Arena Football Game Rules

Playing Surface & Equipment

• All of the Arena Football games are played on a shortened field; only 50 yards long compared to the NFL's 100-yard field. There is no out-of-bounds area, and the field is bordered by a 48-inch high rubber barricade that immediately separates the action on the field from the fans in the stands. In addition, all games are played on an indoor artificial turf surface to accommodate faster game play. The football used for play is the exact same size and weight as the NFL ball. In the Arena league, the field goal post is only 9 feet wide and is 15 feet off of the ground, compared to the standard NFL goalpost of 18 1/2 feet wide and 10 feet off of the ground.

Kicking

• The Arena game begins with a kickoff from the kicking team goal line. The receiving team then catches and advances the ball toward the goal line until they are downed by a member of the kicking team. Balls kicked into the net are still in play and can be recovered by any player on the field. Any ball that hits the net and then bounds out of play before being touched will be placed at the 20-yard line, or at the spot it went out of bounds if it is farther down field. There is no punting on fourth downs in the Arena league; teams must either go for a touchdown, a first down or attempt a field goal. If the offensive team fails to convert on the down attempt, the defensive team would then take over on offense.

Players and Pre-snap Formations

• There are only eight players for offense and defense. Each player in the Arena league plays both offense and defense, instead of one specific position. Four players on offense are required to line up as offensive lineman, while only three players play lineman on the defensive side of the ball. As opposed to the NFL, Arena receivers can line up behind the line of scrimmage and get a running start as they motion forward before the snap. However, if the receiver is past the line of scrimmage before the ball is snapped, a false start penalty will be called.

Scoring

• Each offense team gets four downs to advance the ball 10 yards. If the offense picks up at least 10 yards before their four downs are up, they receive a "first down" and get a new set of four to pick up another 10 yards. Play continues until the offense scores a touchdown by moving the ball past the goal line, a field goal is made through the uprights of the goalposts or the defensive team stops the offense from scoring. A touchdown is worth six points, and then the offense can add extra points by either kicking a place kick, which is worth one point, kicking a drop kick, which is worth two points or completing another offensive play past the goal line, which is also worth two points. If the offense does not score a touchdown, they can attempt a place kick, which is worth three points, or a drop kick, which is worth four points. The only other way to score in Arena Football is when the defensive team gets a "safety," which is when they tackle an offensive player with the ball in their own end zone; a safety is worth two points.

Timing and Overtime Rule

• An Arena Football game has four quarters that are 15 minutes each. After the second quarter is complete, there is a 15-minute break known as "halftime." The clock does not stop unless the referee stops it for an injury, penalty or timeout. Each team gets three timeouts per half. The clock stops in the last minute of each half (end of the second or fourth quarter) when the ball goes out of bounds or there is an incomplete pass. If the game is tied at the end of regulation, there is one 15-minute overtime quarter. Each team receives one offensive possession to attempt to score. After each team's offensive possession, if one team is ahead, the game is over; however, if the game is still tied, a sudden death system is put in place where the first team to score wins.