Article 1: This is the line where running, passing, and plays that result in a punt begin.  It is that space that runs laterally across the field, and is the width of the length of the ball.  The forward point of the ball is the forward line that defensive players may not cross until the ball is snapped.  The rear point of the ball is the back line that offensive players may not cross over prior to the snap.

Section 2 - PLACING THE BALL

Article 1: After the ball is blown dead, following a free kick, punt, or a scrimmage play the referee will set the ball on the yard line where it was blown dead.  Further, if the ball, when blown dead, is between the hash mark and the sideline the referee will set the ball on the hash mark nearest to the ball.  If the ball is between the hash marks, the ball will be set where it was blown dead.

Article 2: The team with the ball will have four (4) tries to gain 10 yards.  When the ball is set for first down, the 10 yards to go chains will be positioned with the back yard marker lined up with the front end of the ball.  The front marker will be stretched to its full length (10 yards), and will be used to indicate the line to go to achieve a first down.  A first down is made when the front end of the ball reaches or goes beyond that front marker.  A movable marker with a down indicator on it will be used to mark the position of the front end of the ball on all downs.

Section 3 - POSITION OF PLAYERS

BEFORE AND AT THE SNAP

Article 1: Offensive and defensive players, prior to and at the snap, must be on their own side of the ball - separated by the width of the ball.  Neither side may encroach into that space which is known as the neutral zone.  No part of the players’ bodies may extend into that zone, except for the player centering the ball.  That player (center) may, by necessity, put her hands around the ball and may tilt the ball in preparation for the snap.  She may not simulate a snap, further move the ball, or tighten the hand muscles as if getting ready to snap - unless the ball is immediately snapped.  In other words, any movement designed to pull the defensive team off sides will result in an illegal procedure penalty of five (5) yards, and the ball will be blown dead immediately, and the referee will step off the five yards.

Article 2: The eight defensive players may take up any position on their side of the neutral zone, and may, when the ball is snapped, move across the neutral zone.  They may also move around, simulate rushing, and drop back into any position on their side of the ball.  Should they cross or enter the neutral zone - without contacting an offensive player, they may move back onto their side of the ball prior to the snap.  Should any of the defensive players be in or over the neutral zone when the ball is snapped, the play will continue; however, a flag will be thrown and the defense will be charged with off-sides.  Off-sides is a five (5) yard penalty.  The offensive team will have a choice of selecting the result of the play or the penalty. Should any member of the defensive team make contact with any offensive player, before the ball is snapped, the play will be blown dead.  The defensive team will be penalized five (5) yards for off-sides and the down will remain the same.

Article 3: The eight offensive players will take a position on the field; whereby the three players (wearing pinnies) must be on the line of scrimmage, i. e., within one yard of the neutral zone.  One of the three will be the center and the other two will be the guards.  Two other players must also be on the line of scrimmage, but can only be as much as 12 lateral yards away from the ball.

Article 4: The other three players must be at least one yard behind the line of scrimmage; one player, who may be receiving a direct snap under the center’s legs (as a quarterback in the T formation) may be closer, but not on the line.  None of these three players may be more than 12 yards laterally away from the ball. 

Article 5:  Movement of the three interior players is not permitted once they are set, i.e., they are ready for the snap and have their hands on the ground, or are in a position to block.  The other five players may move to change the formation; however, prior to the snap all players must be stationary for at least one second.  Then, one player may go in motion and be in motion at the time of the snap.  That motion must be either laterally to the line of scrimmage or backwards to the line.  Any movement by the interior line, once they are set, will be an illegal procedure, and the ball will be blown dead immediately.  The penalty will be five (5) yards for illegal procedure and the down will be replayed.  Any illegal movement by the other five players, such as:  Moving across the line of scrimmage before the ball is snapped; two or more players moving at once without setting for one (1) second; and the person in motion moving forward prior to the snap will result in a penalty, as will not being lined up properly.  The penalty will be assessed after the play finishes. The defensive team will have the choice of taking the play or the penalty.  The penalty is five (5) yards for offside, illegal motion, and/or illegal formation.

Section 4 -  AFTER THE SNAP - OFFENSE

Article 1:  As soon as the ball is snapped it is a live ball and in play. The team with the ball (offense) attempts to move the ball forward by running or passing.  Should they wish to turn the ball over to the other team, they may punt the ball.  They do not have to inform or declare the intention to punt.  This opens the possibility of a “quick” kick that can be made on any down.

Article 2: If the offense elects to run the ball, all the offensive players may block the opponents to prevent them from removing the flag from the runner.  These players may legally block anyplace on the field, but they may not hold or tackle the defenders, block below the defenders’ waist, block in the defenders’ back, leave their feet to block, use their hands to the defenders’ head or face, or use their feet to trip the defender. THIS INCLUDES SCRIMMAGE LINE BLOCKING AS WELL AS DOWN FIELD BLOCKING.  These are illegal blocks.  Should any offensive player, including the ball carrier, block illegally the penalty will be ten (10) yards from the spot of the foul or from the previous spot, whichever sets the offensive team further back from the goal line. When running the ball, the ball may be passed backwards or laterally an unlimited number of times among the players.  All players are eligible to run the ball.

