2010 Great Eastern Football Assoc. 

    RULES & REGULATIONS 

 Arena-Style/8-On-8  

 

Rule I. THE GAME, FIELD, PLAYERS & EQUIPMENT

 

SECTION 1-GENERAL GAME PROVISIONS

Article 1- The game shall be played between two (2) teams of no more than eight (8) players on the field of play for each team (offense and defense).  This shall be done on a properly shaped field (50 yards long by 30 yards wide… eight [8] yard deep end zones…hash marks are 4 & ½ feet from field center) with a properly inflated ball. Each team has 10 yards to gain a First Down, and (4) downs in which to do it. The offensive team must go for a first down (and/or Touchdown) in any fourth down scenario.  There is no punting or auto-punt provision.

 

Winning Team and Final Score

Article 2a- The teams are awarded points based on values established by these rules.  Forfeited games are given a different value and depending on the circumstances may alter the outcome of the game. A forfeited game’s final score is 7-0 for the Non-Forfeiting team.

 

Article 2b- The game is ended and the score is final when the referee declares the game complete.

 

Supervision/Officiating

Article 3a- The game is conducted under the supervision of 2 or 3 outside/3^rd party officials (i.e., PIAA/NJISAA and/or similar) who will have copies of and have reviewed these rules so as to be able to enforce & execute them to the best of their abilities.  

 

Article 3b- Officiating crews will be outside/3^rd party Referees (i.e., PIAA, NJISAA, etc.) paid-for/arranged by the HOME Team/League Officials.   Should there be an unforeseen circumstance preventing Paid Officials to be present, this should be made known immediately. With that, any member(s) of the Board of Commissioners/Directors AND the opposing team’s leadership should be notified at once. The G.E.F.A. will supply officiating crews of two to three officials  (per the above).

 

 

Team Managers and Captains

Article 4a- Each team shall designate to the officials, one or more players as its field captain(s) and one player on offense, defense and/or special teams shall speak for the team in all penalty dealings with the referee.  Also, the coach(es) are also to remain in communication with officials when and as is necessary throughout  the course of game play.

 

Article 4b- The field captains’ first announced choice of any options explained to him for his team shall not be reversed.

 

Article 4c- Any player that participated in the last play, and is still on the field of play after play has ended may request a time-out. Coaching Staff members may also request a time-out.

 

Persons Subject to the Rules

Article 5- All players, captains, managers, or persons should ensure that the game ball is available to the nearest official.  Any unwanted or deliberate acts to delay the game by misuse of the ball will be penalized accordingly. In adverse weather conditions, it is the responsibility of the game officials to keep the ball dry.

 

SECTION 2 – THE FIELD

Dimensions, Markings and Area Designation

Article 1a – Field must be 50 yards long, from goal line to goal line.

 

1b - Field must have two (2) end zones of 8 yards each.

1c – Field must be 30 yards wide with hash marks 4 & ½ feet from field center.

1d – Yard Lines should be clearly lined in at least 5-yard increments.  And, the use of cones or yard line markers along the sidelines to signify these lines as well as pylons or alternately shaped cones/yard markers for End Zones is required.  There MUST be designation between Yard Line and Goal Line/End Zone markers. Bottom-weighted blaze-orange pylons are strongly recommended for End Zone/Goal Line designation.

 

1e – Teams shall use opposite sides of the field to use as their team area during the game.  The team area stretches from fifteen (15) yard line to fifteen (15) yard line and no less than ten (10) yards deep off of the playing field.  Only the team Coach(es)/Manager(s), captains and players are allowed within the team area.  No one is to be on the sidelines from the 15 yard line down to the Goal Line(s) and/or around the back(s) of the End Zones. Any/all persons however associated with the team (including fans, spectators, friends, family, etc.) and who are not a Coach/Manager, captains or players must be removed from the immediate areas surrounding the playing field (10 yards back from the sidelines) and team area(s).  Game play will be ceased until any/all such persons are where they should be, per the above.

 

SECTION 3 – THE BALL

Specifications

Article 1 – Each team should use the BADEN Deuce Leather 7000D G.E.F.A. League Football.  Details on pricing and ordering are T.B.D.  The home team must provide the official game ball(s) to the referee and umpire prior to the start of the game for inspection. Proper inflation pressure is 12 ½ to 13 ½ p.s.i.

