Article 1 – Action of Center
On a scrimmage play, the centre of Team A shall take up a position facing the opponent's goal line with the ball on the ground in front of him/her. The centre of Team A shall put the ball in play by «snapping» it between the legs in one continuous motion in the direction from toe to heel. The ball must leave the center's hand or hands and shall not handle it again until it has been in possession of another player. Any player who takes a position over the ball, with one or both hands on the ball, shall snap the ball, and be considered as the centre (subject to exception).
Rotating or placing the hand beneath the ball is allowed, but the centre shall not intentionally move the ball as if to snap it, so as to draw opponent's offside.
1.2D-L5 DR, 3D DG-L5 DR, 3D DNG-LB PBD.
Article 2 – Misleading Tactics
No player of either team shall make a motion obviously designed to draw an opponent offside. No player of either team shall voice a signal which, in the opinion of the official, draws an opponent offside. No Team B player shall voice a signal that might mislead Team A into putting the ball in play.
Should a player of either team move in such a way as to draw an opponent offside, the opponent shall not be penalized.
The actions of the Team A quarterback may be penalized under this rule.
This shall include a "snap down" into a two or three point stance by an offensive lineman with the sole intent to draw the defense offside.
Team A shall be penalized if the quarterback:
- a) makes a quick movement towards the centre, without the ball being immediately snapped, or
- b) assumes a stance with his/her hands under the centre, and makes such motion as bobbing head, moving shoulders, or flexing knees in a jerky motion without the ball being snapped, or
- c) assumes a stance with his/her hands under the centre and moves away quickly from the centre without the ball being snapped. Note if the quarterback assumes such a stance, and then slowly withdraws his/her hands to call time out, call new play signals, or to step back into a shot gun formation, no penalty shall be assessed.
- Team A 1.2D - L5 DR, 3D DG-L5 DR, 3D DNG - LB PBD.
- Team B L5.
Article 3 – Offside
No player of either team shall encroach on the neutral zone until the ball is snapped, except that the head, arms and hands of the centre may be in advance of the line of scrimmage.
A player who is offside and contacts an opponent prior to the snap, shall be penalized for being offside. If a Team B player goes offside, and breaks the plane of the line of scrimmage, before the ball is snapped, the officials shall stop the play immediately, and award the penalty, subject to the right of Team A to decline the penalty and have the same down repeated as though a foul had not occurred.
If a Team A player goes offside, and passes the neutral zone, before the ball is snapped, the officials shall stop the play immediately, and award the penalty, subject to the right of Team B to decline the penalty and have the same down repeated as though a foul had not occurred.
A team may put the ball in play without waiting for the opponents to get onside, but a penalty shall be assessed against such offside players only if they interfere with the play.
The Team B player giving defensive signals shall remain on their own side of the neutral zone for this purpose.
- Team A 1.2D - L5 DR, 3D DG - L5 DR, 3D DNG - LB PBD.
- Team B L5.
Article 4 – Time Count
The Referee shall allow 20 seconds for the ball to be put into play. The Referee shall be the sole judge as to when the time count shall start and end, allowing the team reasonable time to line up after each play before starting the count.
If after beginning the 20 second count, the game is stopped because of:
- • a reason associated with Team A (substitution of 3 or more players, player injury, player equipment, etc.) then Team A will only have the amount of time for the 20 second period that was remaining when the game was stopped.
- • a time out request by either team, a foul by either team or a reason associated with Team B (substitution of 3 or more players, player injury, player equipment, etc.) then Team A will receive a full 20 seconds to snap the ball.
- • a reason not associated with either team (clock malfunction, lighting issue, etc.):
- if it is BEFORE the 3 minute warning in either half, then Team A will receive a new 20 seconds to snap the ball.
- if it is AFTER the 3 minute warning in either half, then the game clock will be reset to the time remaining when the 20 second play clock began and the Team A will receive a full 20 seconds to snap the ball.
Prior to the 3 minute warning signal and overtime: 1, 2, 3D - L5 DR.
- After the 3-minute warning signal in any half: 1, 2D Team B option LD or L10DR, 3D L10DR
- On convert: L5, convert attempt repeated: no option to apply the penalty on the kickoff.
- On kick-off: L5.
Note: If Team A has two consecutive time count penalties, the Referee will order Team A to put the ball in play legally within 20 seconds or forfeit possession to Team B.