Bulldogs Indoor Youth Football League
2025 season
The mission of this league is to create a fun, team first opportunity for athletes to continue
playing football after their regular season is done. Teams are to take a learning first approach
when working with kids and in games. The Bulldogs Indoor Youth Football League (BIYF) is
designed to help coaches and players continue their development.
THE FIELD -
The Hampshire Dome in Milford NH
Full Field measures 103 yards by 60 yards. It is Divided into three Fields for 10U and 12U
14U field size will be 70 x 45
PARTICIPANTS
● No participant is allowed to be rostered on more than one team.
● Roster change can only occur with league official approval.
● Any team caught using a non rostered player will be fined $40.00 for each offense and
will have all games that player had played forfeited.
● In the event that a team does not have enough players to legally play the
(8 players are required) they will have to forfeit the game, at the discretion of the board.
● No chewing gum, tobacco, food, sports drinks or candy on field at any time. Water only !
● A player with a bleeding injury must be substituted im
● mediately
EQUIPMENT Full contact football gear, as required by the High School Federation. The official
football used is a K-2 for 10u; TDJ is used for 12u and TDY is used for 14u. All players must
wear an athletic supporter with cup, and a mouthpiece to be eligible to play. Foot gear:
Sneakers, turf shoes, and rubber cleats are acceptable, but you should check out the
corresponding facility, at which you’ll be playing, before making a determination. Face shields
may be worn but only clear zero tint visors, unless prescribed by a doctor. Eye black and face
paint is allowed as long as it’s not deemed inappropriate or offensive.
AGE RESTRICTIONS
-10u teams – no player may turn 11 years old prior to Aug 1 st ,2024.
-12u teams – no player may turn 13 years old prior to Aug. 1 st ,2024.
-14u teams – no player may turn 15 years old prior to March 4th, 2025.
If games are pushed back to a later date for any reason any player that turns 15 will be
ineligible to play in those games.
All teams must submit rosters prior to Jan. 1st and maintain 2 binders- 1 binder to be turned in
at the beginning of the season to the League the other must be present during all games and
can be called upon to verify players eligibility. Under the rules, players can play up, although
Bulldog Indoor Football League discourages this as children should be with other children their
own ages. Playing up will be at the discretion of the head coach .
WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS UNRESTRICTED WEIGHTS IN ALL DIVISIONS
PLAYERS AND FORMATIONS
Please note that the purpose and intention of the league rules
are to allow for fair play and increase the athlete’s understanding of the game. All High School
rules are in effect according to the National Federation rulebook with the following exceptions:
The BIFL applies to indoor football as detailed in the following sections. Bulldogs Indoor Youth
Football ( BIYF) reserves the right to modify, add or remove rules as they deem fit for the
improvement or safety of the League.
Starting of the Game
● Teams must have a minimum of 8 players available to start a game. All 8 players must
be able to actively participate for the duration of the game.
● Normal coin toss will be in effect with the receiving team obtaining the ball on their own 8
( approximate ) yard line for 10U and 12U and at the 15 yard line for 14U. Ball is always
spotted in the middle of the field regardless of where the tackle occurs after each play.
Coaching
● A maximum of Three (3) coaches are permitted on the sidelines as well as 1 additional
rostered adult whose responsibility is sideline supervisor, this person is responsible to
assure the safety of the sideline. An additional photographer per team will be allowed on
the sideline as well.
● Coaches must be identified on the team roster and no substitutes are allowed.
● No coaches are permitted on the field unless a timeout is called. Coaches must remain
inside of the 8 yard lines of the field in the designated coaches box. Boundaries will be
enforced with the use of shock collars on coaches used at the refs discretion.
● One (1) coach is permitted on the field for 10U teams.
Offense
● The offensive team shall consist of eight (8) players on the field. I minimum of 4 on the
line of scrimmage.
● Three down line offensive players must be on the line of scrimmage within the “box”
(free blocking zone and no more than 3 ft split) . These players are ineligible and must
contain a center and a down lineman on each side of the center.
● In addition to the 3 linemen above, there must be a 4 th eligible receiver on the line. This
player can be split or tight.
● All basic football rules apply to eligible receivers and covered ends.
● Only one player in motion pre-snap
● There is no forward offensive motion prior to snap.
● All leagues use High School Federation Rules and accordingly the backfields are not
subject to restriction concerning formation or motion other than the limitations imposed
by H.S. Federation rules.
● All backs are eligible receivers.
DEFENSE
● The defensive team shall consist of eight (8) players on the field.
● At the snap, only 4 defenders can rush. All rushing defenders must rush within the box.
When rushing the outside a rushing defender must make contact with the outer most
player lined up on the line of scrimmage within the box. (see attachment for clarification)
● The box is defined as 3 ft from the outside foot of each guard.
