OFFICIAL RULES                                   RULE 2 DEFINITIONS                                   PAGE 6
SECTION 1 --  THE BALL: LIVE, DEAD, IN-PLAY, LOOSE, POSSESSION AND BOBBLED

Article 1 - Live Ball, Dead Ball, In-Flight.  A live-ball is a ball in play while a down is in progress.  A pass, kick, or fumble which has not yet touched the ground is a live-ball in-flight.  A dead ball is a ball not in play.

Any ball once possessed that strikes the ground is dead at that spot unless a Team A player imparted impetus to the ball that made it go forward from the spot of last possession.  In such cases, the ball is dead at the spot of last possession or touching.  A ball is dead at the spot when a player in possession touches any part of the body to the ground except for a hand or foot and equally dead at the spot where a player in possession touches any part of a sideline or end-line.

Article 2 - Loose ball, Possession, Bobbled-ball.  A pass, fumble or muff not in player possession and which have not touched the ground are loose-balls which are dead at the spot if they touch the ground, or, can be recoverable by a player on either team before they touch the ground.

A ball is in possession when a player has full control of a live-ball.

Bobbling is advancement of a ball not in player possession that has been touched so it does not fall to ground.  When possession of the bobbled ball is not concluded all yardage gained by the advance of the ball is to be disallowed.

Article 3 - When Ball is Ready to Play.  A dead-ball is ready to play when time is in and the referee sounds his whistle and signals "ready to play" or, if time is out, when the referee sounds the whistle and signals "start the clock" or "Ball ready for play."

Article 4 - Catch or Interception.  A catch is the act of establishing player possession of a live-ball in flight.  An interception is a catch of an opponent's pass or fumble while the ball is in the air.

To legally catch or intercept, players who leave their feet in this act must have the ball in possession when and after returning to the ground in-bounds.  Loss of the ball upon the return to the ground of the receiving or intercepting player is not a valid catch nor interception.  When in question as to whether a player made a valid catch or interception, the decision is that a valid catch or interception was not made.

Article 5 - Simultaneous Catch and Joint Possession.  At the instant the ball becomes dead with players from opposing teams having simultaneously caught it, joint possession exists with possession awarded the offensive team.  When in question as to whether a reception was simultaneous and joint possession existed, the decision shall favor the offensive team.

SECTION 2 --  BLOCKING

Article 1 - Legal Blocks.  Blocking is legally obstructing an opponent by physical contact with the allowed body area for contact being the jersey area below the neck and above the waist.  To be legal, a blocker must have the feet on the ground before, during and after the blocking act.

Defenders may use their hands to push or pull an opponent attempting to block them but may not grasp the clothing, body nor arm or the opponent; and, may not shove or otherwise direct a blocker nor any player into the part or person of a ball carrier.

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Article 2 - Illegal Blocks and Prohibited Actions.  It is illegal for a blocker to employ the feet, legs or knees in a blocking action.  Blockers may not make physical contact with an opponent below the waist.  Any action in blocking that causes any physical contact with the opponent's neck, face or head is an automatic foul.  A blocker can not strike an opponent from the back.

Note:  In some cases, a block below the waist or physical contact to the back are not automatically illegal acts:

BELOW THE WAIST:  A block below the waist is allowable when the initial impetus in this block was to or above the opponent's waist but was directed to an illegal body area by the actions of the player being blocked if the blocker immediately ceases the effort when forced into the illegal area.  EXAMPLE:  A60's block of B55 was begun at the waist but deflected downward when B55 fended the block with extended arms and hands.  RULING:  A60 is not automatically guilty of a foul because the block was initiated legally but would be in violation by persisting in the blocking effort after being pushed below the defender's waist.

TO THE BACK:  A block to an opponent's back is not automatically a foul when that opponent's actions created or assisted in making what would be a legal block into one to the back by suddenly turning the body with the blocker at close range or into the block movement; and, if the impact of the block was minimal or the opponent could in other ways protect against the block; or, when the action of another player forced the blocker into an illegal block except in leagues where special limitations exist.

