2008 RMFL Rules and Administration

The RMFL has elected to follow High School football rules with some exceptions. Unless otherwise noted below, High School rules will govern. Rule exceptions and changes are listed below:

LAST UPDATED APRIL 21, 2008.

1) RMFL will use the “Down by Contact” rule

2) RMFL will use a 2-minute warning at end of each half

3) RMFL will allow passers to “throw away to avoid a sack” if outside of the tackle-to-tackle zone; as long as ball crosses to or forward of line of scrimmage

4) The line of scrimmage will be governed by the college rule that allows a player to jump into the neutral zone and return before the snap (as long as there is no contact) without penalty.

5) All quarterbacks shall be tackled above the waist when they are in the pocket or not scrambling (i.e. he may run out of the pocket, but then set to throw, a below the waist tackle would then result in penalties).  A QB can be tackled below the waist if he is running with the ball.  The penalty for this rule will be a personal foul. Enforcement can be done if the pass was thrown by calling a "roughing the passer" and if the ball is not thrown, the penalty is just a personal foul and enforced as such.  The NFL calls this the "Carson Palmer" rule.

6) RMFL will allow celebrations that are not extended, “choreographed” (judgment call), or directed towards opposing team or fans (taunting)

7) RMFL will continue to apply “eligibility by position not number” system. Players don’t need to report if playing with normally ineligible number in eligible position.

8) RMFL will continue to not make mouth-guards or pants pads mandatory.

9) RMFL will allow tinted visors. Reflective visors will remain illegal. Eyes MUST be visible through any tinted visor to be legal (safety issue).

10) Kickoffs are to be kicked from the 35 yard line. Kickoffs are to be treated as live balls even if in the end zone. When the kickoff enters the end zone in flight, the ball stays live and if caught by the receiving team, can be returned from the end zone. If the ball is touched in the field of play by the receiving team and continues into the end zone,, the ball is live and must be downed by the receiving team to retain possession (remember the momentum rule of what put the ball into the end zone, the kick). If the ball is not covered by the receiving team after being legally touched on the field of play and downed, it can be recovered by the kicking team. If the kicking team recovers the ball in the end zone, it is ruled a touchdown. If the ball bounces toward the end zone untouched by the receiving team and crosses the goal line, it becomes a dead ball, ruled a touchback and placed at the 20 yard line of the receiving team.