OMFL 7v7 RULES

1. TEAMS:

a. Minimum number of players per team – 10 players / no maximum limit

b. Age division – Players can play up but not down in a division based on age or grade

c. Flag – 5u & 6u Division (May 1st, 2025, Cut-off date)

d. 7u – 11u Divisions (May 1st, 2025, Cut- off date)

e. 12u/13u Division/7th Grade Division

f. 13u/14u Division/8th Grade Division

g. All players should have active sportsthread certification & on team rosters

h. Players are not allowed to be on multiple rosters

i. All players must have jerseys with numbers in same colors 

j. No metal cleats are allowed

k. All players are required to wear mouthpieces & 1 warning giving 

i. If no mouthpiece warn, results in penalty of loss of down on offense or automatic 1st

down giving to offense if defensive team penalized 

l. Headgear is recommended but not required

i. Helmets must be strapped if worn

m. No players not on active/current sportsthread roster allowed on sidelines

2. COACHES:

a. Maximum of 3 coaches on Sportsthread roster per team

b. Additional coaches or team admin will not receive coaching credentials

c. 1 offense coach is allowed on the field & huddle during offense but must remain 5 yards 

behind the QB before the ball is snapped so he does not interrupt the flow of the game play 

or referee.

d. No defensive coach is allowed on the field during the play at any time.

e. Coaches are responsible for knowing all the rules & educating their own players on the 

rules & conduct.

f. Coaches are responsible for maintaining their sidelines.

g. Any coaches, person or players that are overly aggressive, threatens or uses abusive 

language or uses physical force towards referee, staff members, other players, spectators 

will be removed from the game & will not be allowed to return. League directors reserve the 

right to review the incident & allow the individual to return to the next week if deemed 

necessary.

3. OFFICIALS:

a. Each game will have a minimum of 2 referees/officials. There will be a Head ref/field ref & 

back ref. Head official will keep the score & 1 ref will be in charge of the 4 sec allowed by 

the offense.

b. The officials & field manager will keep the game flowing & clean. 

4. SCORING:

a. 6 pts for a touchdown

b. 1 pt for PAT from the 3 yd line

c. 2 pt for PAT from the 10 yd line

d. 2 pts for defensive stop on downs

e. 2 pts for safety 

f. 3 pts for Interceptions

g. 6 pts for defensive interception returned for touchdown

i. After interceptions the player who intercepted the ball is the only player who may 

run after the interception. In cases where the teammates run with the player, the ref 

will blow the play dead & award the defensive team with 3 pts even if returned for 

touchdown.

ii. The 3 pts is not added at anytime even if returned for touchdown. Team either 

receives 3 pts or 6 pts based on the end result of the intercepting play. 

h. If blocking occurs at any time, the ref will blow the play dead at the time of the offense 

occurs. 

i. 0 pts awarded for turnover after PAT – THE PLAY is DEAD & it is a DEAD BALL

5. GAME TIMES:

a. All games are 25 mins running clocks 

b. Teams must be ready to start at official game time start 

i. If Team is unprepared or absent, the ref can start the clock, awarding the ready 

team:

1. 2 pts after 5 mins

2. After 10 mins the game is declared a forfeit, granting the 6 points & declaring 

them the winner by a score of 8-0

c. Teams receive 1 timeout during each game 

d. Overtime – coin toss will decide who plays offense or defense first 

i. 1st Overtime – each team is given 3 plays from the 10 yd line to score

ii. 2nd Overtime – the choice flips & each team given 3 plays from the 10 yd line to score

iii. 3rd Overtime – Each team given 1 play from the 40 yd line & the team with the most 

yardage is declared the winner by 1 pt. 

iv. Each team is awarded 1 additional timeout in overtime.

v. Overtime periods are not timed

6. PLAY CLOCK:

a. 40 seconds play clock 

i. after change of possession & the 40 seconds begins once the ball is declared dead 

by the official. If the snap does not occur by the end of the 40 seconds, the penalty 

is a loss of down. 

b. 25 second play clock 

i. after each touchdown & change of possession, the 25 second play clock starts 

when the official spots the ball & signals readiness by blowing the whistle. If the ball 

is not snapped does not occur prior to the time expiring, the penalty is loss of 

down. 

