The Rules of New Gridiron Football

Introduction

The following is a first draft of the rules of New Gridiron Football. These explain the basic mechanics of the game. As test matches are played and players, coaches, and referees gain a greater understanding of the game, these rules will evolve over time. Once more players are comfortable with the game and its form, the first official rulebook will be published. Feel free to use these rules as a baseline for your matches.

Modifications

The Rules of New Gridiron Football may be modified in their application for matches that include:

Players of under 16 years of age
Female players
Veteran players (over 35 years of age)
Players with disabilities

Any or all of the following modifications are permissible:

Dimensions of the field of play
Size, weight, shape, and material of the ball
Amount of contact allowed during play
Width of goalposts
Placement of hashmarks on the field
Duration of the periods of play
Substitutions

Gender references

References to the male gender in these rules with regard to referees, assistant referees, players, and officials are for simplification and apply to both men and women.

Sportsmanship

New Gridiron Football is a new concept to all who wish to get involved in the game. Please bear in mind that everyone is learning how the game works — especially game referees, who will require time to learn how to officiate matches properly. All players, coaches, officials, and spectators involved in matches are encouraged to show respect to each other and to encourage fair play and good sportsmanship among all.

Rules

FIELD: The game will be played on a regulation American football Gridiron, 100 yards long with 10-yard end zones and goal posts on either end.
BALL: The game will be played with a spherical ball, approximately size 5 per FIFA regulations.
LENGTH OF GAME: The game will be played in 4 10-minute quarters. Teams will switch sides on which end zone to defend at the start of each quarter.
NUMBER OF PLAYERS: Each team will consist of 11 players on the field and 11 substitute players. Teams may substitute players up to 3 times per quarter during stoppages of play, and between quarters as needed.
PLAYER MOVEMENT: There is no offside rule. All players may move freely about the field throughout a game.
COIN TOSS: Before the game begins, the referee will toss a coin. The home team will call heads or tails before the coin is tossed. The team that wins the coin toss will decide whether to kick off or receive. The other team will decide which end zone to defend.
KICKOFF:
1. Each quarter will begin with a kickoff.
2. Teams will alternate kickoffs from quarter to quarter.
3. The kicking team will kick the ball from its own 30-yard line.
4. Kicking team players may not advance past the 50-yard line until the receiving team touches the ball.
5. Likewise, receiving team players may not advance past the 50-yard line before the receiving team touches the ball.
6. Should a kickoff land out of bounds or in the end zone without touching either the field of play or a receiving team player first, the receiving team will be awarded a free kick at the 50-yard line.
TIMING:
1. Each quarter of the game will have 10 minutes of regulation time.
2. The clock will start from the moment a kickoff is touched by the receiving team.
3. The clock will stop when:
  1. A team scores
  2. The ball goes out of bounds
  3. The referee determines an infraction has occurred
  4. A player calls time out
  5. Time expires for the quarter
ADVANCING THE BALL:
1. The team in possession of the ball may advance the ball by kicking the ball or running with the ball.
2. A player carrying the ball with his arms may advance the ball up to 4 gridlines by running with it. If the player crosses a fifth goal line before disposing of the ball, the opposing team will be awarded a free kick from the grid line where the infraction occurred.
3. A player who kicks the ball to himself is determined to have disposed of the ball.
PASSING THE BALL:
1. A player in possession of the ball may throw or tap the ball backward or laterally to a teammate.
2. Should a player throw or tap the ball forward toward the opposing team’s end zone, the passing team is not permitted to touch the ball until a player from the opposing team touches the ball.
FREE KICK:
1. If a player catches a kicked ball that crosses 3 or more grid lines forward from either:
  1. the point where the ball was kicked in open play, or
  2. the spot of a free kick
    without touching the ground or another player, that player shall be awarded a free kick from the spot of the catch.
2. The player catching the ball must have at least one foot, one knee, or one elbow touching the ground in bounds to be awarded a free kick.
3. A team may also be awarded a free kick if the referee has determined that an infraction has occurred.
4. A player awarded a free kick will have 10 seconds from the referee’s whistle to dispose of the ball.
5. The player will be permitted to back up behind the spot of the free kick up to 10 yards.
6. The player must remain within a pocket of space behind the spot that measures one yard to either side of the spot. Should the player carry the ball outside this pocket, the free kick is canceled, and the referee will declare play on.
7. Should the player legally pass the ball to a teammate, the free kick is canceled, and the referee will declare play on.
8. No more than one player from the opposing team may line up at the spot of the free kick and may not advance past the spot until:
  1. the free kick is taken
  2. 10 seconds have expired and the referee declares play on
  3. the free kick is otherwise canceled and the referee declares play on
