The Field

The field is laid out using orange cones. There are two endzones, roughly 6 paces deep, and two “20 yard line” markers on each side of the field, roughly 6 paces from the endzone line.

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Basic Play and Scoring

The team with the ball has 4 plays (“downs”) to attempt to score. There are no ways to get a first down. If the team with the ball chooses, they can punt the ball to the opposition.

Play is one-hand touch. One foot must be in-bounds to consitute a valid catch. If the ball is fumbled, the play is dead when the ball hits the ground.

Catching or running the ball into the endzone is a touchdown and worth 6 points. After a touchdown, the scoring team gets one play to attempt a conversion from the opposition 20 yard line. Catching or running the ball into the endzone on the conversion play is worth 1 point.

Tackling a player in the endzone is a safety and worth 2 points. The team that gives up the safety must then punt the ball to the team that scored the safety.

If, on a conversion attempt, the opposing team intercepts the ball and runs it back to the opposite endzone, a safety is awarded to that team.

Offensive teams “snap” the ball by holding it over the line of scrimmage and pulling the ball off the line of scrimmage. Once the ball is snapped, the defense starts to count to 5. Generally counting “steamboats” is considered the best method and must be deliberately and out loud. The quarterback (the player who “snapped” the ball) cannot run the ball until the defensive team’s rusher crosses the line of scrimmage to pursue the quarterback. If the quarterback hands off or throws a lateral pass (parallel or behind the thrower), the player receiving the ball can run immediately. In addition, once the ball is handed off or lateraled, the defense can cross the line of scrimmage immediately.

One player can be in motion before the snap, but not toward the line of scrimmage.

Kicking and Punting

Due to the limitation on the size of the field, there are no actual kickoffs or punts. The receiving team simply starts play on their 20 yard line as if the returning player were tackled there.

Equal Possession Rule and Overtime

Each team has an equal number of possessions (i.e. the team that starts with the ball on offense, finishes it on defense). If the score is tied at the end of the game, the game goes into overtime. Each team gets the ball at midfield and has 2 downs or attempts to score a touchdown, including the conversion. If, after an equal number of possessions, one team is ahead, that team is declared the winner.