These rules have been determined through consensus and thus are subject to revision should a majority of players elect to revise any. The primary aim of delineating rules here is to avoid conflict and injury. Secondly, the rules do not mean to stifle the game: the goal is to keep the focus on playing and on having fun.

Playing-field

The field size varies some week to week because it is not measured but eye-balled. The field is usually marked by ten cones, sometimes by shirts if cones are not present. Cones mark the four corners of the end-zone and the halfway mark between end-zones, one on each opposing sideline.

Teams

Teams are to consist of five players maximum on the field at all times. Teams may bring substitutions. Subs may transfer between any plays, when the ball is down, but not during a play, when a play is live. All teams should bring both a white and a dark shirt (avoiding gray whenever possible) so that teams can differentiate between themselves during games. Skins (shirtless) is a viable alternative. Plastic or rubber cleats are ok, but metal cleats should be avoided.

Offense

Starting positions, first down, and scoring
An offense begins with the ball roughly three to five yards from an end-zone (no kickoffs, that is). The offense has four downs to earn a first down and a second series of four downs. A first down is achieved by moving the ball past the halfway mark. An offense may receive two series of four downs maximum. A marker will be used to mark the spot of the ball. It is the QB’s responsibility to move the marker forward to the next spot after positive yardage has been gained. A score is one point (no PATs).

Moving the ball
The latest incarnation, arrived at through discussion prior to last Sunday’s opening game of the season, is no running plays (in the past, however, one running play per four downs was permitted). A QB may elect to run the ball when blitzed, but a QB may not cross the line of scrimmage when being chased by a defender after the defender has completed the rushing count of five alligators. Off-sides is usually observed. Illegal formations do not exist—a team may elect to line up all or no players on the line of scrimmage. A QB may opt to hike the ball from shotgun, without the need of a snapper, but must announce “shotgun” when backing off from the line of scrimmage. An offense is not required to provide blockers.

If an offensive player falls to the ground without being touched by a defender—e.g., after making a catch or while running—that offensive player may get up and continue to run. All fumbles and interceptions are live. An offense may set up a screen pass, but picks—purposefully blocking a receiver’s defensive coverage—are to be avoided. Backward pitching is permitted; forward pitches are not. Shuttle passes are permitted. Flea flickers, backward pitches, and parallel passes that result in the recipient of any of the three then passing the ball forward are permitted provided the player has not crossed the line of scrimmage.

Two-hand-touch
To down a player with the ball requires two-hand-touch of the body, anywhere. Grabbing a shirt or other clothing item and calling that two-hand-touch is an infraction, especially when one team is wearing shirts and another is skins, because this provides a clear unfair advantage to the skins’ team.

The ball is down at the spot where two hands touch the body, regardless of the location of the ball (that is, extending the ball does not count; because this is touch, not tackle, the body, not the ball, has to “break the plane” to score a TD or earn a first-down).

Punting
If an offense is facing a fourth-down, that offense may elect to go for it or punt. The offense does not have to tell the defense of its decision. Pooch-punts are allowed.

Defense

A defense may employ whatever coverage it prefers—man-to-man or any variation of zone. A defense may rush the QB with as many players as it chooses to. The defense is permitted one blitz per four downs. Otherwise, at least one defensive player must call “five alligator” out loud after the play is live before permitted to cross the line of scrimmage to rush the QB. If “five alligator” is not called out loud, then the defense cannot rush the QB.

Penalties

Players should aim for fairness and should always try to avoid causing injury. When an infraction or illegal play occurs, two options exist: either the play is over, with loss of down, or is replayed, with no loss of down. In all cases, the infraction must be clear and agreed upon by all players for it to stand. If it is agreed upon, then the two teams discuss and decide between themselves which option to elect—play over or replay. If dispute or inability to negotiate occurs, then majority count determines the outcome of a play; in the case where a majority is not achieved—i.e., 5 versus 5—then the disputed play is to be considered nil and replayed. Consistency should be upheld throughout a game—that is, if one team is called for off-sides and is allowed to repeat the play without loss of down, then the other team should also receive equal treatment. Defensive interference within reason may be called by an offense—but, again and always, all players should agree to the call. Illegal blocks should be avoided—clipping, chop blocks, etc. Again, players should aim for fairness and should always try to avoid causing injury.

Winning

The first team to arrive at a given number of points agreed upon pre-game is deemed the winner. Should sufficient teams be present to allow for a tournament (four minimum), then all players should decide through consensus the number of points considered a win. During tournament play the winning score should not be too high so that several subsequent games may occur. For example, if four teams or more are present, a win may be considered three points total. After two teams have won a game, then the teams should swap, so that winners play winners and losers losers, etc.