NCAA Rule that distinguishes a clip from a push-to-the-back do not apply in the program -- any contact with an opponent's back except except as allowed in the legal clipping zone is a major foul.

It is illegal for a blocker to grab, seek to hold or hold whether by intent or accidentally any part of the body or clothing of an opponent.  A player fallen to the ground can not legally participate in the play.

When using the hand to block, the elbow must be entirely outside the shoulder and the blocker can not swing, throw nor flip the elbow or forearm in the blocking act.

The blocker can not lead into the blocking act with rigidly extended arms; close the hand into a fist; nor clasp the hands together.

Offensive players can not combine on a high-low block nor double-team an opponent beyond the allowed legal clip zone.

When in question as to whether a block was legal or not, the decision is to be that it was illegal.

Article 3 - Blocking or Bodily Assisting Ball Carrier Advance.  No player can employ a block or other bodily assistance against the body of a ball-carrier to physically assist the forward advance of that player.

Article 4 - Legal Clipping Zone.  A legal clipping zone shall exist for each scrimmage play.  This zone shall be a rectangular area that exists at the snap centered in the middle interior lineman on the offensive line.  This zone extends five yards laterally and three yards longitudinally in each direction.  This zone exists until the ball passes from within this area or is touched outside this zone if a pass.  A player inside this zone can not depart and then return to team in a two-on-one or double-team block.
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SECTION 3 --  CLIPPING.  Clipping is the illegal physical act of running into or otherwise hitting an opponent in the back or below the waist.  All such acts are major physical fouls subject to a 15 yard penalty.  Note that the NCAA Rule that distinguishes a clip from a push-to-the-back does not apply in the program.  Any contact with an opponent's back except as allowed in the legal clipping zone is a major foul.  When in question as to whether a clip did occur, the decision is that it did occur.

SECTION 4 --  CONFERENCES.  The program recognizes the following as legal conferences:

Article 1 - Pre-Game or Overtime Conferences.  Noted in Rule 1.

Article 2 - Coach's Conference.  Referees are to recognize only one designated staff person as a team's sideline coach-spokesperson.  This person must attend and be identified by name at the pre-game conference and be so recorded on the Game Report Card.  No other person including other team staff may seek to act as the spokesperson for the team during the course and after a game subject to penalty.  Only the designated coach-spokesperson can request a conference with a referee and if such a request is granted the only topics allowed to be discussed are a rule application or a play result.

If the original coach-spokesperson is for any cause absent from the sideline during the game, a team captain is to be designated by the referee as the team spokesperson.

Article 3 - Team Conference.  Program allows two forms of team conferences that must be held with five-yards of a team sideline directly before some part of the team sideline area:
  1. One Coach and two or more players then in the game
  2. One player then in the game and two or more persons then on the sideline that can be coaches or reserve players.
Any other entrance onto the field of play by team staff or reserve players is a violation.

SECTION 5 -- DEFLAGGING (END OF A SCRIMMAGE PLAY).  A play is ended by the act of legally deflagging the ball-carrier which is the equivalent of tackling in football.  Deflagging occurs when an opponent seizes one flag of the belt worn by the ball carrier with enough force to cause the clasp to open so the flag with belt come into possession of the defender.  This transfer of flag-belt possession requires the defender to establish and maintain full possession of the detached flag-belt and to signal this act.

Article 1 - Requirements for a Legal Deflagging.  A play ends only by a referee signal to that result.

    1.    A player being deflagged must have possession of the ball at the instant of the act of deflagging. EXAMPLE:  B1 deflags A1 immediately after A1 touched but did not catch a pass that was thereafter caught.  RULING:  B1's deflagging is legal.  A1 at the instant of the deflagging did not have possession of the ball.  Play will continue under provisions of the One-Hand Touch Rule.

    2.   Defender must have one-foot flat on the ground entering into, during, and after the act of deflagging.

    3.   Defender must demonstrate gaining possession of the ball-carrier's flag-belt by immediately stopping and holding the detached flag-belt above the head with outstretched arm.

