Team
- - 7 players will constitute a team. The team roster, however, may have a maximum of 16 players and be made up of members from your unit. Names may be added prior to the third week of competition.
- - A team must have at least 5 players to begin a game. Failure to have 5 players there within 5 minutes after the scheduled start time may result in a forfeit. If enough players show up before the 10 minute after mark, a forfeit will not be called, however the team that was there on time is given 7 advantage points and possession of the ball. Each half is cut by 5 minutes as well. (note: a team can only take advantage of this one time)
- - Forfeiting a game will result in placing a team on "warning" status. A second forfeit will result in the team being removed from the league.
Uniforms and Equipment:
- - Molded cleats can be used. No metal cleats or spikes; no screw-in type of spikes of any kind will be allowed. Officials may deem any type of shoe or equipment dangerous at their discretion
- - No jewelry.
- - Shirts must be tucked in and remain tucked in.
- - No hard surface padding.
Starting the Game:
- - At the beginning of the game the referee shall toss a coin and one captain shall call the toss. The winner of the toss shall have the option of either 1) deferring or receiving the ball, or 2) choice of goal. At the start of the second half, goals automatically change.
- - The ball will be placed on the offense’s 14 yd line. There are no kickoffs to begin the game or after a team scores.
Field Dimensions
- - Field will be 80 yard long by 42 yards wide.
- - Field will be marked every 20 yards. A team has four downs to move the ball from one zone to the next.
Time
- - There will be two 20 minute halves with a 5 minute break at half-time.
- - The clock will be stopped for the last two minutes of the second half only. The last two minutes of the game will be stopped when:
- a first down occurs
- an incomplete forward pass occurs
- A ball carrier steps out of bounds
- - When official puts the ball in play offense has 25 seconds to huddle and snap the ball. Failure to do so is dead ball penalty.
- - Each team will be allowed two one minute time-outs per game that may be used any way they want.
Players/Formations
- - On offense, there must be at least 4 players on the line of scrimmage. A three point stance is allowed as long as the offensive player does not use the positioning as a way to "take out" a defensive player.
- - Only one offense player may be in motion parallel to the line of scrimmage before the ball is snapped.
- - The "sleeper" play is illegal. All men must come out of the huddle.
Motion
- - Only one member of the offensive may be in motion. All others must be set.
Offense
- - A team has four downs to cross the next first down line.
- - The ball carrier is declared down at the point of the ball at the time the flag is taken. Ball carrier is also declared down when his knee touches the ground.
- - If a player's flag is off when he gains possession of the ball the one hand touch rule is in effect. However, if the opposing team deliberately removes the flag before the player has the ball a foul will be called.
- - It is illegal for the ball carrier to deliberately shield or guard his/her flags. Flag guarding will be called and is a 10- yard penalty from the point of infraction.
- - A charging call will be called if the ball carrier does not try to evade the "tackler" or lowers his shoulder into the defense.
- - Offense team may not use their hands in blocking nor can they lead with forearms. Hands must be at chest.
- - The ball is ruled dead when and where it hits the ground in any situation.
- - The snap must be passed through the center's legs.
- - Direct snaps are illegal. Player must be at least 2 yards behind offensive scrimmage line.
- - Receiver must have at least one foot in bounds when catching the ball. If the receiver catches the ball while suspended in the air over in-bounds territory and is pushed out-of-bounds by a defensive player before hitting the ground, the pass will be complete.
Blocking:
- - Flag football is a game of skill and tact. It is not a game of power where rough tactics are used. Roughness will not be tolerated. It is not the purpose of a blocker to run over, knock down, or in any way batter an opponent. Elbows may not be used in blocking. Hands cannot be used in any way. It is the purpose of the block to stay between a defender and the ball.
- - The offensive screen block should take place without contact. Hands and arms need to be at the side or behind the back.
- - A player who screens should not take a position closer than a normal step behind a stationary opponent or take a position so close to a moving opponent that they cannot avoid contact.
- - The point of the screen block is to "interfere" (with no contact) for a teammate. However, interlocking or grasping with another teammate is illegal.
- - Defense must go around offensive player’s screen block. The arms and hands may not be used as a wedge to contact the opponent.
Defense
- - Defensive player must "play the flag." If a player is deliberately pushed out of bounds, tackled, held, or knocked down a penalty will be called and yards will be added to the end of the play.
- - Defense must evade blockers. Pushing or running over blockers is considered unnecessary roughness and will be penalized.
- - Face guarding is pass interference.
- - A player may not leave his or her feet while blocking.
- - Interceptions may be returned.
- - Defensive player may recover a fumble provided it has not touched the ground.
Punts
- - All punts must be announced; failure to announce punt or no punt at the request of the official will result in a delay of game penalty that is enforced.
- - Players may not pass the line of scrimmage in either direction before the ball is punted.
- - Ball is dead where it hits the ground. If it lands out of the endzone it will be placed on the 14 yd line.
Scoring
- - Touchdown = 6 points
- - PAT- 1 point from 3 yds. 2 points from 10 yds. 3 points from 20 yds.(If the ball is intercepted on an extra point it may be returned for two points).
- - Safety- 2 points
Penalties
- - 5-yard penalties- Offsides, illegal procedure, delay of game, too many players on the field, encroachment, intentional grounding, face-guarding
- - 10-yard penalties- offensive holding, defensive holding, illegal blocking, illegal forward pass, pass interference, unsportsmanlike conduct, flag guarding, illegal flag belt removal
- - 15-yard penalties at point of infraction- stiff arming, lowering of shoulder, clipping, and unnecessary roughness.
Overtime Procedure
- - Flip coin for possession
- - Captain may choose which direction they want to go.
- - Ball is placed on the 10-yard line. Each team has four downs to score, plus PAT.
- - Both teams will have the opportunity to score. This will be repeated until a winner is decided.
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