Referee365 Football RulesKCFC · CYO

Scoring

Offense

Touchdown 7. No PAT.

Defense

Interception 2, plus 6 if returned past the 40-yard line for a total of 8. Any turnover on downs 1, including the last play of a half.

Standings

None kept. Officials keep score on the field.

Possession

Visitors start the game, home starts the second half. Every possession begins at the 40 at a spot the offense picks; both offenses move the same direction.

Downs and the clock

Three-down zones

40 → 30 and 30 → 20. Gain 10 in three plays or turn it over.

Four-down zone

20 → goal line. Four plays to score or turn it over.

4-second rule

Forward pass must be out within 4 seconds of the snap, counted aloud by the offensive back official. Expired count: loss of down (on the 40), or minus 5 and loss of down. On 3rd/4th down the ball turns over at the 40. No gain or defensive points once the count expires.

Delay of game

5 yards, or loss of down if yardage can't be enforced. Defense may elect loss of down to stop a leading team burning clock.

Ball retrieval

Offense returns the ball to the official. Clock doesn't stop; stalling is delay of game.

Passing and contact

Forward passes

Must cross the line of scrimmage. A catch behind the line must be a backward pass that's then thrown forward across the line. A lateral receiver who runs past the line is a run play: 5 yards from the previous spot and loss of down.

Down

Touched below the neck with one or both hands. No diving. Diving, shoving, or striking: automatic first down and 5 yards; ejection if flagrant.

Blocking

Hand-checking only, between hips and shoulders, minimal contact. Excessive contact: 10 yards from the spot and loss of down.

Pass rush

Not permitted beyond the line of scrimmage.

Pass interference

Defensive: 10 yards and automatic first down. Offensive: 10 yards from the previous spot, or loss of down if yardage can't be marked.

Route contact

Defense avoids contact in routes — no chucking, bumping, grabbing (5-yard tack-on). Press is allowed with hand-checking only. Offense may not run pick routes.

Fumbles

Dead at the spot, last team in control keeps it. A muffed snap stays live and the 4-second count keeps running.

Formations and conduct

Line

Three on the line of scrimmage. Nobody within 4 yards of the center. A lineman covered by an outside player on the line is ineligible.

Alignment

Max four players on either side of the center. One player in motion. QB under center or shotgun.

Center

Snaps to the QB and is ineligible.

Coach on field

One per team may stay on to call offensive plays.

Sportsmanship

No taunting, trash talk, or showboating: 5 yards, ejection if repeated or flagrant.

Fighting

Players ejected. A team fight ends the game and goes to the Sportsmanship Committee.

Rosters

Each player registers individually and must be on the final roster. No substitutes. Coaches submit a volunteer application.

Age limits

Max roster is twice the guideline; over that, the team splits. Grade/age challenges: written, $40 cash, at least five days before the next game.

Restricted ball carrier weights

Over by 5 lb or less at weigh-in earns one re-weigh before the season. Once restricted, restricted all season, with a helmet sticker front and back. Restricted carriers can't line up in the backfield or outside the tight end, carry, advance, or catch — but may kick, punt, hold, and recover fumbles without advancing. In-season weight challenge: $40 cash before the game ends; a successful challenge forfeits the game.

Game administration

Clock

Four 10-minute quarters, one minute between, 10-minute halftime with a 3-minute warm-up.

Overtime

NFHS Kansas procedure. One overtime max except playoffs. Can't start if regulation ends 1:46 after kickoff (weather delays added). Coaches may agree to skip it outside playoffs.

Mercy rule

30-point lead in the second half: running clock. 30-point lead at the start of, or during, the fourth quarter ends the game unless both coaches agree to finish.

PAT

Kick 2 points, run or pass 1 point. Exception: 4th and 5th grade, all conversions are 2 points.

Player count

Below 11 with 72 hours' notice: 9-man rules. Below 11 without notice: forfeit (or a controlled scrimmage if both coaches agree). Below 9 at any time: forfeit.

Horse collar

No grabbing the inside collar or the jersey at the nameplate or above to pull the carrier down. Doesn't apply in the tackle box or to a QB in the pocket.

Targeting / spearing

First offense: out for the rest of the half. Second in the same game: out for the game and suspended for the next one.

Safety kickoff

Team scored upon kicks from its own 20, in grades that kick off.

Chains

Home supplies two volunteers, visitors one. Chain crew doesn't coach or debate calls.

Eligibility, practice, equipment

Before contact

Registered, physical on file, three days and six hours of non-contact practice, properly outfitted.

Before games

Nine practice hours: at least three non-contact days and two contact days. Weigh-in complete. On the official roster.

Practice caps

One session per day, two hours max. Before school starts: 5 sessions / 8 hours a week. After: 4 sessions / 7 hours. Contact practices: 3 a week preseason, 2 a week once games start. Outside games count as a practice.