 

Administration and Enforcement

Article 2 – A “common” football will be used (supplied by the home team). Footballs used for kickoffs can be designated as separate from Game Balls.  But, it is not necessary to separate “Game Balls” from “Kickoff Balls.” That will be left to each team’s discretion. After inspection, the ball should be kept to the proper inflation during the game. After a play is over, either leave the ball on the ground or hand it to an official. If the ball is found to have been altered during game play, and the act deemed deliberate, the offending team will be assessed a delay of game penalty. 

 

SECTION 4-PLAYING EQUIPMENT AND UNIFORMS

Uniforms:

Article 1a - Auxiliary equipment (rib pads, back pads/plates, knee braces, soft casts, etc.) shall be at each team’s and/or player’s discretion as long as it does not include any inordinately hard, sharp or unyielding surface(s). Anything “questionable” must be agreed to by BOTH Head/Lead Coaches before game play begins with that specific piece of Auxiliary Equipment.

 

Article 1b (Jerseys) - All members of the same team must wear the same colored jersey with non-duplicating numbers (0, 00, 1-99) including at least an 8 inch number on the front & back. 

 

Article 1c (Pants/Helmets) - All members of the same team should wear the same colored pants and helmets.  If there is a discrepancy, this should be acknowledged and okayed by both teams’ leadership prior to kickoff. Additional “standard” padding (knee, hip, tail bone, thigh, lower back) is strongly recommended. It is also highly recommended that chinstraps be fully snapped and that mouth pieces be worn, but it is not mandatory. 

 

Article 1d (Jewelry) – Jewelry is permitted with the exception of dangling chains NOT being allowed.  These must be taken off or taped to the player’s body so as not to fly out and/or be grabbed on to during a play.

 

Playing Equipment and Uniform Enforcement

Article 2- if any player has improper, unapproved and/or different game attire than his team mates, said player may not participate in the game until he A} gets approval from team leadership (i.e., a different color pants or helmet due to an equipment issue or something similar [this will be on a case-by-case basis]) or B} complies with these rules.  If discovered during the game without any prior approval, the offending player must be removed from play until agreement and/or compliance occurs.  Violation of this results in a 5 yard penalty for the team whose player has had this infraction.

 

RULE 2 – ROSTERS, ACTIVE COACHES, PLAYERS, ELIGIBILITY & CONDUCT

SECTION 1 – TEAM & PLAYERS

Eligibility

Article 1a– Team Roster:  Teams’ Game-Day/Playing rosters shall not exceed twenty-six (26) players.  Teams’ TOTAL roster number has no cap for 2009.

 

1b – The 2010 Weekly Game Day Roster(s) Deadline is 10pm on the Friday before the following/next Game Day. This can be done via e-mail, fax, phone or in-person. If this is NOT received from each team, by a Conference Director and/or a Board of Commissioners Member, there will be a $75.00 Fine imposed on the non-complying team(s). That team MUST pay that $75.00 fine before playing the following week, or additional fines of $75.00 will accrue for every week the initial fine is not paid and/or every subsequent week a Game Roster is not submitted.    

 

1c – No player shall be permitted to play in the Great Eastern Football Association if they participate(d) in a REGULAR SEASON GAME(s) in another league and/or on another formally organized team* during the course of G.E.F.A. Regular Season, Playoffs and/or KEYSTONE BOWL play.  Any player doing so will cause their G.E.F.A. Team to incur a forfeit loss for any game(s) played per the previous statement. (*this includes Professional, Semi-Pro/Minor League, Collegiate and/or Scholastic teams/leagues, etc.)

 

1d – Players must be 18 or older to participate in G.E.F.A. play (16 and older with a parent’s and/or legal guardian’s signed permission)

 

1e – Each Team may have a MAXIMUM of FIVE (5) Active/Game-Day Coaches on that team’s Sideline Area/Team & Coaches “box” participating in that game’s events (i.e., A} Head Coach, B}Offensive & Defensive Coordinators & C} Offensive/Defensive/Special Teams Assistants).

 

1f – POST SEASON & ALL STAR CLASH Eligibility. Players must have played in at least FIVE (5) out of TEN (10) games during the REGULAR SEASON to be eligible for both Post Season/Playoff and KEYSTONE BOWL games AND for the “ALL STAR CLASH” (played the week after the KEYSTONE BOWL).