● DE’s inside shoulder must not be lined up beyond the outside shoulder of the outer most
player lined up on the line of scrimmage within the box.
● Once the ball is handed off or leaves the box all eligible defensive players are allowed to
rush
● The Defense may line up over the center.
35 POINT RULE
● At the start of the second half, or any time during the second half, if one team is ahead
by more than 35 points, the win will be assigned to the team ahead and the scoreboard
will be cleared. The game will be played to completion as a scrimmage.
● Turn overs , conversions and normal game play rules still apply , but no scores will be
added after the 35 point rule has been put into effect.
TIME LIMITS
● Two (2) twenty-minute halves of running time, with a three (3) minute break between
halves. The final minute of each half is normal football rules where the clock will stop for
out of bounds; incompletions etc. Games may be shortened as necessary by the
representative of the board to adhere to the time restrictions of the field rental.
● Each team has two (2) time outs per half. Timeouts are 30 seconds each.
● Time-outs are essentially clock stoppages. After 30 seconds a whistle will blow and the
clock will automatically start unless inside 1 minute.
● Any referee discussion or player injury that exceeds 30 seconds of play time will result in
the clock being stopped until the refs signal for the clock to start.
● The clock will only stop for defensive penalties within the final 1 minute of the half or
game or if a player becomes injured at any point during the game.
GENERAL LEAGUE RULES
● At the conclusion of all games, teams will shake hands and they must exit the field
immediately to accommodate the facility’s scheduling. Coaches may address their teams
in another section of the facility.
● Teams must be present no more than fifteen (15) minutes prior to the game.
● If a team elects to punt, the ball will be advanced 15 yards from the spot on 10U and
12U or 30 yards on 14U.
● On the 70 x 45 ,14U field if the ball makes contact with the wire divider the ball is
considered LIVE
● Horse collar, facemask and pass interference are 10 yard penalties. Personal fouls and
unsportsmanlike are 10 yards on 10U and 12U and automatic first down, These
penalties will be 15 yards on 14U and automatic first down. All other penalties are 5
yards.
● Any player with 2 unsportsmanlike penalties will result in expulsion from that game.
● All spectators must stay off the field.
● Home team must supply 3 volunteers for sideline duties (Down & Chains) These
volunteers may not coach or use phones or devices on the sideline.
● Chains will be on the Home side of the field which is designated as the side with the
scoreboard.
● Home team spectators shall be seated to the right of the game field and away teams
● spectators shall be seated to the left of the game field.
● Only clear face shields are allowed unless required for medical purposes with a doctors
note.
● “ War Paint “ Is allowed as long as not deemed offensive. Any colors are allowed.
FORFEITS
● A game will be declared a scrimmage by the league, if a team does not have at least 8
players, ready to play at the field location, at the scheduled time, at the discretion of the
league. In the case of a low player forfeit a Loss will be given to that team and a win to
the opposing team. Rules for the scrimmage will be determined by the coaches at the
discretion of the board.
● Any other forfeit or refusal of a team to play a scheduled game or scrimmage will be
charged a penalty at the cost of monies lost for that game. For 10U and 12U this penalty
will be $320 for 10U and 12U and $660 for 14U.
●
MOVING OF BALL AND SCORING
● Four (4) downs are allowed to advance the ball ten (10) yards for first down, or to score.
● Six (6) points are awarded for a touchdown. Two (2) points are awarded for a safety.
● After a safety the ball will be placed at mid field
● After a TD, the scoring team must elect to go for 1 (ball placed on the 3) or 2 (ball placed
on the 5). In the event of an interception, during the conversion, if the interception results
in a TD by the defense , the ( 1 or 2 ) points will be given to the defense respectively.
● There are currently no provisions for field goals in any of the indoor facilities.
● Passing rules follow High School Federation Rules, in which receivers must have one
foot in bounds.
PENALTIES
There will be a minimum of three(3) referees assigned per game. The referee’s judgment is
final. Penalty Structure
● Any player, coach or prospector can be removed from the game by a referee or League
Official.
● Any ejection of a player, or coach, will result in review by the league with a mandatory,
minimum one (1) game suspension, and can include forfeits and expulsion from the
League, without refund.
● All disciplinary actions are at the discretion of BIYF, without exception.
● All appeals and protests must be made in writing, no sooner than 24 hours and no later
than 48 hours, from the incident in question. Appeals should be submitted to
BulldogsIndoor@gmail.com. Appeals submitted to any individual board member will not
be applicable for consideration.
Bulldogs Indoor Youth Football League, via E-mail to BulldogsIndoor@gmail.com
Championship game
This is a single game elimination. The higher seed is the home team. In all divisions, the
placement/seeding will be determined by overall record. If the records are the same, the second
criteria will be the head to head record. If there is still a tie after the head-to-head games, the
third criteria will be the team with the least points scored against it.