Summary of the Sport:
Rule: |
Description: |
Number of Players |
15 players per team on the field at any point of time |
Time Limit |
Four 15-minute quarters, with a half-time intermission after the second quarter. The game clock stops frequently between plays. |
Object of the Game |
The object of the game is to score points by carrying the ball beyond the opponents touch line. (Each such instance is called a touch down). Also scoring by kicking it between the 4 goal posts (called a Goal or Behind). |
The Ball |
A prolate spheroid which is about 11 inches (28 cm) long and about 22 inches (56 cm) in circumference at the center and weighs around 0.875lbs. Smaller sizes may be used for youth & recreational play. |
Number of Referees |
3 to 6 referees plus booth review |
Protective Gear |
No pads (except for a mouth guard, gloves, & shin guards for kickers) will be worn; padding like shin guards (for all other players), rugby forearm guards, & rugby helmets are allowed but not required. |
Contact? |
It is permitted to bring down the player in possession of the ball and prevent them making forward progress. Players are allowed to 'block' players without the ball, within certain restrictions. |
Advancing the Ball |
Each team has 6 chances to either advance into the next zone or score (called Downs or Tackles). Running with the ball, kicking the ball, passing the ball laterally or backwards, passing the ball forwards (1 per down). |
Scoring Methods |
Touchdown (TD) (6) Goal (G) (3/4) Behind (B) (1/2) Safety (St) (2) Rogue (Ro) (1) Single/Uno (Si / U) (1) Conversion / Points after Touchdown (C / PAT) (1/2/3) |
Indian Football Pitch:
- Length = 135-185m (148-202yds).
- Width = 110-155m (120-170yds).
- All Goalposts are 15m (16yds) tall & 6.4m (7yds) apart.
- All Behind posts are 10m (11yds) tall & 19.2m (21yds) apart.
- End-zones are 9m x 19.2m (10yds x 21yds).
- The ball is inflated to an air pressure of 12.5-13.5 psi (86-93 kPa).
- Length = 10.875 - 11.4375 inches (276.225 - 290.5125mm).
- Weight = 14-15oz (400-430g).
- Short circumference = 20.75 - 21.25 inches (527.05 - 539.75mm).
- Long circumference 27.75 - 28.5 inches (704.85 - 723.9mm).
- Laces = either 1) 4.375 inches long and 1.125 inches wide or 2) Eight laces equally spaced.
- Color & Texture = Natural Tan; Pebble-grained without corrugations.
- Each team has 6 chances to either advance into the next zone or score (called Downs or Tackles).
- The ball is live under almost all circumstances during a legal play within bounds at any time during the game except for out of bounds plays
- Teams Swap ends each half.
- All offensive and defensive backfielders (including TE/DG's) can only weigh a max of 230 lbs / 105 kg.
- All offensive and defensive linemen can only weigh a max of 286 lbs / 130 kg.
- Four 20-minute quarters with a 15-minute Halftime, and a 10-minute OT; When play is unduly delayed, such as the ball going out of the playing area, the clock is stopped and time is not added on similar to american football.
- The offense has 45 seconds from the referee's signal to begin a play.
- Each Team has 3 timeouts per half.
- The official time clock runs continuously unless stopped when a time out is called by a team, or the referee stops play to allow opposing teams to align properly after a play.
- There is a mandatory play stoppage with 3 minutes remaining in each half.
- The clock is stopped after each play after the 3-minute warning in both halves.
- The penalty for allowing the play clock to run out is a loss of 5 meters with no loss of down both before and after the 2-minute warning.
- All offensive and defensive backfielders, except the QB/S and TE/DG's, are allowed unlimited motion provided that they remain more than one meter behind the line of scrimmage, but the lineman may not move.
- Position of the Lineman = The Defensive line must line up at least 1m away from the Offensive line.
- If a team has possession of the ball within 1m of either end zone, the ball will be moved back to 1m in front of the goal line while the defensive line must line up on the goal line.
- If the ball is fumbled out of bounds, the play ends with possession of the ball going to the team who had the last contact with the ball in bounds after the ball has completely left the possession of the fumbling ball carrier.
- Kickoffs occur from the kicking team's own 50m line; The ball must be kicked using a 1" kicking tee, and cannot be returned by the kicking team.
- Teams can only punt the ball on 6th down.
- Kick or punt receivers must return all kicks with no exceptions.
- Punt/kick coverage teams must give a 5m empty zone around the opposing receiver until he has received the ball. This is called the No Meters rule.
- An unhandled ball from a place kick or punt may be legally recovered by the kicker/punter or any player behind the kicker at the time of the kick; In such a case, the player who receives the ball is exempt from the No Meters rule.
- One ball-carrier can hand the ball to another.