 

1g – IN-Season Roster Additions. Game-Day roster is “Up to 26 players.”  If/when adding a player, in-season, any team doing so must notify the G.E.F.A. board of commissioners. This can be done via weekly roster submissions. This must be done/sent to the team’s respective Division Director(s) by/before 6pm Friday prior to the Saturday game. REMEMBER: To be eligible for PLAYOFFS/POST-SEASON and “The ALL STAR CLASH,” a player MUST play in no less than FIVE (5) 2009 Regular Season Games. A League/Team contract/player agreement MUST be completed, signed and submitted, prior to the beginning of the regular season (or ASAP if a player joins a team in-season).  This must be done and submitted to the Conference Director and/or a Board of Commissioners Member before any player can participate in G.E.F.A. play during that upcoming/current season and/or post-season.

 

1h – In-Season Player Releases/Cuts and Player Additions.  A team may release/cut a given player during the season.  This action MUST be cleared with the Division Director for that team so as to communicate it to the Board of Commissioners.  That player may then be picked up by a 2^nd team.  That player’s season status begins with the next game played (with the 2^nd team) being the player’s FIRST GAME of the Season.  Basically, the player is starting from Game-One of that season, and must also have participated in no fewer than five (5) regular season games with that 2^nd team to be eligible for any/all post season play (including All-Star Clash). 

 

Further, should the 2^nd team release/cut that same player, with Division Director and Board of Commissioners’ approval, and the 1^st team opts to claim the player for a 2^nd stint with their team, that player, once again, is starting at Game-One for that season.  Any/All game(s) previously played with their 1^st/original team does NOT count towards Post-Season Play.  Again: any/all players must play at least ONE ACTIVE PLAY in no fewer than five (5) games to be eligible for post-season play.

 

Team and Player Enforcement

Article 2– Any team or players found violating any of these rules shall forfeit all games played/participated in by the ineligible player(s) and/or coach(es).

 

 

SECTION 2- PLAYER CONDUCT

Players(s) Behavior:

Article 1a- Any inappropriate verbal badgering or berating of officials or derogatory language between opposing players towards each other, others on or beyond the sidelines (spectators, etc.) or towards officials after officials have asked for the team captain(s) or coaches to control their respective players can result in the player or players involved in the action in question to be disqualified from that game.

   If the “fan” causing the disturbance is not a part of either team but is part of a non-participating G.E.F.A. team, that person/player will be removed from the game area. Then, that person/player will be suspended from their next game AND the player will incur a $75.00 fine which MUST be paid before being eligible to return to active/game-day roster designation. 

 

1. The FIRST derogatory action or language on the field/by a player results in a 5 yard penalty and the captain(s) and coaches warned. Offending player(s) are removed from the game for a cooling down period of TWO Offensive series for that team. Further, the sideline (coaches, managers, staff and fans included) can get a sideline warning first with no distance penalty awarded.  Any subsequent sideline penalties will result in a 5 yard penalty.

 

2. The SECOND derogatory action or language will cause player(s) and/or other sideline participants and/or spectators/fans in question to be ejected from the game and/or the area of the field of play. Play will cease until the person(s) involved physically leaves the field AND any/all immediate surrounding area(s).  Also, a 15 yard unsportsmanlike penalty will be assessed to the team with the player, coach/manager and/or fan who has caused this action to occur.  If it’s a non-descript game that causes the disturbance, there is NO team penalty assessed.  Authorities are to be contacted for removal of the fan/person in question, if necessary, to assist in the removal process.

 

