This is a highly competitive tournament, with a single elimination Championship bracket, whose seeds are determined by that team’s body of work during the regular season and our 5 point criteria by our National Championship Selection Committee.

This is a single elimination National Championship with a winners bracket and 3rd place consolation round
For consolation, the top two teams with the best point differential record will be crowned as the third place winner. The 3rd place team will also receive a team award for their placement in the tournament.
In the championship bracket, teams play until they lose, and the final two teams play in the Championship. The remaining teams will be ranked in the final PSI Rankings according to their placement in the tournament.

All games will be played in accordance with the rules and guidelines of the National High School Football Federation with a modification to how many timeouts per half and that of Prospects by Sports Illustrated.

Your team’s placement in the tournament is not confirmed until FULL payment and team certification is received 2 weeks from the first day of the tournament.

In the spirit of integrity of our players, teams, and tournaments.

Once certified, all eligible players must wear the PSI certification band on the left wrist the entire tournament. If the player removes or loses their certification band, replacement bands are $5 per player paid at the ticket booth. Once paid, the player must be re certified by our certification staff.

A player must participate in ALL games to be considered eligible and to remain in the tournament for the National tournament.

Teams are required to bring their official team roster and book printed from Prospects by Sports Illustrated National database.

All teams are guaranteed 2 games minimum (if there are no forfeits or weather issues) with a possible 4 games, depending on wins and losses.

Each team should be ready to play 30 minutes PRIOR to their scheduled start times without any advanced warning. If games are early, we will start up to 15 minutes early.

Schedule will be released 2-5 days prior to the tournament start date.

No Protests will be accepted during the tournament. Protest will be reviewed following the tournament if deemed necessary by the tournament director

Every team must dress a minimum of 11 players to start the game in accordance with National Football Federation rules. If a team has less than 10 players, it will be an automatic forfeit.

The age group divisions for the National Championship are UNLIMITED weights: 6U (FLAG) , Tackle 6u, 7U, 8U, 9U, 10U, 11U & 12U

SINGLE AGE CUTOFF BREAKDOWN & REQUIRED FOOTBALLS

6U FLAG DIVISION *****CAN’T TURN 7 BEFORE July 1st BALL SZ- PEE WEE WILSON K2, NIKE, BADEN

6U DIVISION *****CAN’T TURN 7 BEFORE July 1st BALL SZ- PEE WEE WILSON K2, NIKE, BADEN

7U DIVISION *****CAN’T TURN 8 BEFORE July 1st BALL SZ- PEE WEE WILSON K2, NIKE, BADEN
8U DIVISION *****CAN’T TURN 9 BEFORE July 1st BALL SZ- PEE WEE WILSON K2, NIKE, BADEN
9U DIVISION *****CAN’T TURN 10 BEFORE July 1st BALL SZ- JUNIOR WILSON, NIKE, BADEN
10U DIVISION *****CAN’T TURN 11 BEFORE July 1st BALL SZ- JUNIOR WILSON, NIKE, BADEN
11U DIVISION *****CAN’T TURN 12 BEFORE July 1st BALL SZ- YOUTH WILSON, NIKE, BADEN
12U DIVISION ***** CAN’T TURN 13 BEFORE July 1st BALL SZ- YOUTH WILSON, NIKE, BADEN

If your age cutoff date conflicts with ours more than one month of our cutoff date, please notify us ASAP.

Assistant coaches and/or team moms from other teams ARE NOT ALLOWED to be in the open certification area to watch the actual certification of other teams.

The game is played having a maximum of: (11) offensive and (11) defensive players.

I. Game
1. At the start of each game, captains from both teams shall meet at midfield for the coin toss to determine who shall start with the ball.
2. The winner of the coin toss gets to decide taking possession or defense, to begin. The loser of the coin toss chooses the end zone to start play.
3. The offensive team takes possession of the ball at its 25-yard line and has four (4) plays to make a first
down. A first down is reached by moving the ball 10 yards.
4. Teams change sides after each QTR. Possession changes to the loser of the coin toss.

