Squirt (Ages 8-9)
Revised October 20, 2011
(1) Philosophy:
The purpose of our flag (touch) football program is to
introduce children aged 7-9 to the game with a minimum of body contact taking place.
Players will learn the fundamentals ,i.e. passing, running, blocking and kicking in a fun
environment.
(2) Game Length:
All games will be preceded by a practice/warm-up of about 30
minutes. Games should consist of four 20 minute
quarters straight time. The half time
break will be about 5 minutes. Evening games in October will consist of four 15 minute
quarters. The playing field will be 25 yards wide.
Number of Players:
Each team will have 6 players on the field at any time.
Teams will have a maximum of 12 players.
(3) Offence:
Teams will attempt both running and passing plays. A team
will have 5 downs to score. The offence must throw a legal forward pass on at least
one of the first four downs in each series of downs. Failure
to do so will result in an "Illegal Procedure" penalty. Officials will
not stop play until the ball is dead. Attempting to pass and getting sacked will
not satisfy this rule. The ball must be thrown as legal forward pass. Forward
passes thrown behind the line of scrimmage and towards the sideline area must
travel at least 10 yards to satisfy this rule.
A lateral pass will not satisfy
this rule. Officials should point this out to a team that has just thrown a
lateral pass. A 5 yard penalty will be applied and the down repeated. The
offensive team will still be obligated to pass the ball again after the penalty
has been applied.
The defensive team has the option to decline the penalty, let the play stand and
bring up fifth down. The offensive team can run the ball on fifth down.
On each of the first 4 downs a
different player must carry the ball or be the target of a pass. On 5th down any
player can carry the ball or be the target of a pass.
Blocking is permitted but only above the waist and not in the
head area. No pushing with the palms of the hands is allowed. No holding is permitted.
Blockers should grasp the wrist of one hand and close the fist of the held hand. From this
position blockers may push defenders away from the ball carrier. Blockers are not allowed
to deliberately knock or push defenders to the ground.
Because the players are not wearing any protective equipment,
coaches must be on guard to keep this body contact under control. Penalties should be
called quickly when unnecessary roughness occurs.
From the time the referee blows time in a team will
have 40 seconds to put the ball in play. This rule will not be enforced until
the second half of the regular season.
(4) Defence:
On all plays the defence cannot cross the line of scrimmage until
the referee has counted three "steamboats". The referee will yell "Go" to unleash
the defensive line.
Defenders are not permitted to physically tackle ball carriers. They
are not allowed to deliberately throw or push offensive blockers to the ground. They are
permitted to use their hands to push blockers out of the way. At no time are defenders
allowed to have physical contact with pass receivers.
Because the players are not wearing any protective equipment,
coaches must be on guard to keep body contact to a minimum. Penalties should be called
quickly when unnecessary roughness occurs. Players who continually practice rough play may
be ejected from the game.
(5) Punts:
A team may punt the ball if it is unable to score. No rush on the
punter is permitted. The punter may stand at the line of scrimmage. Fake punts are
permitted. The 5 yard restraining zone violation rule applies to all players on the
kicking team including the kicker.
(6) Converts, Field Goals:
Teams may attempt a convert either by running, passing or
kicking.
A running or passing convert shall start from the 5 yard line and
if successful will be worth 1 point.
A kicking convert shall be attempted by kicking the ball from
5 yards out. Field goals will be attempted from the point where the ball was
last scrimmaged. A successful kicked convert is worth 2
points.
A team shall be allowed 3 attempts to kick a convert or field goal.
Three different kickers must be used during an attempt. The defending team must go into
the end zone during the attempt.
(7) Tackling:
Ball carriers are tackled by having one flag pulled off either hip.
Ball carriers are not permitted to shield flags with their hands or to bat away defenders
hands from their flags. If they do they will be ruled to have been tackled at the point
where the infraction occurred.
Tacklers cannot grab the ball carrier's shirt to slow him down
before pulling off his flags. They are not permitted to grab his belt or arms. If a ball
carrier is deliberately tripped or knocked down in the course of being tackled a 10 yard
unnecessary roughness penalty will automatically be applied. Tacklers are permitted to
use reasonable force to push a ball carrier out of bounds.
Ball carriers are not permitted to push tacklers away or to contact
them with their hands. Ball carriers are not allowed to swat away tacklers hands
reaching for their flags. If they do the Referee will blow the play dead where
the infraction occurred. Tacklers are not permitted to make physical contact with ball
carriers other than attempting to pull off flags.
Players who physically tackle ball carriers rather than making a
reasonable attempt to pull the flag may be subject to ejection from the game.
Players are not considered tackled until a flag has been pulled.
Falling down or being knocked down does not constitute a tackle and play should continue
until a flag is removed.
(8) Fumbles:
When a ball is fumbled due to physical contact with the ball carrier
by a defensive player the ball will be considered
dead and possession retained by the offensive team. Defensive players are
not permitted to strip the ball from ball carriers.
(9) Equal Play Rule::
Each player will play one half
of the game on offence and one half on defence. The switch will take place at
half time. Where a team has less than 12 players one or more players will
have to remain on the field when possession of the ball changes. This should be
done through a rotation that maintains equal play for all. No players are
permitted to play the entire game.
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