Rules of the Game

The Field of Play

• Played on an indoor padded Astroturf surface measuring 198' by 85~ (may vary slightly by venue).
  
• Length of field of play is 50 yards plus eight yard end zones. Width of field is 85 feet from sideline to sideline, and 90' minimum from side line barrier to sideline barrier (half the width of an outdoor football field).
  
• Goal posts are 9' wide with a crossbar height of 15~ (NFL goal posts are 18 1/2 wide with the crossbar at 10').
  
• Goalside rebound nets are tightly strung mesh and stretch from either side of the goal post to the sideline. The nets measure 30' wide by 32' high and are hung from the ceiling with the bottom of the nets are 8' above the endline.
  
• Sideline barriers are 48" of high density foam rubber encircling the playing field and are stationed on the sidelines covering dasher boards.
  

• Players wear regulation tackle football equipment and turf shoes designed to minimize knee, ankle and foot injuries. Riddell is the official helmet and protective equipment supplier of all Arena Football League teams.
  
• The official ironman football is approximately the same weight and has the same dimensions as the National Football League ball. The Ironman football is manufactured exclusively for the Arena Football League by the supplier, Wilson Sporting Goods.
  
• All AFL teams wear uniforms manufactured excusively by the Wilson Sporting Goods Company.
  

• Eight players on offense and eight players on defense.
  
• Total roster of 20 active players.
  
• Players will play both offense and defense (single platoon) with the exception of the kicker, quarterback and his defensive replacement and a wide receiver who is designated kick returner on defense but who is not required to play other defensive scrimmage plays.
  
• Four offensive players must be line up on the line of scrimmage, one of which shall be a split end who will line up no closer than five yards from the guard (exception: kicking situations). There are no offensive tackles in Arena Football. The slot back and the wide receiver will be no closer than one(l)yard outside the offensive guard/tight end position unless in motion. The fullback and quarterback are restricted to the guard/tight end position when the ball is snapped. Penalty: Illegal Procedure (three yards).
  
• Three defensive players must be down linemen (in a three or four-point stance), the widest of which shall be lined up to intersect with the positioning of the offensive guard or tight end. The middle linebacker, who shall be lined up away (on the offensive guard) from the tight end, may blitz, but only from a position of depth (minimum of two yards off the line of scrimmage) There can be no stunting, twisting. or faking of a blitz.
  
• Offensive motion - One player on the offensive team other than a down lineman is eligible to be in motion parallel to the line of scrimmage. That player may also go in forward motion after beginning parallel motion.
  
• Substitution - All players, with the exception of those termed as specialists, will only be allowed to substitute once during each quarter Specialists will be the two quarterbacks, the place kicker, a defensive specialist who takes the place of a quarterback, the designated snapper, and the wide receiver/kick returner. Penalty: Illegal substitution (three yards).
  

• Four 15-minute quarters with a 15-minute half time. The time between plays must not exceed 25 seconds (unless stopped by the referee).
  
• The game clock will not stop for out-of-bounds plays or incomplete passes except in the last minute of play in each half. The clock will stop only as long as the referee deems necessary for penalties and injuries. The clock will also stop for team and TV time-outs.
  
• Each team is allowed three (3) team time-out in each half.
  
• There is a 25-second clock between plays.
  
• The average elapsed time of an Arena Football game is 2 hours and 15 minutes.
  

• Four downs are allowed to move the ball ten (10) yards for a first down.
  
• Six points for a touchdown.
  
• One point for a conversion by place kick after a touchdown.
  
• Two points for a conversion by drop kick after a touchdown.
  
• Two points for successful run or pass after atouchdown.
  
• Three points for a field goal by placement.
  
• Four points for a field goal by drop kick.
  
• Two points for a safety.
  

• Kickoffs are used to begin the game, to begin the second half, and after successful touchdowns, field goals, and safeties.
  
• Kickoffs are from the goal line. Kickers may use a tee.
  