9. All other players from the opposing team must keep a 10-yard distance in all directions from the player taking the free kick.
10. If an opposing team’s player is determined to encroach on the player taking the free kick, the player shall be awarded a free kick 10 yards in advance of the spot of the original free kick.
TACKLING:
1. Tackling must be done below the shoulders and above the knees. Tackles above the shoulders or below the knees shall be considered infractions, as described in the Infractions section below.
2. Only the player in possession of the ball, either by carrying the ball or by kick-dribbling the ball at his feet, is permitted to be tackled by the opposing team.
3. A player in possession of the ball is determined to be tackled if the opposing team:
  1. brings the player to the ground, or
  2. holds the player in the grasp for no less than 3 seconds and the player does not dispose of the ball.
4. A tackled player will be ruled down if the player’s knee, elbow, torso, or backside is touching the ground while:
  1. The player has possession of the ball in his arms, and
  2. The player is being held by a player from the opposing team
5. If a player is ruled down by tackle, the opposing team shall be awarded a free kick from the spot of the tackle.
OUT OF BOUNDS:
1. The ball will be determined to be out of bounds if:
  1. The ball lands beyond the sideline outside of the field of play
  2. A player in possession of the ball steps beyond the sideline outside of the field of play
2. The team that last touches the ball before it is ruled out of bounds will be in violation, and the opposing team will be awarded a throw-in from the spot where the ball is ruled out of bounds.
3. All rules regarding passing the ball, as described in section 10, apply to throw-ins.
4. If the ball is ruled to be out of bounds beyond either goal line:
  1. If the attacking team last touched the ball, the defending team shall be awarded a free kick from its own 10-yard line.
  2. If the defending team last touched the ball, the attacking team shall be awarded a SAFETY, and the defending team shall be awarded a free kick from its own 10-yard line.
SCORING:
1. A team whose player kicks the ball through the opposing team’s goal posts within the time of play shall be awarded a FIELD GOAL, which is worth 3 points.
2. A team whose player has possession of the ball in his arms with one foot, one knee, or one elbow within the opposing team’s end zone shall be awarded a TOUCHDOWN, which is worth 6 points.
3. Following a touchdown, the scoring team shall be awarded a spot kick for additional points. The spot kick may be placed at the left or right hashmark of the 10-, 25-, or 40-yard line of the opposing team. Points will be awarded if the scoring team kicks the ball through the opposing team’s goal posts.
  1. A successful spot kick from the 10-yard line is worth 1 point.
  2. A successful spot kick from the 25-yard line is worth 2 points.
  3. A successful spot kick from the 40-yard line is worth 3 points.
4. Players from the opposing team must remain at least 15 yards behind the spot of the ball and may not in any way attempt to defend the kick.
5. If a player is tackled in his own team’s end zone, the opposing team shall be awarded a SAFETY, which is worth 2 points. A SAFETY may also be awarded if a player in his own team’s end zone loses possession of the ball and it goes beyond the boundary of the end zone before touching an opposing player.
6. After a team scores, the opposing team shall be awarded a free kick from its own 10-yard line.
END OF GAME:
1. The team with the most points at the end of a game shall be declared the winner.
2. If teams are even on points at the end of a game, teams shall play a five-minute overtime period to determine a winner. The referee will perform a coin toss before the overtime period as per the rules outlined above.
INFRACTIONS:
1. HIGH TACKLE. A player tackled above the shoulders will be awarded a free kick 20 yards in advance of the spot of the infraction.
2. LOW TACKLE. A player tackled below the knees will be awarded a free kick 10 yards in advance of the spot of the infraction.
3. OBSTRUCTION. A player may not block or obstruct an opposing team’s player from pursuit of the player’s teammate. If a player is called for obstruction, the opposing team will be awarded a free kick from the spot of the infraction.
4. HOLDING. A player may not hold an opposing team’s player who does not have possession of the ball. If a player is called for holding, the opposing team will be awarded a free kick at the spot of the infraction.
5. ILLEGAL FORWARD PASS. A player may not touch the ball after it has been thrown, tapped with the hands, or batted with the arms forward by a teammate. If a team is called for an illegal forward pass, the opposing team will be awarded a free kick from the spot of the infraction.
6. ILLEGAL PUSH. A player may not use his arms to push an opposing team’s player who does not have possession of the ball either in his arms or at his feet. If a player is called for an illegal push, the opposing team will be awarded a free kick from the spot of the infraction.
7. ILLEGAL HEADER. Players are not permitted to contact the ball with their heads intentionally. If a player is called for an illegal header, the opposing team will be awarded a free kick from the spot of the infraction.
8. SIDELINE INFRACTION. A player who takes possession of a ball following an out-of-bounds ruling may not step onto the field of play until the ball is thrown back into the field of play. Also, a player who takes possession of a ball following an out-of-bounds ruling may not kick the ball back into play. If a player is called for a sideline infraction, the opposing team will be awarded a throw-in at the spot of the infraction.