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Hampshire Jr Whip-Purs Football & Cheer

Rules of the Game


Navigating rules can be complex at times. Chicagoland Pop Warner implements distinct league-wide regulations that differ from IHSA, NCAA, NFL or even other rival leagues in the area. Below is a quick reference chart with some age-specific guidelines to assist you on game day. 

You may also reference the unabridged rule book here.

Quick Reference Guide:



MPR Game Clock On Field Stances Blitzing Fumbles
6U 12 plays 22 min half, NO OT Two 2 point stance only Not Allowed Dead ball behind LOS, live ball beyond
7U 8 min qtr, one OT
8U 10 min qtr
One OT
One Live ball
9U
10U 10 plays None No restrictions
11U
12U No restrictions
13U

6U

Players:  8 players
MPR:  Based on roster size and AT that specific game:  12 plays (roster 16-25), 10 plays (26-30), 8 plays (31-35)
Ball Size:  Wilson K2, Nike Peewee, Spalding Rookie, Rawlings R2CFB-PW-B
Scoring:  No scores kept at 6U.
Game Clock:  Two 22-min halves, 10-min halftime, running clock.  No OT for 6U (no scores kept).
Play Clock:  Max 1 min between plays (enforced at ref's discretion)
Stoppages:  Coach time outs (2 per half), injury and official time outs and change of possession (1 min)
Coaches:  Two (2) coaches on the field with the team, must remain 10 yards from the line of scrimmage at start of play. 
Fumbles:  Ball is blown dead if fumbled behind line of scrimmage.  Ball is live if fumbled beyond line of scrimmage.
Special Teams:  No PATs, no punting, no kickoffs.  Ball will be placed at opponent 35.
Punting: No punts, on 4th down offense has the choice to either go for a 1st down or to move the ball to the opponents 35 and change possession.
Stances:  All players must be in a standing 2-pt stance with hands on or above the knees (no hands on the ground).
Offensive Formation:  Must run a 5-3 with all linemen in the tackle box.  All backs must be behind line of scrimmage.  Only backs and ends are eligible pass catchers and the QB cannot catch his own pass.  Direct running IS ALLOWED in 8-man football.
Defensive Formation:  Must run a 4-3-1 with no player lined up over center.  Linebackers must be 3 yards off of L.O.S. and defensive backs must be 5 yards off of L.O.S.
Blitzing:  NO Blitzing!  A blitz is defined as any player not on the line who immediately upon the snap of the ball makes a forward rush towards the L.O.S.
Penalties:  Minor penalties 5 yards, Major penalties, 10 yards.  Lining up over the center and blitzing, 1st violation is a warning, subsequent violations are 10 yard penalties.  Two-point stance violation is a dead ball, 5 yard penalty enforced from the previous spot

7U


Players:  11 players
MPR:  Based on roster size and AT that specific game: 12 plays (roster 16-25), 10 plays (26-30), 8 plays (31-35)
Ball Size:  Wilson K2, Nike Peewee, Spalding Rookie, Rawlings R2CFB-PW-B
Scoring:  Scores will be kept at 7U.
Game Clock:  Four 8-min quarter, 10-min halftime, modified clock.  Only one (1) OT in reg season.
Play Clock:  Max 1 min between plays (enforced at ref's discretion)
Scoring:  Same scoring as all other levels.  There will be an extra point attempt after all touchdowns (to reduce the number of ties).
Stoppages:  Coach time outs (2 per half), injury and official time outs and change of possession (1 min)
Coaches:  Two (2) coaches on the field with the team, must remain 10 yards from the line of scrimmage at start of play. 
Fumbles:  Ball is blown dead if fumbled behind line of scrimmage.  Ball is live if fumbled beyond line of scrimmage.
Special Teams:  No punting, no kickoffs.  Ball will always be placed at opponent 35.
Punting: No punts, on 4th down offense has the choice to either go for a 1st down or to move the ball to the opponents 35 and change possession.
Stances:  All players must be in a standing 2-pt stance with hands on or above the knees (no hands on the ground).
Offensive Formation:  All offensive backs must be behind the line in some kind of formation.  However, one (1) back may split out no more than 5 yards outside of the TE.
Defensive Formation:  Must run a 6-4-1 defensive set with linemen 1 yard off the L.O.S. and no player lined up over center.  Linebackers must be 3 yards off of L.O.Scorner backs must be 5 yards off the L.O.S. and safeties must be 7 yards off of L.O.S.
Blitzing:  NO Blitzing!  A blitz is defined as any player not on the line who immediately upon the snap of the ball makes a forward rush towards the L.O.S.
Penalties:  Minor penalties 5 yards, Major penalties, 10 yards.  Lining up over the center and blitzing, 1st violation is a warning, subsequent violations are 10 yard penalties.  Two-point stance violation is a dead ball, 5 yard penalty enforced from the previous spot

