Rules & Gameplay
Red Zone Football Game: Game Play Rules
Game play is similar to a fastbreak in all other organized sports!
- Set goals 20 yards (20 paces) apart
- To start a game - offense lines up behind their goal
- The player with the football says “Red Zone” (or any start word), allowing their teammates to enter the field of play
- The team with the ball is allowed 4 throws (aka downs) to teammates to try and score in the defense’s goal. There are three different ways to play:
- Tag rules - if a player has the ball, but they are tagged by the defense with one hand, the ball is downed
- Flag rules - if a player has the ball, but they’re flag is pulled by the defense the ball is downed
- Pivot rules - If you have the football, you are allowed 3 steps. After three steps, you can pivot on one foot. You must throw the ball within 5 seconds
Game Play Notes:
*There are no predefined field boundaries outside of the two goals
*At the start of a game or start of a down, do not blitz the player starting with the ball (aka the quarterback). The Quarterback has 5 seconds to get rid of the ball.
*Wherever the ball is downed, that becomes the new line of scrimmage.
*A line of scrimmage should never be closer than 3-yards (paces) from the scoring goal (helps keep things more fun).
*On any down, the offense is allowed to elect to “kick” a field goal. Meaning the defense moves out of the way and the offense throws the ball to try and hit the scoring goal for 3 points.
*Defense should never be closer than one pace/yard from the goal they are defending
*Defensive players that knock over the goal, commit pass interference, forcibly push/shove, or tackle all result in a spot foul and a first down for the offense.
*Turnovers: a fumble is considered a loss of down (similar to an incomplete pass). An interception immediately results in a change of possession and the intercepting team can start advancing towards their scoring goal (downs start once that intercepting player is tagged/flagged or throws the ball).
Scoring:
- Dunking/throwing (touchdown) football in top of goal equals 7 points
- Hitting goal with football equals 3 points (field goal) on any down
- The team that gets 21 points first, wins