THE CANADIAN RULE BOOK FOR AMATEUR TACKLE FOOTBALL    

RULE 4- SCRIMMAGE

SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS

Article 1 – Line of Scrimmage  

The line of scrimmage is an imaginary line, extending from sideline to sideline, parallel to the goal line and passing through the point of the ball farthest from team A’s goal line. 

Article 2 – Neutral Zone  

The neutral zone is the area from the line of scrimmage to 1yard in advance of the line of scrimmage, extending from sideline to sideline. 

Article 3 – Close Line Play Area 

The close line play area is an area extending laterally from offensive tackle to tackle, from 2 yards behind the line of scrimmage to 1 yard ahead of the neutral zone (Total 4 yards). 

Article 4 – Line and Backfield  

Line players of Team A are those players who are within 1 yard and on their own side of the line of scrimmage, formed in a single line when the ball is snapped.   

A player of Team A is considered to be in his backfield if he is clearly back of the line when the ball is snapped.  This will include the player occupying the position of quarterback. 

No player of Team A shall be in a position that will create doubt as to whether he is on the line or in the backfield when the ball is snapped. 

Penalty:  1.2D – L5 DR, 3D DG L5 DR, 3D DNG – LB PBD  

NOTE: A player in a doubtful position may be penalized under this rule or as an ineligible pass receiver – as applicable

Article 5 – Penalty Application  

Where a violation under Rule 4 occurs prior to the snap of the ball, the officials are empowered to stop the play immediately.  The penalty distance may be declined, but the down will be repeated, without option, at the appropriate point, after the acceptance or declination of the penalty distance. (Exception: Rule 8 ,Section 3, Article 4(a))  

SECTION 2. METHOD OF SCRIMMAGE

Article 1 – Action of Center  

On a scrimmage play, the centre of Team A shall take up his position facing the opponents’ goal line with the ball on the ground in front of him.  He shall put the ball in play by snapping it between his legs in one continuous motion in the direction from toe to heel.  The ball must leave the center’s hand or hands and he shall not again handle it until it has been in the possession of another player. Any player who takes position over the ball, with one or both hands on the ball, shall snap the ball, and be considered as the centre

(Subject to Rule 4 ,Section 3, Article 3 Exceptions).

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 opponents offside. 

Penalty: 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. 

Team A shall be penalized for having drawn an opponent offside if the quarterback: 

(a)       Makes a quick movement towards the centre, without the ball being immediately snapped, or
(b)      Assumes his stance with his hands under the centre, and makes such motion as bobbing his head, moving his
        shoulders, or flexing his knees in a jerky motion without the ball being snapped, or
(c)       Assumes his stance with his hands under the centre, and moves away from the centre without the ball being
        snapped.  If the quarterback assumes such a stance, and then withdraws his hands to call time out, the Referee
        shall blow his whistle quickly to prevent the play from starting and no penalty shall be assessed. 

Penalty: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, even though he recovers his onside position 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. 

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 his own side of the neutral zone for this purpose. 

Penalty:  Team A  1.2D – L5DR, 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.  He 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. 

Penalty:   Prior to the 3-minute warning signal: 1.2.3D – L5 DR 
               
After the 3 minute warning signal in any half: 1.2D – LD, 3D – L10 DR 

               
On convert: L5, convert attempt repeated -  no option to apply the penalty on the kick off.
 

Note:  If, in the opinion of the Referee, Team A is taking a deliberate time count penalty, the Referee may order Team A to
           put the ball in play legally within 20 seconds or forfeit possession to Team B. 

SECTION 3. REQUIREMENTS FOR LEGAL SCRIMMAGE 

Article 1 - Legal Numbering  

Legal numbers are from 1 to 99 inclusive.  All Team A players shall be identified by the following approved numbering system:

                                Eligible Pass Receivers       – 1 to 39, 70 to 99
                               
Ineligible Pass Receivers    – 40 to 69 

On any given play from scrimmage, any number of positions may be occupied by inappropriately numbered players who have reported to the Referee as eligible or ineligible receivers. 