          NOTE:  A pull of the flag-belt by a defender who can not then retain possession is not a valid deflagging and such a play will continue under the provision of the One-Hand Touch Rule.  If a flag-belt loosened by a defender snags on the runner's clothing and is lost to the deflagging player, the play is to continue under the One-Hand Touch Rule.

OFFICIAL RULES                                   RULE 2 DEFINITIONS                                   PAGE 9

    4.   Defender may not initiate physical contact with the ball-carrier in deflagging except when it is simultaneous and the direct result of the deflagging act.  Physical contact by a defender prior to the attempt to deflag is a foul.  A defender in deflagging is allowed to contact the ball-carrier with a hand to the shoulder or upper-body but may not grab, encircle with an arm, hold, shove or push the ball-carrier nor otherwise obstruct the path of the ball-carrier.

    5.   A defender may not act in any way to force a ball-carrier onto or over a sideline boundary while not making a bona -fide effort to deflag.  Specifically prohibited are any acts that involve a push, shove, bodily contact or physically forcing the opponent to or over the sideline.

    6.    When in question as to whether a defender was in violation of deflagging, the decision is that a violation did occur.

Article 2 - Flag-Belt Return and Game Delay.  To avoid game-delay, a detached flag-belt must be handed or tossed to the deflagged player or a referee.

Violation of the flag-belt return requirement is a delay violation that will on the first occasion in a game draw a warning from the referees.  A delay penalty will be imposed for each violation following the warning by team.

Article 3 - Ball-Carrier Protection of Flag.  The ball-carrier may not protect the flag-belt by employing a straight arm; any action that uses the hand or arm; nor, by running into a defender.  When in question as to whether the ball-carrier was in violation, the decision is that a violation did occur.

Article 4 - Intentional Deflagging an Opponent Not the Ball-Carrier.  It is a violation to intentionally deflag an opponent who is not the ball-carrier.  A second violation by the same player in a game will result in disqualification.

A defender who deflags a receiver before a pass is legally possessed is guilty of interference with the penalty advancing the ball to the infraction spot or 15 yards (which-ever is most advantageous to Team A) and a first down.

Article 5 - Inadvertent or Accidental Deflagging.  A ball-carrier in running who accidentally or inadvertently becomes deflagged by loss of the flag-belt must be stopped as required in the One-Hand Touch Rule.

Article 6 - Leaving the Feet to Deflag.  The violation of leaving the feet to make or attempt to deflag is based on intent.  If Team B players must leave their feet to deflag, their intent makes their actions a violation.

    NOTE:  Intent is different from a defender falling or stumbling and then falling in the act of deflagging.  Intent means that if the only way a defender can deflag is to leave the feet, then a violation has occurred.  A player who deflags while falling or one who falls after deflagging are not automatically guilty of a foul.  But, defenders can not run at a ball-carrier and leave their feet in the deflagging attempt and not be in violation.  When in question as to whether a defender was in violation in deflagging, the decision is that a violation did not occur.

If a defender is guilty of a foul for leaving the feet to deflag, referees will disregard the results of this act and allow the play to continue.  If the ball-carrier can not advance the ball a greater distance after the foul, a 15 yard penalty will be imposed on the offender's team from the spot of the foul.  If the violation occurred behind the scrimmage-line, the penalty will be from the scrimmage-line.  All penalties award the offended team a first down.

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Ball-carriers illegally deflagged who can continue to advance the ball shall be allowed to do so and can only be stopped as allowed in the One-Hand Touch Rule.

Article 7 - Proper Spot of Ball After Deflagging.  The ball must be properly spotted after a down at the point of it's greatest advance and not the location held or claimed by the deflagging player.  A defender who deflags from the rear of the ball-carrier and immediately stops will signal a deflagging behind the most forward point to which the ball was advanced.  Similarly, a defender running in the opposite direction to an advancing ball-carrier will signal a deflagging some distance from the actual spot of ball advancement.  Referees must adjust for such yardage differences when spotting the ball for the next down.  When in question of what spot is to be set for the next down, that spot most advantageous to Team A is to be chosen.

