Rule Book

We have adopted the National Football Federation Touch Football Rule Book as our official rule book.

Download the Rules (PDF format)

Disciplinary Committee

Guidelines for Disciplinary Action

A Disciplinary Committee was formed prior to the start of the 2004 season at the request of the League Executive.  The role of the Committee is to be proactive in addressing behaviors of players that would be considered unreasonable and/or unsafe, and outlines the possible consequences of such behaviors. The League Executive and Disciplinary Committee recognize that such behaviors are rare, however do occur and should be dealt with on a situational basis so as to protect the best interests and safety of the league and its players. Guidelines for behavior and the related yardage penalties were taken directly from the 2004 National Rule Book.

Notes:

• Referees will be instructed to address only the on-field offensive and defensive captains when debating any issues that may arise rather than individuals or entire teams. Failure for a team to comply with this (i.e., persistent taunting of referees, interference of referee/captain meeting, etc.) may result in a team warning and/or loss of yardage and/or ejection from the game (which will be further investigated by the Disciplinary Committee). 
• Although the Disciplinary Committee recognizes that individual referee(s) and linesperson(s) possess varying levels of tolerance, they will be encouraged to be consistent when enforcing the following guidelines.

Abuse of a Referee

• This includes any type of harassment (referee’s/linesperson’s discretion) including but not limited to:
1. Verbal abuse, taunting, or physical threats directed toward a referee(s) or linesperson(s);
2. Physical abuse of a referee(s) or linesperson(s), from either a player on the field or the bench; or
3. Any attempt to “show up” the referee(s) and/or linesperson(s).
• With regard to verbal abuse or taunting, referee(s) and/or linesperson(s) will follow the following steps in dealing with the behavior (note: referees may choose to penalize and or eject sooner if it is their judgment that it is warranted):

First offence - Team warning by the referee

Second offence - 10-yard objectionable conduct penalty

*Subsequent offences will result in additional objectionable conduct penalties and possible ejection of offending player(s) from the game. 

Note:

In the event that an individual/team continues to berate, taunt, or in any way abuse/harass an on-field official, a warning, yardage penalty, and ejection(s) may occur simultaneously.

• A threat of violence toward a referee will result in an objectionable conduct penalty and automatic ejection from the game of the offending player.
• If a player is ejected from 2 games throughout the season for any type of abusive behavior (physical or non-physical) toward an on-field official, it will result in an automatic 1 game suspension following the 2^nd ejection. In addition to suspension, a letter of reprimand will be given to the player and filed with the League Executive warning the player that future ejections will result in automatic suspension, the length to be determined following a review by the Disciplinary Committee.
• With regard to physical abuse of a referee, the following shall apply:
• 25-yard major foul penalty
• Automatic ejection of player(s) from the game
• Minimum 5 game suspension
• Automatic review by the disciplinary committee who, at its discretion, can lengthen the suspension based on the severity of the incident.

Major Foul (pg. 30 2004 National Rule Book)

“These are acts which threaten the safety of participants and will result in the ejection of the player responsible. They include: deliberate tripping of an opponent; striking or attempting to strike an opponent; any attempt to injure a participant in the game. Major fouls are 25-yard fouls and are considered to be live ball or dead ball fouls at the option of the non-offending team.”

• With regard to major fouls, the following shall apply:
• Automatic review by the Disciplinary Committee for a suspension of up to 3 games
• The Committee, at its discretion, can lengthen the suspension based on the severity of the incident.

Objectionable Conduct(pg. 31 2004 National Rule Book)

“These penalties are applied as 10-yard dead ball fouls. The following actions are considered to be objectionable conduct fouls: the use of profane language, taunting opposing players, demeaning remarks made to opposing players, persistent arguments to officials, deliberately delaying the game, faking an injury or contact to draw a penalty or delay the game, or any action which brings disrepute to the game.”

Ejections from the Game

• Referees are expected to be knowledgeable of the procedures outlined in this protocol.
• Both referees and linespersons have the authority to eject a player(s) if warranted.
• Referees will be instructed to submit (in writing) a detailed report outlining the events leading up to and including ALL ejections regardless of how minor or major the infraction was. Reports MUST be filed with the League President, the Head Referee, and the Chair of the Disciplinary Committee for review within 3 days of the incident. This may be done via email to the above-mentioned parties.
• If a player is ejected from the game during the second-half of play, the player may be suspended for the next game, and possibly for as many as 3 games, pending review by the Disciplinary Committee.
• The Disciplinary Committee, at its discretion, can lengthen the suspensions outlined based on the severity of the incident and/or if there is a history of poor conduct by the offending player.

Suspensions

• Suspensions which occur late in the season will carry over into the playoffs and (if necessary) the following season.
• Depending on the severity of an incident, suspensions may carry over into the Provincials pending review by the Disciplinary Committee.

Appeals

 

• The Chair of the Committee will provide formal notice of suspension in the form of either written letter or email to at least one team representative.
• All suspensions may be appealed, and all appeals must be made in writing (written letter or email) and sent to the Chair of the Committee within one (1) day of formal notice of suspension by the Disciplinary Committee.
• If an appeal is in process, the player may participate in any games that occur prior to the appeal decision being made.
• Appeals will be heard by a minimum of 3 members of the Committee.
• Members of the Committee from the involved teams will not sit as one of the 3 members reviewing the appeal. In the event that 3 members are not available to review an appeal, a member(s) of the League Executive may be requested to act as part of the Committee.

