Fundy Minor Football Association Atom Flag Football

Philosophy:

The purpose of our Atom tackle football division is to introduce youth aged 10-11 to the game of tackle football. Players will learn the fundamentals of passing, running, blocking, tackling and kicking in a fun environment.

Coaches will provide equitable playing time to all players. (Rationale: Can’t control time of offense or defense is on the field but can ensure all players have a role in the game). Coaches are encouraged to allow all players an opportunity to catch, throw or run with the ball. (Rationale: Get the maximum number of players with their hands on the ball)

There will be a maximum of 24 players on a team.* If a team has 20 or less players, every player on the team will be a starter on either offense or defense. No benchwarmers!

For each player below 10 dressed, both teams will play with one less player on the field. Teams will forfeit if they have less than 8 players available to play at any point of the game.

* unless approved by Atom division coordinator

Special Rules for Atom Division - Fundy Minor Football Association - 2008.

Rules:

Except as addressed below the rules shall be those of the “Canadian Rulebook for Tackle Football”.

Field Dimensions:

The playing field shall be between 30 and 45 yards in width, 70 to 110 yards in length, and the end zones shall be between 5 and 15 yards deep. There is no requirement for goal posts and if any shall exist within the field of play they shall be padded to insure player safety. (Rationale: To allow us to use non standard fields for Atom play)

Sidelines and goal lines shall be marked by lines or ‘markers’ of a contracting colour. (Rationale: Where field has no lines we can use markers)

The ball used shall be as determined by the division coordinator.

Timing:

The game shall consist of 60 minutes divided into 2 halves of 25 minutes each separated by a maximum 10 minute intermission. (Rationale: Maximize play time, there a no need to change ends at quarter time.)

The teams shall switch ends at the half. (Rationale: If wind is a factor, it is adjusted for at half)

Timing starts at the kick off and ends at the end of half. (Rationale: Eliminate the need for a timer) Exceptions: The referee may stop time for a lengthy injury time out.
The referee may stop time for timeouts in the last two minutes of each half. (A team winning with a minute left, can’t end the game by using time outs)

Teams shall be entitled to 2 – 1 minute timeouts per half.

Number of players:

Each team shall consist of 10 players on the field at a time. (Rationale: Have the most players on the field having fun that we can)

Team are allowed and encouraged to have a maximum of 2 coaches on the field at a time. They shall be positioned well behind their team and must take action to avoid any play that comes their way. The may join the teams huddle and may ‘position’ players as needed. (Rationale: Have the player lined up correctly, every time.) Coaches shall cease to communicate with players when officials indicate that play is about to begin. (Rationale: Don’t want players looking back at coaches as play is about to begin.)

The down and distance shall be communicated to the players and coaches on the field by the officials after each play. The officials shall use ‘bean-bags’ to indicate distances as ‘sticks’ and downs markers are not used. (Rationale: No need for a stick crew – extra work for officials)

Coin Toss – At the start of the game the captains of the two teams will participate in a coin toss. The winner of the coin toss shall choose to kick off, receive or defend an end (there is no deferring choice to second half). The team kicking off to start the game shall receive the ball to start the second half. The teams shall change ends at halftime.

Scoring:

A touchdown as a direct result of a legal forward pass* shall be awarded 7 points. A legal forward pass* that is intercepted and returned for a touchdown shall be awarded 7 points. All other touchdowns will receive 6 points. (Rationale: Harder to complete a pass than hand off or keeper)

A successful convert as a direct result of a legal forward pass* shall be awarded 2 points. All other successful converts will receive 1 point. There shall be no kicked converts. (Rationale: Goal posts not available on some or all fields) A convert that is intercepted shall be a dead ball.

There will be no field goals. (Rationale: Goal posts not available on some or all fields)
A safety touch shall score 2 points. (Rationale: Reward the defense for good play)

A rouge (ball kicked into the end-zone where it goes dead) shall receive 1 point. After a rouge the team scored against shall scrimmage at a point approximately 30 % of the field length from their own goal line. (Rationale: 35 / 110 yrds approx 30%)

Scrimmage:

Teams will play 4 down football with the one yard neutral zone. The offence must throw a legal forward pass* on at least one of the first three downs in each series of downs. Failure to do so will result in an "Illegal Procedure" penalty. (Rationale: Encourage passing) Officials will not stop play until the ball is dead. Attempting to pass and getting sacked will not satisfy this rule. The ball must be thrown as legal forward pass*. A lateral pass will not satisfy this rule. Officials should point this out to a team that has just thrown a lateral pass. Failure to complete a legal forward pass will result in a 5 yard penalty and the down repeated. The offensive team will still be obligated to pass the ball again after the penalty has been applied. The defensive team has the option to decline the penalty, let the play stand and bring up fourth down. The offensive team can run the ball on fourth down (subject to distance restrictions (see Punts).

