K-W Tuesday Night “B” League Touch Football Rules

1. Players/Equipment/Team

All Games are Tuesdays starting at 6:30 pm sharp. Please try and arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the start time to stretch and warm up.

The game is played 7 against 7.

A team must have a minimum of 6 players to start and/or play a game.

All players are eligible receivers. There is no blocking or tackling permitted.

No protective equipment (helmets, pads, etc.) is permitted. Running shoes and cleats without metal spikes may be worn.

For safety purposes, no one should play while wearing watches, rings or jewelry.

Each team can select 1 ball to be used by them for the entire game.

A player may not play in this league if they are currently playing in the “A” league on Wednesday nights.

Each Team Must Bring The Following To Each Game:

a) A Regulation Size NFL or CFL Football properly inflated.

b) A Kicking Tee

c) 3 “Bean Bags” or similar markers

d) A Stopwatch

e) Jerseys or shirts of the Same Color. It is advisable to bring a white T shirt in case both teams are the same color.

2. Timing

There are two halves of 40 minutes each.

At the 35 minute mark of each half – the timer shall call “5 minutes to 6 plays”.

At the 40 minute mark – the timer shall call “6 plays until half time”.

Kickoffs and Extra Points will NOT count as a play.

Each team is permitted one time out (60 seconds in length) per half.

Half-time will be a maximum of 5 minutes, or whenever both teams are ready to resume play.

The offensive team has 40 seconds to call the play in the huddle and snap the ball from the end of the previous play. The first offence is a warning. The second offence is a 10 yard penalty and all further offences are a loss of down. (BE CONSIDERATE – BUT KEEP THE GAME MOVING).

The Captains should meet before the game and flip a coin to determine home team. The Home Team decides if they want to receive the ball, or select a side.

The Home Team is the Official Time Keeper.

Both Teams are encouraged to synchronize their watches before the game.

3. Boundary Lines

All boundary lines are considered to be out of bounds. If a player steps on any part of the boundary line, the player is considered to be out of bounds. The goal line is considered to be part of the end zone. Thus, if any part of the ball touches the goal line, the ball is considered to be in the end zone. For catches to be considered in bounds, the receiver has to have possession of the ball, and at least one foot or body part must touch the ground in bounds prior to stepping on the line or going out of bounds. A touchdown occurs when a player that has possession of the football and has 1 foot entirely in the end zone, regardless of where the ball is. (WE DO NOT HAVE INSTANT REPLAY – DEFENCE CALLS IT).

4. Kickoff

The game begins with a kickoff from the kicking team’s 45-yard line or 10 yards back from center on non-regulation playing fields. The receiving team must be at least 10 yards back from the point of kickoff. The kicking team does not have to give “yards” on the kickoff; the players can simply down the ball to end the play. The kicking team cannot recover the ball on a kickoff except in the rare instance when the ball might strike a receiver and rebound to a member of the kicking team without touching the ground.

Once again, there is no blocking permitted on the kickoff. If the ball is kicked out of bounds on the kickoff, the receiving team has the option to take the ball where it went out of bounds or have the kicking team re-kick 10 yards back.

5. Scrimmage

The offensive team has three attempts or downs to advance the ball 10 yards. The play is stopped when an opponent touches the ball carrier.

The first down markers should be “bean bags” or something similar that are placed on the field and moved by the DEFENSE.

The quarterback must stand at least five yards behind the line of scrimmage to receive the snap.

All defensive players must line up five yards from the line of scrimmage and cannot begin to rush until the ball is snapped by the offensive center.

All players on the offensive team, except the center, can be in motion prior to the snap. The Quarterback can run or throw. The Quarterback is also permitted to throw a lateral to a halfback who could then run, throw a forward pass or throw another lateral. There are no fumbles in touch football therefore when a ball carrier drops the ball and it touches the ground, the play is dead.

However, on a bad snap – the Quarterback can pick up a moving ball that has touched the ground, provided it did not already touch another offensive player. If the ball comes to rest, the play is Dead and it is a new down at the same line of scrimmage. A defensive player cannot recover a fumble under any circumstance.

The Offensive Team cannot begin scrimmage from any closer than the opponent’s 5 yard line. If a player is touched between the 5 yard line and the goal line – the next offensive play will be from the 5 yard line.

6. The Rusher

The Rusher cannot be blocked of impeded by any member of the offensive team. A team may decide to rush more than one player. In this case all Rushers must have unimpeded path to the quarterback. If a Rusher is interfered with, he will call “Pick” and the play is dead. There will then be a replay of the same down and distance.

However, if the Rusher or Rushers are lined up outside of 5 yards to either side of the ball – they do not qualify for this rule.

The Rusher may touch the punter before he punts the ball and the play is dead at that spot. The Rusher may not try and block the punt.

7. The Touch

The Defense Calls the Touch – just say “Touch!!”, loud enough for everyone to hear. Players must use one or two hands to make a touch. The touch must be deliberate (Not Incidental Body Contact) and must be made with the hand (not a leg or arm, etc) anywhere on the ball carrier.

Players cannot bobble the ball to avoid the touch – the player will be considered touched at the beginning point of the bobble.

Ball carriers can concede a touch by placing one knee on the ground and by making no attempt to advance the ball.

The ball carrier is not allowed to dive forward to avoid a touch. He is considered touched at the start of the dive.

If a defender attempts to avoid a collision by jumping aver a fallen ball carrier, a touch is awarded as a safety precaution. A defensive player only needs to waive his hand over a fallen offensive player to be considered a touch.

When an offensive player is touched, the next play begins from the spot where the offensive player’s furthest foot was when he was touched, including at the goal line – where Rule 3 applies, (A touchdown occurs when a player that has possession of the football and has 1 foot entirely in the end zone, regardless of where the ball is. (WE DO NOT HAVE INSTANT REPLAY – DEFENCE CALLS IT).

