Rules and other Documents

I. Player Conduct

1. Excessive profanity toward opponents, officials, fans, or teammates results in ejection.
2. Alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana are prohibited in Dawson County Parks. Possession or use results in suspension.
3. Non-football contact results in suspension.
   1. Any punch thrown or act of fighting results in an automatic regular-season suspension.
4. Any ejected player (fighting, drugs, or profanity) must leave the park immediately. Failure to leave results in team forfeit.
5. Team captains are responsible for player conduct and in-game de-escalation to maintain pace of play.
6. Only the team captain or coach may dispute a call with officials.
7. Celebrations are permitted. Taunting, excessive profanity, or crude gestures result in a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty (may be enforced or ejection).

II. Season Details

1. Seven regular-season games followed by a postseason tournament.
2. All games are played at Veteran's Memorial Park, Dawsonville, GA.
3. 25-minute running clock.
4. 20-second play clock.
5. Halftime is three minutes.
6. Timeouts and game clock:
   1. Three timeouts per half.
   2. One video challenge per half (30 seconds). Unsuccessful challenge results in loss of timeout.
      1. Reviewable plays: catch/no-catch, out of bounds, ball or flag spot, down by contact, fumble spot.
      2. Only the captain may initiate a challenge.
   3. Injury and referee timeouts stop the clock.
7. Minimum of six players required to avoid forfeit.
8. Coin flip determines initial possession or defense. Second half begins with the defensive team receiving. Field direction flips at halftime.
9. No mercy rule. Teams may forfeit within the final two minutes.
10. Overtime:
    1. Possessions 1-2: Four downs from the 20-yard line; two-point attempt required.
    2. Possession 3+: One play from the 3-yard line followed by an XP from the 10-yard line.
    3. No ties.

III. Equipment

1. Jerseys must be tight-fitting, matching in color, with manufactured numbers only.
2. Shorts must be tight-fitting with no pockets, belt loops, or exposed drawstrings (zipper pockets allowed).
3. Flags must be worn outside the jersey. Jersey covering flags results in a 5-yard penalty.
4. Rubber or plastic cleats only. No metal spikes.
5. No sharp jewelry or exposed wearables. Fitness trackers must be covered.
6. Hand warmers must be worn facing the front of the body.
7. Any towel, glove, wristband, or hand warmer pulled off a player constitutes a flag pull (player down).

IV. Standard Gameplay

1. First downs every 20 yards (20-40-40-20). Four downs to gain or score.
2. Blocking & rushing:
   1. Blocking allowed with extended arms only. No blindside blocks, shoulder blocks, chop blocks, or excessive force.
   2. Live rushing. Excessive force or driving players into turf may result in ejection.
   3. Holding and hands to the face enforced at referee discretion.
3. Stiff arms & flag guarding:
   1. Stiff arms allowed between waist and shoulders.
   2. Stiff arms above the shoulder result in a 15-yard penalty. Below the belt is flag swatting (dead ball at spot).
4. Punts:
   1. Punt must be declared within first 10 seconds.
   2. Punts result in defensive possession at the 20-yard line.
5. Snap:
   1. Continuous snap motion required.
   2. QB must start five yards behind LOS.
   3. Four offensive players required on LOS.
   4. Ball marked with a single cone.
6. Ball carrier:
   1. No flag guarding with hands or ball.
   2. No lowering head or shoulder to initiate contact.
   3. Untouched diving catch allows advancement.
      1. Contacted catches result in down by contact.
      2. Any body contact results in down.
      3. Tangled catches result in down.
   4. Player may declare themselves down due to injury.
   5. If a flag falls off, one-hand touch declares player down.
7. Defensive players:
   1. No deflagging without the ball.
   2. No pushing players down to pull flags.
   3. Tackling without flag attempt results in 15 yards and automatic first down.
   4. Strips permitted without excessive force.
8. Fumbles:
   1. Fumbles are dead balls at point of ground contact.
      1. Bad snaps spotted where they land.
      2. Backward passes not caught are spotted at contact.
      3. Strips or caught fumbles are live turnovers.

V. Scoring

1. Touchdowns: 6 points.
2. XP: 1 point from 5-yard line; 2 points from 10-yard line.
3. Defensive XP return: 2 points.
4. Safeties: 2 points; possession at opponent's 20-yard line.

Penalties

Disqualification and Suspension

1. Punches thrown (landed or missed): full-season suspension.
2. Intentional contact with an official: full-season suspension.
3. Excessive profanity or unsportsmanlike conduct: 1-2 game suspension.
4. Personal threats or severe taunting: suspension or league review.
5. Drugs or alcohol on site: suspension.