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Koala Football

Rules of Play

 

Most Important Rule: Have fun! Since we do need some sort of structure, though, here are our rules:

 

  1. Roster Size & Registration
    1. Each team is required to have a minimum of 7 players. This league is co-ed optional (a team may choose to have females, but they are not required to have any females on their team). 
    2. Roster size can reach up to a maximum of 12 players with no limit on the amount of males/ females on a team.
    3. Registration is done individually through the Koala Sports website (captains will register, make their own team page, and team players will then register and join that team page to be eligible to play for the season).
  2. Game Rules
    1. Choosing possession
      1. Starting possession for every regular season game will be determined by a game of “rock, papers, scissors.” The winner of the “rock, paper, scissors” game will elect whether the team would like to start on offense or defense. The loser of the “rock, paper, scissors” game will select which side of the field they would like to start at.
      2. Field positions will switch in the second half. Additionally, the team that started the game on defense first will start the second half of the game on offense.
    2. Game Clock
      1. Teams will play two 20-minute halves with a 2-minute break (halftime) in between.
      2. Each team will have two 30-second timeouts for each half which will stop the game clock. Game clock will resume once the referee is in position to resume the game and the ball is snapped.
      3. There is a running clock for both 20-minute halves. The only time the clock is stopped is when a timeout is called. Incomplete passes or running out of bounds will not stop the game clock.
      4. A game will end in one of two ways:
        1. At the end of the final 20 minutes of the second half OR
        2. When a team reaches a score differential of at least twenty-eight (28) points.
      5. If at the end of regulation time both teams are tied, then the game will end a tie unless the game is during playoffs (see the “Playoffs Overtime” section below).
      6. If the offensive team snaps the ball before the last second has run off in half, then the play will continue (even if the time has expired) until a pass is either complete/incomplete or a player’s flag is pulled.
    3. Game Play Rules
      1. At the start of every possession, the ball will be placed 5 yards from the offensive team’s endzone.
      2. All players on the field on offense or defense must wear their team shirts at all times.
      3. Flag guarding is not allowed and will result in the play being whistled dead by the referee at the spot of the foul.
      4. Teams are allowed to send one person to rush the Quarterback from a distance of seven (7) steps from where the ball is placed. Seven (7) steps will be determined by a referee. If the player rushing the Quarterback rushes in front of the spot that was decided by the referee, then the play will count as an offsides penalty and the offense will have the chance to complete a play. If the play does not result in any positive yardage for the offense, then the offense will be awarded 5 yards and a replay of the same down.
      5. One foot must touch inbound before any body part touches out of bounds for a play to result in a completed pass. If both feet touch the ground at the same time but one foot is in-bounds and the other foot is out of bounds, then the play will result in an incomplete pass.
      6. If a receiver steps out of bounds they cannot be the first player to touch the ball/receive a pass. This should be acknowledged by the line referee and play will result as a penalty and loss of down.
      7. If the Quarterback steps past the line of scrimmage, then the Quarterback is no longer allowed to pass the ball and will instead become a runner. If the ball is passed forward prior to passing the line of scrimmage, then the play will be whistled dead and result in a forward lateral penalty and loss of down.
      8. The ball will be placed where the flag of the ball handler is pulled. The defender who pulls the flag of the ball handler should drop the flag once it has been pulled to help the referees determine where the ball should be placed (please note: despite the best efforts of our referees, this may not always be completely accurate. The referee has final say on where the ball is placed based on their own judgment.).
      9. Direct handoffs are permitted as well as laterals behind or beyond the line of scrimmage.
      10. Backwards passes/laterals are permitted behind the line of scrimmage. There are no limits to the total number of backwards passes or laterals a team may execute behind the line of scrimmage, and the final ball handler may decide to finish the play by running or passing the ball.
      11. Any defensive player lined up at least seven (7) yards from the line of scrimmage is available to rush. Defensive players who are lined up within seven (7) yards from the line of scrimmage may not rush the Quarterback. If a defensive player rushes the Quarterback within seven (7) yards of the line of scrimmage, then the defense is offsides penalty and the offense will have a chance to complete a play. If the play does not result in any positive yardage for the offense, then the offense will be awarded five (5) yards and a replay of the same down.
      12. Interceptions are returnable for touchdowns. However, if the flag of the defensive player who makes the interception is pulled before the defensive player is able to score, then:
        1. The ball will be placed at midfield if the defensive player’s flag was pulled at or after the midfield marker.
