Maritime Football League- Special Rules

(1) APPLICATION OF SPECIAL RULES

These special rules apply to all Maritime Football League games.

(2) ELIGIBILTY

Players must be at least 18 years old on December 31 in the year of play. Players who are graduating from high school in June of the year of play are eligible.

(3) LEAGUE PHILOSOPHY

The athletes in this league are adults. Many of them are employed full time. As well, teams in this league will practice much less than university or high school teams. Players will not be as fit as these younger players. Therefore, the probability and consequences of injury for them are significantly higher.
The Maritime Football League has modified a number of the rules in the "Canadian Rulebook for Tackle Football" with the intention of reducing the possibility and incidence of serious injuries.

(4) GENERAL RULES

Unless otherwise specified below, the conduct of games in the Maritime Football League will be in accordance with the Canadian Rulebook for Tackle Football.

(5) FIELD SIZE

Games will be played on a regulation sized 65 yard wide Canadian Football Field .

(6) NUMBER OF PLAYERS ON THE FIELD

Teams must declare that they are playing 12 aside or 10 aside, for the entire season, at least one week before the first game. Status can be changed at any point during the season if circumstances warrant. Any change in status, both temporary and ongoing, needs to be communicated to the Commissioner and next opponent by the Monday before the team’s next game. Changes in status must be due to uncontrollable factors such as injury, attrition or work commitments and NOT to gain a competitive advantage.

Games will be played 10 aside unless both teams have declared 12 aside.

1-If either team has less than 24 players dressed (30 for 2021) and able to play at kickoff, the game MUST be played 10 aside for safety reasons.

2-If either team has less than 18 players dressed (26 for 2021) and able to play at kickoff, the game will be canceled
for safety reasons and a forfeit awarded.

(7) GAME LENGTH

Games will consist of 4 quarters of 15 minutes each timed in accordance with the Canadian Rulebook for Tackle Football. This would result in games being 2.5-3.0 hours long.

(8) NUMBER OF DOWNS

For all games teams will play 4 down football with the one yard neutral zone. There is NO requirement to pass on any down.

(9) BLOCKING RESTRICTIONS

Initiating blocks below the waist is not permitted. Illegal blocks below the waist are a 15 yard UR penalty. Any player penalized twice for this infraction in the same game will not be permitted to play the remainder of the game.

(10) PRESSURE DEFENCE RESTRICTIONS

       Defensive players may blitz from any depth inside "The Box". Players outside "The Box" are not allowed to blitz.
There is no limitation on the number of players allowed to blitz.
       A player is considered to be inside "The Box" if their inside foot is in line with or inside of the outside foot of the outermost interior down offensive lineman (C, G, T, TE).
      There is no restriction on where defensive players can line up. This rule does NOT apply to special teams. This rule does NOT apply to plays inside the defensive 5 yard line.
      If this rule is violated the defence will be penalized 5 yards for "illegal defence".

Note: The purpose of this rule is to protect a quarterback attempting to pass from within the pocket.

(11) TARGETING PENALTY

      For any player penalized for Unnecessary Roughness against a player in a "defenseless posture" under Rule 7,
Section 3, Article 16 the following will be added to the standard 15 yard penalty:
        For fouls committed in the first half, the player is disqualified for the remainder of the game.
        For fouls committed in the second half, the player is disqualified for the remainder of the game AND for the first half of the next game in which the player participates.

(12) TAKING A KNEE PROTOCOL

When a team tells the Referee that they are taking a knee for the purpose of ending the half or a game, the Referee
will advise both teams so that there is no misunderstanding. Any player crossing the neutral zone may be subject to penalty. If the score is a lead of 8 points or less the QB must take a knee immediately once the ball is snapped.

(13) MERCY RULE

As per the Canadian Rulebook for Tackle Football.

(14) OVERTIME

No overtime during the regular season.

(15) HALFTIME

During the regular season, halftime will be 10 minutes. During the playoffs, halftime will be
15 minutes.

(16) LIMIT ON NUMBER OF PRACTICES

During the regular season teams are limited to a maximum of two practices per week. There is no limitation on the number of practices in the preseason or during the playoffs.

(17) OFFICIAL BALL

The official football of the Maritime Football League is the Wilson F2000 leather ball. The hosting team is responsible for providing 2 game balls. Away teams can supply their own game balls so long as they are the Wilson F2000 leather ball. All game balls must be inspected by the officials before the game and reside with the timer/scorer when not in use.

(18) NATURE OF COMPETITION

The primary goal of the Maritime Football League is to promote the growth of friendly competition. In cases where the two teams end up being very unequal in strength and skill the stronger team is asked to take into account the long term consequences of running up the score on the weaker team; both on the future of that team and on the league.

(19) TECHNICAL TIME OUT

Each team will be permitted one technical time out per half to ask for rule clarification relating to a particular call. This time out is NOT to be used to protest an official's decision.