OFFICIAL

Pig Bowl

RULES

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The primary purpose of the PIG BOWL is to raise money for needy families in the community. With that being the focus, the players who have the opportunity to participate should keep in mind that the game should be played for the fun and entertainment of the fans. The goal of every player should be to exhibit excellent sportsmanship by keeping their language and actions in check as well as doing everything possible to see that their fellow competitors are not unnecessarily injured due to rough or overly competitive physical play. When the final buzzer sounds WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME TEAM!

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SHOES

No metal cleats will not be worn.

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FLAGS

Each player on the field must wear a belt of three flags which hang directly down each side of the body and below the small of the back.  The entire belt is removed when the flags are pulled. Players must not tie the belt to prevent it from being pulled.

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PLAYERS

The game will be played between two teams of law enforcement players.  Each team is allowed only eight persons on the field at a time.

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LENGTH OF GAME

Playing time will be 60 minutes in duration divided into four 15 minute quarters. The clock will run continuously except for; 1. After a team has scored, 2. The last two minutes of each half which will revert to standard football dead ball rules, or 3. For team or official time outs. The clock will re-start when the ball is legally snapped.

There will be an approximately ten minute half-time intermission while team photos are taken with the families and the 50/50 raffle drawing is commenced.

The Pig Bowl has no overtime – We believe in ties 🙂

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START OF GAME

The team captain winning the toss will choose one of the following options:

1. Possession of the ball
2. Designate which goal his team will defend
3. Defer choice to the second half.

The loser of the toss will make a choice of the remaining options

Before the start of the second half, the choosing of options will be reversed.

There is No Kicking Off. The game will start with the ball being placed on the 30-yard line for the team that is designated from the coin toss. After an extra point attempt or successful field goal, the ball will also be placed on the 30-yard line. In the case of a safety, standard NFL rules apply.

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TIME OUTS

A charged time out will not exceed one minute. Each team is entitled to three charged time outs per half and one per overtime period. Timeouts cannot be carried over into another period.

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LINE OF SCRIMMAGE AND ELIGIBILITY             

All plays from scrimmage must be started by a legal snap being hiked between the legs of the center with his shoulders parallel to the line of scrimmage.

Each team will be allowed the opportunity to advance the ball across the opponent’s goal line by running or passing.

The center must have a guard on each side of him that is a maximum of two yards apart. The defensive and offensive teams may not rush immediately between the guard-center gaps. Once the gaps have broken down due to offensive players releasing down field or defensive players rushing to the outside and widening the gaps to a couple of yards the offense may rush up the middle. Defensive players may not rush a player to the outside of a guard in order to break down the gap and then blitz a player up the middle.

All players are eligible to touch, throw, or catch a pass.

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DEFLAGGING

All players must have their flags in a legal position at the start of each play on top of all clothing and not tucked in. Referees, teammates and opposing players should help to spot flags that are out of position so that they may fixed before a play begins to help to avoid unnecessary controversies.

Offensive or defensive players must have possession of the ball before they may legally be deflagged. For example, if a player anticipates that a ball is going to be caught, intercepted, handed off or recovered by an opposing player and pulls the flag before the player has legal possession, the play is still live. Players should always remember to continue to play until an official blows the whistle.

A ball carrier who is missing  flags that has been removed before he has possession, after he had possession earlier in the play or inadvertently due to contact, does not cause play to stop. It should continue as if the flag has not been removed. In all situations where a play is in progress and a ball carrier loses his flags either accidentally or inadvertently, or if a players belt is pulled out of legal position by a defender, deflagging reverts to a two-hand touch of the ball carrier.

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LIVE BALL

Standard NFL rules apply… sort of…  A fumble is a fumble and may be recovered, advanced or picked up by the opposing team.  However, once a player is on the ground with the ball… we will revert to standard college rules… and that that player will be considered down in order to avoid pile ups and injuries.

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KICKS

Teams must announce to the other team and referee if they are going to kick an extra point, field goal or punt. The defensive team may not rush. There are no quick kicks, however a team may choose to announce to punt on any down.

A missed Extra Point or Field Goal is automatically dead immediately and may not be returned or advanced.

The punter must kick the ball immediately upon receiving the snap from center and in a continuous motion.

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EXTRA POINTS

As is standard in the NFL, an opportunity to score one or two points will be granted a team scoring a touchdown. They may either kick the ball or run a play.  

A Kick is worth 1 point

A Pass or Run into the end zone is worth 2 points

If the defensive team gains possession of a live ball during an extra point attempt and is able to return it to the opposing teams end zone, they will receive two points even if the attempt was a one point try by the offense.

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BLOCKING

Blocking is allowed however fighting, flagrant, deliberate or violent acts deemed unnecessary roughness by the officials carries a 15 yard penalty and could result in dismissal from the game.

In the spirit of fun that the Pig Bowl is being played, blocking will be more of a “screening” of an opposing player. There will be absolutely no hard contact made with an opposing player. The offensive block will take place with the blocker’s arms extended and their palms facing their opponent, but cannot push or grab. The block must be initiated on opponent’s chest or on either side.

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PENALTIES

Standard NFL Football Rules apply with the following exceptions…

No Tackling

No Pigs in a Blanket – lying on a blanket is frowned on, but “donating” to the officials is encouraged.

No Flag Guarding

No Making Bacon – complaining to the officials is strictly prohibited.

No Stiff Arming

For clarification a ball carrier may put a hand with a bent elbow out towards the defender and make contact without being ruled down or penalized, to help avoid a collision or for balance as long as it does not give an unfair advantage to protect flags or push the opposing player away.

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THE PIG BOWL OFFICIALS HAVE THE FINAL SAY