[Coach Rip]

PREPARING FOR PLAY

Prongs - Prongs are referred to in "sets" or "sets of prongs." Each prong or prongs located at each of the 4 corners of a base is considered a set of prongs.
EXAMPLE: Front Left Corner Of A Base - If a TTC then there is 1 prong in that set, if a Tudor SC Rookie then there are 2 prongs in that set. In either case (1 or 2 individual prongs located on that corner of the base) it/they is/are considered 1 set.


Tackle - ANY base contact by an opponent's player constitutes a tackle. Uncertain tackles are treated the same as uncertain pass completions. If it is not a clear tackle, it is not a tackle.


Pivot - Players may be adjusted where allowed by performing pivots. There are 2 types of pivots: (1) Basic Pivot, (2) Advanced Pivot
(1) A Basic Pivot is performed by turning a player where it rests on the field so that it does not gain distance towards its intended target and/or so as not to gain positive downfield yardage.
(2) An Advanced Pivot involves picking up a player using only a hand or hands to adjust its directional device and/or prong(s), but no other part of that player. Aside from picking up the player, allowing for the stated adjustments, then resetting, an advanced pivot is otherwise performed identically to a basic pivot. This means it must be reset and turned at the spot it was picked up.
All pivots are to be performed using an on-field referee/spotting device unless permission is granted by an official to do otherwise.


Mobile Base - Any base that has 3 or more sets of prongs intact. Mobile bases used with an on-field QB player are subjected to the "push rule."


Immobile Base - Any base that has 2 or less sets of prongs intact. Immobile bases used with on-field QB players are not subjected to the "push rule."


Base Switching - No switching a player's base during a play is allowed unless specifically called for in the rules or by an official. Otherwise this must be done before setup is complete or after completion of a play. This also means no changing out base components (dials or prong bars).


Push Rule - If an on-field QB is on a mobile base and makes (any) base to base contact with an interior offensive lineman anywhere behind the LOS after the switch is initially turned on to begin a play from scrimmage, that QB is considered to be pushing and the board must be immediately stopped. Such an action will invoke the "Push Rule." Whenever the push rule is invoked, the on field QB must keep the ball on called run plays, and must keep the ball and run on pass plays even if set to spin. The "push" rule takes priority even if there are eligible, unengaged or engaged receivers/ball carriers.

*NOTE* The mobile or immobile base under the on field QB is a determining factor that can dictate the options an offensive coach has available. However, the way a mobile or immobile base it set to run may also define one's options on a given play. Below is a basic chart to help explain:

QB ON MOBILE BASE: CAN Invoke Push Rule On Run & Pass Plays
1) Invokes Push Rule - QB must keep the ball. Applies to run and pass plays.
2a) Set To Spin When Board Is Stopped> Run Play - QB may pitch if possible or keep the ball and accept a tackle at LOS for no gain (busted play).
3a) Set To Spin When Board Is Stopped> Pass Play - QB may attempt a pass if possible or throw pass away (auto incompletion).

QB ON IMMOBILE BASE: Can NOT Invoke Push Rule On Run Or Pass Plays
QB may keep the ball on an Immobile Base so long as it is demonstrating substantial forward progress when the switch is turned back on. Otherwise see below
2b) Run Play> Same As #2a Above
3b) Pass Play> Same As #3a Above


START OF GAME PLAY

To begin the game a referee will designate the challenging coach. A coin will be tossed by the referee allowing the coin to hit the floor.

The challenging coach must call "heads" or "tails" while the coin is in the air. The coach that wins the toss must make a choice of either receiving the ball or kicking off. Deferring is not an option.

The kick coverage team decides which end zone they will defend for the first half.

Teams will switch ends of the field to begin the second half and the team that received the opening kick off will kick away to begin the second half.

STANDING AND FALLEN PLAYERS

Standing Players: To begin any play, all players must be upright on their bases without any portion of a player's figure touching the playing surface. If a player tips over during the progression of a play and any portion of that figure is contacting the board, that player has fallen. A player that is leaning into or on another player, figure, or platform has not fallen if the leaning player has no portion of the figure contacting the board. Such a player may be set upright at its current facing, and later pivoted (when/if eligible) so long as doing so does not involve dislodging the players in which it has made contact from their current position and/or facing.

