CMYFCC FIELD RULES 2026

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Overtime TACKLE
Tied after regulation

Overtime is played in innings: in an inning, each team gets one possession from the 10-yard line.

1st overtime

Two innings from the 10. Still tied? Play a second overtime exactly the same way.

Regular season

Still tied after the second overtime — the game ends in a tie.

Postseason

A winner is required. From the third overtime on, teams trade conversion attempts from the 3-yard line — same inning format, overtime after overtime, until the tie is broken.

Kickoff Rule ALL TACKLE
  • Kickoffs to start the game and start the half are normal — they are not affected by this rule.
  • After Team A scores a touchdown or field goal, Team B takes possession at its own 35-yard line — no kickoff — unless Team A elects to retain possession (the "onside" option), which it may only do when, after the try:
    • Team A trails by more than 8 points (any time in the game), or
    • it's the 4th quarter and Team A trails by 1 point or more, or
    • it's the 4th quarter and the game is tied.
  • If Team A elects to retain: Team A keeps the ball at its own 43-yard line, facing 4th down & 7. Convert and keep driving; fail and Team B takes over on downs.
  • After Team A scores a safety, Team A takes possession at the 50-yard line — unless Team B elects to retain possession, which it may only do when:
    • Team B trails by more than 8 points (any time in the game), or
    • it's the 4th quarter and Team B trails by 1 point or more, or
    • it's the 4th quarter and the game is tied.
  • If Team B elects to retain: Team B keeps the ball at its own 28-yard line, facing 4th down & 7.
  • In the last minute of the 2nd or 4th quarter, this special 4th-down play is untimed.
📄 Original PDF (print copy)
8U Tackle DIVISION

8U is a competitive tackle division. All standard AYF & CMYFCC tackle rules apply, with these exceptions:

