• Attire/Equipment
• Game Structure
• Offensive Penalties
• Defensive Penalties
• Behavioural Conduct Penalties

Note: Any basic rules regarding the sport of football that are not specifically mentioned within the following rules and regulations are compatible with NFL official league rules.
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• No cleats allowed! Indoor turf shoes and regular running shoes are allowed.
• Teammates must be wearing matching attire to clearly identify themselves as members of that team, which must first be approved by the NTTFL.
• The home team will be responsible for bringing a game ball to every single game. The Ball should either be NFL or NCAA size and weight. However, each team is entitled to use their own ball when they are on offence.
• The NTTFL strongly recommends that all players wear protective mouth guards while in game action. Any other type of padding or protection such as helmets, shoulder pads, etc. is prohibited unless first approved by the NTTFL.

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Game Structure

• Games are approximately 1 hour long. Each game will have 25 minute halves with a 5 minute halftime in between. The clock is always on run-time. Once the clock turns to “0” at the end of each half there will be 5 more plays run until the end of the half. There is no overtime, and games can end in a tie. If a team fails to show up for a game they will lose by a 49-0 margin, DO NOT FORFEIT!!!!
• The “home” team will call the coin toss prior to every game. The winner of the coin toss can choose if they wish to start with possession or they can choose which side of the field they which to defend for the first half. In the second half teams shall exchange ends, and the team which did not receive possession in the first half will begin with the ball in the second half.
• The only situation where the clock can be stopped is if the referee decides to take a referee time out due to injury or other unfortunate circumstances. If on-field disputes escalate to the point where the referee is forced to stop time, the appropriate conduct penalties will be levied (please see behavioral conduct penalties).
• 5 Players on the field at a time per team (Max players per team roster is 12). If a team cannot field at least 4 players on the field at a time the game will be forfeited. If a player who is not signed up to the league plays one down that team will forfeit the game.
• An offence consists of 1 QB and 4 eligible WR. Defense unspecified positions.
• Substitutions can take place between every play but once the ball is snapped there can only be a maximum of 5 people on the field for each team.
• Every Offensive possession will begin at a team’s own goaline, and they will have 4 downs to reach the opposing goaline or they turn the ball over.
• Quarterback will self-hut the ball, from the ground on the line of scrimmage. Once the ball is lifted the play begins. There must be 3 WR standing on the line scrimmage at the time of the snap. Only one man can be in motion at a time
• After the end (when a player is ruled down) of each play teams have a maximum of 30 seconds to start the next play and must provide the opposing defense with a minimum of 10 seconds to get set.
• All players must NOT be moving towards the line of scrimmage at the time of the snap, one player can be in motion at the time of the snap. Audibles and motions can occur beforehand. • Each touchdown counts for 7 points, there are no extra points or conversions.
• Each possession consists of teams having 4 downs to reach the opposing end zone, no first downs.
• Defense has to count 4 S-T-E-A-M-B-O-A-T-S before they are allowed to cross the line of scrimmage and rush the QB. Once the QB is touched with two hands, play is dead. A defense does not have to have a designated man rushing the QB but all steamboats must be counted before anyone can rush the QB.
• QB is not permitted to cross the line of scrimmage at any given time. However, the QB is allowed to scramble behind the line of scrimmage until he is touched by a member of the opposing team.
• QB cannot handoff the ball, but pitching the ball backwards to another player is permitted. Any form of passing the ball forwards is allowed for the QB. (Underhand, overhand, sidearm, etc.)
• Once a player steps out of bounds in any given play they are no longer eligible to make a play on the ball, unless it is touched by someone else first (lateral situation).
• In order for a WR to complete a “catch” both feet must come down in bounds, while the WR has control of the ball. Also the ball cannot hit the ground at any time.
• At the referee’s discretion if a WR is considered to have landed in bounds if not for being “forced” out by another player on the defense, then the catch will count as a completion as long as the WR maintains control of the ball (WR is considered down at the spot of the catch).
• If a ball is intercepted by the defense they are entitled to try and return it for a TD if it is not returned for a TD then the team will retain possession starting at their own goaline.
• Fumbles or attempted lateral gone bad are considered dead balls once the ball hits the ground.
• If a defense gets a safety, they receive possession at the half line instead of their own goaline.
• Blocking – No driving a defender in any direction, but a player can run and get in-between the ball carrier and any defender and is allowed to place hands on the defenders chest only without actually pushing him. Picks are allowed.
• No grabbing, holding, clutching, pulling, pushing, tripping, sexually harassing, or “pulling a Jason” allowed.
• A defensive player is NOT allowed to grab an offensive player with one hand to slow him and touch him with the other. Holding, clutching, grabbing is a penalty.

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Offensive Penalties

• Too many men on the field – loss of down
• False Start/Offside – loss of down
• Delay of game – loss of down
• Offensive pass interference – loss of down and back to the nearest line. If across half you go back to half. If not you go back to your own goaline.
• Forward Lateral – Dead ball on the spot of the foul.
• QB Crosses the line of scrimmage – play dead, loss of down.
• Handoffs – Play dead, loss of down

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Defensive Penalties

• Too many men on the field – Offense has option to decline or retake down
• Defensive offside (includes defensive player crossing the line of scrimmage prior to the 4th Steamboat) – Offense has option to decline or retake down
• Defensive pass interference – Offense gets the ball at the spot of the foul (If the penalty occurs in the end-zone, the offense gets the ball at the 1 yard line) Additionally, there is no loss of down (eg. If it was 4th it stays 4th)
• Personal Foul - Pushing, shoving, tackling, tripping, etc – Automatic first down at spot of the foul.
• Defensive Holding (while Offensive player is in possession of the ball) – extra down from spot of the foul.
• NOTE: BUMP Coverage – Bump coverage is allowed within the first 2 yards off the line of scrimmage. This cannot turn into a back and forth wrestling match. If either of the players begins to push aggressively a penalty will be called. If there is ever any ambiguity the penalty will always go in favour of the offensive player. (This is at the discretion of the referee).

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Behavioural Conduct Penalties

Mistreatment of the Ref – (This is at the discretion of the referee)
• Level 1 – Warning
• Level 2 – Player is ejected for both an offensive and defensive series
• Level 3 – Ejected from the game – Can only return to the next game after paying a $15 (At the discretion of Referee and Commissioners)

Fighting – Discretion of the Ref and Commissioners
• Level 1 – Minimal Shoving, Arguing, Verbal Abuse – Player is ejected for both an offensive and defensive series
• Level 2 – Altercation with Danger of Escalation – Player is ejected from the game and $25 fine must be paid prior to returning to any of the next games.
• Level 3 – Fighting – Includes punching, kicking, etc – Player is ejected from the game and $40 fine must be paid prior to returning to any of the next games, suspensions ranging from 1 game to league expulsion.

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