Ladera AIR Passing League Rule Book 2015 Rule 1 The Game, Field, Players and Equipment Section 1 The Game, Field and Players Article 1. The Silver Division (SD) Field shall be 70 yards long by 35 yards wide which includes two ten yard end zones and an 8 yard wide tackle box. Article 2. The Black Division (BD) Field shall be 70 yards long by 40 yards wide which includes two ten yard end zones and a 9 yard wide tackle box. Article 3. The Madden Division (MD) Field shall be 50 yards long by 50 yards wide which includes one ten yard end zone and a 10 yard wide tackle box. Article 4. SD footballs are Pee Wee sized, BD footballs are Junior sized and MD footballs are Youth sized. The offensive team provides it's own League approved game footballs. Article 5. Silver and Black Division (S&B) team boxes are defined as the 20-yard area on the sideline between the 15- yard lines. Teams are on opposite sidelines. Coaches and players must stay in their team box. Team parents shall sit on the side of their team but not within the team box. Team parents may sit along either end line. Article 6. The MD team box is defined as the 20-yard area on the sideline between the 40-yard line and the 20-yard line. Teams are on opposite sidelines. Coaches and players must stay in their team box. Team parents shall sit on the side of their team but not within the team box. Team parents may sit along the end line but are restricted from sitting behind the 35-yard line along the fence line. Article 7. SD play is 6 on 5. 6 players are on offense including the QB and snapper, and 5 players on defense. Article 8. BD play is 7 on 6. 7 players are on offense including the QB and snapper, and 6 players on defense. Article 9. MD play is 7 on 7. 7 players are on offense including the QB and snapper, and 7 players on defense. Section 2 Equipment Article 1. League provided jersey and shorts and for the S&B. League flags must be worn during play. Article 2. All players must wear a protective mouthpiece. Article 3. Cleats are allowed, except for metal spikes. Article 4. Headgear, hats, beanies, headbands are not allowed except for League approved Gamebreaker soft helmets. Rule 2 Participation and Substitution Section 1- Participation Article 1. Only rostered players may play. Article 2. There is no minimum playtime.
Section 2 - Substitution Article 1. Free substitution is at discretion of the coach. Rule 3 Periods, Time Factors and Substitutions Section 1 Timing Article 1. Two 25-minute halves with running time. Article 2. Two minute warning at end of game. Clock stops on incompletions and out of bounds in addition to normal clock stoppages. Article 3. Home team selects to start game on offense in the first half or second half. Article 4. S&B teams change end zones at halftime. Article 5. Overtime; the winner of the overtime coin flip will have the choice of playing offense first or choosing which goal to defend if offense, the other team chooses which goal to defend. Article 6. The first overtime shall consist of each team having one possession regular game rules apply. Article 7. If the game is still tied after the first overtime, the team that lost the overtime coin flip chooses offense or which goal to defend. If the team on offense scores, game is over and they win. If the team on defense stops the offensive team from scoring, game is over and they win. Section 2 Clock and Time-Outs Article 1. The running time will begin with the snap to start each half. Article 2. Each team has two 30-second time-outs per half. Article 3. Officials can stop the clock at their own discretion, and following a delay of game penalty. Article 4. The clock will stop for injuries, and will start on the next snap. Section 3 Ready For Play and Delay Article 1. Each time the ball is spotted, a team has 30 seconds to snap the ball. Rule 4 Ball in Play, Dead Ball and Out of Bounds Section 1 Putting the Ball in Play Article 1. Each half will start with the offensive team taking possession of the ball at its 5-yard line or the 40-yard line in the MD. Article 2. The ball will always be spotted in the center of the field. Article 3. The ball will be spotted at the location where the ball was possessed at the time of the flag pull or touch in the MD. Section 2 Ball Becomes Dead Article 1. When any body part of the runner except the foot or hand touches the ground.
