Us
Defense
Has the ball
Freshman Powderpuff
Gameday: Thu Oct 29
Gameday: Thu Oct 29
Start with Positions. The plays open up after our first practice — learn where you stand first.
Everything that is not a play. Pick one.
Every spot on the field, what it is called and what it does. Find yours first — then read the one lined up next to you, because that is who you are working with.
Six things, every snap. These do not change with whatever they call — learn them once and you are ready for all four looks.
They need 10 yards in 4 downs. Hold them to 2 a play and they never convert. There are no fumbles in this rulebook, so we will not strip the ball loose — our takeaway is the fourth-down stop. Four small wins, not one big one. We do not know what they run, and we do not need to. Every play they own is a run to one side or a throw to one side, and we line up the same way for all four.
Left Line (LL) and Right Line (RL) — your job is not to get her, it is to make sure she cannot get outside you. The second a ball carrier turns the corner, everything behind you is chasing.
If their running back runs across before the snap, she is trying to move you. Do not move.
D1 through D4: line up on her INSIDE shoulder (toward the middle of the field) and stay there all day. She can have the sideline. She cannot have the middle.
This is why we play inside. They are going to throw short, just like we do — so we are not trying to stop the 5-yard route, we are trying to make it expensive. Pushed to the sideline, their 12-yard throw becomes a 16-yard throw, and the longer the ball is in the air the less often it is caught. The short easy one over the middle is the only thing that beats us.
LS stands in the one place we are deliberately not pushing people, so anybody who comes inside is hers. RS gets over the top of wherever it goes — she is the reason a long sideline throw is a bad decision.
Knocking a pass down is legal and it is exactly what we want. Touching her before the catch is 15 yards and an automatic first down. If you cannot get the ball cleanly, let her catch it and take the flag right now. Exception: if the ball is right at you and you can catch it clean, catch it — an interception can be run back. And the second somebody else’s girl catches it, your coverage is over: head up and sprint to the girl with the ball ASAP!
The sheet the school handed out, word for word. Anything in red is Coach Rand explaining something — it is not part of the official rules. If a referee tells you something different on the day, the referee is right.
60 yards long (plus a 10 yard end zone) by 40 yards wide. (A standard football field is 100 yards long by 53 yards wide.)
Games will begin every half-hour. Halves will be 8 minutes using a running clock except during time outs and the last minute of the game, during which the clock will stop as in a regulation game during these instances: Incomplete Pass, Out of Bounds, Penalty, Turn Over, Time Out.
Coaches may call two 30-second timeouts per game, in either half.
A dead ball means that the play is over.
The ball is dead when it:
A touchdown counts for 6 points.
A safety counts 2 points for the defensive team.
A safety occurs when the Defense pulls the ball runner’s (Offensive player’s) flag in their end zone — the one behind the Offense, not the one they are scoring in.
The choice of goal and possession of the ball at the 20 yard line will be determined by coin flip.
Possession of the ball is retained as long as the offensive team is able to continue obtaining first down. The team must reach the next Line to Gain in four plays.
It takes 10 yards to reach a first down (the next Line to Gain).
On fourth down, a team must indicate whether they intend to “punt” or go for it. A “punt” will result in a change of possession. The receiving team will get the ball on their 20 yard line.
There shall be 8 players on the field at a time for each team. Substitutions are made when the ball is dead, without reporting.
If a team has more than 8 people on the field, they will be penalized five yards. If it is the offensive team, they will move back five yards. If it is the defensive team, the offense will move forward five yards.
A ball carrier who has fallen to the ground may not resume her run. If the ball is fumbled, it is a dead ball and may not be recovered or advanced by the defense.
The defense can rush when the ball is hiked. The defense doesn’t have to count to “5 Mississippi,” for instance. The Rusher (Defense) may not initiate contact with any offensive players.
One forward pass may be thrown from any place behind the line of scrimmage.
There must be no interference with the receiver of a forward pass. The defense may not initiate contact with an offensive player trying to catch a pass. Defensive players must play the ball or pull flags.
Tackling shall consist of pulling flags without holding the ball carrier with the hand or any part of the body. Flags must be worn on the outside of all types of clothing and the entire flag must be exposed. If a player with the ball loses her flag during play, the ball is dead at the point of the flag fall. Shirts MUST be tucked in.
When on Offense, only screening of the defensive player is allowed. Use of arms, hands, legs, running over, cutting or pushing a defender is not allowed. All appendages must stay within the framework of the body during a block. (i.e. arms must stay at their sides, knees and feet must stay in line with body as well). All these violations result in five-yard penalty and either the loss of down or replay of the down / decline the penalty.
When any member of the defense is on the offensive side of the ball before it is snapped, it results in a five yard penalty.
When an offensive player holding the ball blocks a defensive player from grabbing their flag (i.e. swatting at their hand, pushing them away, or grabbing their arm to prevent the defense from reaching their flags), this will be a 5-yard penalty from the line of scrimmage and replay the down/decline the penalty. This can be prevented by keeping two hands on the ball.
Excessive roughness may occur when blocking (i.e. grabbing/pushing/hugging) or rushing (i.e. pushing someone down/to the side) or pulling flags (i.e. grabbing their body to get the flag/tackling) or an offensive player running over a stationary defensive player (i.e. stiff arm)
The penalty for excessive roughness will be 15 yards and loss of down if the offense commits the foul and 15 yard penalty and an automatic first down if the defense commits the foul.
After a player scores a touchdown, the referee will tug on her flag to check that the belt is not tied to her waist and that the flags are not rolled in such a way that makes it difficult or impossible to pull the flag. If the flag is found “unpullable”, there will be a loss of down and the ball will be placed at the spot of the previous play.
If weather is spotty, all games may be shortened to one half. If a game is rained out, the final score should be taken at halftime.
Disrespectful behavior towards a referee or coach/adult can result in a 15-yard penalty for the offending team. The offending player may also be ejected for the rest of the game.
Three a week: two school mornings and a Sunday. The school day practices will likely be 2 different days each week, so watch for Coach Rand’s message. School day practices end at 7:30 so you have fifteen minutes to get inside.
| Mon/Tues | 6:45 – 7:30 a.m. | Field House · doors at 7:45 |
| Wed/Thurs/Fri | 6:45 – 7:30 a.m. | Field House · doors at 7:45 |
| Sunday | 3:00 p.m. | SCA field |
| Tue Sep 15 | CONFIRMED | Our first practice. 6:45 – 7:30 a.m. at the Field House. |
| Tue Sep 22 | NO PRACTICE | There is an event at the Mother House. That week is Monday the 21st and Wed or Thurs. |
| Week of Oct 5 | MON & THU | This week only — Monday the 5th and Thursday the 8th. No Wednesday. |
| Oct 10–17 | FALL BREAK | No practice. This is the week the app matters — five minutes a night keeps your plays. |
| Sun Oct 18 | 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. | Back from break — the long one. Two hours. |
| Thu Oct 29 | GAME DAY | vs the seniors first |