Article 3: The runner must maintain control of her momentum. Spinning to avoid being flagged is allowed provided the runner maintains control. If the runner leaves her feet (as in hurdling) and runs, dives or falls into a defensive player, she will be considered to be out of control and a penalty will be called.  Penalty: Personal Foul-ten (10) yards from spot of foul, end of down, down stands.

Article 4: If the offensive team elects to pass the ball forward, the three interior line people (those wearing pinnies) may not go more than 1 yard beyond the line of scrimmage, unless they are on a block and hold that block.  As soon as they lose contact on the block, they must remain stationary until the ball is passed.  Going down field more than 1 yard, not stopping when a block is lost beyond the 1-yard limit, and/or touching or catching a forward pass is a penalty.  The penalty is 5 yards for illegal person down field or illegal touching, assessed at the end of the play from the previous spot.  The defense has the choice of the play or the penalty.  The players wearing pinnies are not eligible to receive a forward pass.   All of the other five players are eligible to receive a forward pass.  Passes may be made laterally or backwards as often as the offensive players wish to pass it; however, only one forward pass may be made on each scrimmage play, and that pass must be made from behind the line of scrimmage.  The offense may pass the ball backward and then throw a forward pass.  Whenever a forward pass is made, regardless of what transpired before that pass, the rules governing the three interior line people are still in effect.  Any of the interior line people may receive a lateral and then pass the ball forward.  A forward pass that is thrown out of bounds, or to an open area without a receiver in that area, to avoid an impending loss shall be construed as intentional grounding.  The referee will make that judgment. The penalty for intentional grounding or for illegal forward pass will be 5 yards and loss of down.  The defense will have the option of taking the play or the penalty.

Article 5: If the offense elects to punt the ball, and declares that it will kick, no one from the offensive team may cross the line of scrimmage until the ball is punted.  THE KICKING TEAM HAS THREE (3) SECONDS TO PUNT – AS COUNTED BY THE REFEREE – AFTER THE PUNTER HAS RECEIVED THE BALL.  FAILURE TO PUNT WITHIN THE THREE SECONDS WILL BE TREATED AS A DELAY OF GAME.    Once the kick is made, the mere fact of punting the ball turns the ball over to the other team.  A blocked kick belongs to the receiving team even if the kicking team recovers.  The receiving team gets the ball at the point of recovery.  Should the receiving team fumble, like all fumbles, it is a dead ball at the point of the fumble.  The kicking team cannot advance a blocked kick, but the receiving team may advance the ball.

Article 6: If a player attempting to punt never gains possession of the snap or fails to control the ball, and the ball goes through the end zone, the receiving team gets the ball at the one-yard line of the kicking team.  IF A PLAYER ATTEMPTING TO PUNT WHILE IN HER OWN END ZONE- AFTER HAVING POSSESSION AND CONTROL OF THE BALL - FUMBLES THAT BALL, AND IT FALLS TO THE GROUND IT IS CONSIDERED A SAFETY. -

Article 7: Should a fumble occur while the offense is attempting to run, pass, or kick, the ball is immediately blown dead and the ball belongs to the offense at the point where the fumble hit the ground.  On a lateral or backward pass, if the intended receiver drops the ball, the play is treated as a fumble, and that play is over.  The referee sets the ball for the next play at the point where the ball first hit the ground, and it is the next down.  An incomplete pass is not a fumble.  Following an incomplete pass, the ball is set up at the previous spot and the yard to gain for a first is the same, but it is now the next down.  If any of this occurs on (4^th) fourth down, the ball goes over to the defenders.

Article 8: A completed pass is one that is caught and possession is attained before the receiver goes out of bounds. The pass must be caught with both feet in bounds. The pass must be caught before it hits the ground. Should a pass be caught and the receiver takes two steps and then drops or loses possession of the ball that is a fumble. The rules governing a fumble take effect.  After a pass is complete, the play becomes a running play.

Article 9: The offensive player may not position her hands or arms in any way as to impede the defensive player from removing her flags.  The penalty for guarding the flag is ten (10) yards from the spot of the foul. The defense will have the option of taking the play or the penalty.

Section 5 - AFTER THE SNAP - DEFENSE

Article 1: When the ball is snapped, all defensive players must be on their side of the neutral zone, and on the field of play.  If they are not on their side, it is an offside penalty that will be enforced after the play.   If any defensive player is not on the field of play at the snap, that player or players may not enter the field after the snap and participate in the play.  The penalty for off sides is five (5) yards from the previous spot.  The offense will have the option of taking the play or the penalty.  The penalty for illegal participation is five (5) yards from the point of entry onto the field.  If there is more than one player and more than one entry point, the penalty will be assessed from the point that is closest to the defensive team’s goal line.  The offense will have the option of taking the play or the penalty.

