4980 Shattuck Road Saginaw, MI 48608-6400 Telephone: 989-791-9800

Saginaw Township Recreation Seven Player Touch Football Rules

RULE I - PLAYERS, REGISTRATION, FEES AND CONDUCT

  1. League is intended primarily for Saginaw Township residents; however, it will be open to others on a limited basis. Players who have received money for playing football must be "amateurs" for at least one (1) full year (football season) to become eligible for this program. (Written proof required).

  2. All team fees must be paid by the deadline established by the Recreation Office.

    FEE REFUND POLICY:

    Team registration fees will be refunded in full provided request for refund is filed at least one week prior to the official closing date of registration. Request for refund filed in the last week of registration will result in forfeiture of 25% of team fee. Requests for refund filed after schedules are drawn or league season begins will result in 100% forfeiture of team fee.

  3. AGES - Adult Leagues - Minimum age is 18 by October 15 of the current year.

  4. Player's name, address and birth date must be entered on the Official Team Roster before he is eligible to play. Also, the player's individual fee must be paid. Only a manager, coach or officially designated captain may add or drop player's name.

  5. Any player added to a team's Official Roster Sheet after League schedule has commenced must first be approved by the Recreation Office.

  6. Players on high school, college or other "official" teams are not eligible.

  7. No player may be added to the roster after the third (3rd) week of the regular season.

  8. A player ejected from a game is automatically suspended for at least one (1) additional game. (A longer suspension may be imposed by the Recreation Office).

RULE 2 - EQUIPMENT AND FIELDS

  1. No regular football equipment may be worn except that short (1/2 inch limit) molded cleats are allowed.
    Soccer shoes or multi-purpose shoes are allowed as well as conventional street shoes or tennis shoes. No hard shoes or hard boots, metal or hard plastic cleats & no cleats more than 1/2 inch in length.

  2. Illegal equipment includes: Any hard or unyielding substance on the hands, wrist, forearms or elbows, no matter how covered or padded; and any projection of metal or hard substance from a player's person or clothing.

  3. Field is 80 yards long x 40 yards wide, plus two end zones of 10 yards each. (Field size may be varied if necessary and 100 yard fields may be used if available).

  4. TEAM AREA:Coaches and substitutes must remain between the two 30 yard lines. Officials have the right to forfeit game if coach or team members display repeated unsportsmanlike conduct.

  5. Team losing pre-game toss gets choice in the second half. Teams change goals at half time only.

RULE 3 - TIMES

  1. Forfeit time is ten (10) minutes past scheduled starting time. Team must have at least six (6) players to start and continue. One forfeit may eliminate a team from the league.

  2. The length of a game is 48 minutes (running time), divided into four quarters of 12 minutes each. There are no time outs. OFFICIAL HAS THE RIGHT TO EXTEND A QUARTER IN CASE OF UNUSUAL DELAY SUCH AS INJURY, DELIBERATE STALLING, ETC. (If there is acceptance of a foul committed by the defense only on the last play of a quarter, quarter is extended for one play.

  3. One minute rest between quarters. Three minute rest at halftime.

  4. 4. After ball is declared "ready-for-play", offense has 25 seconds to put it into play.
    PENALTY FOR DELAY OF GAME: LOSS OF DOWN AND FIVE YARDS.
    REMEMBER:    Official has right to forfeit game if a team deliberately stalls or repeatedly delays game to consume time.

RULE 4 - PLAYING RULES

Generally, High School Rules will govern, exceptions are noted as follows:

  1. ONE-HAND TOUCH: Ball carrier is "stopped" when legally touched between the shoulders and the knees, including the hand and arm. runner is also considered "stopped" if any part of runners body other than hands or feet touches the ground.

  2. Runner shall not be thrown to the ground. 15 YARD PENALTY.

  3. No stiff-arming by runner. Runner shall not use his hand or arm to ward off or push opponent and he shall not grasp a teammate. 15 YARD PENALTY.

  4. Free substitution is allowed.

  5. "1st and Zone": Field will be divided into two (2) 40 yard zones or four (4) 20 yard zones. Team has four downs to advance the ball to the next zone. The foremost point of the ball, when declared dead, shall be the determining factor in establishing distance gained or lost by either team in a down. (If 100 yard fields are used, five (5) 20 yard zones will be used).

  6. NO 3 POINT OR 4 POINT STANCES: All players on both offense and defense, except the center, must be on their feet with neither hand touching the ground for at least one second before and at the snap. (A player's hands on knees is permissible). PENALTY - 15 YARDS. (The center shall not come up and immediately block upwards, subject to the same penalty).