8U & 9U


MPR:  Based on roster size and AT that specific game:  12 plays (16-25), 10 plays (26-30), 8 plays (31-35)
Ball Size:  Wilson K2, Nike Peewee, Spalding Rookie, Rawlings R2CFB-PW-B
Game Clock:  Four, 10-min quarters, 10-min halftime, Modified Clock. Only one (1) OT in reg season.
Play Clock:  45-seconds (enforced at ref's discretion as needed)
Stoppages:  PATs, between quarters, coach time outs (3 per half), injury time outs, official time outs and change of possession (1 min)
Coaches:  One (1) coach on the field with the team, must remain 10 yards from the line of scrimmage at start of play.  Must remain silent after teams break huddle and until play is blown dead.
Special Teams:  No rush on punts, FGs or PATs (kicking).  No kickoffs, ball will be placed on opponent's 35 after a TD, FG or Safety.
Punting:  No More Magic Punts!  Punts must be declared and there is no rush on punts and no gunners on punts (leaving at the snap), all players must remain in place until the ball has been punted.  The rest of the punt play is a normal play (can be returned).
Stances:  All players must be in a standing 2-pt stance with hands on or above the knees (no hands on the ground).
Defensive Formation:  No more than 6 defensive linemen on the L.O.S. or rushing the ball and no player lined up over center.  Linebackers must be 3 yards off of L.O.S.corner backs must be 5 yards off of L.O.S, and safeties must be 7 yards off the L.O.S.
Blitzing:  NO Blitzing!  A blitz is defined as any player not on the line who immediately upon the snap of the ball makes a forward rush towards the L.O.S.
Penalties:  Lining up over the center and blitzing, 1st violation is a warning, subsequent violations are 15 yard penalties.  Two-point stance violation is a dead ball, 5 yard penalty enforced from the previous spot.

10U & 11U


MPR:  Based on roster size and AT that specific game:  10 plays (16-25), 8 plays (26-30), 6 plays (31-35)
Ball Size:  Wilson TDJ, Nike Junior, Spalding Junior, Rawlings R2CFB-J-B
Game Clock:  Four, 10-min quarters, 10-min halftime, Modified Clock.  Only one (1) OT during regular season.
Special Teams:  No kickoffs, ball will be placed on opponent's 35 after a TD, FG or Safety.  There is nothing special about the punts or PATs, they are normal football plays.
Stances:  All players must be in a standing 2-pt stance with hands on or above the knees (no hands on the ground).  Offensive linemen are deemed to be in a legal stance when their hands are placed motionless on their thigh pads.  They are "set" when they place their hands on their legs and/or when the QB has begun his cadence.  Offensive linemen who are "set" as defined above, may move a hand to point or turn their head to indicate assignments.
Penalties:   Two-point stance violation is a dead ball, 5 yard penalty enforced from the previous spot

12U & 13U


MPR:  Based on roster size and AT that specific game:  10 plays (16-25), 8 plays (26-30), 6 plays (31-35)
Ball Size:  Wilson TDY, Nike Youth, Spalding Youth, Rawlings R2CFB-Y-B
Game Clock:  Four, 10-min quarters, 10-min halftime, Modified Clock.  Only one (1) OT during regular season.
Special Teams:  Kickoffs, punts, PATs as normal football plays.