SECTION 6 -- FLAG-BELT VERIFICATION DURING A GAME.  Game referees will inspect player flag-belts and disqualify a person guilty of a violation.  When a flag-belt can not be removed by one simple pull, a violation may exist.  Referees are to inspect the flag-belt of any player involved in a play when a seized flag-belt does not detach as expected.  In such cases, the player can not touch nor adjust the flag-belt prior to the referee inspection under threat of immediate disqualification.  All yardage gained on a play which has a flag-belt violation is lost; the ball returned to the prior down's spot; the down lost; and, the offending player's team penalized 20 yards.

SECTION 7 -- FLAG-BELT VERIFICATION AFTER A SCORE.  A player who scores from the field (any touchdown and extra-point conversion by run or pass), must have a referee verify the validity of the score by being immediately deflagged by an official.  Such a scoring player while still possessing the ball must report to the closest referee and submit to a flag-belt verification deflagging.  This action requires the scoring player raise the arms to allow the referee to deflag.  The flag-belt must detach with one simple pull.  If the flag-belt does not detach as expected, the referee shall immediately inspect the flag-belt to ascertain if a violation as to its attachment exists.  If a violation is discovered, the touchdown is disallowed, the violator disqualified, the down lost to the violator's team which is to be penalized 20 yards from the previous spot for an unsportsmanlike violation.  If the flag-belt does detach as expected, the referee is to immediately signal a touchdown and then receive the ball from the scoring player who will either hand or toss the ball to the game official.

SECTION 8 -- FAIR CATCH.  There is no fair catch allowed in the game formats of the program.

SECTION 9 -- FAIR CATCH SIGNAL USE.  Employment of a fair catch signal will be interpreted as an unfair action and an attempt to deceive the opponent.  When occurring, the play is to be stopped at the time of the illegal signal and a 15 yard penalty assessed the offending team.

SECTION 10 -- FUMBLE/MUFF/ERRANT BACKWARD PASS/BATTING/TOUCHING THE BALL.

Article 1 - Fumble.  A fumble is loss of a live-ball by a player other than the passer or kicker who had possession of the ball.  A fumble is dead when and where it strikes the ground unless the impetus provided by the possessing player caused the fumbled ball to be advanced in yardage.

Article 2 - Muff.  A muff is an unsuccessful attempt by a player to possess the ball in a hand-off or to catch a ball in flight to include the center's snap that makes contact with but is not possessed by a team-mate.  A muff is dead when and where it strikes the ground unless the receiving player supplied impetus that caused the ball to advance forward in yardage.

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Article 3 - Errant Backward Pass.  An errant backward pass includes a bad snap or lateral not caught by a player and is dead at the spot where and when it strikes the ground unless the impetus provided by the receiving player caused the fumbled ball to be advanced in yardage.

Article 4 - Batting the Ball.  Batting is intentionally striking or slapping a loose ball or a ball in player possession with the hand or arm.

Article 5 - Touching the ball.  Touching the ball is any bodily contact with the ball by a player.  Any yardage advanced through a touch of the ball without possession by a player is to be disallowed.

    NOTE:  A team can not gain ayardage advantage by its own misplay or error of any fumble, muff, or errant backward pass not thereafter possessed or any action that caused the ball to be advanced by acts that do not include actual possession.  In cases where the ball is advanced in yards due to team error, the proper spot for the ball in the down is to be where the contact was initiated by the player.

SECTION 11 -- HOME TEAM SIDELINE ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENT.  The home team as designated on the schedule will for each game provide the services of two adult and capable individuals who will for the entire duration of that game staff the down-box and ground-arrows maintained along the team's sideline.  Failure to consistently fulfill this requirement will result in penalty or forfeiture of the game.

SECTION 12 -- HUDDLE.  A huddle is defined as the gathering of two or more players in a game on the field by the team possessing the ball.  A player to be legally allowed to touch a pass must have taken a position for a play after being in a huddle or reporting to the field area of the huddle.