Heat

No practice at 95°F or a 105° heat index (Perry Weather app). No indoor substitute. Walkthroughs allowed but count.

Required gear

NOCSAE helmet with facemask · mouthpiece strapped to the mask · shoulder pads · seven-pad lower set · shoes, no exposed metal. Guardian Caps optional. Player-owned helmets and pads need equipment manager approval; helmets reconditioned every three years.

Non-contact practice

No pads or equipment except shoes; coach may require helmets and mouthpieces.

Uniforms

Jersey in white, black, or a school color; numbers front and back matching the roster; one spare jersey. Same helmet color across the team, KCFC-approved decals only.

Enforcement

Penalties

Reprimand, suspension, probation, or team forfeiture. Any ejection is an automatic suspension from the next game.

Repeat ejections

Two in two consecutive seasons: one-year suspension. Three in five seasons: five years.

Minimum-play violations

Two in two consecutive seasons: four weeks. Three: one year.

Suspension effect

No practices, walkthroughs, games, or entering the complex, fields, or parking. Coach-parents may be allowed to spectate at the committee's discretion.

Appeals

To the Football Board at its next meeting; two-thirds vote to overturn.

Rule challenges in-game

Head coach calls timeout and asks the Official in Charge — application of rules only, not judgment. Timeout restored if overturned. One per team per game.

Coaches

To coach

Volunteer application · age 21 head / 18 assistant / 16 youth assistant · background check (18+) · Area Director and Football Board approval · certification course.

Responsibilities

Know the rules — ignorance is no defense. Attend the captains' meeting. Keep an accurate roster. Control your sideline and your parents. No more than two teams per season.

Code of conduct

No profanity, abusive contact, punishment drills, alcohol, drugs, or tobacco. No recruiting other teams' players for events without their head coach's OK.

Parents

Talk to the head coach, not the officials. Don't interfere with coaching. Same alcohol, language, and conduct rules.

Video

Spectators film from spectator areas; coaches from their own sideline. Nothing on the field. No drones anywhere KCFC plays. Scouting is fine; sharing film with other coaches is a two-game suspension.

Weather and game day

Heat rule

95°F or a 105° heat index at kickoff delays or blocks the start. KCFC rechecks every 30 minutes; flag adds precautions, tackle postpones and reschedules.

Weather line

Updated hourly on game days. Announcements also made at the complex.

Resuming

Time left × 2 must fit the scheduled slot. Tackle is official once a game reaches 4:00 left in the fourth quarter.

Can't make a game

Flag: text or call the game day line 913-368-9292. Tackle: call the Sportsmanship Chair 913-291-7005. No-shows forfeit.

Injury

Medical treatment without same-day clearance: incident report to KCFC within 48 hours, and a medical release before the player returns. KCFC medical staff has final say on removal.

Bench area

Rostered players and credentialed coaches only — four passes in flag, seven in tackle. Between the 20s on 80/100-yard fields, the 5s on 50-yard fields. No chairs or carts on the sideline without a physician's note.

Contacts

Heritage Park Sports Complex, 162nd & Pflumm, Olathe. Flag also plays at Heritage Soccer Park, 17255 Lackman Rd. Maps are in the back of each rulebook.

Offense

Possession

Every possession starts at the offense's own 5, except after an interception, which is spotted where the returner was downed. Interceptions are live until the flag is pulled, a touchdown, or the official rules the player down.

Snap

Center snaps between the legs and the ball must fully leave the hands. Girls flag exception: ball may be snapped from the side. At least 1 and up to 4 players on the line of scrimmage.

Downs

Three downs to reach a first-down marker or score. Markers at roughly 18 yards from each end zone, so a drive from the 5 can earn two first downs before the goal line. Reaching or passing a marker resets to three downs.

No kicking

No punts, no kicks. Fail to convert in three and the other team starts at its own 5.

Live / dead ball

Live from the snap until the flag is pulled or the ball hits the ground and is whistled dead. Receiver is in-bounds with one foot down first.

Fumbles

None. Any ball on the ground is dead at that spot and the offense keeps it — including a dropped center-QB exchange, under center or shotgun. Never a turnover.

Flags fall off

Ball carrier whose flags come off for any reason, even without a defensive play, is down at that spot.

Eligibility

Everyone on the field can throw, run, or catch on every play.

QB running

QB may not run directly from the snap. May hand off, pitch, or lateral, and may scramble behind the line. A player who takes a handoff or lateral behind the line may throw. No handoffs or laterals once the carrier crosses the line of scrimmage.

Blocking

None of any kind, including screens. An offensive player may not impede a defender's path to the carrier or a legal rusher. Once the carrier crosses the line or catches a pass, all other offensive players should stop moving.

