WESTMONT YARD 7on7 Football League Rules
Officials
● Referee(s) serve as the field authority and/or field judge for all games. Their calls and decisions are final regarding all game rulings.
Time
● Two 25-minute halves (continuous clock for each half).
● No time outs. The clock will not stop for injuries. If the game is delayed for more than 15 minutes to safely get a player off of the field, then the game will be postponed and played at a later date.
● Half-time is 5 minutes.
Rosters/Team Members
● Each team roster can have a maximum of 24 players. Players not on the roster are not allowed to play.
● Players must meet the following age requirements:
o 10U – Player must be 10 years old or younger during the duration of the regular season.
o 12U – Player must be 12 years old or younger during the duration of the regular season.
o 14U – Player must be 14 years old or younger during the duration of the regular season.
● Teams must play at the division of the oldest player on their team. Ex: if a team is mostly 10 years old but has an 11 year old, they must play in the 12U division.
● All players must sign a facility and/or league waiver before playing. Parents of players under the age of 18 must sign the waiver.
● Players are only eligible on a single roster. Players can sub at an equal or lower level team within their organization.
● Teams are not required to use an offensive center. If utilizing one, the center is not an eligible receiver. The center must identify themselves by snapping the ball or kneeling on the field.
● Each team is allowed a maximum of 4 coaches on the sidelines during games.
● One offensive coach may be in the huddle with players between plays. Defensive coaches are not allowed on the field.
● No additions can be made to the roster after week 3
General Rules
● Teams must be on opposite sidelines of the playing field. Both teams are required to wear shirts/jerseys. The Home Team must change (or wear pinnies) if both teams are wearing the same color jersey. Updated 1/13/2024
● All game shirts/jerseys must be numbered on the back.
● No jewelry of any sort is allowed while playing.
● Standard rubber or plastic football cleats are permitted. No metal cleats are allowed.
● Visitors will have the 1st possession to begin the game and the home team will have the possession to begin the 2nd half.
● Each team is allowed to use its own football. High School teams must use the official high school size football. The 14U division has the option to use a youth size (TDY) or a high school size football. The 12U division uses TDJ sized footballs and the 10U division uses K-2 sized footballs.
● If a team is late or does not have enough players to start on time, the game clock will begin and whatever time is left on the clock will be where the game starts.
● If a team is late by 10 minutes or more, they will forfeit the game.
● A forfeit is recorded as a 21-0 loss.
● There is no overtime during regular season games.
● The league manager has the right to remove teams/players from the league at any time.
Advancing the Ball
● The offensive possession always begins on the 40 yard line. The ball is placed in the center of the field to begin each offensive series. Once the offensive drive begins, the ball is placed in the center of the field at the spot of touch.
● There are no directional changes for the offense during the game. The offense always faces into the end zone from the 40 yard line starting point.
● The field is marked at four intervals (40yd, 25yd, 10yd, and End Zone). Teams have 3 downs to make it across each section.
● There are no running plays. All passes must be forward (they can be thrown behind the line of scrimmage, but must go forward). Laterals are allowed only after a completed pass.
● The QB is allowed 4.0 seconds (6.0 seconds for the 10U division) to throw the ball. Teams can use either a center or a QB Tee to start the play. If the ball is thrown after 4 (or 6) seconds, there is a loss of down and the ball comes back to the line of scrimmage.
Penalties
Offense
● Offsides is a 5yd penalty
● Delay of game is a loss of down (each team has 25 seconds to snap the ball once it’s been marked ready to play)
● Pass interference is a 5yd penalty and loss of down.
● No penalty may be assessed in excess of the 40yd line. If a penalty would move the offense behind the 40yd line, the offensive team shall be charged with a loss of down.
● Passes after the QBT alarm goes off are dead balls, the ball is returned to the original line of scrimmage (a “sack”).
● The offensive team is responsible for retrieving and returning the ball to the previous spot or the new line of scrimmage. Clock does not stop and any delay by the offense in Updated 1/13/2024 retrieving and returning the ball to the referee will result in a delay of game and will be a 5yd penalty from the succeeding spot.
Defense
● Offsides is a 5yd penalty
● Defensive holding is a 5yd penalty. If defensive holding occurs on the same play as a sack, the defense will be penalized and the sack is voided.
● Pass interference rules follow IHSA football rules.
● Defensive pass interference is a spot foul (1st down at the point of infraction). If Defensive Pass Interference occurs in the end zone, it will result in a 1 st down on the 1yd line.
● Any dead ball penalty on the defense after a change of possession results in a loss of down for that team’s offense when they begin their ensuing possession.
● Responsibility to avoid contact is with the defense. The defense is allowed an initial disruption, and then must cover. Excessive or prolonged contact will result in a tack on penalty at the end of the play (5 yards).
Additional Rules
● Receiver/Ball carrier is down when touched below the neck with one or both hands. Excessive force or shoving will be penalized by a 5yd penalty and an automatic first down. The player will be ejected if ruled unsportsmanlike and/or flagrant.
● Fumbles that hit the ground are dead balls at the spot with the last team retaining possession. A muffed snap is not a fumble/dead ball, the 4-6 second count remains in effect.
● There is no blocking.
● There is no blitzing.
● Interceptions are dead balls and may not be returned. The defensive team receives 3 points and the ball on the 40yd line to start an offensive possession.
● The center is responsible for re-positioning the QB Tee at the line of scrimmage. ● All offensive formations must be legal sets. Receivers’ alignment should respect the tackle box.
● No taunting or trash talking. (5yd penalty & expulsion if flagrant or repeated).
● Fighting: the player(s) involved will be ejected from the game & subject to suspension or removal from the league.
● Penalties/ejections for unsportsmanlike behavior are at the discretion of the referee. Removal of players/teams from the league will be at the discretion of the league manager.
● No schedule requests will be accommodated for playoffs. If you cannot make your game for playoffs we will give your spot to the next team in the standings.
● Youth playoff games, (10U-14U), can take place on any day of the week Monday-Thursday to ensure field space. Updated 1/13/2024
Scoring
● 6 points for TD,
● 1 point for PAT from 5 yard line,
● 2 points for PAT from 10 yard line (interception on PAT is dead ball).
● 2 points for Defensive Stop on downs
● 3 points for an interception (interceptions are a dead ball).
● Official score is kept by field referee and/or game manager.
● Teams are responsible for reporting score discrepancies within one week of the completed game.
● Teams are responsible for monitoring their standings at www.westmontyard.com
Overtime Rules (Playoff Games Only)
● After a coin flip to determine first possession, teams will alternate 3 down series from the 15-yard line (10-yard line for 3 rd /4th Grade Division).
● A winner is determined when one team outscores the other during an overtime session.
● Each team must go for 2 points on conversion attempts, beginning in the 2 nd overtime.
Tiebreakers for Standings
● If teams are tied at the end of the regular season, the first tiebreaker is head-to-head competition
● The second tiebreaker is point differential (points scored minus points allowed), capped at 21 per game (we don’t want to incent teams to run up the scores).
● If teams are still tied, then standings will be determined by a coin flip.