Dorm Football

Procedure and Rules

Description:

Eight (8) players on a team (six minimum needed to start the game) attempt to score a touchdown (6 points), a safety (2 points) or point after touchdown (1 or 2 points). The team has the option of electing whether to attempt for a 1 point or 2 point after touchdown chance. If the team successfully enters the endzone from 5 yards out, they receive 1 point; from 10 yards out, they receive 2 points. The football is put into play by a kick-off and the offensive team has four downs in which to travel half the length of the field. Play is stopped when a defending player removes one of the ball carrier’s flags or if a fumble occurs (dead ball situation).

Equipment:

Three flags must be worn with two exposed on both sides of the hips and one along the backside. Flags must be hanging from the waist at a minimum of 14 inches. The flag belt must be positioned over the player’s shirt or the shirt must be tucked in. Cleats are permissible, but metal cleats cannot be worn.

Length of Game:

Periods: Two 20-minute halves of running time with a five-minute intermission. With five (5) minutes remaining in the half, the referee will announce, “five minutes,” signifying the beginning of the “five play rule.” At this time, five (5) plays from scrimmage remain in the half. These five plays do not include kick-offs or point after attempts. In the event of a penalty being accepted while the “five play rule” is in effect, the illegal play shall not count as one of the five plays.

Forfeit: A team with less than six (6) players ten minutes after the scheduled game time is forced to forfeit the game.

Time-Outs: Two time-outs (of no more than one (1) minute each) per team per game are allowed. Time-outs can be used at any time during a dead ball situation during the game.

Overtime: In the event of a tie game after regulation, overtime regulations will begin. Each team will get alternate chances to score a touchdown from the opposition’s ten- (10) yard line. Teams will get four (4) downs to score, and the winner of a coin flip will decide which team goes first. Overtime will end when one team scores and the other one does not.

Playing Regulations:

  1. Free substitutions while the ball is dead
  2. First downs are attained once the mid-field mark has been passed.
  3. The ball is put in play by the place kick from the quarter field mark after a score, the beginning of the game, and the beginning of the second half.
  4. The coin toss determines which team has the choice to kick or receive. After that choice has been made, the other team receives the choice of the field end. Possession and field end will switch at the half.
  5. The place kick must travel past the mid-field marker (if it does not it will be re-kicked). If the football is kicked out of the endzone or touched down in the endzone, then the ball will placed at the quarter mark. If it goes out of bounds (and past mid-field) then the kicking team will suffer a five (5) yard penalty and will have to re-kick the ball. However, the receiving team can elect the take possession of the ball at the point in which it went out of play.
  6. The kicking team must allow a five- (5) yard cushion for the receiver to catch the kickoff. If the kicking team violates this cushion, there will be a ten- (10) yard penalty accessed from the point where the ball is dead. The kicking team cannot recover the ball – no on-side kicks.
  7. The defense may not attempt to block a punt, but they may flag the punter to end the play. If a punt is blocked (regardless of the intent) a five- (5) yard penalty will be assessed to the receiving team and the down will be replayed. The same five- (5) yard receiving cushion applies to punt returns [see Regulation #6]. If the punting team touches the football before the receiving team, the football is dead and the receiving team will begin their drive at that point.
  8. A fumbled ball at any time is called dead and belongs to the team that fumbled it. The ball will be marked at the same point at which it was fumbled.
  9. A ball carrier with one knee on the ground is considered “downed” only after he is touched by an opposing player.
  10. All players are eligible pass receivers.
  11. A three-person line must be maintained. At least three offensive players must be on the line of scrimmage at the beginning of the play. This may include receivers.
  12. The football is dead at the point where the carrier loses his flag. If from scrimmage, a player was missing his flag, the player is ruled “downed” once they obtain possession of the football.
  13. A player will be ruled “downed” once they have stepped out of bounds. Receivers must have possession of the ball and place one (1) foot in-bounds in order for the play to be complete. Likewise, a ball carrier must have one (1) foot in the endzone for the play to be called a touchdown. “Breaking the plane” with the football is not sufficient for a touchdown.
  14. The defensive linemen must line up at least one- (1) yard from the line of scrimmage.
  15. Only the captains designated prior to the game may talk with the referee during the game about game regulations.

Fouls and Penalties

  1. Down-Field Blocking: There is to be NO down-field blocking on a run, punt/kickoff return or pass play. Blocking is therefore restricted to the line and behind the line of scrimmage. A clear and direct path to the ball carrier must always exist for the defending team past the line of scrimmage.
  2. Personal Foul: Shoving, pushing, tackling, high blocking (throat or face area) or roughing another player is penalized by a fifteen- (15) yard loss if deemed intentional, and a ten- (10) yard loss if deemed unintentional. Suspension may also result at the referee’s discretion. The yardage is marked off from the new line of scrimmage. There is no option and no re-down.
  3. Off-Side: Loss of five- (5) yards and a replay of the down.
  4. Delay of Game: If a huddle takes longer than 25 seconds, the offensive team is penalized by a five- (5) yard loss, no option.
  5. Pass Interference: If the defense interferes with a pass receiver from the offense while the ball is still in flight, a first down is awarded to the offense at the point of infraction. If an offensive receiver interferes with a defender, the offense will receive a ten- (10) yard penalty.
  6. Ball Carrier: While carrying the football, the carrier may NOT jump although he may spin through traffic. Blocking or defending the flags with arms/hands is also illegal. The play will be called dead at the point of infraction.

Favoritism

Any team favoring a player will result in a warning for the first occurrence. The second time will result in a loss of fifteen- (15) yards, or half the distance to the goal if applicable. Favoritism may be called if:

  1. In the referee’s opinion, a player is spending significantly more time on the field than others of his own team.
  2. In the referee’s opinion, a player is spending significantly less time on the field than others of his own team.
  3. In the referee’s opinion, a player is being favored or neglected for whatever reason.