GCFL RULES

INTRODUCTION

All basic rules of football and football terminology take affect. Line of scrimmages, safeties, passing the ball, receiving the ball. & opposing players attempting to prevent this from happening. If you don’t know the basic rules of football or therminology, don’t play! These following rules are to incorporate where the GCFL may deviate from the general high school, college, or NFL rules or determine the GCFL rules where the previous 3 may deviate from each other. We have been playing for over 13 years. From games of trial & error, seeing what works for us & what doesn’t, there are reasons for our deviations. If you don’t like them, too bad. Go start your own league. Remember it is you asking to play with us, not us asking to play with you.

GENERAL RULES

1. Games are played on a 60 yard field.
2. Field width may vary due to the amount of players.
3. All games last 1 hour and 30 minutes. After which each team gets one drive. After this allotted time, due to overtime from tie games, stats shall not be taken.
4. Each team is allotted 6 downs per drive. After that the opposing team gets the ball by default. More downs cannot be earned.
5. The moment a team scores a TD, the ball becomes the possession of the opposing team and is the beginning of their drive even if the ball has not been kicked off yet.    

QUARTERBACKS

1. The person calling hike is the only person allowed to throw on that down.
2. Flea Flickers are illegal
3. QBs cannot run the ball unless defensive players outnumber offensive players.
4. When offensive players outnumber defensive players the QB must pass the ball before 7 seconds.
5. QBs cannot pass the ball after crossing the line of scrimmage and must have both feet in bounds.
6. Can become a receiver if he catches his tipped pass. The tipped pass must have been tipped by a defensive player and must not have touched an offensive player at any time previously other than the QB on that down.
7. Any absence of rules or controversial plays, all calls will go in favor of the defense.

RECEIVING

1. A receiver must sell everyone with the appearance of having possession (control of the ball) before it can be considered a reception.
2. The receiver must have 2 feet in bounds and must sell everyone with the appearance of having 2 feet in bounds. When this is in question, the call will go in favor of the defense.
3. Cannot push the defensive player to get open.
4. Cannot pass a ball forward.
5. A receiver stepping out of bounds, nullifies him from play for the rest of the down.
6. Any absence of rules or controversial plays, all calls will go in favor of the defense 

RUSHING

1. Believe it or not rushing is legal!
2. Running backs cannot pass the ball.
3. If a running back crosses the line of scrimmage without the ball he becomes a receiver & all receiving rules then apply.
4. Any absence of rules or controversial plays, all calls will go in favor of the defense.

DEFENSE

1. A tackle is logged by administering two defensive players “HANDS” (no feet, butts, elbows, etc) touching anywhere on the offensive players body. This can be done by one or more players. Once a player is tackled the down is complete.
2. Any part of an offensive player’s body other than hands or feet touching the ground will also result in a tackle.
3. Defensive players are still valid even if they step out of bounds.
4. In the case of a safety there are no points awarded. However the defensive team attains possession of the ball & starts their drive at the 10.
5. Any absence of rules or controversial plays, all calls will go in favor of the defense.

KICKOFFS & PUNTS

1. Kickoffs can be thrown or kicked.
2. 5 yard kicking penalty & a re-kick for kickoffs landing out of bounds
3. Punts must be kicked.
4. The receiving team has the option of taking an out of bounds kickoff at the approximate location of the kickoffs point of exiting in bounds.
5. All kickoffs and punts downed in the end zone or going out of the back of the end zone will result in the following drive starting at the 10 yard line.
6. On kickoffs, if the kicking teams stops the ball they kicked off in their end zone it is a point for the kicking team. This rule only applies to kickoffs, not punts.
7. Any absence of rules or controversial plays, all calls will go in favor of the kicking team.

PASS INTERFERENCE Blatant pass interference calls are the ones where the opponent is blatantly grabbing or holding on to someone to prevent a reception.

1. If a defender blatantly holds or grabs on to an offensive player to hinder him from getting to the ball and 15 yard penalty shall be imposed on the defense.
2. If a receiver blatantly holds or grabs a defender to hinder him from getting an interception a loss of down penalty shall be imposed on the defense.  As in if it is 3rd down your next play will be 5th down.