  • Ball placement: ball starts at the 35-yard line to open each half and after a change of possession following a score. After a defensive safety, the ball is spotted at the 40-yard line.
  • Kickoffs: 8U may use the CMYFCC modified kickoff rule for onside kicks ONLY (see the Kickoff Rule drawer for the onside option).
  • Modified punts:
    • Negative territory (own goal line to own 49): teams may "punt" on 4th down — the punt is a 25-yard walk-off.
    • Positive territory (50-yard line to the goal line): no punting — teams must go for it on 4th down.
  • Coaches on the field: each team may have ONE coach on the field on offense and defense. The coach must stay at least 5 yards behind their deepest player from the line of scrimmage at all times. Once the QB is under center or in shotgun, on-field coaches must stop all verbal communication — no directions, audibles, or cheering.
    • 1st offense: warning.
    • 2nd offense: that coach is sent to the sideline for the rest of the game (a replacement coach may come on).
    • Playoffs: no coaches on the field at all.
If additional rules come down from National/Regional AYF, these are subject to change — all presidents will be notified.
📄 Original PDF (print copy)
Flex 6U & 8U
Game format
  • 6U Flex is 7 vs 7 · 8U Flex is 9 vs 9
  • Two 25-minute halves, 5-minute halftime.
  • Ball starts at the 40-yard line — start of game, after a score, and after a turnover.
  • 3 downs to gain a 10-yard first down outside the red zone (10-yard line and in).
  • 4 downs to score if a new set of downs starts inside the 10-yard line.
  • Each team gets one 1-minute timeout per half.
  • Free substitution is always in effect; if the offense subs, the defense may sub.
Rosters
  • Players are assigned by League Age — their age on July 1, 2026.
  • League Age 5–6 → 6U Flex; League Age 7–8 → 8U Flex. (An association may place a 5/6-year-old on an 8U Flex team, but it is not recommended.)
  • No dual rostering: a player can't play 6U and 8U Flex, and an 8U Flex player cannot also play 8U Tackle.
  • All Flex players must complete AYF paperwork and be on a team's certified book and roster to play. No guest playing on other teams.
  • Recommended minimums: 11 players (6U) and 13 players (8U); recommended max for 8U is the low 20s so everyone gets real playing time.
Player equipment
  • Flex-style helmet and shoulder pads required.
  • Mouthguard and cleats required to play.
  • Three flags: left side, right side, and back.
  • Matching jerseys, tucked in — jerseys may not cover flags.
Coaches
  • Recommended at least 3 certified coaches per team; maximum 6 on a certified roster. All must complete AYF coaching certifications.
  • At least one CPR-certified coach on every Flex roster.
  • On-field coaches: offense recommended 2 (one calls plays, one lines players up); defense max 2. One roster-certified adult must be on the sideline at all times.
  • Before the snap, coaches must be out of the way — defense behind the deepest player, offense behind the QB. Once the QB is in position, all coach talk stops; repeat violators are sent to the sideline by the referee.
  • No recording from the field or sideline — all recording per the CMYFCC technology policy.
  • Ejections: a Head Coach ejected from a Flex game gets a 2-week suspension, no appeal. An Assistant ejected gets 2 weeks and the Head Coach also gets 2 weeks. Flex is instructional with no official score — there is no reason to yell at referees.
Scoring
  • Offensive touchdown (run or pass): 7 points.
  • Defense scores 7 by returning an interception across the 40-yard line before the flag is pulled.
  • No PAT conversions. No fumble-recovery touchdowns. No safeties.
Offense — pre-snap & blocking
  • 6U: 4 players on the line — 3 linemen + 1 eligible receiver.
  • 8U: 5 players on the line — 3 linemen + 1 eligible receiver on each side of the formation.
  • Eligible receivers on the LOS must be at least 5 yards from the Guard; a receiver off the LOS may align next to the Guard.
  • All linemen except the Center in a 2-point stance. Guards must be able to touch the Center with an outstretched hand (max line splits).
  • Snaps: 6U — between the legs starting Week 3 (side snap OK Weeks 1–2). 8U — between the legs from Week 1. Snaps must be continuous, directly from Center to another offensive player. Center needs both feet on the LOS; may double-team block, hands first.
  • Blocking (everyone): break down and engage with hands first. Leading with the shoulder = Unnecessary Roughness. Teach hands, angles, feet — not throwing kids to the ground.
  • Receivers: one foot in bounds = catch. Simultaneous catch goes to the offense, dead at the spot.
Quarterback play
  • Snap under center or shotgun.
  • Muffed snap — 6U: ball hits the ground → dead, replay the down. One "redo" per series before it costs a down.
  • Muffed snap — 8U: play continues if the QB picks it up immediately; otherwise dead, replay the down. One redo per series before loss of down.
  • QBs may run, but never directly between the tackles — at any time, for any reason.
Defense — alignment, press & blitz
  • No one lines up directly over the Center.
  • Defensive Ends line up on the Guard's outside shoulder; their first step must be outside the Guard.
  • Depth: defenders play 5 yards off the LOS outside the 10-yard line, 3 yards off inside the 10 — Defensive Ends excepted (and in 8U, press-coverage DBs excepted).
  • Alignments: 6U mandatory 2-4-1 · 8U 2-6-1.
  • Press coverage: none in 6U. Allowed in 8U — but only on receivers who are on the LOS; off-LOS receivers can't be pressed.
  • Blitzing (a single rusher beyond the two DEs): none in 6U — everyone else stays behind the LOS until the ball is handed or thrown. 8U gets 1 blitz per set of downs, one player at a time, starting from legal depth.
A-gap rules
  • The A-gaps are the gaps either side of the Center.
  • No lining up over the Center; no immediately engaging the Center.
  • DEs must take their first step outside the Guard — after that they may work toward the A-gap.
  • LBs/DBs may blitz the A-gap from legal depth (5 yards out / 3 yards inside the 10).
Fumbles, dead balls & interceptions
  • All fumbles are dead at the spot. Defenders may not intentionally try to force fumbles — coaches correct this in real time.
  • Interceptions may be returned for a touchdown by crossing the 40-yard line.
  • After a pick-six: 7 points, and the team that threw it gets the ball at the 40. If the return doesn't score, the intercepting team takes over at the 40-yard line.
Defensive mercy rule
  • If a defense records 5 QB sacks in a game, it may no longer cross the LOS — run or pass — for the remainder of the game, until the ball crosses the LOS.
Penalties
  • All penalties enforced under NFHS guidelines (same as Massachusetts tackle).
  • Offensive penalties with the ball snapped from the 40 = loss of down.
  • Flagrant fouls — one warning, ejection on the second; 15-yard penalty: intentional tackling, unnecessary roughness, charging (leading with the shoulder downfield or with the ball).
  • Stiff-arms: allowed as a direct strike to the defender's shoulder/chest. To the face = flagrant. A wound-up stiff-arm to any part of the body = flagrant.
Referees & the sideline
  • Every Flex game has at least 1 referee — there to keep the game moving, not to throw flags on every play or keep score. Coaches own rule adherence and correcting players.
  • Sideline: no player backpacks or duffle bags (one team bag + one cooler allowed). No coach backpacks. No electronics on the sideline — phones, tablets, headphones.
  • Coaches should keep a copy of these rules in the team bag — or just open this page.
📄 Original Flex PDF (print copy)