Flag guarding

No using hands, uniform, or anything else to protect the flags. Carrier may spin or move laterally. Leaving the feet is only allowed to clearly avoid a collision — and the carrier is down at that spot.

Motion

One player in motion at a time, lateral only — never toward the line of scrimmage.

Defense

Rush

One rusher, and only if he starts at least 7 yards off the line of scrimmage. Anyone starting inside 7 yards can't rush. Once the QB hands off or pitches, everyone may cross the line.

Passer contact

A rusher may jump to block a pass but may never touch the passer — roughing the passer.

Batted balls

A batted-down ball is dead at that spot and stays with the offense (forward pass or pitch alike) unless it was the last down.

Flag pull

No tackling, holding, or diving at the carrier. Only the ball carrier's flags may be pulled — pulling a flag before the player has the ball is an illegal flag pull.

Inadvertent pulls

If the defense didn't play the flags and they fell anyway, the official may rule it inadvertent and skip the penalty. The player is down where the flags fell. A receiver whose flags already fell can still catch the ball but is down on the catch.

Substitutions

On any dead ball.

Uniforms and equipment

Uniform

Provided by the sponsoring parish: shorts/pants plus t-shirt or jersey, within CYO design and modesty guidelines. Shirts tucked in at all times. Numbers required on the back only; front optional.

Flags

Provided by the parish program. Belt fastened, flags visible over the uniform. Whole team in the same single-color flags/belts, contrasting the shorts. All shorts on a team the same single solid color.

Ball

CYO-provided. Pee Wee size for every grade.

Shoes

Required. Cleats allowed: molded non-removable or screw-in male plastic, no metal tips, max ½ inch, non-abrasive rubber/synthetic.

Accessories

No jewelry or watches. Soft braces with a physician's clearance. Sleeves, tights, headbands, armbands, and wristbands in white, black, beige, or the uniform's main color — and matching across teammates. Tape on arms, fingers, ankles OK. Gloves and soft knee/elbow pads OK.

Mouth guards

Highly recommended, properly fitted. Plain only — colors fine, no logos, images, or writing.

Playing time and conduct

Equal time (2nd–4th)

Every player present in uniform gets an equal number of series or possessions as far as the math allows — no one gets more than one extra series over anyone else. Coaches manage it; opposing coaches have no oversight.

Minimum touches (2nd–4th)

Coaches strive for every player to get a touch: a direct snap, handoff, lateral, or forward pass on a live play.

Injured / disciplined

A coach must tell the opposing coach and field supervisor before the game which players can't participate and why.

Ejections

Any player, manager, coach, or spectator ejected from a CYO contest is suspended for two games.

Game administration

Home team

Sideline opposite the press box or main bleachers. Leads the pregame prayer. Supplies a three-person chain crew, all 16 or older.

Rosters

Official roster to the CYO office before game one: name, jersey number, official weight, "X" next to anyone over the limit. Head coaches exchange copies before every game and turn them in with play-count and score sheets. Changes noted with the reason.

Clock (6th–8th)

Four 10-minute quarters on a field clock. 30-second play clock, 1 minute between quarters, 11-minute halftime with a 3-minute warmup. Scheduled start is forfeit time.

Clock (5th)

Four quarters of 18 plays from scrimmage. Kickoffs, free kicks after a safety, and PAT tries don't count. The snap on play 18 is time expired. One qualified person from each team records plays and scores together on the home side, tells officials when a quarter ends, and turns the sheet in to the field supervisor. Play counts shown on the scoreboard when the facility has one.

Point spread

6th–8th: 30-point lead in the 4th quarter runs the clock except for timeouts and injuries. 5th–6th combo: 40-point lead at the end of the 3rd or any time in the 4th ends the game. Straight 5th grade: no point spread.

Stopped games

Complete, and the result stands, if the CYO director or officials stop it after the first half.

Overtime

One period in the regular season; still tied is a tie. Playoffs: as many as needed. KSHSAA procedure — ball at the 10, four plays to score, coin-toss winner picks who goes first.

PAT

Kick 1 · run or pass 2. Live play — can be rushed and faked. All grades.

5th-grade punting

On a declared punt: either no rush, or take a 20-yard advancement and change of possession. Inside the 40 the advancement is always half the distance to the goal. The advancement option doesn't count toward the play count.

Contact and safety

Pre-snap movement

No forward movement by any player within 2 yards of the line of scrimmage before the snap. 5 yards, illegal procedure.

Defensive stances

Inside the tackle box and on the line or within 2 yards: 3- or 4-point stance. Linebackers may stand in the gaps but must be at least 2 yards off the line.