II. Terminology
• Live Ball – the period that the play is in action. Generally used regarding penalties, Live Ball Penalties are considered part of the play and must be enforced before the down is considered complete. • Dead Ball – the period immediately before or after a play.
• Inadvertent whistle – an official’s whistle that is performed in error.
• Charging – the movement of the ball carrier directly at a defensive player who has established position on the field. This includes lowering the head, contacting the defender with a shoulder, forearm or the chest, resulting in a penalty.
• Flag Guarding –the deliberate guarding of the flags by the ball carrier to inhibit the defense from making a grab. Typically, a lowered and swinging, slapping arm motion, resulting in a penalty.
• Shovel Pass – a legal pass made by throwing the ball behind or beyond the line of scrimmage, underhand or pushing it towards a receiver in a shot-put type manner.
• Lateral or Pitch– a backwards or sideways toss of the ball by the QB or ball carrier-behind the scrimmage only.

III. Eligibility
1. All players must be registered through Prospects National  Certification and fall within the specified age range.
2. All players must present a waiver that is signed by a legal guardian or parent.

IV. Equipment
Mouth Guard. Every player must wear a mouth guard to each practice and each game. Kids will not be able to play without a mouthpiece.
1. Football sizes: For 4-5-6yo (K-2) All balls must be properly inflated and approved by the referee.
2 Teams will have to provide their own flags.
NO plastic pull away belts, no suction type. Flags must be a minimum of 2 inches wide and 15 inches long. Flags may be any color but must contrast from the color of pant or short worn.
3. Cleats are allowed, however cleats with exposed metal are not allowed and
must be removed.
4. Players may tape their forearms, hands, and fingers. Players may wear gloves, elbow pads, and kneepads.
5. Player’s jerseys must be tucked into the pants.

V. Field
1. The field size is regular regulation tackle football fields 100yards. Possession starts at 25-yard line

VI. Timing
1. Games are played on a 32-minute running clock, four 8 minutes quarters. The clock stops only for timeouts, and Extra Points and the last 2 minutes of the 4th quarter.
2. Halftime is 5 minutes long.
3. Each time the ball is spotted, a team has 35 seconds to snap the ball. Teams will receive one warning before a delay-of game penalty is enforced.
4. Each team has three 30-second time out per half. Oklahoma 2 timeouts

VII. Scoring
1. Touchdown: 6 points
2. PAT (Point After
Touchdown) 1 point (5-yard line) or 2 points (10-yard line).
3. Safety: 2 points to the defensive team and the ball is awarded to the defensive team at the opposite 25 yard line.
a. A Safety occurs when the ball carrier is declared down in his/her own end zone. They can be called down when their flags are pulled by a defensive player, their flag falls out, they step out of bounds or they hit the ground with their knee or arm. A Safety also occurs when there is an offensive penalty in the end zone.
4. This line removed. Didn’t line up with line 2.

VIII. Coaches
1. All coaches must certify through Prospects by Sports Illustrated and pass a criminal background and Child Abuse Registry background to coach-No exceptions.
1. All coaches must read and sign the” Coaches Ethics” form.
2. Only 2 offense or 2 defense coach is allowed on the field to direct players for their squad.
3. Each coach (offense and defense) on the field will not move or speak to a player once the offense is on the line and QB has started his cadence. Once the offense is on the line, both offense and defense coaches must move 10 yds. behind their player who is furthest back or instructed by the game official. The on field coaches are NOT to run with the ball carrier or speak with any player or game officials while the ball is live.
Defense has to be 1 yard off the LOS. in a 3- or 2-point stance…….LB must be 3 yds. off LOS mark with a cone by game official.
4. Coaches are expected to adhere to Pinnacle National Championship rules, League philosophies, coaching guidelines, and codes of conduct.
5. Only 5 coaches plus 2 others (non-Coaches) per team are allowed on the sidelines.