Article 2 – Player Requirements

(a)        At the instant the ball is put into play, at least seven Team A players must be within 1 yard and on their side of 
        the line of scrimmage, not including the player in the position usually occupied by the quarterback 

(b)    The player who, at the snap of the ball is occupying a position at either end of the line of scrimmage may be in
         motion while within 1 yard of the line of scrimmage but must not be moving towards his opponent’s goal line
         when the ball is put into play. 

If Team A is playing with less than 12 players on the field, it may reduce the equivalent number of players on the line without penalty.   

If Team A has less than 7 players on the line due to an A offside, the penalty shall be for offside only. 

Article 3 – Identification and Position  

On all plays from scrimmage (running, passing, and kicking plays), Team A shall have at least 5 interior line players identified as ineligible pass receivers, who must be positioned in a continuous unbroken line.

In addition, one player at each end of the line shall be identified as an eligible receiver. 

Article 4 – Stance and Motion  

A line player of Team A, except the centre, after assuming a 3 - or 4 -point stance, may not legally move his head, body, arms, hands, or feet until the ball is snapped. 

The centre is allowed to make the motion which is necessary to snap the ball, but may not break his 3 or 4 point stance on the ball, to allow another player to become the centre. 

A line player of Team A, may not legally be moving in any direction, or change position by moving in any direction, immediately prior to the ball being snapped. Exception 4.3.2.(b)  

A line player of Team A must come to an obvious stop and remain in a stationary position for 1 full second just prior to the ball being snapped. Exception 4.3.2.(b) 

Penalty:   1.2D – L5 DR, 3D DG – L5 DR. 3D DNG – LB PBD  

SECTION 4. POINTS OF SCRIMMAGE RESTRICTIONS

Article 1 – Ball Placement  

When the ball is placed in play by the Referee after a scoring play, after the ball has been declared dead in the end zone, or following the application of a penalty for a foul in the end zone or a foul on a convert, or the ball strikes the goal post assembly in flight, Team A may elect to put the ball into play, in the appropriate way, as required by the rules, at any point between the hash marks.  If a rule specifies that the next point of scrimmage is the PLS, the ball will be placed at that specific spot. 

Article 2 – Side Line  

If the ball becomes dead within 24 yards of the sideline, or goes out of bonds, it shall next be scrimmaged 24 yards in from that sideline at the yardage point where it became dead. 

Article 3 – Goal Line  

If team A has possession of a ball within 1 yard of either goal line, it shall be scrimmaged on the 1 yard line. 

Article 4 – 3rd Down Position  

On 3rd down on or within its own 15 yard line, Team A may position the ball away from the goal posts at the closest hash mark, or closest suitable spot to that point in case of wet ground. 

Article 5 – Near Own Goal Line  

On any down on or within its own 5-yard line, Team A may position the ball away from the goal posts at the closest hash mark, or closest suitable spot to that point in case of wet ground. 

SECTION 5. INTERFERENCE 

Article 1 – Definition  

(a)         Interference is a general term, applicable to both teams.  It is committed when a player obstructs, blocks or charges against an opponent, even without direct contact. Thereby preventing his approach to the ball carrier, potential ball carrier, or to the ball.  Screening is interference without direct contact. 

(b)         Blocking is a term applicable to the movement of a player against an opponent to obstruct or move him in any way, and normally applies to Team A. 

(c)         Blocking below the waist is making the initial contact below the waist against an opponent, other  than the ball carrier, with any part of the blocker’s body.

(d)    A delayed knee block is an illegal delayed block by a player at the knee or below against an opponent who is in
         contact with a teammate of the blocker.      
      

