Burr Ridge Football League: Rules
- Falcon Division begins on August 19, 8:15am at Harvester Park.
- Quarterback Tryouts are August 19, 9:15am at Harvester Park for any player who would like to tryout.
- Eagle Division begins on August 21, 4:45am at Harvester Park.
- Practice Week: August 21, 22, and 23 at Harvester Park 6-8:30pm.
- Scrimmages: August 26 at Harvester Park and/or Palisades Park. Times TBD.
- All Saturday practices & games are at Palisades Park, 91st & Royal Drive, Burr Ridge.
- All Monday practices & games are at Harvester Park, 15W400 Harvester Drive, on the Middle Field.
- Parent(s)/legal guardian must sign a waiver for each participant.
- Games will start around August 28.
- The EAGLE LEAGUE will use an official Youth size football. The FALCON LEAGUE will use a Junior size football.
Rosters
- Teams will be limited to 12 players. It is important that all players attend every week.
- Players will rotate positions on both offense & defense. Poor attendance will result in less offensive playing time.
- The director of the league and the coaching staff has the responsibility to keep the teams as fair and equal as possible. If changes in team rosters are necessary, the director and staff will do so by the third game of the season.
Conduct
- This is a non-contact league; come prepared to have fun.
- Intentional tackling, fighting, swearing, inappropriate gestures, taunting, and unsportsmanlike conduct will be penalized and in severe cases dealt with on an individual basis according to the situation.
- Players will be subject to one or more of the following for conduct violations: team penalized 15 yards, the offending player(s) may not be allowed to participate for half of the game, ejected from participating in the game, suspended from participating in multiple games, or ejected from the league.
- Parents will be contacted in cases of severe conduct violations.
Equipment
- All players should wear plastic/rubber spikes.
- Knee pads and elbow pads are optional. They can be purchased at any sporting goods store.
General Game Rules
Games will start at their scheduled time.
Games will consist of two 25-play (Falcon) or 30-play (Eagle) halves with a 5-minute intermission between halves.
A game is considered over after 60 minutes from opening kickoff, unless the game is a playoff game.
· Playoff Overtime:
· A coin toss will determine alternating possession. Each team will have a possession in each OT period.
· Each team will have a four-play possession beginning at their opponents 10-yard line.
· If a team scores, they can attempt a one or two point conversion.
· The team with the most points at the end of each OT period wins the game.
· After the 2nd OT period, each team must attempt a 2-point conversion if they score a touchdown on their possession.
· A game cannot end on a defensive penalty. The offense will be awarded the proper yardage and another play.
Each team gets one time out per half.
Each team will have 8 players on the field at one time.
Substitutions: Players will be in constant rotation throughout the game.
Offensive Rules
Offense: 3 interior linemen, 2 tight or split ends, 2 running backs, and 1 quarterback. Important: Players who miss several practices or consistently forget offensive formations & plays will have their offense participation limited. BRPD staff will try to work with these individuals, but for safety issues, these players will be restricted to defensive positions until they learn the offensive system.
Every time the offense crosses a coned 20-yard line, they are awarded a first down.
Interior linemen are allowed to receive a forward passed ball under the following conditions:
The offensive lineman is on or behind the line of scrimmage.
The offensive lineman does not go beyond the line of scrimmage before receiving a forward pass.
The offensive lineman cannot run a pass route.
The offensive lineman cannot receive a handoff or backward lateral.
The league director reserves the right to nullify this rule at any point during the season if it will benefit the quality of the program.
Offense will have 30 seconds between plays.
Lineman cannot block beyond the line of scrimmage before the quarterback passes the ball.
The league director and the coaching staff have the responsibility of naming quarterbacks or deciding if the coaching staff will quarterback during games until participant quarterbacks have completed training.
Defense
Defense: 1 safety, 2 cornerbacks, 2 linebackers, 3 linemen
The defensive backfield (linebackers, cornerbacks, and the safety) is not allowed to blitz the quarterback.
Defensive line (nose tackle and both defensive ends) line-up 5 yards from offensive line. Upon the snap of the football, the defensive line may rush the offensive player with the ball.
When the offense is within 10 yards of a first down the defense lines up half the distance between the ball and the first down line.
"Tackling"
Tackling (pulling the offensive players flag): A player in possession of the ball is tackled when the flag is pulled from their waist.
The Flag belt must be on the outside of the uniform.
Velcro can only attach flags to the belt. A player cannot wrap a flag around the belt. Violating this rule will be considered unsportsmanlike conduct.
Offensive players cannot block or cover their flag with anything.
Defensive players must grab the belt & immediately release. If a defensive player does not grab the flag, they must release the offensive player immediately.
If the offensive players flag falls off without a defensive player pulling the flag off, the defensive team must touch the players in possession of the ball with two hands.
Last Man Back: A touchdown or extra point will be awarded if in an officials judgment, an offensive or defensive player who has obviously broken loose and has an apparent touchdown made is tackled,
Kicking & Punting
Kickoffs: Kicking team kicks from the 40 yard line
The ball must travel 10 yards when kicked; otherwise the receiving team gains possession at the point where the ball stops or is touched by either team.
The receiving team may call a fair catch on kickoffs.
Punting: The defensive team cannot rush the punting team.
Only the split ends may cover the punt on the snap of the football.
The rest of the punting team may cover the punt once the ball is kicked.
The receiving team may call a fair catch on a punt
Blocking
Blocking: This season offensive players will be allowed to block.
The blocking player must put both hands directly in front of his/her chest in an open position.
The Blocking player may screen a defensive player by standing in front of them and putting their hands on the chest of the defending player(s).
Both players CANNOT grab. Their hands must remain open and within the body frame of the defending player(s).
The Blocking player cannot hook or wrap their arms around a defending player.
Turnovers
Turnovers: There are two key rules to turnovers:
Fumbles: the offensive team can only advance a Fumbled ball. Once the ball is recovered, by the defensive team, it is down at the spot of recovery.
Interceptions: An intercepted ball can be returned or advanced by the defending team.
Penalties
Offside, either team: 5 yards from the line of scrimmage.
Illegal Formation, offense: 5 yards from the line of scrimmage.
Illegal Procedure, offense: 5-yards from the line of scrimmage.
Illegal Receiver Downfield, offense: 5 yards from the line of scrimmage.
Block in the Back, offense: 5 yards from the point of the foul.
Stiff Arming or Blocking the Flag, offense: Ball carrier is whistled down where a defensive player attempted to pull flag. Unsportsmanlike conduct foul may also be called.
Holding, either team: 5 yards from the line of scrimmage.
Pass Interference, offense: 10-yards from the line of scrimmage.
Pass Interference, defense: Ball spotted at the point of the foul. If this penalty occurs in the end zone, the ball is spotted at the 3-yard line and a 1st Down is awarded.
Unsportsmanlike Conduct, either team: 15-yards from the point of the foul and automatic 1st down.
Forward dive by a ball carrier to prevent tackling, offense: Down at the point of foul.
Holding a ball carrier in the act of tackling, defense: 5-yards added on the end of the play.
Rules Changes: These rules may change before the start of the season. All players will be
