Rules

Game Rules
All players are responsible to know and understand all rules

 Start  

·        Teams are to arrive at the field at least 10 minutes before their scheduled game time

·        Teams will have 5 minutes to warm up

·        Games will be 50 minutes – 2 – 25 minute halves with a 5-minute intermission. The captains will flip a coin to determine who kicks/receivers first, teams will then switch for the second halve.

·        After the coin toss, the kicking team will “Punt” the ball from their 30-yard line.

·        All teams must bring two shirts – one dark and one light. Teams will wear opposite color of shirts

 Equipment

·        ERL will provide football, flags and flag belts

Officiating

·        ERL will provide a referee to monitor the game, they are not responsible to call the game, but are there to monitor game play. 
·        Teams are encouraged to call their own penalties. Teams cannot call the other team’s penalties it is their responsibility. If teams do not call their own penalties it will reflect the game report submitted by their opponents and may affect future status in the league

 Players are expected to call their own penalties. If the referee determines that players are not they will be forced to eject players from the game

·        Any reckless, aggressive, threatening or unsportsmanlike behavior will result in being ejected from the game. If this behavior is repeated the player will be ejected from the league. The entire team will be ejected from the league if it is a team wide issue

·        Judgment calls by an official are binding and may not be protested under any circumstances to the official. Players or teams who argue calls with officials will be subject to suspension or ejection from the league. All complaints and protests must be made in writing to the ERL within 24 hours of the game. Each complaint or protest will be reviewed by the ERL. Decisions made by the ERL are final.

Offense 
]·        The offense (team with possession of the ball) has four downs to get a touchdown
·        Passes must always be thrown forward 
·        Lateral or backward passes are unlimited until a players flag is pulled 
·        Once the ball has crossed the line of scrimmage the ball cannot be thrown forward 
·        The play will begin with the quarterback “hutting” the ball to himself Centers are not need to “hut” the ball. 
·        Once a team gets the ball inside the opposing teams endzone the get 6 points 
·        After a touchdown, teams attempt their extra point from either the five of 10 yard line. 1 point from the 5 yard line and 2 from the 10 yard line. 
·        If a pass is dropped the play is over and the offensive team begins the next down. If the pass is not complete on the fourth down the defensive team gets the ball from the line of scrimmage where the offence finished 
·        Teams can choose to punt the ball on the forth down 
·        When receiving a kick, the kicking team must give the offensive team 5 yards before the touch the ball. 
·        If the ball is kicked out of bounce the receiving team begins their offensive downs  where the ball left the playing field. 
·        The play is over when one of more of the offensive player’s flags is pulled off of them or if any part of the body touches the grass ( besides their feet or hands)

Defense

·        The defense must count to five before crossing the line of scrimmage. The quarterback cannot run across the line of scrimmage until the defense has crossed.

·        If a pass as not been thrown in 15 seconds the plays dead and the next down will begin

·        Blocking, tackling, pushing, tripping or any other physical contact is allowed. There is no flexibility with this rule.

 Other Rules

·        If there is a penalty on the offense the play does not count and the team will start their next down. If there is a play on the defense, the offense will get a new set of four downs from their current spot. BOTH TEAMS MUST AGREE ON THE PENALTY 
·        If the defense intercepts the ball, they become the offensive. Except in the case of when a team is going for an extra point, in this case if the defense intercepts the ball the play is dead and a kick off will begin the game again. 
·        After a touchdown, the team that scored will kickoff (punt) to the opposing team from their 30-yard line. 
·        Teams may substitute players at any time as long as it doesn’t delay with the game 
·        Teams may have huddles, but they are not to be more than 15 seconds, if the opposing team is complaining that the huddles are too long you must make them faster 
·        The offense can do a “hurry up” offense with no huddles, they do not have to wait for the defense 
·        Players are not allowed to cover up, block or protect flags. If needed shirts must be tucked in. 
·        Flags need to place on both hips 
·        There is no overtime in regular game play  

Scoring/Game Reports

·        Teams will keep track of the opposing teams touchdowns. It is recommended that captains bring a scoring sheet – to be supplied by ERL and compare the score with the opposing captain after each touchdown. 
·        Captains are responsible for providing the ERL onsite staff with the final score. If the ERL staff is not on site, captains are responsible for reporting the score to the ERL office following the game. 
·        If a team receives a poor report from the opposing team they will be deducted 1 point from the standings. After two poor reports the team will be ejected from the league and future participation will be considered by the ERL.  

Rain Delays/Defaults

·        Teams are responsible to show up to the field regardless of the weather. If it is raining and the game cannot be played, after waiting 15 minutes for the rain to stop, captains must contact ERL to reschedule the game. If it is not raining to hard, teams are expected to play. 
·        If it begins to rain once the game has started the captains will decide whether to continue. After the first halve the score is final. 
·        Teams are able to play with a minimum of 4 players, but two must be female.

Refunds
Registration fees are fully refundable up to two weeks prior to the beginnig of the season. After this the ERL assumes you have committed and all fees are non-refundable.
We require this time frame to complete schedules and form teams.