SECTION 13 -- HURDLING.  Hurdling is an illegal act by a ball-carrier of jumping or attempting to jump feet first over an opponent who is standing or kneeling upright on the ground.

SECTION 14 -- INADVERTENT WHISTLE.  A whistle accidentally sounded during the course of a down that is not related to actual game action shall have special rule provisions apply that govern how such play interruption is to be handled.

SECTION 15 -- KICKS.

Article 1 - Legal and Illegal Kicks.  A legal kick is a punt, drop-kick or place kick by a player on the team possessing the ball when such is permitted by rule.  Any other kicking of the ball is a violation.

Article 2 - Protected Kicks.  A protected kick is one of the above variations allowed a team after it has requested and been granted by the referee the right to undertake suck a kick under the restrictions of Rule that place limits of time and space on the kicking team and limit the movement and action of players on both teams.

Article 3 - The Five-Yard Snap Rule.  A team requesting and granted a protected kick must meet Rule requirement that the snap for such plays be made to a player who would punt or hold for a placement a minimum distance of five-yards behind the scrimmage line.

Article 4 - The One-Yard Movement Rule.  A team requesting and granted a protected kick must meet Rule requirement that the player who would kick or hold the ball for a place-kick be limited in movement after receiving the snap to no more than one yard in any direction in the act of kicking or in placing the ball to a tee or ground for a placement kick.

Article 5 - Five-Second Rule.  A protected kick no matter a punt or placement try for a field goal or conversion must be delivered within five seconds after the snap of the ball for that down.

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Article 6 - Kick-Off or Free-kick Five Yard Approach Limit Rule.  For all kick-offs, free kicks after a safety, or placement kicks (field goal or conversion), the kicker is limited in the approach to kick the ball to a distance no greater than five yards regardless of the angle taken for such an approach.

    NOTE:  A team that violates any of the above Rules setting distance and time limitations for protected kicks will by this failure forfeit any points scored, its right to repeat the down and to continue to possess the ball.  The ball is to be returned to the spot of the down on which the violation occurred and awarded to the opposing team except when the violation occurs on a kick-off or on a free-kick after a safety.  In these instances, the team is to be penalized in yardage for its violation.

Article 7 - Kick-Offs.  A kick-off is a free-kick which starts a half of the game or that follows as the next play after any touchdown (after the conversion try) or field goal.  Except as allowed in some leagues, all kick-offs must be a placement kick that employs a kicking tee or have the ball held by a player.

Article 8 - On-side Kick and Recovery.  A kick-off or a free-kick after a safety can be recovered by the kicking team after it has gone 20 yards to or over the receiving team's restraining line and touched the ground.  Such a kick can be recovered by the team whose player first touches the kicked ball after it has met the above requirements.

Article 9 - Placement Kicks.  A placement kick is one made when the ball is placed on a legal tee or held on the ground by a team-mate of the kicker.  A placement can be a kick-off, field-goal or point-after-touchdown kick.

Article 10 - Scrimmage Kick Formation and Protected Kicks.  A scrimmage kick formation is that adopted by a team after it has requested and been granted by the referee a protected kick.  Players on both teams are restricted in placement and/or movement on such kicks.

SECTION 16 -- LEGAL AND ILLEGAL PARTICIPATION.  A player is a legal participant after meeting all rule requirements for a scrimmage-play.  A player is an illegal participant who leaves the playing-field by touching or crossing a sideline or end-line and returns to participate in a scrimmage-play.
  1. If a Team A player, the legal right to participate in a play is lost.  Any illegal participation will negate the results of the play and require a penalty.
  2. If a Team B player, the legal right to participate in the play is lost.  Any illegal actual participation by a player in the down will result in a penalty.  If an illegal player deflags the ball-carrier this action shall be ignored and the play continue under provision of the One-Hand Touch Rule.
SECTION 17 -- LINES (RESTRAINING).  Restraining lines are those set by rule for kick-offs or free-kicks after a safety.  Such lines require layers on opposing teams to be separated a minimum distance of 20 yards.  Restraining-line for a receiving-team is behind but within five-yards of that line that is 20 yards from the kicking-team's restraining-line.  A receiving-team must have a minimum number of players in the restraining-line zone.