Article 2: On running plays, the defensive players may use their hands to fend off a block, and they may push the offensive player to move that player out of the way in order to get to the ball carrier.  They may not use their hands to the head or face of the offensive player and they may not hit the offensive player in the back.  In the attempt to remove the flag from the ball carrier’s belt, the defensive player may not hit the ball carrier head on.  On any attempt to remove the flag, the defensive player must grab the flag from the side or from the back of the ball carrier.  A head-on attack is a foul and is penalized ten (10) yards from the point of the foul for illegal contact.

Article 3: On passing plays, the defensive players may converge on the passer, the same as on any ball carrier, and attempt to dislodge the flag from the passer’s belt before the ball is passed.  The penalty for rushing too soon is off-sides. The offense can either have the result of the play or down over plus five (5) yards.  Defensive players may also impede the progress of eligible receivers by “chucking” those receivers.  Chucking refers to the practice of using the open hands and arms to slow or impede a receiver from running her pass route.  Holding, tripping, chucking to the head area, or tackling is not permitted. The offensive player has the same rights as the defense to avoid or neutralize the chuck.  Chucking may only occur in the first five (5) yards from the scrimmage line.  Should the ball be passed forward, chucking beyond the five-yard restraining line is a foul.  Penalty for chucking beyond the permissible zone is five (5) yards for illegal chucking from the previous spot after the play is over.  The offended team will have the option of taking the play or the penalty.  Once the pass is thrown forward, no defender may interfere with the receiver’s opportunity to catch the pass.  The defender may not touch, hold, jostle, bump, trip, face guard, or do anything that may prevent the receiver from catching the ball.  Even if the receiver catches the ball, interfering with the receiver is still a penalty.  On balls that the defender has an opportunity to catch, the receiver may not interfere with the defender.  Both situations are pass interference.  A forward pass that is not catchable or is thrown out of bounds will not incur a pass interference penalty.  Should a defender remove the flag from a potential receiver before the receiver has the opportunity to catch the ball or before the ball is caught, that is also pass interference.  The penalty for defensive pass interference will be the award of the ball at the spot of the infraction to the offensive team, and an automatic first down.  Should defensive pass interference occur in the end zone, the ball is placed on the 1-yard line.  However, the offense has the option of taking the play or the penalty.  Offensive pass interference will be a ten-yard penalty from the previous spot, but the defense has the option of taking the play or the penalty.

Article 4:  A defensive player may remove an offensive player’s flag or flags only when making a proper attempt to deflag the ball carrier.  Intentionally and prematurely removing a player’s flag before she has received the ball is a penalty. Penalty: Early Deflagging - ten (10) yards from the point where the ball is received plus an automatic first down.  IF A DEFENSIVE PLAYER INADVERTENTLY LOSES HER FLAG, PRIOR TO SUCCESSFULLY INTERCEPTING A PASS, THE INTERCEPTION STANDS BUT THE PLAYER CANNOT ADVANCE THE BALL.

Article 5: If the offense elects to punt the ball away, THE DEFENSE MAY STAND AND JUMP TO ATTEMPT TO BLOCK THE KICK BUT MAY NOT CROSS THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE TO DEFEND UNTIL THE BALL IS PUNTED, OR UNTIL THREE (3) SECONDS HAVE ELAPSED (AS COUNTED BY THE REFEREE)    Unless the kick is touched or blocked by the defensive (receiving) team, the defense may not run into, hit, or rough the kicker.  Running into, hitting or roughing the kicker is a foul, and will be penalized 15 yards from the previous spot and the kicking team will be awarded an automatic first down.  The kicking team will have the option of taking the play or the penalty.

Section 6 - DEAD BALL

ARTICLE 1: A ball is declared dead at the spot when an official blows the whistle during a scrimmage play - either on purpose or inadvertently. The ball is also dead and the play is ended when:

a)         A defensive player removes a flag from the belt of the person with the ball.

b)         The ball carrier drops, or fumbles the ball.

c)         The person with the ball falls to the ground or her knee touches the ground.  It is not dead if her hand touches the ground.

d)         A pass, backward or forward, falls incomplete to a receiver.

e)         The ball carrier steps on the out of bounds line, or the ball goes out of bounds.

f)          An offensive player’s flag is dislodged/removed - either intentionally or unintentionally during the course of play.

g)         A punt is on the ground and no one is attempting to pick up, retrieve, or otherwise cover the ball.

h)         A punt is touched by the kicking team after it crosses the scrimmage line.

i)          The ball breaks the plane of the goal line  in the possession of the ball carrier.

j)          A penalty is called that requires the referee to blow the ball dead, e. g., offensive line movement after they are set, but before the snap.

Article 2: After a dead ball, the referee sets the ball at the place where it was declared dead, marks it ready for play, and establishes the next down, e.g., if it was second down, and the ball carrier stepped out of bounds it is now third down and whatever the distance to go to make a first down. If the down was fourth down, and the offensive team did not make their line to go for a first down, the ball goes over to the other team (defense), and is set at the dead ball spot where it is now first down and distance to the next first down line.