• Field goal attempts by placement or drop kick replace punts. Punting is illegal. A kicker may use a 1" kicking block.
  
• The receiving team has the right to field any place kick or drop kick that rebounds off the net, except a point after touchdown which will be ruled dead.
  
• The kicking team must be at least five yards from the receiver fielding the kick when he touches the ball and may never penetrate the opponent's five-yard line until the ball has touched the receiver or the ball touches the ground.
  
• The kicking team may not cross the line of scrimmage on any kick from the opponent's five-yard line or closer.
  
• Any player on the kicking team that penetrates the five-yard protective belt will result in a three yard penalty. If that player makes contact with the receiver, it is an automatic eight yard penalty from the succeeding spot.
  
• Once the ball hits the ground, it is a free ball and may be fielded by either team.
  
• If the kicking team recovers the ball, it must make the required first down yardage to retain possession.
  
• No defender will line up and/or rush wider than the offensive end man on the line of scnmmage when rushing a field goal or extra point attempt.
  
• A kickoff must remain within the width of the boundaries. Any kickoff untouched and out side the width of the field will be placed at the 20 yard line or the place where it went out of bounds, whichever is more advantageous to the receiving team.
  
• Any kickoff that leaves the field of play within the field of play (through the crossbar slot, over or under the net) is a touchback and will be placed on the receiving team's five-yard line Any field goal attempt where the ball leaves the field of play outside the width of the playing field will be placed at the receiving team's twenty-yard line or the spot where the ball went out of bounds, whichever a more advantageous to the receiving team.
  
• Any unsuccessful field goal attempt where the ball leaves the field inside the width of the playing field (over or under the nets) will be a touchback and placed on the receiving team's five yard line.
  
• Unsuccessful field goal attempts that rebound off the nets flanking the goal posts may be fielded and returned.
  
• The receiving team on any kick off or field goal attempt has the first right to field the football. The kicking team may not penetrate past the receiving team's 5-yard line if the ball is being fielded in the end zone and must give the receiver a five-yard perimeter to field the ball. If not fielded, it becomes a live ball and is able to be advanced by either team once it touches the playing surface.
  
• The same rules apply for kickoffs and field goal attempts that do not travel far enough to rebound off the nets but drop into the end zone.
  
• A player receiving a kick in the end rone must attempt to advance the ball out of the end zone except in those cases where kicking team players have violated the five-yard perimeter of the goal line rule. If not fielded, it becomes a live ball and is able to be advanced by either team once it touches the playing surface. The recovering player may then elect to down the ball to protect himself without risk of a penalty for not advancing the kick out of the end zone. Otherwise, there is no fair catch or downing of the ball allowed on kick returns. If the returner is tackled down behind the goal line before crossing it, the ball is spotted on the five-yard line for the next play.
  

• Passing rules in Arena Football are the same as in outdoor football, with one exception. A forward pass that rebounds off of the net within the field of play is a live ball and is in play until it touches the playing surface. A ball that bounces off of the sideline barriers is also in play until it touches the playing surface.
  
• A receiver may catch a pass legally anywhere on the playing field. including up against the sideline barrier as long as his feet are in bounds. A player receiving a pass against the barrier is out-of-bounds if he goes over the barrier without a foot touching down in bounds first.
  

• Overtime periods are seven and one-half minutes during the regular season. and fifteen minutes during the playoffs.
  
• Each team must have at least one opportunity to score.
  
• If, after each team has had one possession and one team is ahead, that team wins If the teams are tied after each has had a possession, the next team to score wins.
  
• The receiving team will be deemed to have had possession following a legal kickoff whether or not they have possession of the ball at the end of the play.
  
• If the defensive team fumbles following an interception, the defensive team will be considered to have used their "opportunity to score" in the overtime period.
  
• In regular season play, if the two teams are tied at the end of the overtime period, the game is considered at tie.
  
• In post-season play. if the two teams are tied at the end of the overtime period, the teams will continue to play fifteen minute periods until one team scores.