NEFL Modified rules, game policies and information
June 2025
All games in the NEFL are played under NCAA rules with the following exceptions. In the
event that a head coach wishes to challenge the enforcement of a specific modified rule on
this list, the procedure is outlined in rule (29) CHALLENGE FLAG.
(1) DOWN BY CONTACT If a ball carrier is not down by contact, he can get up and
continue to advance the ball. He must be touched by a defensive player.
(2) BLOCKING No down field blocking below the waist - only in legal clipping area (three
yards to either side of the line of scrimmage).
(3) HORSE-COLLAR TACKLING A defender cannot tackle a ball carrier by putting his hand
or hands inside the back of the jersey collar and/or shoulder pad collar of the ball carrier,
outside of the legal clipping area (three yards to either side of the line of scrimmage).
(4) EXTRA POINTS AND FIELD GOALS A kicking tee may be used on all extra points and
field goals.
(5) OFFICIAL TIME Games consist of fifteen minute quarters. On a pass play, if the clock
has been stopped according to rule, the clock will again start when the ball is declared ready
for play. On a running play, if the ball goes out of bounds, the clock will also start on the
ready for play. On a change of possession, the clock will start on the snap. Games should
run about two and a half hours. The last five minutes of each half should be regulation time
with a two minute warning given to each team at the end of each half.
(6) TIMEOUTS Teams may use three timeouts per half. No more than two coaches from
each team may go onto the field during a timeout. Coaches on the field during a timeout may
only address their team.
(7) KICKOFFS Kickoffs will be from the 35-yard line. No re-kicks on kickoffs. If ball goes out
of bounds or if There is an off sides or other penalty, the game official will spot the ball
accordingly and the Receiving team will start play from that spot or at the 35-yard line. If a fair
catch is called on a kickoff, the receiving team will start play from the spot of the fair catch.
(8) PUNTS A player must be allowed three yards to field a punt and the team punting the
ball may only release the two split ends before the ball is punted.
(9) LONG SNAP RULE The defense cannot position a defender “head-up” on the long
snapper. Center/guard gap or outside only.
(10) PASS INTERFERENCE/CONTACT ON RECEIVER If the opposing player is head up (in front of you), you can
bump him one time within the first five yards of the line of scrimmage, but once the player is
parallel to you or breaks away, he cannot be touched.
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(11) IN THE GRASP RULE The game official will blow the whistle and stop the play when
the quarterback is considered no longer mobile.
(12) OVERTIME At the end of four quarters, if a game is tied, after a five minute
intermission, another fifteen minutes of official time will be added by the game officials on the
field. The first team to score in this “sudden-death” period, will win the game. Regular season
will consist of one overtime period only. If the game is still tied at the end of that period, it is
considered a tie game.
Playoff overtime will consist of one “sudden-death” period only. If any
playoff game remains tied after the one “sudden-death” period, after a five minute
intermission play will resume using the NCAA Tie-breaking system (see NCAA Rules).
(13) FORFEITS Each team must have at least twenty-two players dressed five minutes
before kickoff. If a team does not have twenty-two dressed players five minutes before
kickoff, they may be allowed to play providing the opposing team and game officials agree
that at any point during the course of the game, if said team cannot continue the game
because they are unable to send eleven dressed players onto the field due to injury or
ejection, the game will be stopped by the game officials and said team will be issued a forfeit.
(14) EJECTIONS
Any player or coach in the NEFL involved in a fight will be suspended for
the remainder of that game and may be suspended for an additional game or games at the
discretion of the game officials and NEFL Board of Directors.
Any player, coach or authorized team personnel leaving the bench area during a fight on the
field or in any designated seating area will be suspended for three games.
Any player receiving three personal fouls in one game will be automatically ejected from that
game.
Any player or coach verbally abusive a game official will automatically be ejected.
Any player or coach physically abusive to a game official will be suspended from the league for life.
Any player penalized by a game official for intentionally trying to injure another player will be
suspended from the league for one full year.