- Runner Down = the ball-carrier must be touched while on the ground unless it is a clearly willful knee or slide. Otherwise, the player may stand up and continue to advance the ball.
- Passing the ball backward/laterally.
- Only 1 per down.
- Receivers need both feet in bounds.
- The passer must not pass the Line of Scrimmage.
- The Defensive line can only up receivers within 6 meters of the Line of Scrimmage, including the 1-meter gap between the offense and defense.
- 15-a-side; 55 players on each team's roster (All players are active).
- Example Roster Setup = 4 QB/S, 4 K, 7 HB/LB, 4 FB/LB, 13 WR/CB, 7 TE/DG, 16 OL/DL.
- Positions = C/NT, OG/DT, OT/DE, QB/S, RB/LB, FB/LB, TE/DG, WR/CB, K.
- Kicker = A combination of the kicker and punter positions: Kicks all of the goals/behinds, conversions, kickoffs, and usually punts on 6th down.
- All players must play on both offense and defense (i.e. 1-platoon or Iron Man Football) with the exception of the Kicker (K).
- Both teams are allowed unlimited substitutions; If a player enters and leaves, from the moment he leaves the player is considered "dead" and cannot return to play until the designated time is served.
- The time "dead" players must wait in order to eligible for a substitution is 4 possessions (2 offensive and 2 defensive or 20 total plays) or if an injury occurs.
- Dead players may participate in special teams situations (kickoffs/punts/conversions), or as long snapper or holder.
- Substitutions only at stoppages in play but not used to hold up play.
- Unlike American & Canadian football, no pads (except for a mouth guard, gloves, & shin guards for kickers) will be worn; padding like shin guards (for all other players), rugby forearm guards, & rugby helmets are allowed but not required.
- Instead, an Australian rules football “Guernsey” will be worn; The Guernsey must feature the player's number on the back, the colors of the player's team, and the team logo on the front (though sponsorship logos may also appear on the Guernsey as well).
- Similar to rugby, both teams must wear their dark color uniforms during games unless either 1) the teams share similar colors or 2) if someone is colorblind; If that is the case, the designated home team will wear their dark color uniforms and the away team will wear either 1) their lighter color uniforms or 2) an alternative darker color uniform.
- QB/S, TE/DG, SB/DHB, K = 00-19.
- TB/LB, FB/LB, WR/CB, = 20-49 & 80-89
- C/NT, OG/DT, OT/DE = 50-79 & 90-99
- Touchdown (TD) (6): The ball must be placed down in the end-zone for the TD to count.
- Goal (G) (3; 4 - if 50+ meters): a goal may fly through "on the full" (without touching the ground) or bounce through, but it must not have been touched on the way by any player from either team.
- Behind (B) (1; 2 - if 50+ meters): a team also scores a behind if 1) the ball hits a goal post or 2) the ball touches any part of an opposition player before passing between the goal posts.
- On a goal/behind attempt, the defending team may return a missed kick to the kicking team's end zone for a Touchdown.
- On a goal/behind attempt, the ball may either travel through the air or roll in between the goalposts after landing on the ground for a score.
- Safety or Safety Touch (St) (2): Safeties are awarded to the defense if 1) the ball carrier is tackled in his own end zone in non special teams situations, 2) the ball becomes dead in the end zone, with the exception of an incomplete forward pass, and the defending team is responsible for it being there, 3) the offense commits a foul in its own end zone.
After scoring a safety touch, the scoring team has the option of taking control of the ball and beginning play from their own 25-yard line, kicking the ball off from their 35-yard line, or accepting a kickoff from the 20-yard line of the team that conceded the score. If a kickoff is chosen it must be a place kick, and the ball can be held, placed on the ground, or placed on a tee prior to the kick. As in American football, the ball must go at least 10 yards before it can be recovered by the kicking team. - Rogue (Ro) (1): Rogues are awarded to a kicking/punting team (Team A) if an opposing player (Team B) either 1) catches or recovers a punt or a missed field goal in his own end zone but is prevented by Team A from returning the ball back out onto the field of play, 2) elects to drop to one knee while still in the end zone before having returned the ball to the field of play in special teams situations, 3) elects to wave for a fair catch, or 4) elects to run with the ball from the end zone out of bounds rather than enter the field of play.
- Single/Uno (Si/U) (1): Singles/Unos are awarded to the defense if 1) they force an interception, 2) they recover a fumble, 3) they block a field goal, or 4) force a turnover on downs.
- Conversion / Points After Touchdown (C/PAT) (1-behind; 2-goal; or 3-10m run/pass): On a convert attempt after a touchdown, the defending team may return a missed kick convert to the kicking team's end zone for 2 points, or if the convert was a rush or pass play, return a fumble or interception for 3 points.
- If a team is in their attacking 50m line, they are required to attempt to score either 1) a touchdown or 2) a goal/behind on 6th down.