Article 2. If the runner s flag falls out accidentally, or the flag belt slips down, the runner may continue to advance, and the defense may pull the other flag, or simply have a one-hand touch. NOTE: If a defender reaches and pulls a flag that does not immediately fall off, the runner still live even if the flag should fall out later in the run. Article 3. There are no fumbles. The play is dead and the ball is spotted at that location. Article 4. When a hand-off or pass occurs BEYOND line of scrimmage. Article 5. At line of scrimmage, if quarterback runs the ball directly without a hand-off. Article 6. At the spot of a second pass. Article 7. At line of scrimmage, if more than three runs in a possession. Rule 5 Series of Downs Section 1 Series of Downs Silver and Black Division Article 1. The offensive team has three plays to cross midfield and gain a first down. Article 2. Upon crossing midfield and gaining a first down the offense has three downs to score. Article 3. All possession changes, except interceptions, start on the offense s 5-yard line. Section 2 Series of Downs Madden Division Article 1. The offensive team has three plays to cross the 20-yard line and gain a first down. Article 2. Upon crossing the 20-yard line and gaining a first down the offense has three downs to score. Article 3. All possession changes, including interceptions, start on the 40-yard line. Rule 6 Kicking the Ball Section 1 - Kicks Article 1. There are no kick-offs or punts Rule 7 Snapping, Handing and Passing the Ball Section 1 Snap Article 1. The ball may be snapped in any form after the ready for play whistle. Article 2. False Start/Offsides - Following the ready for play, if an offensive player makes an abrupt movement to simulate the start of a play, the play shall be whistled dead immediately. Section 2 Formation and Position at the Snap Article 1. All players on offense, except the snapper, are eligible players/receivers. Snapper is not a live player at any point during a play. Article 2. No defensive blitzing or rushing allowed.
Article 3. Shift - Two or more offensive players may shift from one position to another; however, all players must reset prior to the snap and before any player goes in motion. Article 4. Motion - Only one player is allowed in motion at one time, and no player may be moving forward toward the line of scrimmage. Article 5. Tackle box is a marked alley down the middle of the field. No players may line up on the line of scrimmage (LOS) inside the tackle box. RBs may line up within the tackle box in a traditional set. Section 3 Handing the Ball and Running Article 1. The quarterback (one who receives the snap) cannot run the ball. Article 2. All runs must be direct handoff, no pitches or shovels. Article 3. Only direct handoff behind the line of scrimmage permitted. Article 4. Only three offensive runs per possession. Article 5. Runner may not charge, lower head into defender or initiate contact. Runner may not hurdle or jump into or over an upright defender. For safety purposes a runner may jump to try to avoid a falling or downed defender to avoid contact. Section 4 Passing Article 1. All passes must be made from behind the line of scrimmage. Only one pass per down, whether is it forward or backward. Article 2. All passes must be overhand. Article 3. Only the player receiving the snap may pass the ball. No halfback pass, etc. Article 4. If any part of the passer has not crossed the line of scrimmage, the pass is legal. Article 5. The quarterback has a four-second pass clock. If a pass is not thrown within four seconds, play is dead, next down, previous spot. Once the ball leaves the QB s hands, the four-second rule is no longer in effect. Article 6. In the S&B, interceptions may be returned. In the MD, interceptions end the play, possession changes and a new series starts at the 40-yard line. Article 7. All players except for the snapper and QB are eligible to receive a pass. RBs and any player in motion inside the tackle box at the snap must catch the football outside the tackle box. Article 8. A player must have at least one foot inbounds when making a catch. Rule 8 Scoring Section 1 - Touchdowns Article 1. Touchdowns are 6 points. Article 2. Extra point; 1 point 5 yard line or 2 points from the 12 yard line. Section 2 - Defense Article 1. Defense may not score on an extra point.
