Rules – 903 YF&C

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Football Rules

Official playing rules for all football divisions

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Full Playing Rules 2026

Complete official rules — all divisions

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📚

League Bylaws 2026

Organization governance & bylaws

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Rules by Division

🏈 Kinder Flag Football +

🏈 1st & 2nd Grade Football (K/2 Division) +

Grades & Age

Grades Kinder, 1st, and 2nd — no player over age 8
Age determined by December 31st of current season

Weight Limits

Ball-carrier limit: 90 lbs. — players over 90 lbs. are designated X players and may not advance the ball
Overall limit: 120 lbs. — players over 120 lbs. may move up to the 3/4 division
Kinder/1st grade players under age 7 over 120 lbs. must wear a RED X and may only play offensive line (no pulling, trap blocking, lead blocking, cut blocking, wedging, or pancaking)
Player weights determined at pre-season weigh-ins

Halo / X-Players

Helmet markings required: contrasting 3" X on back, 1.5" X on front
See X Player Rules Addendum for full details

Football

Pee Wee (Size 5) — leather or composite (not rubber)
Offensive team provides their own game ball

Game Clock

40-second play clock — 8-minute quarters
12-minute developmental 2nd quarter (no official score kept) — coaches use as scrimmage for developing players
15-minute halftime
Mercy Rule: continuous clock when a team leads by 18+ points (losing coach may request otherwise)
Timeouts: 3 per half

Game Rules

Max 7 players on the line of scrimmage (offense or defense) — 15-yard penalty for violation
No nose guard lined up directly over center (may rush A gap) — referee's discretion
No punts or kickoffs — possessions start at own 30-yard line
4th down options: go for it or take a walk-off punt of 35 yards (cannot pin inside opponent's 10-yard line)
Max Blitz: no more than 6 players blitzing at once — exceptions inside own 10-yard line or 4th & short (3 yards or less)
Only 6 defensive players may line up on the line of scrimmage

Coaching Rules

2 coaches allowed on field for both offense and defense
Coaches must stay out of the way of the play — 15-yard penalty for interference
Coaches must be silent once the snap is imminent

Extra Points (from 2-yard line)

1 point — run into end zone
2 points — pass into end zone

🏈 3rd & 4th Grade Football +

Grades & Age

Grades 3rd and 4th — no player over age 10
Age determined by December 31st of current season

Weight Limits

Ball-carrier limit: 115 lbs. — players over 115 lbs. are designated X players and may not advance the ball
Overall limit: 160 lbs. — players over 160 lbs. may move up to the 5/6 division
3rd grade players under age 9 over 160 lbs. must wear a RED X and may only play offensive line (no pulling, trap blocking, lead blocking, cut blocking, wedging, or pancaking)
Player weights determined at pre-season weigh-ins

Halo / X-Players

Helmet markings required: contrasting 3" X on back, 1.5" X on front
See X Player Rules Addendum for full details

Football

Junior (Size 6) — leather or composite (not rubber)
Offensive team provides their own game ball

Game Clock

40-second play clock — 8-minute quarters
12-minute developmental 2nd quarter (no official score kept)
15-minute halftime
Mercy Rule: continuous clock when a team leads by 18+ points
Timeouts: 3 per half

Game Rules

Max 7 players on the line of scrimmage — 15-yard penalty for violation
Kickoff from the 50-yard line — return from the 40-yard line
4th down options: go for it or “dead punt” (no player may move until ball is kicked — no fakes permitted)
If punter drops ball, they may pick it up and punt — no other advancement allowed
Max Blitz: no more than 6 players blitzing at once — exceptions inside own 10-yard line or 4th & short (3 yards or less)
Only 6 defensive players may line up on the line of scrimmage

Coaching Rules

2 coaches on field for the first season game and during the developmental quarter in all other games
Coaches must stay out of the way of the play — 15-yard penalty for interference

Extra Points (from 2-yard line)

1 point — run into end zone
2 points — pass into end zone
3 points — dead ball place kick

🏈 5th & 6th Grade Football +

Grades & Age

Grades 5th and 6th — NO player over age 12
No 7th grade players allowed regardless of age
Age determined by December 31st of current season

Weight Limits

Ball-carrier limit: 135 lbs. — players over 135 lbs. are designated X players and may not advance the ball
Overall limit: 230 lbs.
Players over 210 lbs. must wear a RED X and may only play offensive line (no pulling, trap blocking, lead blocking, cut blocking, wedging, or pancaking)
Player weights determined at pre-season weigh-ins

Halo / X-Players

Helmet markings required: contrasting 3" X on back, 1.5" X on front
See X Player Rules Addendum for full details

Football

Youth (Size 7) — leather or composite (not rubber)
Offensive team provides their own game ball

Game Clock

40-second play clock — 10-minute quarters
12-minute developmental 2nd quarter (no official score kept)
15-minute halftime
Mercy Rule: continuous clock when a team leads by 18+ points
Timeouts: 3 per half

Game Rules

Max 7 players on the line of scrimmage — 15-yard penalty for violation
Punts and kickoffs follow standard football rules
Max Blitz: no more than 6 players blitzing at once — exceptions inside own 10-yard line or 4th & short (3 yards or less)
Only 6 defensive players may line up on the line of scrimmage

Extra Points (from 2-yard line)

1 point — run into end zone
2 points — pass into end zone
3 points — placekick

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Cheer Rules

Safety guidelines and performance rules for all cheer divisions

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Cheer Bylaws 2026

Complete cheer rules, competition rules & stunt limitations

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🎉 General & Game Day Rules +

Rosters & Coaches

Rosters (athlete name, DOB, address, grade) must be submitted to President Twana Cleaver before the season deadline
Rosters must include all Coaches, Junior Coaches, and Team Moms
All coaches and Security Dads must pass a background check
Coaches cannot be a Competitive Cheer Coach

Practice Rules

Regular season practice may NOT start before the week of August 1st
Practices may NOT be longer than 2 hours — no more than 3 per week
Practices may be held in any gym but cannot involve a Competitive Coach or staff — teams caught will be disqualified from end-of-season competition
May add one additional 2-hour practice starting 2 weeks before competition

Game Day

Gate fees: $5 Adults / $3 Students
Game times: K–2 at 4:00pm — 3/4 at 5:30pm — 5/6 at 7:00pm
All Coaches, Junior Coaches, and Team Moms must have a badge on game day — no badge = no free entry, no sideline
No jewelry or artificial fingernails
No more than 7 rostered sideline individuals (Coaches, Junior Coaches, Team Moms) — only one Team Mom per division gets free entry
Each town’s coaching staff must have matching shirts
Each team must perform a halftime performance towards the Home side stands
Beginning of 3rd quarter: Home team performs cheer/chant to Visitor side, then Visitors perform to Home side

Dress Code

Cheer shoes and athletic wear required at ALL practices — out of dress code = not allowed to practice
Cheer uniforms that show midriffs/tummies are NOT allowed

🎉 Pep Cheer — Stunt Limitations +

🎉 1st & 2nd Grade Cheer — Stunt Limitations +

🎉 3rd & 4th Grade Cheer — Stunt Limitations +

🎉 5th & 6th Grade Cheer — Stunt Limitations +

🎉 All Teams — Universal Rules +

🎉 Competition Rules +

Rules & Documents

Football Rules

Rules by Division

Cheer Rules

General Documents