Rules & League Info

Possessions & downs

• Every drive starts at your own 5-yard line — the only exception is an interception, spotted where the return ends.
• Midfield (the 25) is the line to gain. Cross it within four downs for a first down; fail, and it's a turnover on downs.
• No kickoffs, no punts. After a touchdown or turnover on downs, the other team takes over at its own 5.
• No fumbles — the moment the ball hits the ground, the play is over at that spot. A lost flag ends the play right there too.
• Interceptions are live: the defense may return a pick all the way to the end zone.
• No safeties. A player downed in their own end zone brings the ball out to the 1-yard line.

Scoring

• Touchdown: 6 points — cross the goal line with a flag still on, worn legally.
• Conversion: scoring team's choice of 1 point from the 5-yard line or 2 points from the 10.
• The defense can return a turnover on a conversion attempt the other way for 2.

The clock

• Two 20-minute halves with a running clock; halftime is 5 minutes.
• Final two minutes of each half: the clock stops on out-of-bounds plays and incomplete passes. Scores stop the clock, and conversions are untimed.
• Once a lead hits 18 points, a continuous clock runs the rest of the way.
• Three timeouts per half, per team, called only while the ball is dead. Unused timeouts don't carry over.
• No play clock, but huddle quickly — repeated delays can draw a penalty.

Overtime (playoffs only)

• Regular-season games can end in a tie.
• Playoffs: new coin toss, then alternating possessions from midfield — four downs to score, no line to gain, conversions after any touchdown.
• Both teams get a possession each round; still tied, play another round. Interceptions stay live, and a returned score wins the game.

Sportsmanship & coaching

• Respect is non-negotiable — for opponents, officials, teammates, and parents. No taunting, trash talk, or aggression; violations draw penalties or ejection, and repeat offenders may be suspended.
• Everybody plays. Build a rotation plan before kickoff and rotate kids through positions — development first.
• Spectators, stay positive: nothing from the sideline should ever escalate a game.
• Officials may make judgment calls on anything these rules don't cover. Bring questions to the official, calmly.

McDowell 1McDowell 2McDowell 3

See the field layout

Canon-Mac numbers these the same way we do. Coming in from the lot, Field 1 is the near half of the left field, Field 2 is the near half of the right field, and Field 3 is beyond Field 2 at the far end. One lot serves all three.