IX. Live Ball/Dead Ball
1. The play is live when the ball passes through or next to the center’s legs. Dropped snaps are a dead ball and loss of down.
2. The official will indicate the neutral zone and line of scrimmage. It is an automatic dead ball foul if any player on defense
3. The defense may not mimic the offensive team signals, by trying to confuse the offensive players,
while the quarterback is calling out signals to start the play.
4. Substitutions may be made on any dead ball.
5. Any official can whistle the play dead.
6. Play is ruled “dead” when:
a. The ball hits the ground.
b. The ball carrier’s flag is pulled.
c. The ball carrier steps out of bounds.
d. A touchdown, PAT or safety is scored.
e. The ball carrier’s knee or arm (hand is still live) hits the ground.
f. The ball carrier’s flag falls out.
g. The receiver catches the ball while in possession of one flag.
h. The ball carrier’s flag belt is turned to where the flags are in front and back.
i. An inadvertent whistle is performed (at the spot where the ball was whistled dead).
7. In the case of an inadvertent whistle, the offense has two options:
a. Take the ball where the whistle blown made the play dead.
b. Replay the down from the original line of scrimmage.

X. Running
1. The ball is spotted where the runner’s feet are when the flag is pulled, not where the ball carrier has the ball. If one foot precedes the other, the forward foot marks the spot.
2. The quarterback can rollout, pass, pitch, handoff, and run a draw after taking one step backwards making himself a runner or lateral while in the backfield. The QB CAN ADVANCE the ball for positive yards.
3. QB can pitch the ball or hand off behind the line of scrimmage to a running back. Offense may use multiple handoffs or pitches, behind the line of scrimmage.
6. The player who takes the handoff or pitch can throw the ball from behind the line of scrimmage.
7. Runners may not dive, leap or jump to score.
8. Spinning is allowed to avoid a flag pull. Ball carrier cannot flag-guard.
9. Runner cannot charge into a defender who position to pull flags.
10. Blocking and “screening” is allowed on the line. Excessive shoving will be considered unnecessaryroughness.

XI. Passing
1. All passes must be from behind the line of scrimmage, thrown forward or behind the line of scrimmage.
2. Shovel passes are allowed and received behind or beyond the line of scrimmage.

XII. Flag Pulling
1. A legal flag pull takes place when the ball carrier is in full possession of the ball.
2. Defenders cannot tackle or hold or interfere with the ball carrier in the pursuit of pulling a flag.
3. It is illegal to attempt to strip or pull the ball from the ball carrier’s possession at any time.
4. Any player whose flag or flags fall off are not eligible to advance the ball.
5. If the ball-carrier’s flag, while carrying the ball, inadvertently falls off during the play, the play is dead at that point. Specifically, if a running back is in the process of receiving a hand-off without a flag, that play is called dead. If a pass receiver’s flags fall off while running a pass pattern and catches the ball, the play is called dead the catch nullified.
6. A defensive player may not intentionally pull the flags off players who are not in possession of the ball. Unsportsmanlike Conduct
7. Flag guarding is a contact foul. Any attempt by the ball carrier to obstruct the defender’s access to the flags by stiff arm, swapping the defender arm or guarding the flag when contact is made.

XIII. Unsportsmanlike Conduct
1. If the field-monitor or game official witnesses any acts of intentional tackling, elbowing, cheap shots,
blocking, or any unsportsmanlike act, the game will be stopped, and the player will be ejected from the game. The decision is made at the referee’s discretion. FOUL PLAY WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.
2. Offensive or confrontational language is illegal. Game Officials have the right to determine offensive language. If offensive or confrontational language occurs, the referee will give one warning. If it continues, the player, players, coach, or fan will be ejected from the playing field.
3. Players may not physically or verbally abuse any opponent or official.
4. Ball carriers MUST try to avoid defenders with an established position.
5. Defenders are not allowed to run through the ball carrier when pulling flags.
6. Fans must also adhere to good sportsmanship:
7. Fans are required to keep fields safe and kids friendly:
a. Keep younger kids and equipment such as coolers, chairs, and tents away from the sidelines. Sidelines are for players and staff only

Penalties
Offensive All penalties are assessed for 5 Yards.
• Illegal motion (more than one person moving, false start, etc.)
• Offensive-pass interference (illegal pick play, pushing off/away defender)
• Delay of game (after the ball is spotted, exceeding the 30 second limit)
Defense All penalties are assessed for 5 Yards.
• Encroachment (also includes linebackers not 3 yards back.)
• Interference
• Defense Illegal flag pull (before receiver has ball)
· Team – Below penalties are assessed as automatic first downs (if against defense) or loss of down (if against offense) and carry an individual warning to the player committing the
foul (one warning to the player and team before disqualified).
• Unnecessary Roughness
• Taunting
• Unsportsmanlike conduct.