FIGHTING OF ANY SORT (including punching, head-slapping, intentional kicking [and other similar actions/infractions] towards another person) IS AN IMMEDIATE DISQUALIFICATION/GAME EJECTION FOR A MINIMUM OF ONE GAME, AND UP TO AN ENTIRE SEASON (8 consecutive regular season games which may span more than one regular season’s time frame). THIS IS FOR THE PLAYER(S) IN QUESTION AND INCLUDES A $75.00 FINE PAYBLE BY THE PLAYER(S) IN QUESTION.  THE SECOND INCIDENT RESULTING IN EJECTION/GAME DISQUALIFICATION IS AN ADDITIONAL $75.00 FINE, PAYBLE FROM THE PLAYER(S) IN QUESTION, ALONG WITH MANDTORY SUSPENSION OF THE PLAYER(S) FOR AT LEAST THE REMAINDER OF THAT CURRENT SEASON, INCLUDING ALL POST-SEASON PLAY, AND COULD BE AS MUCH AS EIGHT (8) CONSECUTIVE REGULAR SEASON GAMES (these 8 consecutive regular season games may span more than one regular season’s time frame). ALL FINES MUST BE PAID-IN-FULL BEFORE CONSIDERATION FOR RE-INSATEMENT AS AN ACTIVE PLAYER CAN OCCUR. ALSO, A 15 YARD PENALTY WILL BE ASSESSED FOR THAT PLAYER’S TEAM. FURTHER, ANY/ALL PLAYER(S) INVOLVED WILL BE SUSPENDED FOR AT LEAST 1 GAME AND UP TO AN ENTIRE SEASON (8 consecutive regular season games which may span more than one regular season’s time frame) AT ANY TIME AND FOR ANY INFRACTION (including a “first offense”).  THIS IS SUBJECT TO G.E.F.A. BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS’ REVIEW AND DETERMINATION.  AND ALL SUCH DETMINATIONS WILL BE FINAL.

 

 

SHOULD A LEAGUE ADMINISTATOR NOT BE ON-HAND FOR AN EJECTION/GAME DISQUALIFICATION INCIDENT, AS DESCRIBED ABOVE, THE OFFICIALS/REFERREES FROM THAT GAME SHALL CONTACT THE RECPECTIVE DIVISION DIRECTOR AND/OR A G.E.F.A. BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEMBER SO AS TO REVIEW THE INCIDENT AND ARRIVE AT A DECISION RELATIVE TO SUSPENSION(S). 

 

THE ABOVE-MENTIONED ARE THE ONLY 15-YARD PENALTIES IN THE G.E.F.A. RULES/REGS.

 

If captain(s) and coaches of the penalized team cannot control the actions of their players, the game can be forfeited at the on-site Officials’ and/or League Administrators’ (if present) discretion.

 

 

RULE 3 – DEFINITIONS/PLAYING REGULATIONS

 

SECTION 1- Length of Games, scoring, Time-Outs and Coin Toss.

Article 1- At the beginning of the game, a coin toss will be held at mid-field observed by the game officials and respective teams.  At this time, the referee may conduct pre-game points of emphasis with the respective captain(s) and will be in charge of the coin toss.  The winner of the toss will have the following (4) options: kick, receive, defer or defend.  The loser of the opening toss will have choice of the remaining options for the first half and will have first choice of all options for the second half.  The winner of the opening toss has all remaining second half options.

Article 2- The kickoff will start the game and will begin at the kicking team’s Goal Line. Touchbacks will be placed at the 5 yard line.

 

RULE 4- PENALTY ENFORCEMENT

Section 1- Penalty Information

Article 1a- All penalty distances will be enforced with the standard distances (5 &10 yards).  After a penalty is called, the referee will ask the calling official for the penalty and players number.  The opposing captain will be called by the referee and have the result of the play and options explained to him.  The captain’s first choice will be final.  During the penalty phase, the game clock (on-field) will stop until the penalty has been enforced and then be restarted after the penalty has been announced and play has been whistled & “wind-milled” as ready to resume.

 

Article 1b- In the judgment of any game official, if the following acts are deliberate or flagrant, the player(s) involved shall be disqualified from the game:

a) using fists, kicking, or kneeing

b) any deliberate act that can cause injury

            c) any act of unsportsmanlike conduct (2 separate acts committed by same individual

                results in automatic disqualification)

d) abusive, profane, inappropriate or insulting language

e) undue harassment of officials or other players

f)  removing and/or using the helmet as a “weapon.”

There is a league minimum of a one (1) game suspension and a $75.00 fine, which must be paid before said player can participate in a G.E.F.A. game. This applies to any person/player ejected from a game for any reason.  Individual Team rules may differ and/or be more severe.

 

Article 1c- penalties which are greater than the distance to the goal line are marked off and classified as “half the distance to the goal.”