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SECTION 18 -- NEUTRAL ZONE AND ENCROACHMENT VIOLATIONS.  A minimum one-yard (36") deep neutral-zone separating the team will be created for every down including kicks when the offensive snapper assumes a position at the scrimmage-line and takes control of the ball with hand(s) in a position to make the snap.  This zone will extend forward 36 inches and laterally to each sideline from the foremost point of the ball in the snappers hand(s).  Team B players, once this zone has been created, are prohibited from entering the zone until the ball is snapped.  Any violation is encroachment subject to a penalty.  Team A players, except the snapper, are equally forbidden to physically encroach on the neutral-zone.

    EXAMPLE:  For a down, the Team A snapper takes a stance preparatory to start the down.  This action establishes the neutral-zone for that down.  Before the snap, B64 starts to rush, realizes the ball has not been snapped, and retreats back across the neutral-zone before the snap.  RULING:  B64 violated the neutral-zone.  This action is encroachment and Team B penalized five-yards.  It matters not that B64 was able to leave the neutral-zone before the snap.  B64's action was a violation regardless of any subsequent retreat to remedy the violation.

When in question as to whether a neutral-zone violation occurred, a violation did occur.

SECTION 19 -- PARTICIPANTS: ELIGIBLE/INELIGIBLE/DISQUALIFIED.
  1. An eligible participant is one who is both personally registered and had their jersey number registered with the program.
  2. An ineligible participant is one not legally registered with the program; or, one who has otherwise been removed from eligibility.  Ineligible persons can not associate with a team at a game or practice nor attend any program function or event.
  3. A disqualified participant is one temporarily removed from eligibility by program action.  A person disqualified from a game by reason of a flagrant-foul or a team coach or staff-person removed from the game by reason of a violation(s); must depart from the field-area.
SECTION 20 -- RUNNING PLAY.  A running-play is one where the ball is advanced by a player in possession.  Running-plays do not affect the operation of the game-clock when the ball is not moved to or across a side-line. When a snap strikes the ground without being possessed, it shall be timed as a run which in stopped-timesegment of a half will not stop the game-clock.

SECTION 21 -- SCORING.  The following scoring and points are allowed in the program leagues:

Article 1 - Touchdown.  Six-points (male) and in some leagues nine-points (female) shall be awarded for a touchdown when the ball in possession of a ball-carrier has broken the plane of the goal and the scoring player has been subject to a successful deflagging by a referee.

Article 2 - Point-After-Touchdown (Conversion).  One-point is to be awarded for a successful kicked conversion try and two-points awarded for a pass or run when the ball in possession of a ball-carrier has broken the plane of the goal and the scoring player has been subject to a successful deflagging by a referee.

Article 3 - Field Goal.  Three-points is to be awarded for a successful placement or drop-kick.

Article 4 - Safety.  Two-points is to be awarded the opponent when the team possessing the ball is unable to advance the ball over its goal after its actions caused the ball to be brought behind that goal; or, when a team opts as allowed by rule to advance a kick legally received, pass intercepted or fumble caught behind its goal and advances under control a distance of five or more yards with the intent of entering the playing field when it is unable to do so by a deflagging or other failure.

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Article 5 - Forfeit.  A forfeit is declared by referees when a team fails to meet the requirements as set in Rule 8 "Scoring."

SECTION 22 -- SHIFT AND MOTION.  A shift is the simultaneous change of position by two or more offensive players after the ball is ready to play and before the snap.

One player legally in the backfield is allowed to be in motion laterally to or away from the line of scrimmage on a play.  All other offensive players must remain motionless for at least one-second prior to the snap of the ball.