7B – Calling Off A Touch

Once a player calls “Touch”, the play is dead. Anything that happens after that does not count. If the toucher, believes that he made a mistake, the offence begins the next play from the spot of the touch or the original line of scrimmage, which ever is further, plus the down over. Do not try to anticipate a touch. Only Call “Touch” after you have touched the ball carrier. It does not matter what happens after you call touch. The play is Dead.

8. Punts

A punt can occur anytime during the game. When a ball is punted, players on the punting team must remain 5 yards from the punt receiver prior to the ball being touched. Players on the punting team cannot recover punts unless the ball hits the punt receiver and rebounds to a defender before the ball hits the ground.

Any player from the Receiving Team – may call “No Yards” if a player from the punting team is within 5 yards of the punt receiver when he receives the ball. There is a 5 yard penalty for “no yards”.

If a punt does not land in bounds, the receiving team has the option of taking the ball from where it crossed the boundary line or have the kicking team re-kick from 5 yards back.

The defense may not block a punt. The Rusher may touch the punter before he punts the ball and the play is dead at that spot.

The Punter may not fake a punt. If the defender deems that the punter/quarterback set up to punt and then runs or throws – there is a 5 yard penalty and down over.

If a ball stops moving, it is considered dead.

9. Scoring

A touchdown is worth six points. A convert may be attempted from the five-yard line for one point or from the ten-yard line for two points. There are no field goals permitted and the convert cannot be kicked.

A safety touch occurs when the offensive team causes the ball to enter its own end zone and the offensive player is touched there. This results in two points being awarded to the opposition team. Following a safety touch, the team that gave up the safety touch must kickoff from its own 35-yard line.

A Rouge occurs when a team is unable to legally bring the ball of its own end zone following a punt or a kickoff by the opposition. One point is awarded to the kicking team and the receiving team will begin scrimmage at its own 35-yard line.

10. Pass Interference/Holding Penalty

Pass interference occurs when the player takes away an opponent’s positional advantage by interfering with him before he touches the football. If the infraction occurs in the area where the ball was thrown (CATCHEABLE BALL), the offensive team is given a first down at the point the infraction occurred or 10-yards ahead of the line of scrimmage, whichever is greater. If the ball was clearly uncatcheable – there is no foul.

If the defense commits Pass Interference in the end zone, the ball is awarded to the offense on the opponent’s 5 yard line.

If a member of the offensive team commits pass interference, there is a 15 yard penalty and loss of down.

If a defensive player holds an offensive player, there is a 5 yard penalty and replay of the down. If an offensive player holds a defensive player, there is a 5 yard penalty and replay of the down.

11. Offside Rule

When the football is snapped, and any defensive player is in the 5 yard neutral zone, he is considered offside. The first offence is a warning and all subsequent offences are 5 yard penalties and replay of down.

When the football is snapped, and any offensive player has crossed the line of scrimmage, he is considered offside. The first offence is a warning and all subsequent offences are 5 yard penalties and replay of down.

12. Illegal Acts

The following acts are considered to be Objectionable Conduct and will result in a 10 yard penalty and loss of down:

Use of profane language, intimidating acts, persistent arguments, deliberate delay of game and faking an injury.

The following acts are considered to be a Personal Foul and will result in a 15 yard penalty and loss of down:

Rough touches; tripping; pushing, shoving or threatening.

The striking, kicking, or punching of an opponent or an official with the deliberate intent to cause bodily harm of any act of roughness or unfair play is a Major Foul and will result in the ejection of the team member involved.

13. Application of Penalties

The team that did not commit the penalty has the option to accept or refuse the penalty.

On scrimmage plays, if the foul occurred before a first down was gained, the penalty is applied from the line of scrimmage. If the foul occurred after a first down was gained, the penalty is applied from the point the ball was held when the foul occurred.

Objectionable conduct fouls and personal and major fouls are applied as dead ball fouls, that is, the yardage is simply tacked on from the point the ball becomes dead. The only exceptions are: roughing the passer or kicker and tripping the ball carrier. These three are applied as live ball fouls or regular fouls.

If a foul occurs during the last 6 plays of a half, the play will not count if the penalty is

accepted. The only exceptions are if the penalty occurs after a first down is made or an offside pass is thrown. The play would count in these situations.

If the application of a penalty results in the goal line being reached, a first down is awarded at a point halfway between the goal line and the previous line of scrimmage.

14. Playoffs

At the end of the regular season, the top 4 teams will compete in the playoffs. The top team will host the 4th place team at their choice of field and the 2nd place team will host the 3rd place team. All players must have played 50% of the games to be eligible to complete in the playoffs. (No Ringers – this is B League).

15. Reporting of Scores/Complaints

It is the responsibility of the winning team to email the score to the Commissioner of The League within 24 hours. The Commissioner of the League for 2009 is Darren D’Aguilar. His email address is

All questions and complaints can be sent to that email address as well.

16. Weather Situations

If it is merely raining, the game will go on. If it gets bad, both captains can agree to seek cover until it passes. If there is any lightning or chance of lightning – All players must get off the field until it is over.

17. Forfeits

If any team does not have 6 players or more after 15 minutes past the scheduled start time, it is considered a forfeit. The team that does have at least 6 players present will be awarded the win 28-0. The team that forfeited the game will pay a $25 fine to the team that showed up. If a coach informs the other coach 24 hours prior to a game, that they will not have enough players, it is a forfeit, but the fine does not apply.

For All other Rules, the CFL playbook shall take precedent.

There will be some disagreements. Settle them quickly and peacefully. Remember…Have Fun.