Tandem Terror Football
TERROR RULES AND TERROR REGULATIONS

1. EQUIPMENT/FIELD
    A. Tandem Terror Football will provide an official game ball for the tournament.  Youth-size footballs will be provided for the younger age divisions.
    B. Games are played on official field which measures 65 yards (59.6 meters) from back of end zone to back of end zone, 26 yards (23.8 m) from front of end zone to first down/mid-line, 18 yards (16.5 m) from sideline to sideline, end zones that are 6.5 yards (6 m) deep, and an extra point/touchback mark placed 2.5 yards (2.3 m) out from each end zone. ((Exact measurements taken by Alex C., Ryan S., and Greg C. on Sat., Aug. 13, 2016))
    C. All shoes, other than steel spikes, are acceptable.  Football cleats are encouraged.
    E. Shirts are required.

2. TEAMS
    A. Teams will consist three (3) players (two players on the field and one substitute).
    B. No roster changes will be accepted after the coin toss of the first game.

    C. An injury suffered during TANDEM TERROR may result in a forfeit of that game only if a team is unable to field a the required two players.  A second injured player on one team is allowed a three-minute time period following the injury or a forfeit will be called. Failure to wear proper equipment or have two players with proper equipment will also result in a forfeit.
    D. Any two of the three players on the three-man roster are eligible for any game of the tournament.

3. GAME and SCORING
    A. All games are played to fifteen (15) points or for 30 minutes in length, whichever comes first.
    B. The point system is as follows:
        Touchdown: 2 points
        Extra Point: 1 point
        Turnover (Interception): 1 point
        Stop Team on Downs: 1 point
        note: no safeties are allowed; the ball is simply placed at the one-inch line and results in a loss of down

*Neither team is awarded a point if the offense opts to punt. The defense scores a point when it holds the offense to an unsuccessful conversion on fourth down. The defense does NOT receive a point for a turnover and a point for holding the offense on fourth down (the maximum points a defense can score is one point unless a defensive touchdown is scored).
*If the offense is facing fourth down and opts to punt, the offense will punt the ball only if the ball is behind the first down line (first down has not yet been gained). However, if the offense is anywhere beyond midfield, the ball will simply be placed at the two-yard line.  This is to save time; there is no option.

*There are no fake punts/kicks.

5. TIME AND TIME OUTS
    A. The game will be 30 minutes in length or ends when one team reaches 15 points. 
    B. Each team is allowed  one  time out per game. 

    C. The length of each time out will be limited to one minute.
    E. There is no stoppage of the clock on out of bounds plays.  The clock also runs while switching sides.
    F. There is 30 second time limit between plays.

6. COIN TOSS
    A. A coin toss shall determine the kicking team, receiving team, and who defends which goal.
    B. The winner of the toss has the choice of kicking, receiving, or defending which goal.

7. KICKOFF  (The word "kick" refers to punting in this section.)
    A. The ball must be punted to begin the game and following touchdowns from the two-yard line.  Should the kickoff team go beyond the two-yard line (offsides), it will result in the ball being placed just behind the first down line for the offensive team (in other words, the offensive team can still earn a first down).
    B. The kicker should begin at a distance so as not to cross the red mark (two-yard line).
    C. Touchbacks for balls kicked out of the end zone or when a player downs the ball in his own end zone are placed at the red mark.
    D. On the opening kick of each game or following a touchdown, the kicking team has one (1) chance to kick the ball in bounds. The receiving team can only take possession of a kick that has landed in bounds.  If the first kick travels out of bounds, the receiving team is awarded the ball just behind, not beyond, midfield so that a first down can still be gained. 
**There is no spotting the ball where the ball breaks the plane on a kickoff.
    E. The receiving team must take the ball where the kicking team touches the ball or return the kick that lands in the field of play.  Once the kicking team touches the ball, the ball is down at the spot of the first touching and cannot be returned by the receiving team (this is true of all punts on fourth down also). 
    F. There are no onsides kicks. The kicks can be caught and downed by the kicking team. The ball is down on first touching of the kicking team.

8.  PENALTIES AND TURNOVERS
    
A.  Offside, false start, and illegal motion penalties are five yards.  The down remains the same.
    
B. Any interference or holding infraction on the offense or defense, as well as unsportsmanlike activity (includes tackling and taunting), results in a five-yard penalty AND a first down/loss of down for the offense.
     C. Fumbles are down immediately and may not be recovered by the defensive team.  The ball is dead, and the offensive unit is determined down.
     D. Interceptions can be returned.

9. RUSHING
     A. The defense must have one player rush the passer. The four-second count rush rule is in effect. The four second count is counted aloud by the referee.
     B. Once the ball has changed hands as the result of  a pitch, lateral, or backwards pass behind the line of scrimmage, the defense is free to cross the line of scrimmage and the rush count is elimanted.

10. ALL OTHER TERROR RULES
    A. There are no fake punts.
    B. When punting on any down (not a kickoff) all "normal" punting rules in the NFL apply.  For example, if a ball is punted out of bounds, the ball will be placed wherever it broke the plane.
    C. The offense can receive one first down per possession by crossing the midfield line.  They will have four downs to achieve a first down or touchdown. 
    D. The offense can send the receiver in motion and that motion must be parallel to the line of scrimmage.  Forward motion results in a penalty.
    E. One foot or one knee must be in bounds for a complete pass.
   F.  One forward pass is allowed per play. The defense may rush immediately if a backward pass occurs.
   G. Pitch-backs are allowed anywhere on the field. They are also allowed on kickoff/punt returns.
    H. A player that runs out of bounds intentionally becomes ineligible, and the play is dead and counts as a down. Players who are pushed out may return to the field and are still eligible as long as they return to the field of play at the first opportunity.
    I. Out of bounds consists of anywhere on or outside the painted lines. The cones are in play.
    J. Intentional grounding is allowed (no penalty).

    K. When using bump-and-run coverage, the defense is given five yards within the line of scrimmage to make contact. Once contact is broken between the defender and receiver , no more contact is allowed. When the ball is in flight no contact is allowed.
    L. The defense must two-touch to make the "tackle". The touches do not have to be simultaneous. Whenever a body part besides the feet touches the ground, the play becomes dead. Also, just because a defensive player falls on an offensive player doesn't mean the offensive player is down; he MUST be two-touched. Once a player pitches the ball to his teammate, a prior touch is scratched.
    M. It is up to the discretion of the officials to eject any player.

    N.  Running plays are allowed as long as a direct hand-off is made.
    O.  No "hurry-up" offense is allowed.  Officials must be set before play begins.

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