The ball will be placed at a point approximate midway between the sidelines or on the nearest hash mark following each play. (Rationale: If no hash marks the midpoint is easiest) The referee may move the ball as necessary in order to avoid field hazards. (Rationale: Allow flexibility to avoid scrimmaging in a puddle or on broken turf)

Numbering:

Players who are in an ineligible position to receive a forward pass (center and guards) should have a number from 40-69. If a player has an ineligible number but is playing an eligible position he shall report that he is playing an eligible position to the referee prior to the play. If he is playing that position for the game he shall have to report only on the initial series. (Rationale: Try to stick with standard numbering but don’t get hung up on it)

At the snap the offensive team must have a minimum of 5 players on the line of scrimmage. Only the exterior two players shall be eligible to catch a forward pass.

Kicking:

At the start of each half and following a touchdown a team shall kick off at a point approximately 40% of the length of the field from their own goal line. Following a safety the team scored against shall kick off at a point approximately 30% of the length of the field from their own goal line. (Rationale: Gives the same percentage of field as per playing on a standard sized field)

* Legal Forward Pass:

A legal forward pass is a pass that is thrown from a player’s hand and travels in the direction of the opponent’s dead line. (Rationale: Close to standard definition, easy to determine, forces a pass as opposed to forward hand off. Does NOT require a decision if the pass crosses the line of scrimmage. Note: Screen, or shovel passes are legal forward passes)

Blitzing Restrictions:

No blitzing by linebacker or defensive backs. The defense can only rush 3 players and these players cannot line up wider than an "outside shade" on the most outside interior offensive lineman, (i.e. G, T, or TE). The defensive end's inside foot cannot be outside of the offensive lineman's outside foot. If a ball is handed off, all defensive players can then rush.

If the team on offense chooses to use extra line men (for example a triple tight end set) the defense is still restricted to 3 rushers.

Failure to follow above will be penalized as "Illegal Defense" with a penalty of loss of 5 yards with down repeated. (Rationale: Harder to successfully execute offensive plays)

Punts:

On 4th down, when there is 5 yards or less to go a team may choose to go for first down or to punt the ball. The offense must declare their intention to the official who will relay the choice to the defense. The defensive line will line up in their normal alignment and but no rush on the punter is permitted. The punter must stand at least 5 yards back from the line of scrimmage and receive a snap from the center. Fake punts are not permitted. (Rationale: Allow the kicking game but give extra protection to the kicker)
On 4th down and more than 5 yards to go, a team must punt the ball. (Rationale: Allows the kicking and receiving skills to be developed)

Exception to the above rule is when the ball is on or inside the opponent’s 10 yard line.

Penalties Adjustments and Exceptions:

No Yards- Punt team members including the kicker must give punt returner a 5 yard cushion until he touches the ball. Penalty for failure to give yards is a 10 yard penalty from the point where ball goes dead. (Punter or onside man cannot recover a punt until it is touched by the opposing team)

Unsportsmanlike Conduct- Taunting opposing players, using foul language or other unsportsmanlike action by any player or coach will result in a 10 yard penalty. Three unsportsmanlike conduct penalties to a player or coach in a game will result in ejection. Coaches and players can be removed from the field and directed to the bench in lieu of, or in addition to, assigning the team penalty yardage. There is NO arguing with officials. There is zero tolerance for unsportsmanlike conduct. Questions regarding any situation can be asked in a respectful tone and manner.

High Tackle

This occurs when a player tackles an opposing player around the neck or shoulder area or by the helmet. Penalty for a high tackle is 15 yards. Tackle to be at the letters or lower! (If initial contact is made high and then released to a lower position with out force being applied no penalty will have occurred.) If a defensive player makes contact with an offensive players helmet or shoulders as a result of the offensive player going ‘low’ no foul will have occurred. Note all Unnecessary Roughness penalties (piling on, face-masking, etc) shall still apply.