 

 

 

The following are comprised of rules from NFHS (Federation), NCAA, NFL and Arena football. These rules shall apply with emphasis on the following:

a) One foot in-bounds for a legal catch

b) There is intentional grounding. The QB/Passer must be outside the T/TE “box” to have an incomplete pass to no nearby receiver NOT classified as intentional grounding.  Any such-thrown passes will be called Intentional Grounding, and have an accompanying 5-yard penalty.

c) There is an “un-catchable ball” rule (to counter any would-be pass interference calls).  This would be when any passed ball while in the general area of the receiver & defender, is deemed “out of reach” not due to any alleged/possible contact, but due to trajectory.

d) If ball carrier is not down by contact or touched by opposing player while on the ground, he may get up and proceed.

e) No “sideline hangers.” This applies when a team prepares for their next play. Players must report to their team’s huddle. Failure to do so will result in a 5 yard dead ball foul or if player participates in the play, a 10 yard illegal participation foul is assessed. This does NOT apply with a no-huddle scenario and/or formation.

f) No chop blocking/blocking below the waist, inside the T/TE Box. If done, penalty is according to the rules.

g) There is to be no intentional leg-whipping/tripping.  Any “tackle” made by these means is subject to a flag, play (and clock) stoppage, review...BY OFFICIALS ONLY... and a possible 10-Yard “Personal foul, Tripping/Leg-Whipping penalty” if deemed intentional.

h) NFL style blocking is permitted. Hands can be used to “grab” inside the frame-work of the FRONT of an opposing player’s body. Any “grabbing” on to the sides of the shoulders around to the opposing player’s back WILL be construed as “Holding” and that penalty will be called.

i) Defensive Off-sides/Encroachment: When a defensive player goes across the line of scrimmage with no contact and gets back before snap, there will be no penalty. When a defensive player goes across the line of scrimmage and makes contact with an offensive player, there shall be an immediate stoppage of play and a dead ball penalty. When the defensive player goes across the line of scrimmage and the ball is snapped (with no contact), play continues and will then be called as a Live Ball penalty.  Here, the option for the Offensive team is either a Free Play, and have the penalty assessed and then repeat the down, or decline the penalty and keep any gain(s) made on that play.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Game Time

Article 2a – Clock Management and Regulations:

1.      Game clock will start each half when the ball is touched by the receiving team.

2.      After a team time-out, the game clock will start at the snap of the ball.

3.      The game clock is a continuously-running clock, but it does stop after a TD, and during PAT attempts, and will re-start on the ensuing kickoff when the ball is touched by the receiving team.

4.      The game clock will stop for team time-outs, official time-outs, penalties, and otherwise at the discretion of the official.

5.      Halftime – A minimum of 5 minutes and a maximum of 15 minutes.

6.      During the last Two (2) Minutes of the 2^nd and 4^th quarter ONLY, plays that culminate out of bounds and/or plays that end up with an incomplete pass shall also stop the game clock.  The game clock will re-start with the snap of the ball following such plays.

 

7.      The PLAY CLOCK shall allow for 35 Seconds from the time the ball is set (by the official) from the previous play to when the next play should start from the snap of the ball.  Any play not starting within the 35-Second PLAY CLOCK parameters will result in a 5-Yard Penalty on the offensive team and a re-play of that down.

 

The Coaching Staff, On-Field Captain or Quarterback my request the amount of time left in the game from the officials at any time.  Officials will give the current time remaining in that quarter.

 

2b – Periods of play include Regulation, (PAT) Point after touchdown and Overtime.

 

2c – Regulation Period – The game shall be played in 4 quarters of 15 minutes in length.  In all games, the clock will be running per the above outlined parameters in Article 2a.

 

2e – With 2 minutes remaining in regulation of the first and second half, teams will be given a two minute warning. Here, the Game Clock will stop at the 2:00 mark...or as soon after the 2:00 mark as is possible, should a play be in progress.  There will be a 30-second “break,” then play will resume with the start of the PLAY CLOCK.  The Game Clock will start at the snap of the ball on the ensuing play.

 

2f – Overtime – In the event of a tie game at the end of the second half, the following method will be used:

 

1.      After an official’s time-out of two (2) minutes, during which the officials and team captains will have a coin toss, the winner will have choice of playing offense or defense first.  Both will go in the direction of the wind or if no wind, in the direction chosen by the refs, coaches and/or designated team rep.

