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Riverside Rams Youth Football

Football Rules

High School Rules apply except for the following.

3rd / 4th Grade Rules

  • Players must play at least 50% of the game.
  • Game is divided into two 30 minute segments.
  • Half time will be 5 minutes long.
  • No Blitzing: Linebackers should read and fill holes but no pre-snap jumps.
  • Defense must run a stacked 4 - 4.
  • Field will be 50 yards long. 
  • Ball starts on the 40-yard line.
  • No Kickoffs
  • No Punts
  • Fumbles and Interceptions will cause a change of possession and the ball will be reset at the 40-yard line when downed.
  • Fumbles and Interceptions can be ran back to the 50-yard line but will be reset at the 40 if downed. 
  • Week 1 Only Rules
    • Bobbled exchanges will result in a loss of down.
    • No play clock
  • After Week 1 Rules
    • Bobble exchanges are live.
    • 45 second play clock.
5th Grade Rules
  • Kickoffs will start from the 40-yard line
  • Extra points will not be live.
  • Punts are not live until the ball is punted. 
  • All PATs must be kicked.
  • 2-Points for successful kick on PAT
  • Quarters will be 10 minutes with normal clock rules (no running clock)
  • Half time will be 7 minutes long
  • No restrictions on ball carrier weight.

6th - 8th Grade Rules

  • Kickoff will start at the 40-yard line.
  • Extra points are live.
  • Punts are live.
  • 1-point for successful run or pass on PAT
  • 2-point for successful kick on PAT
  • No restrictions on ball carrier weight.
  • Quarters are 10 minutes with normal clock rules (no running clock)
  • Half time will be 7 minutes long

Play Time

Player Eligibility:

  • Has participated in a minimum of 6 practices including 2 practices helmets only prior to their first game.
  • No more than 1 excused / unexcused absence from practices during the week prior to each game.
  • Absences during the week prior to the game:
    •  1 Absence unexcused then the player will not start the game.
    • More than 1 absence (excused or unexcused) then the player minimum play time may be decreased.
    Football is second to education, if a player falls behind in school they will not participate in the following game until the issue is resolved. 


Play Time Rule:

Each player is required to play on offense or defense each quarter. Half the team will be placed on offense and half the team will be placed on defense. Frequent substitutions are encouraged by the coach especially when the team exceeds a 22 player roster. The goal of SAFL is to offer equal playing time to each player offering more than the Idaho minimum playing time rule of 15 plays.

"It is the goal of SAFL to make every player part of the game and when the game is over each player should be tired"

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