Arena Football League Field & Rules

AFL Field Small.jpg

Field

  • An indoor padded surface 85 feet wide and 50 yards long with eight-yard end zones.
  • Goal posts are nine feet wide with a crossbar height of 15 feet (NFL goal posts are 18.5 feet wide with the crossbar at 10 feet).
  • The goal-side rebound nets are 30 feet wide by 32 feet high. the bottoms of the nets are eight feet above the ground.
  • Sideline barriers are 48 inches high and made of high-density foam rubber.

Equipment

  • The official football is the same size and weight as the NFL ball. Each ball is manufactured by Spalding.

Players & Formations

  • Eight players on the field; 20-man active roster; four-man inactive roster.
  • Players may play offense and defense with the exception of the kicker and the quarterback.
  • Players may be substituted for at any time during the game.
  • Four offensive players must line up on the line of scrimmage.
  • Three defensive players must be down linemen (in a three- or four-point stance). One linebacker may blitz on either side of the center between the guards. Linebacker alignment is two or more yards off of the line of scrimmage. No stunting or twisting.
  • Offensive motion: One receiver may go in forward motion before the snap.

Timing

  • Four 15-minute quarters with a 15-minute halftime period.
  • The clock stops for out-of-bounds plays or incomplete passes only in the last minute of each half or when the referee deems it necessary for penalties, injuries or timeouts.
  • Each team is allotted three timeouts per half.

Overtime Rules

  • Overtime periods are 15 minutes during the regular season and the playoffs.
  • Each team gets one possession to score. If, after each team has had one possession, one team is ahead, that team wins. If the teams are tied after each has had a possession, the next team to score wins.

Movement of the Ball and Scoring

  • Four downs are allowed to advance the ball 10 yards for a first down or to score.
  • Six points for a touchdown.
  • One point for a conversion by place kick after a touchdown, two points for a conversion by drop kick or for a successful run or pass into the end zone after a touchdown.
  • Three points for a field goal by placement or four points for a field goal by drop kick.
  • Two points for a safety.

Kicking

  • Kickoffs are from the goal line. Kickers may use a one-inch tee.
  • Punting is illegal. On fourth down, a team may go for a first down, touchdown or field goal.
  • The receiving team may field any kickoff or missed field goal that rebounds off the net.
  • Any kickoff untouched which is out of bounds will be placed at the 20-yard line or the spot where it went out of bounds, depending on which is more advantageous to the receiving team.

Passing

  • Receivers must have at least one foot in bounds following a catch to receive credit for a completion.
  • A forward pass that rebounds off of the end zone net or the boards is a live ball and is in play until it touches the playing surface.
Johnson