(e)     The use of hands and arms in blocking is legal, provided that:

      1.       The hands may be slightly behind the elbows, even with the elbows, or in advance of the elbows.
2.       The contact may be made against the opponent on the front or side of the body, at or below the shoulders.
3.       The arms may be fully extended.
   
4.   The hands shall be open, with the palms facing the opponent, or cupped or closed with the palms not facing
      the opponent.               
5.   The hands and arms are not used in a striking or punching manner, or to grasp, pull, encircle, lift, hook, lock,
      or clamp an opponent.               
6.   The hands are not clasped or locked. 

On a rolling or cross body block, the hands may be also legally extended from the body. 

Article 2 – Team A  

(a)        On any play from scrimmage, except when the ball is kicked across the line of scrimmage, all Team A players may interfere with opponents from dead line to dead line.      

(b)       On a kick play, Team A players may interfere with the opponents in and behind the neutral zone, until the ball is kicked, and then as covered in Rule 5.                                                             

(c)       Interference on a forward pass play – Rule 6, Section 4, Article 9.                    

Article 3 – Team B  

(a)        On any play from scrimmage, B players may use their hands and arms to reach the ball carrier, but shall not hold or encircle any A player other than the ball carrier.                          

(b)       Interference on a forward pass play – Rule 6, Section 4, Article 9.                                             

(c)        Interference on a kicking play – Rule 5.                                                                                   

Article 4 – Change of Possession    

After a change of possession, such as the recovery of an opponent’s fumble, intercepted pass, receiving of a kick etc., blocking below the waist by either Team A or Team B is illegal. 

Penalty: L10, PBH  

SECTION 6. MISCELLANEOUS

Article 1 – Required Distance  

After the ball has become dead after a kick off, the team in possession shall have 3 attempts  (downs) to gain the required distance of 10 yards.  It may be advanced by carrying it, kicking it or throwing it. In specific cases, a 1st down may be awarded even though Team A has not gained the required distance. 

If, in the series of downs, Team A has not gained the required 10 yards, the ball shall be awarded to the opponents as 1st down at the point where the ball becomes dead.  If the required distance is gained, downs begin again.

Exceptions:

Team A Foul before loss of possession on: 

(a)                 3rd Down Kick - Team B have the option to:
             (1)      Require Team A to repeat the 3rd down after the penalty application from PLS, or
             (2)      Scrimmage the ball as 1st down at the point where it became dead in their possession after the
                     kick.
 

(b)        3rd Down Running or Forward Pass Play – Distance gained, Team A shall repeat the 3rd down after the   penalty application from PLS.                                                           

  (c)      3rd Down Running or Forward Pass Play – Distance not gained.
Loss of Ball at -  PBD – running or completed forward pass
             
              PLS – Incomplete forward pass.                                                

  Note: Unnecessary Roughness and Rough play penalties are applied in addition to other penalties, or to distance gained (Rule 8, Section 1, Article 4).

Article 2 – Measurement  

In measuring for 1st down, the forward point of the ball, not its centre, shall be the determining point, and before measuring, the ball shall be rotated so that its long axis is parallel to the sidelines. 

A touchdown cannot be awarded as a result of this rotation. 

When Team A has failed to gain the required distance, and the ball is awarded to B, the Referee shall reverse the ball, so that the forward point is facing in the opposite direction.

Article 3 – Tandem Buck  

A player of Team A shall not help the ball carrier by grasping or pushing him or charging into him, to assist his forward progress. 

Penalty:  Team A  - 1.2D – L10 DR, 3D DG – L10 DR, 3D DNG – LB PBD. 
   
Team B  - L10 PLS or PBH
.

Article 4 -- Holding Hands, Locking Arms

Team A players may not hold hands or lock arms in making a block.

Team B players may not hold hands or lock arms in an effort to break up interference protecting the ball carrier.

Penalty:  Team A  - 1.2D – L10 DR, 3D DG – L10 DR, 3D DNG – LB PBD. 
   
Team B  - L10 PLS or PBH
.