Fallen Players: A player that has fallen is considered to be a part of the field, must remain down until that play is complete, can not be adjusted by a coach, and can not make a tackle or receive a pitch or pass, and can not carry the ball. Consider a fallen player as temporarily shaken up (injured) for the remainder of that play. A fallen player can affect a play by simply being in the way of another/other players. If a ball carrier falls during a play he is down at that point and the play is over. The ball will be marked for forward progress at the most downfield portion of its base.


PLAYS FROM SCRIMMAGE

Sequence: Players are separated to their designated sides of the line of scrimmage - Players may be separated by the referee and/or by their respective coaches. No coach may handle another coach's players at any time without permission from that player's coach and/or the referee.

Setup clock begins - Once the players have been separated to their respective sides of the field the setup clock begins.

Offense and defense begin setup - Offense must begin setup by completing placement of their interior linemen, beginning with the Center placed in the middle of the hash marks at the LOS. Offense has 60 seconds to complete their entire offensive set in a legal formation. Once set the offensive coach must say "set." Defense may begin setup as soon as the offensive Center is placed in proper position at the LOS. The defense will be allowed an additional 30 seconds (1:30 total time) to complete their defensive set in a legal formation. Once set the defensive coach must say "set."

Setup clock is stopped - Once setup is completed by both teams the setup clock is reset.

Offense performs audible(s), if any - The offense may now perform audibles. If so, they are allowed to pivot up to 2 players who are eligible to either carry the ball or receive a pass. The offense has 10 seconds to complete all audibles.

Defense performs audible(s), if any - The defense may now perform audibles. If so the defense gets an equal number of audibles as the offense took on that play. Any defender may be pivoted. The defense has 10 seconds to perform all audibles.

Offense calls play - Offense states "Run" or "Pass" along with the player who will carry the ball to begin the play - The offense must say who has the ball by clearly stating the eligible player's position and jersey number. Intitially this must be the on-field QB or a RB (straight handoff).

Play resolution - Board is turned on and play is resolved. Play is counted off and recorded. Ball marker, chains, and drop-back barriers are moved if applicable.

FORMATIONS

Offense: The center of the field at the LOS will always be used to begin plays from scrimmage. This is the spot where the offensive center must be set. The offense must have exactly 7 players on the line of scrimmage.

The interior linemen must have some space between them, must be spaced an even distance between one another, may not make base or body contact with any other player, and may not be in the shade of another offensive player. Interior linemen may not be audibled or moved once the offensive coach says "set."

The receivers on the line of scrimmage may be placed or spaced anywhere along the line of scrimmage so long as they are completely inbounds, not touching another player, and not in the shade of another offensive player.
Any receiver not on the line of scrimmage must be at least 1 yard and no more than a base length off of the line of scrimmage (most downfield portion of their base), must be completely outside any portion of the hash marks, and may not be stacked or in the shade of another player.

There must be at least 1 player in the backfield (QB), and no more than 3 players in the backfield including the quarterback. Spacing for all players must be maintained before and after audibles.

The quarterback may be set anywhere behind the center so long as it is directly in line with the center's base and no portion of its base may be beyond 20 yards behind the line of scrimmage.

RB's must maintain a minimum distance of a base length if the QB is directly in front of them (closest portion of their bases) or in the shade. All RB's must be at least a base length behind the OL before and after pivots. RB's must maintain a base width space between any offensive player beside it and without being in the shade of another team mate. A RB can line up directly behind another RB so long as those players are not touching and neither is directly behind or in the shade of the QB. Running backs must be touching some portion of a hash mark or be inside of them both before and after any audibles are performed and no portion of their base may be beyond 20 yards behind the line of scrimmage before or after audibles are performed.

WR's must be either on the LOS or no more than a base length off of the LOS (no downfield portion of base can exceed 4 yds off of LOS).

Defense: The defense is not limited to any recognizable formations but no player or players can be stacked or in the shade of another defensive player.

There is a 40 yard limit from the line of scrimmage that a defensive player or players can be placed during setup (no portion of base can exceed 40 yds from LOS).

If the defense is pinned back inside the 5 yard line and a base length of space can not be kept for defensive players in the secondary, defenders still may not be stacked or in the shade of another AND must be lined up with enough of their base out of the back of the end line, but inside the sidelines to prevent stacking. Otherwise all defenders that are directly behind or in the shade of another defender must be a base length behind that player in front of them and maintain some space without touching another team mate beside them.