Intramurals Game Rules Football 7: Playing Rules

1. On the 80-yard field:
   • A touchdown will be put into play on the 20-yard line.
   • The halves are to start with a free kick from the 20-yard line.
2. A team in possession of the ball shall have 4 consecutive downs to gain a first down.
3. Legal position - anytime at the snap or after the ball is ready for play, each offensive player must momentarily be within 15 yards of the ball. Penalty: Illegal Procedure, 5 yards from the line of scrimmage.
4. Minimum offensive line players - the offensive team must have at least 4 players on their scrimmage line at the snap. A player in motion is not considered one of the four players. Penalty: Illegal Procedure, 5 yards from the line of scrimmage.
5. Motion - one offensive player may be in motion, but not in motion towards the opponent's goal line. Other offensive players must be stationary without movement of their feet, body, head, or arms. Penalty: Illegal Procedure, 5 yards from the line of scrimmage.
6. The ball can be snapped between the legs or on the side of the snapper and the person receiving may not be closer than 2 yards to the snapper. Penalty: Illegal Procedure, 5 yards from line of scrimmage.
7. Defensive Encroachment - (entering the neutral zone prior to the snap) is a dead ball foul. The whistle shall be blown immediately. Penalty: 5 yards from the line of scrimmage.
8. Offensive False Start - (movement on the offensive line) is a dead ball foul. The whistle shall be blown immediately. Penalty: 5 yards from line of scrimmage.
9. Offensive Screen Blocking: Penalty.- Personal foul, 15 yards from the spot of foul 
   • The offensive screen block shall take place without contact.
   • The screen blocker shall have their hands and arms at their side or behind their back.
   • Any use of the arms, elbows, legs, or body to initiate contact during an offensive player's screen block is illegal.
   • A blocker may use his/her hand or arm to break a fall or to retain his/her balance.
   • A player must be on his/her feet before, during, and after screen blocking.
10. Screen Blocking Fundamentals: Penalty: Personal foul, 15 yards from the spot of foul. A player who screens shall not: 
    • Take a position closer than a normal step when behind a stationary opponent.
    • Take a position so close to a moving opponent that his/her opponent cannot avoid contact by stopping or changing direction.
    • Make contact when assuming a position at the side or in front of a stationary opponent.
    • After assuming his/her legal screening position move to maintain it, unless he/she moves in the same direction and path as his/her opponent.
11. Use of Hands or Arms by the Defense: Penalty: Personal foul, IO yards from the spot of foul. 
    • Defensive players must go around the offensive player's screen block.
    • The arms and hands may not be used as a wedge to contact the opponent.
    • A blocker may use his/her arms or hands to break a fall or retain his/her balance.
12. Handling the Ball: 
    • Any player may hand or throw the ball backward at any time
    • Ball carrier cannot use a "stiff-arm". Penalty: Illegal use of hands, 15 yards from spot of foul.
    • If opposing players simultaneously catch a pass or a fumble in flight, the ball becomes dead at the spot of the catch and belongs to the offensive team.
    • No runner with the ball can Spin (making a 360 degree turn to elude a tackler), Jump (to avoid having a flag pulled), and Guard (blocking an opposing player from pulling a flag); all are illegal. Penalty.- 15 yards from the spot of foul, plus loss of down.
    • The player scoring a touchdown must raise his/her anus so the nearest official can deflag the player. If the player is not deflagged with one pull and the official determines the flag belt has been secured illegally, the touchdown is disallowed. The player is disqualified. Penalty.- Personal foul, IO yards from the previous spot.
13. Passing the Ball: 
    • Behind the line of scrimmage any number of backward passes may be thrown.
    • One foot must land in bounds to complete a pass.
    • A passer is declared down if his flag is withdrawn by a defensive player or is pulled or is pulled before his arm is in forward passing motion.
    • Illegal forward pass - Penalty: 5 yards from spot of penalty and loss of down.
    • Roughing the passer occurs when defensive players fail to avoid making contact with the passer. This includes blocking the ball and then charges into the passer. If the defender contacts the passer's arm, whether or not he/she touches the ball, it is roughing the passer. Penalty: 15 yards automatic first down, and ejection of that player.
14. Runner: 
    • The ball carrier is down at the spot where the tackler pulls his flags. Unnecessary roughness by the tackler or by the runner is a personal foul. Penalty: 15 yards from the spot of the foul.
    • Runners shall not flag guard by using their hands, arms, or the ball to deny the opportunity for an opponent to pull or remove the flag belt. Flag guarding includes: 
      • swinging the hand or arm over the flag belt to prevent an opponent from deflagging.
      • placing the ball in possession over the flag belt to prevent an opponent from deflagging.
      • lowering the shoulders in such a manner which places the arm over the flag belt to prevent an opponent from deflagging.
    • An offensive player in front of the ball carrier must stop his run when a defender is in his proximity. Offensive blockers may not extend their arms forward or to the side. No down field blocking. Penalty: 10 yards from spot of penalty.
    • If a defensive player intentionally knocks down an opponent, when the runner was in the clear, and in the opinion of the referee, would have scored if he/she had not been knocked down, a touchdown shall be allowed.
    • If a defensive player reaches across the body of the ball carrier to pull the flag and contact is made, the responsibility of the contact lies with the judgment of the official
    • If the defensive player forces the offensive player out of bounds, a penalty will be assessed.
15. Penalty: 10 yards from spot of penalty, unless, in the official's opinion the tackle was flagrant. If a flagrant tackle occurs, the offender will be ejected from the game.

Unsportsmanlike conduct, including any unnecessary roughness or cursing at the officials or opponents, shall cause that player to be eliminated from the game and his/her team shall be penalized 15 yards from the line of scrimmage. NO WARNING NEEDED!!!