  7. AT LEAST 3 ON OFFENSIVE LINE. The remaining offensive players must either be ON their scrimmage line or at least 1 yard back of scrimmage line. (Only exception: "T" formation quarterback) PENALTY 5 YARDS.

  8. All offensive players must be "set" for 1 second before snap. (Exception: Offense may have only one (1) backfield player in motion laterally or backwards at time of snap). ON DEFENSE: Linemen shall not make abrupt or menacing motions designed to cause offense to move or jump offsides. PENALTY 5 YARDS.

RULE 5 - PASSING

NOTE: The direction a pass is thrown is the only factor to consider in determining whether a pass is a forward pass or a lateral/backward pass.

  1. All players are eligible to catch a forward pass, including the player of offense who first receives the snap for center.

  2. Offense may make only one (1) forward pass which goes beyond the line of scrimmage. Each forward pass must be thrown from behind the line of scrimmage. PENALTY: 5 YARDS AND LOSS OF DOWN.

  3. FORWARD PASS INTERFERENCE:
    Note: Both offense and defense have equal rights to catch forward pass. (Pass interference can only occur in advance of the line of scrimmage; however, "holding" may be called behind the line of scrimmage).

    If interference is by Defense, ball is placed at point of foul, (or 15 yards in advance of line of scrimmage, whichever benefits the offense most) and is awarded a first down.

    If interference is by Offense, penalty is 15 yards from the line of scrimmage and loss of down.

  4. Defense may run an intercepted pass out of its end zone if they so desire.

  5. DEAD BALL:Any fumble, muff, or bad pass from center or incomplete lateral pass which touches the ground is "dead" there. The ball belongs to the team which last had possession. EXCEPTION: Ball remains in play when it is "Muffed" on a kick-off return (or a kick after a safety). A bad snap, muff or fumble by an intended punter is dead when it touches the ground.

    A "Muff" is the touching of a lose ball in an unsuccessful attempt to secure possession.

    A "Fumble" is any loss of player possession other than by kicking passing or handing off.

  6. In order to avoid confusion on "sleeper" plays, all offensive players must remain at least 5 yards from sidelines until ball is snapped. PENALTY 5 YARDS.

RULE 6 - PUNTS

  1. PUNTS: (Not involving a punt after a safety)

    Offense, if it wishes, may announce to referee it will punt. Punt must then be made. If punt is announced both teams maintain at least three (3) players on the line of scrimmage and no one on either team may cross the line of scrimmage until the ball is punted.

    The punter must be at least 5 yards behind the line of scrimmage when receiving the snap. Punter must kick the ball immediately and in a continuous motion. PENALTY FOR ANY PUNTING VIOLATION, 5 YARDS.

    NOTE: It is not necessary that a team announce it is going to punt.

  2. BLOCKED PUNTS: (When a team does not "announce" punt)

    All blocked punts (whether blocked by defense or offense), are "dead" if they touch the ground. Ball belongs at that point to defense if punt was on the 4th down. Players may run with a blocked punt ONLY if ball has not yet touched the ground.

  3. ROUGHING THE PUNTER:

    It is not roughing the punter in the following cases:

    • a. When there is contact made and there was doubt that a kick was going to be made.

    • b. When contact was made and the defensive player making the contact manages to block or partially block the ball.

    • c. When contact is slight and is partially caused by movement of the kicker.

  4. ALL KICKS - IMPORTANT:Punts which touch anything while the kicked ball is on or behind the receiver's goal line (plane) cause the ball to become "dead". It is a TOUCH-BACK (no points) and ball is placed on the 20 yard line where it is a 1st down.

  5. A punt which goes out of bounds (no matter ho last touches ball) always belongs to the receiving team. NOTE: A "punt" remains a "punt" until full player possession is gained, or ball becomes dead.

RULE 7 - BLOCKING: USE OF HANDS

  1. Blocker is allowed to contact only that portion of the opponent's body above the waist.

  2. In all instances a blocker must be on his feet when blocking. No player shall block in a manner that would cause his feet, knees or legs to strike an opponent. No "high-low" or rolling blocks are permitted anywhere.

  3. A player on offense shall not obstruct an opponent with extended hand or arm. Any player of offense or defense may block provided it is neither forward pass interference, fair catch interference, a personal foul nor an illegal block.

  4. In blocking, hands and arms shall be kept in a elbows shall NOT be further apart than blocker's shoulders.

  5. Two-on-One blocking shall be limited to the area on or behind the line of scrimmage.

  6. PENALTY FOR ILLEGAL BLOCK OR ILLEGAL USE OF HANDS - 15 YARDS.

  7. A player on defense may use unlocked hand, hands or arm to ward off an opponent who is blocking or attempting to block him. When the player of defense uses a hand or arm, the hand must be in advance of the elbow at time of contact. PENALTY - 15 YARDS (no automatic 1st down on holding).