1. Note: if the violation occurs on an extra point try, it results in a loss of down 

with no opportunity to complete the try. 

c. The official keeping the play clock should be identified by each team at the start of the 

game & he will provide a 10 second signal by a straight arm up in the air, indicating 10 

second alert, the same official will hold arm straight out to his side indicating 5 seconds 

remaining in the play clock.

d. All offensive penalties lead to a loss of down.

e. 1st Overtime 

i. Each team has one possession with an interception ending the game & determining 

the intercepting team the winner. 

f. 2nd Overtime 

i. If tie persists after the first overtime, a second overtime occurs. Teams alternate 

possessions, applying the rules from the first overtime period.

ii. Following a touchdown, a mandatory 2-pt conversion attempt from the 10 yard line 

is required.

g. 3rd Overtime

i. If score remains tied after 2nd overtime, a third overtime is played, each team has 1 

offensive play from the 40 yard line. The team with the most yards wins. 

ii. An interception during this phase concludes game, with intercepting team declared 

the winner. 

iii. A coin flip determines which team chooses offence or defense to start the third 

overtime. 

7. GAME PLAY:

a. Field of play will be 40-50 yards in length with 10 yards deep of endzone

b. Play begins on the 40-yard line, 25 & 10 are first down lines.

c. There are no 4 downs. Offense has 3 plays to gain a 1st down at the following lines to gain 

(25 & 10) and a touchdown at the goal line. (3 downs in all zones)

d. Ball will always start at the 40 yard line.

e. Ball will spotted on the closest hash line or side where play was stopped.

f. Ball will be placed in the middle of the field for PAT.

g. The Center/QB will be responsible for setting the ball at the line of scrimmage. The center is 

not an eligible receiver but can tag a defender that has made an interception (center must 

have mouthpiece & helmet strapped (if wearing a helmet) to be an eligible participant. 

h. All offensive formations must be legal sets & respect the tackle box (3 yards)

i. There must be a WR on each side of the ball that is on the line of scrimmage.

j. QB must take direct snap from the center or Tee when at the 40 yard line. (NO Shotgun is 

allowed at the 40-yard line)

k. NO kicking, no blitzing, QB CANNOT run the ball, NO Hand-offs, NO Blocking & 

Receiver/Ball carrier is legally down when touched below the neck with one or two hands. 

(Excessive force or showing will not be tolerated & will be penalized with a automatic first 

down and 5 yards. Player can be ejected from the game (if ruled unsportsmanlike or 

flagrant)

l. Fumbles are dead balls at the spot with the last team retaining possession & a fumbled 

snap is not a dead ball, but the 4 seconds remains to get pass off. 

m. The QB is allowed 4.0 seconds to throw the ball. Time starts on the snap of the ball & stops 

on the QB release. If the release is under 4.0 seconds the play stands but if the ball is 

released after 4 seconds, the play is no good. 

n. Interceptions can be returned for a TD.

o. If the defense scores on an interception, heir offense will then come on the field to attempt 

the PAT. The team that threw the interception will then get the ball on Offense at the 40 

yard line. Hand fighting is tolerated as per Referee judgment. 

p. Defensive players are allowed to jam within 5 yards & play tight defense. However, 

excessive holding, shoving, hands to face, slapping head or throwing a player down will not 

be tolerated. 

q. Penalty occurs as clock expires.

i. Offense Penalty – Loss of Down. Game over!!

ii. Defense Penalty – Game cannot end on Defense Penalty. If Offense accepts the 

penalty, they will be awarded one untimed down & is required to run a

8. BALL SIZE:

a. ALL TEAMS NEED TO BRING A MINIMUM OF 2 BALLS FOR OFFENSIVE PLAY & NEED TO BE 

LEGAL SIZE BALL. 

i. HS & 15u Ball = Official HS/Collegiate size

ii. 14u = Youth size 

iii. 12U & 10u = Junior size ball

iv. 9u – 5u = Peewee size ball

9. PENALTIES:

a. OFFENSE

i. NO penalty may be assessed past the 40-yard line & any penalty by the offense from 

the 40-yard line will only be charged with a loss of down.