Article 2. Safeties are 2 points and possession. Article 3. In the MD, interceptions are 2 points and possession. Rule 9 Conduct of Players Section 1 Contact - Offense Article 1. No charging, hurdling, roughing, holding, blocking, blocking interference, offensive pass interference, illegal pick play (which requires contact) Article 2. No flag guarding. Flag guarding is a spot foul enforced at the spot of infraction. Article 3. No stiff-arming. Article 4. Blocking Interference/Shadow Blocking is illegal non-contact blocking interfering with the defender in pursuit. Section 2 Contact Defense Article 1. No pass interference (requires contact). Article 2. No illegal contact, roughing, holding, blocking, etc. It is also considered illegal contact for the defense to hit or strip the ball from the runner. Article 3. Illegal Flag Pull (before the runner or receiver has the ball). Section 3 Non-Contact Fouls Article 1. Unsportsmanlike conduct for players and coaches includes any act that attracts attention or degrades an opponent or official. This may include excessive celebrations, throwing the ball in celebration, or at an opponent or official, gestures, fighting, offensive language or trash talking. Article 2. It is an Unsportsmanlike foul against the head coach if illegal participation. Article 3. Coaches and players must stay in their team box. Only three coaches per team allowed in the team box. Note: If a player or coach receives a second unsportsmanlike penalty in the same game, they will be ejected, and must leave the playing area. Section 4 Last Man Rule Article 1. If a runner/receiver has a clear chance at the end zone to score, and the last possible defender illegally tackles or trips the runner, the official will award a score. Rule 10 Enforcement of Penalties Article 1. Any foul may be declined. Article 2. The half or game cannot end on a defensive penalty, unless it is declined. Article 3. If multiple live ball fouls occur on the same play, the penalties will offset and the down will be replayed. If multiple live ball fouls occur against the same team, the offended team may select one of the fouls for enforcement. Article 4. If a live ball foul and a dead ball foul occur on the same play, both fouls will be enforced in the order of occurrence.
Article 5. Live ball fouls by opponents of the scoring team are declined by rule and do not carry over to the extra point of the next possession. Article 6. Dead ball fouls by the scoring team or opponents of the scoring team will be enforced on the next play. (ex. fouls on a touchdown will be enforced on the extra point, and fouls on an extra point will be enforced on the next possession). Article 7. Contact fouls against the defense are enforced at the end of the run. Exception, if the offense loses yards on the play, contact fouls against the defense will be enforced from the previous spot. Rule 11- Special League Rules Section 1. Mercy Rule Article 1. If ahead by 30 points or more, score is still kept but the scoreboard is turned. Section 2. Officials (Referee) Article 1. The officials have authority to rule promptly, and in the spirit of good sportsmanship, on any situation not specifically covered in the rules. The official s decisions are final in all matters pertaining to the game. Article 2. Coaches may not approach the officials after the game. Section 3. League Commissioner Article 1. A league commissioner or representative will be on site at all times. Article 2. The on field official is responsible to handle their assigned field for all calls. Article 3. The League commissioner or representative reserves the right to intervene in all matters related to the league to ensure safety and fairness. Any ruling with regard to uniforms, substitutions, injuries, rule enforcements and ejections made by the League commissioner is final.
PENALTY SUMMARY 5-yard Penalties Delay of Game False Start Illegal Snap Illegal Motion Illegal Shift Offsides (Offense or defense) 10-yard Penalties Flag guarding (spot foul) Illegal Contact, Offense (also loss of down) Illegal Contact, Defense (also automatic first down) Illegal Flag Pull (also automatic first down) Illegal Rushing or Blitzing, Defense (also automatic first down) Pass Interference, Defense (also automatic first down) Pass Interference, Offense (also loss of down) Roughing Passer (also automatic first down) 15-yard Penalties Unsportsmanlike Rule 9.3.1, 9.3.2 and 9.3.3 (possible ejection for fighting, and ejection for the second such foul on the same individual) Last Man Rule Official may award a score (touchdown or try)