Tournament Rules

Rules &
Standards

NCAA rules govern play at the Autumn Bowl. Eligibility, safety, and sportsmanship standards below apply to every team, coach, player, and spectator on site.

Sunday, November 1, 2026 Kirkwood Sportsplex

01 Player Eligibility

All players must compete in the division with the class they are in during the 2026–27 academic year unless a player has proof of enrollment in a “postgraduate” or “reclass” year for the upcoming fall.

Non-compliance

Club teams that do not comply with this rule will be disqualified from the tournament, and game scores will be recorded as a 10-0 loss on SportsEngine.

02 Rules & Operations

NCAA rules apply, including shot clocks
Four 11-minute quarters
30 seconds between quarters, 1 minute at halftime
Scorekeepers in charge of keeping game, penalty, and shot clock time
One 45-second timeout (dead ball or under restraining line) at any point in the game. Game clock will stop for timeout.
All games will be played until there is a winner; overtime will be untimed sudden death.

03 Penalties

Penalties will be served in the box (penalty timers / scorekeepers on each field).

04 Player Safety

All rules in effect will be to encourage hard physical play with player safety at the top of mind.

There is no justification for deliberate and violent collision by any player, especially intentional player-to-player collisions with defenseless players (so-called “blind side” and “buddy pass” checks), checks involving the head and/or neck, and excessive body-checks (“take-out checks”).

Officials will apply violent collision rules and utilize the most severe penalty option: game ejection, plus a 2-minute un-releasable penalty.

Ejection / Suspension

A player may or may not be allowed to return for the next game depending on severity of play. This will be a referee and tournament leadership decision. Exceptional intent or egregiousness could result in expulsion from the tournament.

Examples of ejection fouls / infractions

Any hit delivered above the shoulders with over 3 steps, with intent and in an uncontrolled manner
Any hit delivered with hands to a player’s head or neck, including follow-through
A player leading with the head or initiating contact with the head — including the ball carrier
Any hit delivered on a player in a vulnerable or defenseless position with over 2 steps

05 Sportsmanship

All players, coaches, staff, parents, spectators, and everyone in attendance should always be respectful.

Fighting is grounds for automatic suspension at the referee’s or tournament leadership’s discretion.

06 Quick Answers

The short version of the rules above, for coaches and parents on the sideline.

How long is a game?

Four 11-minute quarters, with 30 seconds between quarters and 1 minute at halftime. Scorekeepers manage game, penalty, and shot clock time.

What happens if a game is tied?

All games will be played until there is a winner. Overtime is untimed sudden death.

How many timeouts does each team get?

One 45-second timeout, called on a dead ball or under the restraining line, at any point in the game. The game clock stops for the timeout.

Which division does my player belong in?

The division matching the class your player is in during the 2026–27 academic year. The only exception is a documented postgraduate or reclass year for the upcoming fall. See Player Eligibility.

Are shot clocks in use?

Yes. NCAA rules apply, including shot clocks.

Rosters Set? Register.

Confirm every player is entered in the correct graduation-class division before you submit. Non-compliant teams are disqualified and scored as a 10-0 loss.