Major penalties will be ten (10) yards, except unsportsmanlike conduct on any coach, player or team mom parent will be 15 yards. If a player or coach is disqualified or ejected by the referee or tournament official for ANY reason, they will be disqualified for the entire tournament, no matter their official position on that team. i.e., Head Coach, Park President, Team Mom, etc.

10 yard penalties
• Flag guarding (hindering the pull of a flag by the ball carrier) SPOT FOUL
• Illegal contact (Holding, blocking, etc.)
• Roughing the passer
• Stripping the ball (attempting to cause a fumble)

Overall governance for all football games played are by the National Federation of High School Football rules.

The Pinnacle National Championship is a single elimination, bracket play tournament with a winner only bracket. Once a team loses they are out of contention for the National Championship and are placed in the consolation bracket to play for 3rd place.

All games are regulation games. Tournament brackets seeds are determined by that teams body of work and the tournament officials.

Length of Periods

6U Flag
1hr per game

***See Timing Rules under Flag rules

6U to 9U
8 minute regulation clock

10U to 12U
10 minute regulation clock

Unlike other sports, football is a full contact sport so for safety purposes, game times for 10u, 11u, 12u will be 10 minute regulation clock. The game clock will be governed by the PSI game officials. There will only be 2 timeouts per half. Halftime will be 5 minutes long.

There will be kickoffs for ALL age groups, except 6u flag, which will be determined by a coin flip. Whoever wins the coin toss decides whether their team defers or receives, for that half.

One Coach on the field for ages 6U & 7U.

No coaches on the field for 8U and Up.

Field length for all teams will be 100 yds.

Major penalties will be ten (10) yards, except unsportsmanlike conduct on any coach, player or team mom parent will be 15 yards. If a player or coach is ejected by a referee or tournament official for ANY reason, they will be disqualified for the entire tournament, no matter their official position on that team. i.e., Head Coach, Park President, Team Mom, etc.

All touchdowns are (6) points, safeties are (2) points, field goals are (3) points on any down except for extra point, (2) points for kicks on an extra point and one (1) point will be awarded for a successful run for 8U and Up. See 6U flag rules for score breakdown.

All interceptions and fumbles can be advanced for yards and or a score.

Scoring Control
If a team is winning by 24 or more points at the end of the 1st half or any time thereafter, the running clock will be in effect and will not stop, even if the score difference becomes less than 24 points. This rule has become necessary in order to add a degree of scoring control in games that are between teams that are not matched in talent, experience, size, etc. It is highly encouraged, and shall be required, that winning coaches take all necessary steps available to control the high level of scoring in unmatched games.

Declared Punts
6U Flag, Tackle 6U, 7U and 8U on fourth down, the offense must declare, “Punt or Going For IT”. Game officials will walk off 20 yards. There will be a 10 second run off the clock. 6u, 7u, 8u.

9U and Up All punts are live and do not have to be declared and will be governed by NFHS rules.

PINNACLE TIE BREAKER

(ALL GAMES)

In the event of a tied game at the end of the regulation, there will be overtime play to determine a winner.

Both Head Coaches will be called to the middle of the field and will participate in an overtime coin toss. The winner of the coin toss can decide either to go on offense or defense or choose which end of the field they will play on. Each team will receive the ball on the 5 yard line and if a team scores, extra points for a conversion via run which is 1 point, pass is two points or a “frozen” extra point kick for ALL TEAMS.
 

a) A coin toss will determine the first choice of offense or defense.
b) Only 1 coin toss will be done if the overtime goes to the one play rotation
c) Each team will get 4 consecutive plays from the 5-yard line.
d) Each offensive score counts as 1-point.
e) Each defensive recovery resulting in a turnover count as a half of a point.
f) If after 2 overtime periods there is no winner, the teams will then go to a 1 play rotation each until a winner prevails.
g) The end zone to be used will be determined by the Game Officials.
All other rules not found in this rule book will be governed by the National Federation of High School Rules (NFHS) Football Rules Book.

Registration payments are NON-REFUNDABLE for teams who cancel, no matter when they cancel,


Gate fees are non-refundable for games that teams forfeit, acts of God or any other situations that do not allow the continuation of the event, whether in part or whole.