GFL follows Missouri State High School rules as governed by MSHSSA - http://www.mshsaa.org/. League-specific rules can be found below.

Noisemakers:

In an effort to have the best environment for all teams to compete with the
least distractions, the GFL Board has deemed that noisemakers of all kinds are
not to be used during GFL games. This rule was made necessary due to rude, loud
and disruptive behaviour by some people. We ask all organizations to please
remind their coaches and families of this restriction and to please respect each
other at all times during our league functions.

I. General:

          A)  Roster:

                   1. Maximum of 35 players (at final certification)

                   2. Minimum of 15 players (at final certification)

                   3. Final sign-up date is August 20, 2008.

                   4. All players must be on final roster, (August 20, 2008)

                   5. The “age” a player is on July 31st, 2008 will determine what age class he will play in.

                   6. All players must be entering 8^th grade or under.

                   7.  Any player turning 15 years old in 2008 is ineligible.

           B) I.D. Cards:

                   1. All organizations must use the league issued/approved I.D. cards.

2. All players must have a valid I.D. card with them during each

    pre-game check in. Pre-game check in will be 5 minutes before game

    time in the end zone. (If a player is not present for pre-game I.D. check      

    they do not play. Opposing coach may waive this rule.

                   3. The I.D. cards must be certified on August 9, August 16, or August 20, 2008.

          C)  Certification:

                   1. A player must be certified by a league official before he can play in a game.

                   2. No player can be certified after the final certification date, August 20, 2008 (unless an additional certification date is authorized by the Gateway Board).

                   3. The weight a player weighs the day of certification will determine

                         what weight class he will be in for the season. (If he is too heavy to

                         carry the ball the day of certification then he can not be a ball carrier that season).

                   4. There will be two certification dates:

                          FIRST DATE: August 9^th, 2008

                          SECOND DATE: August 16^th, 2008

          D)  Ineligible Player

                   1. Any game that an ineligible player participated in will be a forfeit. -13

          E) Ball Sizes:

                                                             Rawlings            Wilson               Nike

7,8,9,10 year olds                  pro5pw / st5cpw            K2           2000K / 705K    

11, 12 year olds                    pro5j / st5cj _             TDJ          2000J / 705J

13/14                                      pro5y / stcy / r5            TDY          2000J / 705Y

                  1. The home team will supply the game ball. The visiting team may use their ball if preferred.

                  2. Only the designated football sizes or larger may be used.

                  

F)      The player’s jersey number will not restrict him to a certain position as in     

                   high school rules.   

G)   The first time a player is ejected for fighting it will be reviewed by the     

         board to determine if the player could be suspended for the season and/or        

         permanently.                                                     

H)   A younger player can be moved up to the next age bracket after the final

        sign up date with board approval only. Once the player is moved, he must

        stay there the rest of the season. The intent of this rule is to help fill a team

        that is down below 15 players.

II.   Games

A)  All games are eight (8) minute quarters

          B)  Half time: seven (7) minutes + three (3) warm up minutes

          C)  Chains: The home team is responsible for working the chains. The chains

                 must stay on the home team side of the field.

          D)  Extra Point: Two points for a successful kick.

                                  One point for a successful run or pass.                            

E) Tie Breaker: Each team gets four downs starting at the ten yard line. Your

         series ends if you score, fumble and the other team recovers, or you

          throw an interception. An extra point try should follow a touchdown.

          Field goal attempts are part of the tie breaker. If the score is still tied after

          each team has had the ball for a series, then the game is over and it is

          recorded as a tie. If it is a play-off game the tie breaker rule will continue

          until one team wins. Time out during the tie breaker: Each team shall be

          permitted one additional timeout during each overtime period, plus any

          unused second- half regulation game time outs.

          F)  Continuous clock: Starts at 25 point differential, in the second half. If both

                  coaches agree and the point differential is 25 the continuous clock can start

                  in the first half.

          G)  Violations of the G.F.L. rules will be an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

                   1. * Unless otherwise stated in these rules.

III. Age, Weight and Helmet Stripes:

          A) Check in will be 5 minutes prior to each game in the end zones.

          B) If a player does not have an I.D. card he can not play in the game.

C)  Any player can punt or kick the ball, but may not advance it if he is

     restricted by a stripe.

