.
Flags must be securely attached. Loose hanging articles (i.e. sweatshirts, long T-shirts, etc.) that are held/ripped will not result in a holding penalty, unless in ref’s eyes player was not attempting to go for flag.
Any ball-carrier whose flags are (in ref’s opinion) not accessible to be pulled will be down at 1st point of contact with the defense.
Any ball-carrier who has any flags missing for whatever reason (falls out, accidentally pulled before reception, not noticed before snap, etc.) will be down at the first point of contact.
SPIN MOVES WILL BE ALLOWED.
Belt grabbing will result in a 5 yard penalty from end of play.
*If belt grabbing occurs as time runs out at the end of a half or game a 5 yard penalty from point of infraction will be assessed and a replay of the down. If this penalty occurs within 5 yards of the endzone, the ball will be spotted at the one yard line and the offense will receive one play.

9. BLOCKING AND CONTACT

There will be NO BLOCKING in the SFL.
There will be NO AGGRESSIVE CONTACT in the SFL.
No physical contact in the attempt to block will be allowed at the line of scrimmage, in the backfield or downfield. We understand that some contact cannot be avoided, but all players must try and avoid any contact with other players on the field of play.
Picks, intentionally or unintentionally, may be regarded as an illegal block and will be called as a penalty.
On punts, interceptions, or on offense, the team in possession of the ball (other than the ball carrier) is urged to stand still, thus decreasing the chance of injuries or penalties.

10. GETTING A FIRST DOWN

When a team starts their offensive drive (start of game, after a turnover, after a score, etc.), they have four downs to EARN a 1st down by either advancing the ball across mid-field or by completing two passes beyond the line of scrimmage.
If the receiver catches the ball and keeps at least one foot in bounds, it will be ruled a reception. If a player has one foot in bounds and one out at the time of the reception or if the first foot down is out of bounds, he/she will be ruled out. A foot on the line is considered out.
If an offensive player steps out of bounds during a play, he/she is an ineligible player until an eligible player touches the ball.
If an offensive player is forced out of bounds by a defender, he/she is eligible player as soon as they come back in bounds.
If a defender causes the receiver to go out of bounds (in the eyes of the Referees), prior to the receiver landing in bounds after a catch, the receiver will be credited with a reception where he/she went out of bounds. This includes a play in the end zone, in which the Official will rule the play a TD.
TEAMS CAN EARN A TOTAL OF TWO FIRST DOWNS PER OFFENSIVE DRIVE (not including automatic first down penalties).
If the defense commits a penalty in which the spot of the ball (after the penalty is assessed) would advance the ball across the Mid-Field line, the offense has the option to:
- Receive the full penalty yardage, resulting in a Mid-Field first down for the Offense.
- Receive “half the distance to Mid-Field” penalty yardage, and an automatic first down.

§NOTE: The above rule ONLY applies, when the offense has already earned their two- completion first down, prior to crossing Mid-Field.

ONLY ONE “COMPLETION FIRST DOWN” CAN BE EARNED PER OFFENSIVE DRIVE.
Completion First Down = Two completions beyond the line of scrimmage within four downs.
ONLY ONE “MID-FIELD FIRST DOWN” CAN BE EARNED PER OFFENSIVE DRIVE
Mid-Field First Down = Team advances the ball across the mid-field line within four downs (one foot must also cross the line).
The QB CAN run the ball at any time when the line of scrimmage is on the offense’s side of the field. Once the offense starts a new play on the defense's side of the field (past the mid-field line), the QB CANNOT run the ball until a defensive player crosses the line of scrimmage in an attempt to rush the QB.
The offense CAN use a player (other than the QB) to run the ball at any time on either side of the field. Ex: Hand-off, pitch, lateral, pass completed behind the line of scrimmage.

Continuance of Play

Play will continue until the:
- Ball carriers flag has been pulled off by the opponent or tagged if flags are not accessible (see flag specifics above) (the ball and any of the player’s clothing are considered part of the body).
- Ball carrier leaves the field of play.
- Ball carrier scores a TD or extra point(s).
- Ball carrier's body, knee or elbow touches the ground (hands or feet not included).
- Defense scores a safety, TD or intercepted extra point(s) try ran back for two points.
- Ball touches the ground as a result of a fumble, incomplete pass, or punt.
- Referee blows the whistle (including an unintentional whistle). On an unintentional whistle after a reception or on a running play, the ball will be spotted where the ball carrier was when the whistle was blown. On an unintentional whistle after the ball is snapped and before the QB releases the ball, the ball will be spotted at the original line of scrimmage and the down will be replayed.

