Sac Showdown Rules

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·       Mouthpieces are required.  Players must have them in during game play.  QBs do not need to wear one.

·       We have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to fighting.  Any punches or kicks will be an automatic ejection from the game. It can also be grounds for an ejection for the rest of the tournament as well.  Final judgment will be made by Field Supervisor and head of SOB staff.

·       Every team is guaranteed 4 games: 3 in pool play and 1 in elimination rounds.

·       All games are 20 minutes in length with a running clock.

·       Ball starts on the 40-yard line.  Offense has 3 plays to get to the 25-yard line.  From there 3 plays to get to the 10-yard line.  And from there 3 plays to score.

·       QB Tees are used to spot the center and line of scrimmage.  QB Tee and the referees will be counting down 4s for ball to be thrown

·       A game can end on a defensive penalty

·       A game can end on an offensive penalty because the clock stays running.

·       If an inadvertent whistle is blown by a ref while still in the QBs hands, the play will be a do-over.  If a whistle is inadvertently blown while a player is running with the ball, the ball will be spotted down at the exact location the ball carrier was when the whistle blew.

·       Players are allowed to play up in higher age divisions.  Players are not allowed to play down at younger age divisions.  If this occurs it will immediately result in the ejection of that entire program from the 7on7 Association.

·       If an object or person interferes during a play, regardless of the result of the play, it will be a do-over on the down.

·       SOB  staff or referees reserves the right to make any judgement decisions for situations that are not listed or covered in our rules and policies.

·       No double passes

·       The ball cannot be pitched forward.

·       Blocking is not allowed at all. First blocking penalty will be a warning, second offense will result in a loss of down, third blocking will result in a automatic turn over starting at 40 yd line.

·       False start penalties result in a loss of down.

·       False start on a 3rd down results in a turnover on downs.

·       Defenses are allowed to make noise or move around to try and draw a false start penalty from the offense.

·       If an offensive player leaves his feet with the ball in his hands and dives forward, the play will be blown dead at the spot he left his feet.

·       If a defensive player dives to make a tag, the runner can continue until they are tagged by the next player.  A 1st warning will be given to the defense.

·       A 2nd offense will result in an unsportsmanlike penalty called (unless declined by offense).

·       Defensive coaches are not allowed to be on the field and must be on their sideline.

·       An offensive coach can be in the huddle and on the field with the offense.

·       Only 1 coach for the offense is allowed on the field.

·       The offensive coach on the field is allowed to call audibles and talk to his kids at the line of scrimmage.

·       An team must wait until the offense of the opponent gets a first down past the 25-yard line before they can walk out onto the field as an offense. They must remain behind the 40-yard line.

·       QB has 4 seconds to get the ball out of his hand.  If any part of the ball is still contacting QBs hand when buzzer goes off, it is a sack.

·       If a QB drops the snap it's a loss of down at the current spot of the ball.

·       All passes must be thrown past the line of scrimmage, no swing passes to the RB.

·       QB is allowed to scramble.

·       If any part of the QB is past the line of scrimmage, the play is blown dead.

·       Making any kind of contact with an opponent or invading their space will result in an automatic 15yd penalty. If this occurs the players involved can be ejected from the game.  If it happens after the game, the players involved will be ineligible for the next game. If as a result a team does not have enough players to compete in the next game, it will result in a forfeit.

·       There is no launching, throwing, or kicking the ball in celebration of an interception by the defense.  This will be a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct and result in that team’s offense losing their first down on the upcoming offensive possession (they will start on 2nd down at the 40 yard line).

·       A penalty will be called if an offensive player throws the ball at an opponent after scoring a TD.  A flag will also be thrown for any cursing at opposing teams’ players, coaches, or parents.  These penalties will result in the opposing offense starting on the 30-yard line with a 1st and 5.

·       A player can have a flag thrown for taunting and it is enforced as an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

·       A coach can have a flag thrown for taunting and it is enforced as an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

·       A parent can have a flag thrown for taunting and it is enforced as an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

·       A 2nd flag for the same thing results in an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty plus an ejection.

·       TDs are worth 6 points.

·       The offense can take the automatic 1-point or go for a 2-point conversion from the 10-yard line.

·       INTs are 3 points.

·       No returns on INTs.

·       No points are given for any defensive stops.