YOUTH FOOTBALL OVERTIME PROCEDURE

• If the final score after regulation time is tied the National Federation “10-Yard” Overtime procedure shall be used two times with the exception that once an end of the field is selected at the start of the first overtime all play shall remain at that end of the field for all remaining overtime periods.
• If the final score after the second overtime period remains tied a third and final overtime shall be used as follows:
• A and B for the first possession shall be determined in accordance with the 10 yard overtime procedure as if this were a third overtime under that procedure
• Each team will be given a series of four (4) plays starting at B’s 40 yard line.
• The team which has gained the most yardage (or lost the least yardage) after the four plays shall be declared the winner.
• Rules of play in the third overtime shall proceed in accordance with the 10 Yard Overtime Procedure with the following exceptions
• The series of four plays is ended if A scores a touchdown on any of the four plays; in that case the yardage gained is 40 yards regardless of which down it was when the touchdown occurred.
• The series of four plays is ended if B gains possession during the down; in that case the yardage gained shall be to the spot where possession was lost by A (if possession is lost via fumble or a backward pass) or the previous spot (if possession is lost via an interception)
• The series of four plays is ended if B scores a safety on any of the four plays; in that case the yardage lost is 60 yards regardless of which down it was when the safety occurred.
• If a penalty occurs the offended team shall be given the option of accepting the play or the penalty yardage; the play shall count as one of the four plays in the series even if the penalty yardage is accepted
• If a penalty occurs that carries an automatic first down only the yardage provisions of the penalty enforcement will apply; the play shall count as one of the four plays in the series even if the penalty yardage is accepted.
• If a penalty occurs that carries a loss of down only the yardage provisions of the penalty enforcement will apply; the play shall count as one of the four plays in the series even if the penalty yardage is accepted
• No scrimmage kicks shall be attempted; any scrimmage kick shall be considered an illegal kick and penalized as such; the down shall be immediately ended when the scrimmage kick occurs
• The second team in the overtime series is required to run all four of its plays (unless a touchdown or safety occurs) with its yardage determined after the fourth play
• The officials shall use the down box to keep track of the spot of the ball and the number of plays; the officials shall “set the chains” after the first possession in the overtime in such a way that what would normally be the “line to gain” is the yardage to be gained for a victory. If at the end of the second series the yards gained by that team is close to that gained by the first team in the third overtime, the officials shall used the chains as if measuring for a first down to determine which team gained the most yardage.
• If both teams score touchdowns in the third overtime (resulting in a tie based on most yards gained), a fourth overtime will be played using the same guidelines as the third overtime session.  Overtime sessions (using the third overtime guidelines) will continue to be played until an outright winner has been established.

*. There are no kicks granted in the third overtime as per subsection vi.

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