Rules

SCW Football League Rules

-These rules were created using the standard American Flag Football Rules as a guideline, with a few tweaks for touch football and to keep the game fun.

-From 2019-2020, teams were assembled via annual draft selection of Team Captains. Starting in 2021, a Play In Game format was implemented, allowing the previous years champions to retain their team and return to defend their championship against the winner of the Play In Game. After the Play In Game, a draft still takes place to split up the remaining unaligned players.

-The game is always to be played 4 on 4 on the field, regardless of amount of players suiting up, or disproportionate sides. We will never play 4 on 3. Additional players are always used as subs. A team can dress anywhere from 4-8 Players. A bench player cannot sit out for more than 1 drive.

Basic Game Rules

-4 v 4 on field. Up To 7 Players Dressed. 1 QB, 3 Receivers/Halfback Vs. 1 Lineman, 3 Defensive Backs

-4 Downs, No Punts, Ball Spotted at 10 Yard Line after score and start of halves. One first down placed at Mid Field. This spot is marked with field paint.

-The Offense Is Responsible for retrieving the ball after the play, placing it at the spot of the last play stoppage, and are expected to get back to the line of scrimmage within 40 seconds.

-7 Second Rule Before QB Blitz/Rush. Any defender can blitz after 7 seconds. Team can choose to leave additional guy close to the line of scrimmage for the blitz. Lineman can Blitz After 7 Seconds. Lineman must accurately count to ‘7’ LOUDLY and CLEARLY, without delay. After 7 seconds, a QB can run, he does not have to wait for the Lineman count if the lineman is taking longer than 7 seconds. The blitz count is for the DEFENSE. If the D-Lineman counts too slow, that is only hurting his team. If he counts too fast, it can be called a penalty. Because there is no “snap” of the ball, only “Go” or “Hike” signaled from a QB begins the play.

-Defensive Line: A play can only be made on the ball by the defensive lineman before the blitz count if the lineman drops several yards back into a coverage position. If not, Defensive Line should stay in a down stance, or have hands on thighs or at side, ready to blitz at the end of the count. Only after the end of the count can they: sack QB, tip, intercept, or swat ball.

-Within 20 yards from the goal line is considered the Red Zone. There are no rushing plays from within the red zone (only QB rush if blitzed). When inside the red zone, the blitz/qb rush count is shortened to 5 seconds. During conversions, 3 seconds.

Blitz Counts:

• 7 Seconds: Default
• 5 Seconds: Within Red Zone (20 Yards from End Zone)
• 3 Seconds: Conversion Attempts

-On A Non QB Rushing Play, Lineman can immediately tag ball carrier and cross LOS when offensive player becomes in possession of the ball, there is no Blitz Count. The same applies for trick plays, flea flicker, etc. The defense can cross the line of scrimmage as soon as any player other than the QB has possession of the ball. A ‘Play Action’ fake would not count as the ball carrier having possession of the ball, because it is a fake only designed to make it look as though he is getting the ball. The defense lineman must remain composed, and confirm the ball has changed possessions before crossing the line. These fakes could draw the defense into a penalty if they cross the line of scrimmage. The Blitz Count Is Only Necessary When The QB Is Holding The Ball, and no one else has possessed it.

-Two Hand Touch = Tackle. Wrap Ups are also allowed, but play is not dead until two hands make contact at the same time.

-Touchdowns are worth ‘6’ points, and are followed by a mandatory conversion attempt from the 15 yard line. Because running the ball has proved to be more difficult than passing, a successful run conversion is worth ‘2’ points, and a successful pass conversion is worth ‘1’ point. 3 Count For ‘Blitz’ on extra point conversions.

-‘42 Points’ wins. Halftime At ‘21’ Points.

Advanced Game Rules

-Two Replay Challenges Per Team (Unsuccessful Challenge Costs Time Out)
-3 Timeouts Per Half (Two Minutes)

-20 Minute Halftime

-2 Minute Break In Between Change Of Possession

-Blitzing = 7 Seconds (Regular), 5 Seconds (in redzone), 3 Seconds (Conversions). While counting the defensive lineman must remember to not step offsides, either by crossing forward on the LOS early, or stepping more than 2 steps to the right or left side before the count is finished. The defensive lineman can drop back as far as he wants, as long as he is staying vertical. Failing to do this would be offsides. The QB has to remain within a reasonable pocket until the end of the blitz count as well. Failing to do this would be offsides.

-Overtime Rule: In the case a team scores 42, and the other team has 40 or more, the losing team is allowed one drive to attempt to tie the score. If they are stopped, the game is over. If they score, the game continues in sudden death Overtime fashion, until one team cannot match the others score. For example, Team A scores, and Team B does not. Or Team A does not score, and Team B does. See SCW Football 2019 Game 2 for an example of how this plays out.

5-10 Yard Penalties (Repeat Down)

* Delay Of Game (40 Seconds To LOS, -5 Yards From LOS)
* Offsides/False Start (-5 yards from LOS)
* Intentional Grounding (-5 Yards From LOS plus loss of down. Passes purposely thrown out of bounds or into the ground)

*Illegal Motion – (10 Yards From LOS) Offense cannot have two players running in motion at the same time prior to the ball being snapped. If they want to motion two players, the second motion man has to wait until the first has completed his motion. Players should be at a complete stop when ball is hiked.

* Holding (10 Yards From LOS. Uniforms or Body Parts. Contact on a body part for three seconds or more is a ‘hold’.)

*Uniform/Equipment Violations – So as not to create confusion on the field, or for viewers watching, players are prohibited from wearing primary colors that belong to the opposing team, or another team in the league. Black and White are considered neutral colors and can be worn as shorts/pants/wristbands etc by any team. Cleats can be any color. To as much an extent as possible, wear your teams colors. Accessories like Gloves should stay on your hands, visors/headbands should stay on your head, glasses on your face. If your equipment for whatever reason interferes with a player in even the smallest way, delays the game, etc… a 5 yard penalty should be called.

*Illegal formations – (10 Yards From LOS) The only requirement for a legal formation is that a team must have at least 2 players on the line of scrimmage (counting the QB), and the QB must start the play from center, facing the defense. Any other formation within these rules is legal. The bunch up formation used on one play by The Raiders in 2019 is banned, and would be an considered illegal formation, because the QB was not facing toward the defense with the ball prior to the snap.

10 Yard Penalties (Automatic 1st Down/Loss Of Down)

* Pass interference (10 yards from LOS.  Illegally interfering with a players ability to catch the ball beyond 5 yards of LOS. If a player has no possible play on the ball, there is no Pass Interference). Defenders are allowed to jam a receiver with bump and run coverage within the first 5 yards from the LOS.

*Rule Infraction (10 Yards From LOS. Rule violations unique to SCW Football = Blitz Violations, Failing To Blitz Count, Blitzing Before Count, QB Out Of Pocket Before Count, Not Spotting Ball Before Beginning Next Play, etc.)

* Illegal Block (10 Yards from LOS) Illegal blocks such as Shoving defenseless Player, diving into a player, blocking from behind, contact above the neck or below the waist. Legal blocking can be done using your Body, and Open Hands in front of a defender to hold your position and impede their progress)

* Unnecessary roughness (10 Yards + or – To Ball Spot) Purposely shoving or tagging someone so hard to cause them injury, blindsiding, late hits, etc. Use common sense. No play outcome is worth injuring yourself or another player.