SECTION 23 -- SNAPPING THE BALL.  Legally snapping the ball (a snap) is passing it back from its position on the ground by a quick and continuous motion of the snapper's hand(s), the ball actually leaving the snapper's hand(s) in this act so that an exchange of possession occurs with a player legally in the team backfield.  A snap may not be a broken movement in which the ball is first raised or lifted off the ground and thereafter passed or snapped.  A snap must be made from a straddle position in which the ball passes between the snapper's legs except when accepted by a league's format for play.  The program recognizes two forms of a snap:  1)  direct-snap in which the ball changes possession in a hand-to-hand exchange between the snapper and a player close to this player legally in the team backfield; and, 2) an indirect snap in which the ball is passed backward some distance in the air to be received by a player in the team backfield.  Protected kick plays (punts and placements) in program leagues require an indirect-snap of at least five-yards in length from the scrimmage-line.

When in question as to whether a snap was legally delivered or a violation, the decision is a violation occurred.

SECTION 24 -- SPEARING.  Spearing is a personal foul if a player used the head in any manner against an opponent while carrying the ball, or, when acting as a blocker of defender.

SECTION 25 -- TACKLING.  Tackling is the illegal act of grasping or encircling an opponent with the hand(s) or arm(s) and a personal foul whether done by intent or otherwise.

SECTION 26 -- TIMING AND GAME CLOCK. 

Article 1 - Program as Game Management.  The program as game management will determine whether an official time of the game is kept by staff or referees.

Article 2 - Injured Player.  Referees are to halt play in any game for an injured player to allow proper and full medical assistance and assure that the person's condition is secure before allowing the injured party to be moved.  The game is to resume only after the injured player has been able to move or has been removed by authorized medical assistance from the playing-field.

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Article 3 - Bleeding Player.  Referees are to immediately halt a game when it is discerned that players in the game are bleeding.  The injured players must leave the field of play to be treated and can not return until this has been completed so that all evidence of blood on the players or their uniforms has been removed and their wounds effectively and completely covered by appropriate and secured bandages or medical-dressings.  Referees shall have the authority to deny an injured player the right to return to a game if they judge the treatment of replacement clothing to be deficient.

If a team by the loss through removal of a bleeding player can not field the number of players required for a game by its league format, the following shall result:
  1. If in running-time segment of a half, the team shall have one minute to remedy their condition or be charged with a forfeit.
  2. If in the stopped-time segment of a half, the team shall have up to its available and three one-minute time-outs to remedy its condition or be charged with a forfeit.
Teams are expected to have extra numbered game-jerseys and pants available at games to be used when a bleeding injured player is able to return to a game after medical treatment.  Such a player can not return to the game wearing any jersey or pant which has not-dry blood.

Any change of jersey must be reported to the referees on an injured player's return.

SECTION 27 -- TOUCH SUBSTITUTION FOR DEFLAGGING RULE.  Ball-carriers who have been illegally or accidentally deflagged must be touched as required by rule.  The required touch must be with one-hand, open-palm and delivered non-violently to the jersey area above the waist and below the neck.  It shall be a personal-foul to push, shove, or forcefully tag the ball-carrier or to employ two hands in the tag.

SECTION 28 -- TRAILING TEAM RIGHT TO RECEIVE KICK-OFF AFTER SCORE.  A team who trails by 25 or more points after any score, including it's own, has the option to receive the ensuing kick-off and retains this right until the deficit is reduced to 24 or fewer points.

SECTION 29 -- TRIPPING.  Tripping is a personal-foul resulting from the use of the foot or lower-leg to obstruct an opponent below the knees.

SECTION 30 -- VACANCY.  A player vacancy occurs when a team has fewer than required number of players on the field for a down as mandated by its league's format of play.  Accidental vacancies caused by team error in substitution carry no penalty.

SECTION 31 -- ZONES AND ZONE LINE TO GAIN.  A field shall have four or five zones that are 20 yards in depth.  A team must advance the ball in a four-down series to or beyond the yard-to-gain of the next zone.  A field 80 yards long will have four zones.  A field 100 yards long will have five zones.  A field's zones will be set starting at the goal-lines with zone-lines being at the 20 yard-lines and 40 yard-line(s).  The zone to gain is that line in advance of the spot a team obtained to begin a series of downs.