          D)  The following weights are without equipment:

                                HELMET         RESTRICTIVE POSITION           CLASS

7 years old                   

70 lbs. & under          none                none                                                    OS

71 lbs. & up               one                 cannot play offensive back or end       1S 

8 years old

80 lbs & under        none                 none                                                OS

81 lbs & up             one                  cannot play offensive back or end              1S

9 years old

90 lbs. & under     none                           none                                                OS

91 lbs. & up                    one                    cannot play offensive back or end       1S

10 years old

100 lbs. & under            none            none                                              OS

101 lbs. & up                 one              cannot play offensive back or end    1S

11 years old

125 lbs & under             none           none                                                OS

126 lbs. & up                 one              cannot play offensive back or end __1S

12 years old

                                         none             none                                                    OS

13/14 years olds

                                       none           none                                        __     OS

         

             E) Helmet Stripes:

                   1. ˝ inch to 2 inch wide tape. The G.F.L. will supply the tape to be used for the stripes. No other tape will be allowed.

                   2. Stripes run from ear hole to ear hole, unless the helmet has a decal, then it runs from decal to decal across the top of the helmet, and along the bottom of the back.

IV.  Guidelines adapted for 7, 8, 9, 10 year old levels:

          7, 8 year old level:

                A) Two coaches will be allowed on the field.

                B) Coaches must stop coaching when the quarterback starts his cadence.

                    *A 5 yard penalty will be accrued.

                C) All interior defensive lineman must be in a three or four point stance.

                D) Punts, field goals, and kicks for an extra point are dead. (NO RUSH)

                    The ball must be kicked with in 45 seconds of the snap and between the

                       offensive tackles.

                E) The snapper must snap between his legs on all kicks.

                F) NO BLITZ.

                        1. Maximum of six (6) players on the defensive line.

                        2. All other players must be five (5) yards from the line of scrimmage on the snap. If the ball is inside the five (5) yard line the rule does not apply.

                 G)  The ready for play clock will be 40 seconds.

                 H)  A striper on the end of the offensive line will result in a (five) 5 yard

                       penalty.

          9, 10 year old level:

                   A) One coach will be allowed on the field.

                   B) Coaches must stop coaching when the quarterback starts his cadence.

                        * 5 yard penalty

                   C) All interior defensive linemen must be in a three (3) or four (4) point

                          stance.

                   D) Punts, field goals and kicks for an extra point are dead. (NO RUSH)

                         The ball must be kicked with in 25 seconds of the snap and between

                           the offensive tackles.

                    E) The snapper must snap between his legs on all kicks.               

                    F) No Blitz

                         1. Maximum of six players on the defensive line. All other players

                               must be five (5) yards from the line of scrimmage on the snap. If  

                               the ball is inside of the five (5) yard line the rule does not apply.

G) A striper on the end of the offensive line will result in a (five) 5 yard   penalty.

V.               Misc.

            A)  Super Bowl Playoff Weigh-ins

                 1. If a player does not make weight he must play a restricted (striped) position.

                 2. All non striped players will be weighed before playoffs

                  3. 12 & 13/14 year old divisions do not need to be re-weighed  

                  4.  The weights for the playoffs are as follows:

                        7 YEARS OLD - NO PLAYOFFS

                          8 YEARS OLD---------------   88 lbs.

                         9 YEARS OLD---------------  98 lbs.

                        10 YEARS OLD--------------108 lbs.

                        11 YEARS OLD--------------133 lbs.

                 5.  There will be two weigh-in dates for playoffs. Date, time and location

                        to be announced.   

B)    13 Point Scoring System

                   Winning team                       Point Difference                Losing Team

                         + 13                                  13 pts. or over                        -13

                     +1 to +12                              1 to 12 pts.                         -1 to -12

                                                                Overtime games     

                   Winning team                                                                  Losing team 

                            0                                             Tie                                     0

                            +1                                        Winner                                -1                      

                                                                    Forfeit games

                          +13                                                                                   -13

C)    Field Requirements

1.     Fields must be roped off on both side lines from the 15 yard line to the 15 yard line.

2.     The ropes should be 10 yards from the sideline.

3.     All fans must be between the 15 yard lines.

D) Conflicting Jersey Colors

1.     The home team is required to change their jerseys if both teams have the same color jerseys. If they don’t have different jerseys then they must wear a different colored pull over.

E)   Post Season Playoffs

1.     Tie Breaker Procedure

a)     Overall record

b)    Head to head record (only works with two teams, if three or more teams are tied skip (b) and go to (c).

c)     Record against common opponents

d)    Scoring system against common opponents

e)     Total scoring system

f)      Playoff game (only to determine a place in the playoffs).

g)     Coin toss (Three or more teams-three coins odd man out. The remaining two teams will play a game to determine a place in the playoffs).

IF the teams are in the playoffs and are tied (example: two first place teams 7-0 in the same division) a playoff game will determine what seating will be.               

h) When three or more teams are tied you must determine  

who the top seated team is by using the Tie Breaker

Procedure and then take the remaining two teams and go

through the Tie Breaker Procedure again with the

remaining two teams.