        2. The ball will be placed five (5) yards from the defensive player’s endzone if the defensive player’s flag was pulled behind the midfield marker.
      13. The ball is dead when a pass hits the ground, a player with possession of the ball steps out of bounds, the ball carrier’s flag is pulled or the ball carrier’s body (hands and feet excluded) touch the ground.
      14. Pass interference of an offensive receiver from a defensive player will result in an automatic first down and the offense will have the ball placed ten (10) yards from the initial line of scrimmage.
      15. Jumping, lunges, and dives are not allowed and will result in the referee whistling the play dead at the spot where any of these actions took place. Juking to the side is allowed.
      16. Once a ball carrier’s flag is pulled, the ball is placed where the flag was pulled and reaching for extra yardage with the football will not be rewarded.
      17. Defensive players are allowed to contest a pass with the offensive receiver with minimal contact. However, if a defensive player physically impedes the receiver from catching the ball with excessive contact, then the play will result in a pass interference penalty. Excessive contact includes:
        1. Running into the receiver without locating the ball/before receiver makes contact with the ball, or
        2. Impeding any body part of the receiver before contact with the ball is made.
      18. Tackling or pushing a ball carrier (or any player) is not allowed, and a 10-yard and automatic first down unnecessary roughness penalty will result whenever it happens.
    4. Penalties
      1. Defensive holding on a ball carrier will result in a 5-yard penalty from the spot of the foul and a redo of the down.
      2. Defensive holding on a receiver before contact with the ball will result in a 5-yard penalty from the line of scrimmage and an automatic first down.
      3. Impeding the defensive pass rusher results in a 5-yard penalty against the offense and the loss of a down.
      4. If an offensive player flag guards, then the referee will whistle the play dead and the end of the down at the spot of the offensive player’s foul.
      5. Defensive pass interference will result in a 10-yard penalty from the line of scrimmage and an automatic first down for the offense.
      6. Offensive pass interference will result in a 10-yard penalty from the line of scrimmage and a redo of the down.
      7. Unnecessary roughness that occurs when a player uses excessive/unnecessary force against another player will result in a 10-yard penalty and a redo of the down.
      8. A delay of game will result in a 5-yard yard penalty and a redo of the down. However, if the delay of game occurs on offense’s own 5-yard line (or less), then the penalty will be half the distance to their own goal line.
      9. Blocking a player (this is different from 4.3’s rule against impeding a pass rusher) will result in the referee whistling the play dead and the end of the down.
      10. Jumping, lunges, and dives will result in the referee whistling the play dead at the spot where any of these actions took place.
    5. Scoring
      1. Touchdowns
        1. If a male scores a rushing or receiving touchdown, then the touchdown will count as six (6) points. If a female scores a rushing or receiving touchdown, then the touchdown will count as eight (8) points. Extra point attempts are worth the same for females/males.
        2. One foot must touch inbound in the end zone before any other body part touches out of bounds for a pass to result in a touchdown.
        3. The flags around the ball handlers’ waist must break the plane (cross the touchdown line) in order for a referee to award a touchdown. Reaching for the endzone with the football will not count for purposes of scoring a touchdown. This same rule applies for crossing the first down marker.
      2. Conversions
        1. One (1) point conversions are five (5) yards from the endzone, while (2) point conversions are ten (10) yards from the endzone.
        2. If a team intercepts an extra point conversion attempt and returns the interception for a touchdown, then the intercepting team is awarded two (2) points. If the flag of the ball carrier is pulled before the defense can score, they will start their next possession from the 5-yard mark in front of their endzone regardless if the ball carrier has passed the mid-field mark.
    6. Playoffs Overtime
      1. Overtime will only take place during playoffs and will proceed as listed below:
        1. During the first attempt to score, if Team A successfully scores and team B does not, then Team A wins.
        2. During the first attempt to score, if Team A is unsuccessful in their attempt to score but Team B successfully scores, then Team B wins.
        3. If both teams are successful, we will enter into another overtime round and teams will start possession in the same order going in the same directions that were elected at the start of the overtime phase. (Previous situations apply)
        4. An interception returned for a touchdown will result in a point and end the game automatically. The team that threw the interception will not get another opportunity to redeem themselves.
    7. Conduct Rules
      1. Disrespect towards game officials will not be allowed. Warnings will be applied to players or game ejections depending on severity of offense/ repeated disrespect towards game officials.
      2. Three (3) warnings throughout the season may result in a suspension of the player. The commissioner(s) will decide the length of the suspension.
      3. Fighting among players is 100% unacceptable and will result in players or teams being removed from the play area. The commissioner will reserve the right to suspend or ban any player or team (for any duration whatsoever, including a permanent ban) that engages in any fighting.