2007 Committee Members:

Paul Smith (Chair) - pa_smith1978@hotmail.com

Dave Trickett - karenanddave@nl.rogers.com

Jeff Hart - hart_jeffrey@hotmail.com

Jamie Stoyles - jaimestoyles@nl.rogers.com

Lisa Courtney - maryjane824@hotmail.com

Robin Park  - rd_park@hotmail.com

Dave Sullivan - davidsullivan677@hotmail.com

Additional Notes

These rules are generally the same as our local rules. The most notable exception is game timing.

GAME TIMING
Our local league rule indicates the final 3 minutes of the 2nd and 4th quarters will be replaced with 5 plays. At the moment the play is whistled, if there are 3 minutes or less remaining then the referee will advise 5 plays remaining. Any of the remaining 5 plays will be replayed when a live ball penalty is accepted. After a timeout, the clock does not start until the snap of the ball, not when the referee blows play in.

The following rules are directly from the rule book or are the committee's interpretation of the rules in the book.

Pass Interference

CONTACT
A player has committed bodily contact when that player makes contact with an opponent and moves the opponent off stride or away from the opponent’s intended direction or position. Contact between opponents is legal provided that the contact results from a simultaneous and legitimate attempt to play the ball and occurs at the arrival pint of the pass; this contact is legal only when each player is intent on playing the ball and each player is in an equally favourable position to play the ball.

When contact occurs without moving the opponent off stride or away from the opponent’s intended direction or position, pass interference has not occurred; this is incidental contact.

PATH TO THE BALL
All players have an equal right to a direct path to the arrival point of the ball. However, a player in an unfavourable position cannot commit bodily contact with an opponent to reach the ball, even if the ball was eventually touched by that player.

A player who is in an equal or an advantageous position to play the ball, compared to an opponent, is considered to have the right to the path to the ball. When that right is taken away by an opponent using bodily contact, pass interference has occurred.

A player who is taking a path or a position on the field in order to catch a pass, or defend against a pass, has a right to that path or position unless an opponent has already taken it. A player who takes an opponent’s established path or position using bodily contact is guilty of pass interference.

When two opponents cross paths and make contact, the player who had clearly declared the intended path first has the right to that path; the opponent is guilty of pass interference unless the contact was incidental. If the officials cannot determine who declared their path first, pass interference has not occurred.

When opponents get their feet tangled up while running their respective paths causing one player to lose balance, a pass interference penalty is not automatic. The relevant positions and intended paths of the players must be taken into account.

In all the above cases, the player who is in the advantageous position to play the ball must continue to display intent to reach the arrival point of the ball. Otherwise, any contact by the opponent in a sincere effort to reach the arrival point of the ball will not be considered pass interference. A deliberate attempt to block the opponent from reaching the arrival point of the ball is pass interference.

CENTRE / RUSHER INTERFERENCE
When bodily contact occurs between the Centre and the Rusher, if the Rusher had lost rights to a direct path to the Quarterback, the Rusher will be penalized for pass interference in the remote area; if the Rusher had not lost rights to a direct path to the Quarterback, the Centre will be penalized for obstruction.

BLOWING THE PLAY IN
The referee will whistle play in in a consistent manner throughout the game, approximately just after players return to the huddle, or sooner if players are walking back. Teams have 20 seconds from this point to start a play. The referee will indicate when 10 seconds remains.

BOBBLES FORWARD ON KICKOFF/PUNT

• Kick Off - when a ball is bobbled forward, only players behind the ball at the point of bobble are eligible to pick it up. If a player comes back to pick up the ball it is dead at the point of initial touch.
• Punt - balls bobbled forward on a punt are blown dead immediately.

SINGLE POINT/SAFETY/INTERCEPTION IN END ZONE
After a single point the ball is spotted at the 35 yard line. After an interceptionj in the end zone the ball is spotted at the 10 yard line. After a safety there are 3 options - the most common is kicking off from the 35.

SLEEPER PLAYS
Sleeper plays are illegal. Referees will use their judgement.

However, for the purposes of our league, players can stay within the field of play on the lake side of the field after a previous play. Players can't stand next to the sideline on the bench side of the field in an attempt to deceive the other team. This will be a 5 yard illegal procedure penalty based on the referees judgement.

OBSTRUCTION OF THE RUSHER
For a penalty to be called, the rusher must have their path to the QB altered or otherwise interfered with.

THE SNAP OF THE BALL
Once the center is set the ball cannot be moved except to begin the play.

ROUGHING THE QB
If a quarterback is in the motion of throwing, the throwing arm, head or neck cannot be touched in any fashion. This is a 15 yard penalty. Referees will use judgement.

BLOCKING THE DEFENDER
Blocking - No one can intentionally get in the way of a defender. In addition, unintentional blocking is a penalty if it affects the defensive players attempts to tag the ball carrier. Again, referees must make a judgment call regarding the situation.

TAGS

• When a player is bent over or on the ground then the defended must make a legal tag on the ball carrier. A jump over the person is considered a tag.
• Swipe Tag - If a player ducks to avoid a tag and the defender passes their hand over the ball carrier then it is considered a touch.

SUBSTITUTIONS
On a regular play for scrimmage, when play is whistled in, then neither offence or defense can
make substitutions unless they huddle. This may be a partial huddle with not all players.
 
On a kick off, there can be no substitutions once the kicker begins the run up to the ball.

The Rule Committee
Todd Pardy, Stefan Jensen, Jeff O'Keefe, Mark Peters