ii. Offsides = Loss of Down

iii. False Start = Loss of Down

iv. Illegal Formation = Loss of Down

v. Delay of Game = Loss of Down

vi. Offense will have 25 seconds to snap the ball once it has been marked for play & 

blown live. The offensive team is responsible for retrieving & returning the ball to the 

previous spot or the new line of scrimmage.

vii. Blocking is not allowed & will result in loss of down & ball returned to the previous 

spot. 

viii. Pass interference – LOSS OF DOWN, Ball returned to the original line of scrimmage. 

1. (Receivers cannot shove defenders to create space)

ix. Unsportsmanlike or Unnecessary Roughness = 15-yard penalty

x. Excessive Celebration = Team running on the field that interrupts the flow of the 

game. Taunting other players or teams will result in a 15-yard penalty. If this occurs 

during the extra point attempt the extra point will not count and 15 yards will be 

assessed towards the defense. 

b. DEFENSE

i. Offside = 5-yard penalty

ii. Defensive Holding = 5-yard penalty & repeat down

iii. Face Guarding is allowed

iv. Defensive Pass Interference = 10-yard penalty from the original line of scrimmage & 

automatic 1st down. If the original spot is at the 15-yard line or beyond and a DPI foul 

occurs, the penalty will be half the distance from the original spot & automatic 1st

down. 

v. Unsportsmanlike & Unnecessary Roughness = 15-yard penalty

vi. Excessive Celebration – Will not be tolerated & will result in a 15-yard penalty.

vii. Any dead ball penalty on the defense that occurs after a change of possession will 

result in a loss of down for that team’s offense when they begin their ensuing 

possession. 

viii. It’s the defensive player’s responsibility to avoid contact. The defense is allowed 

initial disruption within 5 yards, then must cover. Excessive or contact after 5 yards 

could result in a penalty of 5 yards, and repeat down, or anything excessive could be 

deemed DPI and can be up to a 10-yard penalty, with automatic first down.

10.TIE BREAKER

a. Head-To-Head

b. Point Differential 

c. Points Allowed 

d. Points Scored 

e. Coin Flip

11. Mercy Rule:

a. If a team establishes a lead of 25 points or more after 20 minutes of elapsed game time, 

the game will promptly conclude, with the leading team declared the victor. *If the trailing 

team has possession of the ball at the 20-minute mark, they will be given one opportunity 

to score. *If the trailing team fails to score on that possession, the game will conclude, and 

the team in the lead will be officially declared the winner.

12.APPEALS:

a. If during a game a Coach disagrees with an official’s judgment call, they MAY NOT dispute 

that call with the Referee as it is a judgment call.

b. If during game play a Coach disagrees with a rule interpretation, they MAY REQUEST to use 

their timeout and have the Referee stop the game clock to discuss and determine Rule 

issue with Referee and Field Manager.

c. Players Eligibility appeal -To challenge player’s eligibility will cost the challenging team a 

$100 deposit, that will be returned if the challenging team wins challenge. 

d. To dispute a game the Head Coach must report all game play ruling discrepancies 

immediately after the end of the affected game to the Head Referee and Field Manager to 

be considered. REQUEST MAY BE GRANTED OR DENIED. 

e. Any reversal or game-changing decisions will be made at the discretion of the Directors 

after all the information is reviewed. 

f. Coaches of both teams involved in the dispute will be made aware of any changes.

13.CONDUCT:

a. All Coaches and Players are expected to conduct themselves in a positive manner and 

refrain from unsportsmanlike actions. 

b. Fighting, Verbal Abuse, and/or Threats will not be tolerated and will result in removal from 

facilities. Length of suspension will be determined by the league directors/board.

c. No taunting or excessive foul language.

d. Teams are responsible for cleaning their trash on their sidelines after every game. 

e. No vandalism of venue property.

f. Weapons, drugs, alcohol, smoking and chewing tobacco products are PROHIBITED at 

venues 

g. No electronic communication with the Offensive Coach while on the field from another 

coach, Player or Spectator will be allowed