Any player or coach ejected from three games in one season will be automatically
suspended for the remainder of that season.
Any player or coach that uses any racial, ethnic or discriminatory slurs towards another
player, coach or game official will be automatically ejected from that game.
Any player or coach verbally abusive to a game official will automatically be ejected from that
Any player or coach physically abusive to a game official will be suspended from the league
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(15) NUMBERING
- All non eligible offensive positions must wear jersey numbers 50 - 79.
- Players who have both offensive and defensive positions must wear a jersey number
indicative of their offensive position. - #0 or #00 may be used, but are considered eligible
position numbers when used on offense
- Numbers must be visible on the front, back and either the shoulders or sleeves of the
jersey.
- One exception (max.) is allowed at any time. Teams may use an eligible player in an
ineligible position or use and ineligible numbered player in an eligible position. (An
ineligible numbered player can play in the backfield without being an exception, can carry
the ball, but cannot receive a pass) teams must announce the intention of using an
exception to the referee each time a player who is an exception to the numbering rule
enters the game. The referee will announce it to the defensive team. Teams may change
what player is an exception, but must announce the # and position to the referee.
− A player failing to report as an exception will result in a 5 yd penalty and loss of down.
− Head coach may be assessed a 15 yard Unsportsmanlike Conduct for a player who
deceptively violates the exception to the numbering rule. (ex. A player wearing #98
who is an exception in the tackle position is used as a receiver)
(16) PAYMENT TO GAME OFFICIALS Each team will be required to pay the crew chief
$300.00 before the game. Game fee is in cash only. No checks accepted! The crew chief
will then pay each crew member. All NEFL games will be worked using five man crews at
$120.00 per official. (Fee does not include additional travel expenses for certain teams in
certain areas. This additional expense will be the responsibility of the host team.)
(17) ESCORTS FOR GAME OFFICIALS Home team will be required to provide at least
two players to escort the officials off the field after the game when requested by the
officials.
(18) MANDATORY EQUIPMENT Referees will have each head coach certify that each
player is wearing mandatory league equipment. The mandatory league equipment consists of
a helmet with a facemask and chinstrap, shoulder pads, thigh pads, knee pads and either
rubber or plastic cleats only . It is the responsibility of the head coaches to certify that all his
players are wearing mandatory league equipment as mandated by the NEFL
(19) CERTIFIED EMT The home team head coach must verify and identify the certified EMT.
That is present and will be working the game. The game cannot start and will not start without
proper medical personnel present.
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(20) DRESSED PLAYERS Before each game, the referee and umpire will count the number
of players each team has dressed for the game. NEFL rules allow for a maximum of sixty-five
players dressed (AAA-Colonial Conference) and (AA-North Atlantic
Conference), forty-five players dressed (A-Maritime Conference). A delay penalty (fifteen
yards) will be assessed on the opening kickoff and the league office will be notified if a team
in violation must have players undress to get down to the mandatory maximum limit. Any
player in full uniform on sideline will be considered an active participant even if he did not play
in the game.
(21) TRAVEL SURCHARGE FEE FOR GAME OFFICIALS Home team may be responsible
for an additional travel surcharge fee for game officials in certain areas of New England, New
York and New Jersey where there is not currently a local NEFL area assignor.
(22) GAME ASSIGNMENTS All officials working NEFL games are coordinated out of the
NEFL director of officials’ office, in accordance with the NEFL office. NEFL teams that
desire to use game officials from their own area to avoid the travel surcharge fee must
supply director of officials, Bob Oreal, with a contact person in their area who will be
responsible for acquiring officials. The contact person must supply the director of officials
with a complete resume of his assigning experience. Initial contact will be done via email:
Boboreal23@gmail.com . It is preferred that officials working NEFL games have college
officiating experience. However, officials with top high school schedules or prior experience at
the semi- pro level may be used. NEFL teams using officials from their own area will pay the
standard NEFL fee of $120.00 per game official. However, should officials from an outside
area need to be sent in to work a game, a travel surcharge fee will be added depending on
the amount of travel. All officials working NEFL games must be willing to travel.