  8. No "Dumping" or roughing of center. PENALTY - 15 YARDS.

RULE 8 - PENALTIES

  1. Remember, the purpose of this program is to have fun. Since most of us also have to go to work or school, let's play the game for the games sake and not to maim an opponent.

  2. Severe, unnecessary roughness or unsportsmanlike conduct will result in the player being ejected from the game. (A player ejected has to sit out as least his team's next game).

  3. Any player striking an official will be automatically suspended from the league. Repeated incidents may cause a team to be dropped also.

  4. A player cursing or using abusive language will be ejected from the game. Managers will be held responsible for the conduct of their players.

  5. There shall be no tackling, blocking or tripping of the ball carrier, passer or kicker. Unnecessary roughness such as attempting to run over or batter down an opponent will not be allowed. Also, there is to be no unnecessary hard pushing of the runner out of bounds.

    We wish to re-emphasize all sections of this rule and advise all teams that they will be rigidly enforced. Our officials will be advised to call games closely and repeated violations of this rule definitely result in suspensions.

  6. FIVE YARD PENALTIES INCLUDE:

    • Delay of game (also loss of down)

    • Offside of encroachment

    • Too many players on the field

    • Illegal motion of offensive player

    • Defense using tactics or movements designed to "draw" offense offside or cause them to "jump" before snap.

    • Offense player being closer than 5 yards from sidelines before snap

    • Illegal forward pass (also loss of down). Includes intentional grounding ball

    • Less than 3 players on offensive line

    • Punting situation violations (other than roughing the punter).

  7. FIFTEEN YARD PENALTIES INCLUDE:

    • Blocking below opponents waist

    • Anyone (except center) getting into 3 or 4 point stance for final 1 second before snap

    • Rough play (tackling, tripping, elbowing, stiff-arming etc.)

    • Illegal use of hands or arms, or holding (No automatic 1st down)

    • Clipping

    • Roughing the passer

    • Leaving the feet when blocking, or using a rolling or crossing block

    • Throwing a block at the ball-carrier

    • Forward pass interference by defense (results in placing ball at spot of foul or at least 15 yards beyond line of scrimmage and awarding offense 1st down)

    • Fair catch interference. (While any kick is in flight, no member of the kicking team shall touch the ball or a receiver, nor obstruct a receiver's path to the ball).

    • Abusive language or conduct

    • "2 on 1" blocking beyond line of scrimmage

    • "High-Low" or rolling block

    • "Spearing"

  8. No player shall contact an opponent obviously out of the play either before or after the ball is declared "dead".

  9. PENALTIES WHICH RESULT IN AUTOMATIC 1ST DOWN OR LOSS OF DOWN INCLUDE:

    • Automatic 1st down - Defense past interference

    • Roughing the punter

    • Loss of down - Offense pass interference

    • Offense delay of game

    • Illegal forward pass

  10. CLIPPING DEFINED:No player on offense or defense may clip. "Clipping" is throwing the body across the back of the leg of an opponent or falling into the back of an opponent. Doubtful cases involving a side block of the opponent turning his back to a blocker or to be judged according to whether the opponent was able to see or ward off the blocker.

  11. ADMINISTRATION OF PENALTIES:All penalties involving yardage will be stepped off from the line of scrimmage or the point of the foul (whichever hurts the offending team the most).

  12. DOUBLE FOUL:Penalties offset each other. Occurs when both teams commit a foul during the same play. The play does not count.

  13. FOUL:During a down in which possession changes hands, team which ends up with the ball gets to keep theball. UNLESS THAT TEAM FOULED BEFORE IT FINALLY GAINED POSSESSION.

    • Example 1: Team A throws pass, which is intercepted by B. Team B clips during the runback. Ruling: Penalize B 15 yards and it is B's ball, 1st down.

    • Example 2: Team B is offside at snap. B then intercepts a pass. Ruling: Bring ball back to line of scrimmage, Penalize B 5 yards and ball still belongs to A.

    • Example 3: Team A is offside. Team B then intercepts a pass during its runback B clips. Ruling: Ball belongs to team B after B is penalized 15 yards. Disregard A's offside penalty.

  14. If a penalty occurs on the final play of a quarter, this is procedure: If the foul is on the offense, or if there is a double foul (a foul by each team) the period is ended. The line exception is when a member of a kicking team commits "fair catch interference". If the foul is on the Defense only and the penalty is accepted the period is extended by one play.