 

2.      COLLEGE FOOTBALL O.T. FORMAT: Ball will be placed on the 15 yard line, going IN to an end zone, per item 1 (same end zone for each team). Each team will have offensive possession – based on normal game conditions -- unless terminated by an interception or fumble, in which to score the most points.  If after each team has had consecutive possessions and the two teams’ scores remain tied, both teams will then have an additional possession. This Overtime Possession provision will continue until a winner is decided by scoring more points than the opponent, thus breaking any ties. 

3.      During overtime, teams will be allowed one (1) time-out each...TOTAL...regardless of how long the O.T. period(s) lasts.

4.      An interception or fumble recovery by the defense terminates the offensive team chances.  The defense may not advance the interception.  Play stops so that the intercepting team may re-set as the offensive team.

 

 

Scoring

Article 3a: Touchdown = 6 points

                  PAT = (1) point for a run, (2) points for a pass…FROM THE 2 YARD LINE.

                  Safety = 2 points (Free kick from goal line: choice of punt-style or teed up)

                  Forfeited Game = Score 7-0

                  There is NO return of Extra Points by the Defense.  Any turnover by the offensive

                      team, recovered by the defensive team, will be blown dead by the official(s).

                  

Article 4a:

1. Each team shall have (3) timeouts per half

2. Each timeout will be (1) minute in length

3. Each team will have (1) timeout in Overtime

4. A timeout may be called by any player who participated during the previous play.  Player must have been on the field during the previous play.

Said player may not have left the field and returned prior to the request.

The Coaching Staff may also request a timeout.

 

Article 4b- Officials may call additional timeouts at their discretion.

 

Article 4c- During a team charged timeout, only one (1) team representative may confer with their team on the playing field.

 

SECTION 3 – LINE OF SCRIMMAGE, ELIGIBLE RECEIVERS, SUBSTITUTION, BLITZING/RUSHING, ILLEGAL PLAY(s)…

Article 1 –

   No less than three (3) linemen may be on the offensive or defensive line of scrimmage at the snap. And, a 3-point stance, while recommended, is NOT mandatory. Rushing and/or Blitzing the passer/backfield by the defense may be done by defensive players including Linebackers and/or Defensive Back(s).  With that, this all MUST occur within the Offensive Tackle/TE Box [Wing Backs, etc. placed near the T/TE, but not on the L.O.S., do not constitute a “Box” player…only T/TE and/or players on L.O.S.] and no further back, defensively, than 7 yards.

 

ANY/ALL blitzing shall be limited to the inside gaps within the Tackle/Tight End box.  Linebackers and/or Defensive Backs can rush outside the offensive tackle/tight end area in a stunt situation where a DE/DT slants to the inside Tackle/Center gap. This can occur ONLY when that Linebacker or Defensive Back is in the gap inside the DE/DT and on the line of scrimmage at the snap of the ball.  Again, a Wing Back/Running Back lined up near the T/TEs but not on the Line of Scrimmage is NOT defined as part of the T/TE Box. 

 

 

1-A The QB.  Once the QB runs with the football laterally outside of the T/TE Box, that player is live & subject to pursuit and tackling by ANY defensive player.  Similarly, once the football leaves the QB’s hands via pass, pitch, hand-off, or fumble, any defensive player is now able to cross the line of scrimmage thus entering the (former) “Box” area to engage the opposition.  Roughing the passer rules/penalties still apply whether inside or outside the (former) “Box” area.

 

Article 2-

   There will be free substitution as long as the players being substituted for are off the field prior to the next snap OR the player is out of the area of play and is departing in haste. Players leaving the field must head towards their respective sidelines. 

 

 

 

 

Article 3 -

    One offensive player(s) may be in motion/moving towards the line of scrimmage at the time of the snap.  The play is legal as long as the said player does not cross the line of scrimmage before the snap occurs. Prior to that, before the snap, there may be motion/movement/shifting by more than one player, but any players above the aforementioned one offensive player in motion at the time of the snap MUST be set for at least a full second prior to the offensive snap.

 

Article 4-

   There is NO “Center Sneak” play in the G.E.F.A.  Period.  The football MUST be snapped from the Center…away from the Center…and then handled by a “skill position player” (i.e., QB, RB, WR) whether it be a run play or a pass play.