11. LINE OF SCRIMMAGE

The location of the ball, when the ball carrier has a flag pulled, is where it will be spotted for the next play.
The offense must have at least five players at the line of scrimmage before the ball is hiked.
All offensive players must be at least five yards from the sideline before the ball is hiked.
All offensive players must be set for at least one second before the ball is hiked, except for a man in motion.
Only one man in motion is allowed for each play. He/she may move forward or backward before the ball is hiked, but when it is hiked he/she can only be moving parallel with the line of scrimmage, or backward.

12. CHANGE OF POSSESSION

The offense can turn the ball over to the other team in the following ways:
- After the offensive team attempts an extra point(s) try, the opposing team gets the ball on their own five-yard line.
- If the offense fails to score or earn a first down within four plays.
- If the offense punts the ball to the other team on fourth down.
- The defense intercepts a pass or lateral.
- A fumble that touches the ground is a dead ball and is NOT a turnover.
- After a safety: The team, who scored the safety, will get the ball on their own five-yard line.

13. PUNTING

The offensive team can decide to punt on fourth down, but must declare it to the referee and the opposing team.
If the offense declares a punt, they must kick it…NO fake punts allowed.
The offensive team does not have to hike the ball to the punter.
The punter must kick the ball to the opposing team.
The punter can stand anywhere behind the line of scrimmage, and may not cross it when kicking the ball.
All offensive players must stay behind the line of scrimmage until the ball is punted.
The offense cannot recover their own punt. If the offense touches the ball before the receiving team does, it is a dead ball and spotted where it was touched.
Once a punted ball touches the ground, it is a dead ball.
The receiving team can advance a punted ball as long as it does not touch the ground.
If a punted ball is received in the end zone, the ball carrier can either take a knee or advance the ball. If he/she takes a knee, his team will receive the ball at the five-yard line.
Teams do NOT have to use an Operative Female Player when punting on “forced gender”.

14. SCORING

The ball must cross the goal line plane and the ball carrier must have at least one foot in the end- zone.
Scoring a Safety:
- When an offensive player is ruled “down” in his or her own end zone.
- If the offense fumbles the ball in their own end zone.
- If the offense hikes the ball out of their own end zone.
- If the ball carrier runs out of bounds from their own end zone.
- If the QB is called for intentional grounding while in the end zone
- After a Safety: The team, who scored the safety, will get the ball on their own five-yard line.

15. STANDINGS

Each team will be awarded two points for a win and one point for a tie.
In the event of a tie during the regular season, overtime will NOT be played and the game will be scored as a tie.
After the regular season, the top teams in each Division (North & South) will advance to the play-offs (ranked by win/tie points).
The top-ranked eight teams will make the play-offs.

16. PLAYOFFS

“Points For” and “Against” ARE NOT factored into the standings or playoff seeding.
Teams that make the play-offs will be seeded according to their win/tie points.
In the event that teams have the same point total, teams will be seeded according to their head-to-head results.
If more than two teams are tied (W-L-T point total), and the head-to-head tie breaker creates a never ending loop, all tied teams (in this specific situation) will have their team names pulled out of a hat.
If teams did not play each other during the regular season, OR played each other twice with both teams winning one of the two games (not including a forfeit win), team names will be pulled out of a hat to determine their seed.
Play-offs will be single elimination and a bracket format will be used for the match-ups (highest seed will face the lowest seed, etc.). The winning teams advance to the next round.
The game will go into OVERTIME, if tied after regulation (Only in the Playoffs).

17. OVERTIME FORMAT:

All gender rules still apply.

The higher seeded team chooses whether they want the ball first or second.
The offensive team then has four downs to score a TD from the MID-FIELD LINE, with the extra point(s) try to follow.
Once the first team either scores, fails to score, or turns the ball over, the second team will then have an opportunity to score a TD and an extra point(s) try in the same manner (four downs from the Mid-field line).
If the score is still tied after the first round, the team who was on offense second in the first round will be on offense first.
In the event of a third round, the team who was the first offensive team in the first round will go first again.
This format will continue until one of the teams is ahead after an entire round.
First downs may be awarded to the offense for certain defensive penalties only.
The offense CANNOT earn a two-completion firstdown in overtime.
An intercepted lateral or pass may be returned to the opposite end zone by the defensive team for two points. All other regular season rules apply.