General Rules:
The Pitch:
(ii) elects to drop to one knee before having returned the ball to the field of play, or
(iii) elects to run with the ball out of bounds rather than enter or stay within the field of play.
- Length = 135-185m (148-202yds).
- Width = 110-155m (120-170yds).
- All Goalposts are 6.4m (7yds) apart.
- End Zones are 9.7 x 6.4m (11 x 7yds).
- Ball = American football; the ball is inflated to an air pressure of 12.5 to 13.5 pounds per square inch (86 to 93 kilopascals); The ball weighs 14 to 15 ounces (400 to 430 grams); Short circumference from 21 to 21¼ inches; Long circumference from 28 to 28½ inches.
- Six downs to advance into the next zone.
- The ball is live under almost all circumstances during a legal play within bounds at any time during the game except for incomplete forward passes; Receivers need only one foot in bounds for a complete pass.
- All offensive and defensive backfielders can only weigh a max of 230 lbs / 104.33 kg.
- All offensive and defensive lineman can only weigh a max of 265 lbs / 120.2 kg.
- All offensive and defensive backfielders, except the quarterback, are allowed unlimited motion provided that they remain more than one meter behind the line of scrimmage, but the lineman may not move.
- Position of the Lineman = The Defensive line must line up 1 yard away from the Offensive line.
- If a team has possession of the ball within 1m of either end zone, the ball will be moved to 1m in front of the endzone.
- If the ball is fumbled out of bounds, the play ends with possession of the ball going to the team who had the last contact with the ball in bounds after the ball has completely left the possession of the fumbling ball carrier.
- Two 30-minute halves with a large rest period at half time and lesser rest periods between quarters.
- An offense has 45 seconds from the referee's signal to begin a play.
- Each Team has 3 timeouts per half.
- The official time clock runs continuously unless stopped when a time out is called by a team, or the referee stops play to allow opposing teams to align properly after a play.
- There is a mandatory play stoppage with 2 minutes remaining in each half; The clock is stopped after each play after the 2-minute warning in both halves.
- The penalty for allowing the play clock to run out is a loss of 5 meters with no loss of down both before and after the 2-minute warning.
- Kicking the ball (only on 6th down).
- Running with the ball.
- Passing the ball backward/laterally.
- Passing the ball forward (once per down, passer must not pass the Line of Scrimmage, only one foot is needed).
- The Defensive line can only up receivers within five meters of the Line of Scrimmage.
- Runner Down = A Player must be touched while on the ground unless it is a clearly willful knee or slide by a ball carrier; otherwise, the player may stand up and continue to advance the ball.
- Kickoffs occur from the kicking team's own 50m line.
- Kick or punt receivers must return all kicks with no exceptions.
- Punt/kick coverage teams must give a 5m empty zone around the opposing receiver until he has received the ball; This is called the No Meters rule.
- An unhandled ball from a place kick or punt may be legally recovered by the kicker/punter or by any player behind the kicker at the time of the kick; In such a case, the the player who receives the ball is exempt from the No Meters rule.
- 55 players on each team's roster; all players have active status; 15–a –side
- Positions = C/NT, OG/DT, OT/DE, RB/LB, FB/LB, TE/DHB, WR/CB, QB, S, and K.
- All players must play offense, defense, and special teams with the exception of the Quarterback (QB), Safety (S), and Kicker (K).
- Kicker = A combination of the kicker and punter positions (kicks all of the field goals, conversions, kickoffs, and usually punts on 6th down).
- Coaches are allowed unlimited substitutions; for a player to be eligible for substitution, they must have played a minimum total of 8 possessions (4 offensive and 4 defensive or 48 plays) or has been injured; this applies to substitute players as well.
- If a player enters and leaves, from the moment he leaves the player is considered "dead" and cannot return to play until the designated time is served.
- The time "dead" players must wait in order to eligible for a substitution is 8 possessions (4 offensive and 4 defensive or 32 plays) or if injury occurs.
- "dead" players may participate in special teams situations (kickoffs/punts/conversions), or as long snapper or holder.
- QB, S, K = 00-19.
- TB/LB, FB/LB, WR/CB, TE/DHB = 20-49 & 80-89
- C/NT, OG/DT, OT/DE = 50-79 & 90-99
- Touchdown (6)
- Field Goal (3-major / 1-minor) On a field goal attempt, the defending team may return a missed field goal to the kicking team's end zone for a Touchdown.
- Safety (2); Safeties are also is awarded to a kicking/punting team (Team A) if an opposing player (Team B):
(ii) elects to drop to one knee before having returned the ball to the field of play, or
(iii) elects to run with the ball out of bounds rather than enter or stay within the field of play.
- Conversion (1-minor; 2-major)
- On a convert attempt after a touchdown, the defending team may return a missed kick convert to the kicking team's end zone for 2 points, or if the convert was a rush or pass play may return a fumble or interception for 3 points.
Elite Football League of India
Season Structure:
- The regular season is a 20-week season in which all 10 team play all 9 other teams twice (1h/1a) with two bye weeks.
- The regular season starts in late September and ends in early February
Indian University Football League
Season Structure:
- The regular season is a 14-week season in which all 10 teams play all 4 other conference teams twice (1h/1a) and each non conference team one (3h/2a or 2h/3a) with one bye week.
- The regular season starts in late September and ends in early November.