RULE CHANGES

Fourth down permitted after crossing midfield
Teams are permitted a 4th down attempt after crossing midfield. The rulebook changes are as follows:

Section I. Game Setup and Flow
3. The offensive team takes possession of the ball at its 5-yard line and has four (4) downs to cross midfield. Once a team crosses midfield, it has four (4) downs to score a touchdown.
• If the offensive team fails to cross midfield [or score after crossing midfield] after 3rd down and elect to "punt" on 4th down, possession of the ball changes and the opposing team will start a new possession from its own 5-yard line. If the offensive team goes for it on 4th down and does not cross midfield [or score after crossing midfield], the opposing team will start a new possession from the spot where 4th down ended [if 4th down play ends inside opposing team's 5 yard line, the ball will be brought out to the 5 yard line]
• Any time there is a ‘PUNT or PLAY decision on 4th or 3rd down, the referee WILL ask the offense’s Head Coach to declare ‘Punt or Play’. The coach MUST make an immediate decision or risk a delay of game penalty.
• Teams may use a timeout to change the declaration of “Play” at any time prior to the expiration of the play clock.
• After crossing midfield, if the offense fails to score on 3rd down, the ball changes possession and the new offensive team starts at its 5-yard line.

Section XVIII. 8U, 7U, & 6U & GRADE BASED GUIDELINES
Millis Flag Football WILL use the guidelines outlined on page 15 in "b. 7U & 6U / 1st Grade and Below." for our 6u division. However, we will NOT be using the guidelines outlined in "a. 8U / 2nd & 3rd Grade" for the next age group up, so please disregard letter "a." guidelines. 

With some exceptions (see below), we follow the rules as outlined by the NFL Flag Football program. You may download a copy by clicking the image below:

RULE BOOK CHANGES/CLARIFICATIONS

Section III. Equipment Checklist
-Players must wear a mouth-guard during play - no exceptions  
-Players are discouraged from wearing pants/shorts with pockets. However, we do not require they be taped over.

Section IV. Field
Our fields may slightly differ in dimensions from the one outlined in the rule book.

Section VI. Timing and Overtime
-Millis Flag uses a 40-minute continuous clock with two 20-minute halves. We do not use the 35-point rule.
-Each time the ball is spotted, a team has 30 seconds to snap the ball.
-Each team has three 30-second timeouts per game.
-Millis Flag Football uses the overtime procedures as outlined for all games [optional for 6u].
-To simplify and speed up the process, the winner of the initial [pre-game] coin toss will choose offense/defense first.
-If both teams agree, the use of overtime is optional in the 5/6 year old age group.

Section VII. Scoring
Please disregard #6
#8. Officials will inform coaches of final score at the end of the game. Any issues must be brought up at that time.

Section VIII. Coaches
2. is clarified as follows:
6u teams may have one offensive and one defensive coach on the field for the entire season.
9u teams may have one offensive coach on the field for the entire season. Defensive coach must remain on sideline.
11u teams may have one offensive coach on the field during the first 2 weeks of the season. Defensive coach must remain on sideline.
14u team coaches must remain on the sideline at all times.

We ask that any coaches on the field move out of the away and not interfere with the play. 

Section XI. Passing
3. (sub bullet 2) Should read... If the passer throws the ball and then catches it,....
This scenario is not limited to just the defined 'QB' and instead applies to any passer of the ball

Section XIII. Rushing the Passer
For clarification, rushers [max of 2] must identify with a raised hand above their head prior to the offense getting set and keep it raised up to the snap. This allows the offense time to look an see what areas of the field they may need to avoid as to no impede.

Rushers who identify are not required to rush. However, if they do rush [i.e. cross the LOS before a handoff] they must do so without delay and at full-speed.

Section XIV. Flag Pulling
4. If a player's flag inadvertently falls off during a play while that player has possession, the player is down immediately and the play ends. The ball is placed where the ball was when the flag came out.

Section XVII. Penalties
Penalties are assessed live ball then dead ball. Live ball penalties must be assessed before play is considered complete is clarified as: This means that all live ball penalty yardage must be assessed before the play is considered complete. This is of particular interest to those plays in which the ball carrier crosses mid-field (first down line-to-gain) and then commits a spot enforced penalty. If, after enforcing the penalty, the ball is moved back behind the line-to-gain then no first down will be rewarded. Example, it is 2nd down with 1 yds to mid-field. A receiver catches the ball at mid-field, advances the ball 3 yds and commits a flag guarding penalty. The play ends with the ball carrier stepping out of bounds just short of the end zone. The penalty would be enforced from the spot of the foul and the ball moved back 5 yds. Because the penalty enforcement moved the ball back behind the line-to-gain, no first down is awarded. The end result of this play is 3rd down with the ball being placed 2 yards behind mid-field (the line-to-gain remains mid-field). If during the above play, the player catches the ball, advances it 10 yds and commits flag guarding the ball is moved back 5 yds from the spot of the foul (to 5 yards beyond mid-field). In this case, the penalty yardage did not bring the ball back behind the line-to-gain so a 1st down is achieved. 

Penalty enforcement for 6u
6u players will only be penalized if the penalty jeopardizes player safety or the official determines the penalty had a direct impact on the outcome of the play. We want the kids to have fun and learn by not over penalizing them at this level.
6u penalties do not incur a loss of down or automatic first downs. Instead, the yardage will be marked off and the down replayed.

Players and coaches should read and understand the rules of the game. If you have any questions concerning rule interpretations please don't hesitate to contact the director of officials.

Section XVIII. 8U, 7U, & 6U & GRADE BASED GUIDELINES
- We will not be using the 8u guidelines, they will follow normal rules of play
- We will use the guidelines in section 'b' for our 6u division