Face mask

Grasping the mask or any helmet opening. Incidental grab (no pull, twist, yank): 5 yards. Twist, pull, or yank: 15 yards. Enforced from the end of the run, always beyond the line of scrimmage. Quick whistle.

Helmet grabs

Grasping a helmet to tackle, or to throw a blocker: 15 yards.

Cut blocks

No cut blocking on the line, and no block initiated at or below the knee on anyone: 15 yards. Exception: contact that starts at the waist or higher and slides below the waist or to the knee is legal if contact was maintained throughout.

Spearing

Intentional use of the helmet to punish, including forearm/helmet contact to the head and upper shoulders: 15 yards and disqualification.

Cleats

Molded non-removable or screw-in male plastic only, no metal tips, max ½ inch, non-abrasive rubber/synthetic that doesn't develop a cutting edge.

Weight limits and weigh-ins

Combined-grade teams playing in a single-grade division use that division's limit. Official weigh-in is at the mandatory Jamboree (second-to-last week of August), in shorts and a shirt, at least seven days before the first game — usually the Thursday after Labor Day. Not weighed means not eligible for the season, unless the CFL approves. Players within 5 lb of the limit re-weigh the week before playoffs (playoff teams only), with a 2-lb allowance. Skip the re-weigh and you're an X automatically. The Executive Director may call one extra unannounced re-weigh with cause.

Restricted ball carrier (X-Head)

How many

Only six over-the-limit players on the field at once.

Marking

Contrasting-color tape, 2 inches or wider, the full length and width of the helmet. Unmarked: ineligible until fixed.

Possession

May intercept, receive short kicks, and recover fumbles, but may never advance more than a step backward or laterally to protect themselves — 15 yards from the point of possession. Ball is dead the instant an X-Head gains possession (other than as kicker). Playing an unpermitted position: 5 yards, illegal procedure.

Offense

May not carry, pass, or receive. Center, guard, or tackle only — on the line, never outside the tight end, never the end. Must be covered by a non-X on the line. May recover a fumble or bad snap anywhere without advancing.

Defense

Line positions only, in a 3- or 4-point stance before and during the snap (5 yards if not). Exception: may play defensive end, and ends may stand.

Special teams

May kick, punt, or hold for field goals. On kickoff return, no more than 10 yards off the kicking team's line.

Eligibility, practice and sideline

One team only

No playing or practicing for another football team during the posted CYO season. Violation: the team forfeits every game that player was in.

Practice limits

Four 90-minute sessions or three 2-hour sessions per 7-day week. Live contact (faster than one-third speed) capped at 50% of each practice; the rest non-contact. 10-minute rest at the midpoint. Film, drills, and any team football activity count as practice. Scrimmages only with CYO teams in the same weight class. Violations: forfeits, coach suspension or expulsion.

Game ball

CYO-provided. Junior for 5th–6th, Youth for 7th–8th. Teams may use their own matching ball on offense; officials can revoke it if it slows the game.

Sideline

Head coach, assistants, one scorekeeper, three chain crew. Anyone else and the head coach is liable to suspension. Only sideline personnel, players, trainers, officials, and CYO staff on the field.

Filming

Drone footage must be shared with the opponent within 48 hours on request; tell CYO and the opponent before the game. Drones stay outside the field boundary and inaudible; the field supervisor can ground them. No filming of any kind from the sidelines during a game.

Combining grades

Short on numbers: combine into 5th/6th or 7th/8th teams. Play up one grade only (6th → 7th, but not 7th/8th combo or 8th). No player from two grades below (no 6th graders on an 8th-grade team). Playing down needs written approval from every opposing DSM and the CYO Director two weeks before rosters. 15 or fewer players in a grade: combine, or the DSM proposes assigning them to another parish. Combined parishes stay within geographic pods, consistent across grades.

Governance

Mandatory August coaches' meeting, one coach per team. The CFL Committee can move teams between divisions at any time for player safety. Any ejection is a two-game suspension.

Mandatory playing time and tiebreakers

Minimum plays (6th–8th)

8 per half, 16 per game. Kickoffs, PAT tries, and free kicks count.

Minimum plays (5th)

9 per half, 18 per game. If 24+ are rostered and suited: 7 per half, 14 per game.

Tracking

A qualified adult on each sideline keeps the individual play-count sheet. Head coach turns it in to the field supervisor. Late: warning, then a one-game suspension. Players out for injury or discipline reported to the scorers before the game, recorded on the back of the score sheet with the time.

Tiebreakers

1. Head-to-head. 2. League record (first meeting of a two-game series counts, the second doesn't). 3. Common opponents. 4. 13-point margin — average point margin across games before week 9, capped at ±13 per game, ±1 for an overtime game. Ties among 3+ with no common winner seed the top team by margin, then restart. 5. Coin flip.