Circumstances do arise necessitating that crews travel to another area. Should this be
necessary, officials will be compensated via the travel surcharge fee for their additional
efforts. NEFL teams using officials from their own area must have all members of the
officiating crew view the NEFL game rules video by director of officials, Bob Oreal, which
gives a description and explanation of NEFL rules and regulations.
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(23) GAME CLOCK (SCOREBOARD) The field or stadium scoreboard will be allowed to
operate at the discretion of the game officials, providing they feel that the clock operator is
qualified to do so. If at their discretion there is no one adequately qualified, the game clock
(scoreboard) will be shut off and official time will only be kept on the field. Home teams
wishing to use an official game clock “scoreboard” operator will pay a mandatory $75.00 fee.
(24) GOALPOSTS Goalposts can be high school or college width.
(25) CELL PHONES No cell phones will be used by anyone except the certified EMT and
game officials on or around the field of play during an NEFL game. This includes, but is not
limited to, players, coaches, trainers or any other team personnel, as well as chain crews or
any other authorized field personnel. If the game officials see a cell phone in use by any
unauthorized personnel on a team’s sideline, one warning to discontinue use will be given to
said team. If said team is found in violation a second time, the game will be stopped and a
delay of game penalty will be issued to said team, and said person(s) may be removed from
the sideline at the game officials’ discretion.
(26) AUTHORIZED FIELD/SIDELINE PASSES The NEFL will issue twelve authorized
field/sideline passes to each team. These passes will be used for coaches, trainers,
sponsors, or any other person(s) at said team’s discretion. Any individual not possessing an
authorized field/sideline pass will not be allowed on said team’s sideline. If the game officials
see an unauthorized person(s) on a team’s sideline, one warning will be given to remove said
person(s) from the sideline. If said team is found in violation a second time, the game will be
stopped and a delay of game penalty will be issued to said team, and the game will not
continue until said person(s) are removed from the sideline.
(27) PRESS BOX If stadium or field has a press box that the home team has access to for its
coaches, the home team must also make it accessible to coaches from the visiting team as
well, or disciplinary action will be taken by the officers of the NEFL including fine, probation
and/or forfeit if access is denied to the visiting team and game officials will not allow coaches
of home team access to the press box.
(28) HOME/AWAY JERSEYS The home team shall wear dark color jerseys and the
visiting team light color jerseys with the following exceptions:
a) Home team may choose to wear light color jerseys while visiting team would wear dark
color jerseys, by notifying the opposing team, league office, and competition committee
director via email at least 2 weeks prior to a regular season game, or by 12pm on the
Monday prior to a postseason game.
b) The NEFL Board of Directors may at its discretion authorize an exception with ample
notice.
c) Failure to comply will result in a 15 yard penalty at the start of the game and a $200 fine,
payable before the next game.
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(29) CHALLENGE FLAG In the event a head coach wishes to challenge the enforcement of a
modified rule, the following applies. Each coach must have a red challenge flag/beanbag on
his person. Team will have 1 challenge per half. Should the coach wish to challenge
enforcement of a modified rule, he throws the flag near the sideline official before the next
snap. The official upon seeing the flag will immediately stop play and notify the referee that a
rule has been challenged. Referee will then discuss the challenge with the head coach.
− Should the challenge be upheld, the correct ruling will be enforced. Game will then proceed at
the point of interruption. Coach will retain his challenge.
− Should the challenge be turned down, the head coach will be charged with a time out and
have no remaining challenges for that half.
(30) TINTED VISORS All Players have signed waivers that include the player assuming any
liability related to the use of non-clear visors. Players may wear them with the understanding
that Game Officials may remove any player wearing a visor for medical evaluation at any time
until cleared by the EMT.
(31) AERIAL DRONES Aerial drones are not permitted above or around the field of play due to safety, liability, and other concerns.
