FLAG FOOTBALL SECTION
2018 SCHEDULE COMING SOON
FLAG FOOTBALL RULES
THE BASICS
Field 40 yards long plus end zones.
Home Team will have first possession.
The offensive team takes possession of the ball at the 40 yard line. Every ten yards is a first down, if the offense fails to get a first down (or score) after the fourth down it is a turn over and the opposing team takes possession on the 40 yard line.
PLAYERS
Players on one side of the field and spectators on the opposite side. Teams must have seven players on the field (five min. to start). A minimum of three players on the line. Defense line starts one yard back from line of scrimmage. Lineman are not eligible to catch passes.
EQUIPMENT NOT ALLOWED ON THE FIELD
Headgear containing any hard, unyielding, stiff material, including billed hats, or items containing exposed knots. Any jewelry, gum, or any candy. Pads or braces above the waist. Shoes with metal, ceramic, screw-in, or detachable cleats. Shirts or jerseys that do not remain tucked in. Pants or shorts with belts or exposed draw string. Exposed metal on clothes or person.
LENGTH OF GAME
Playing time shall be 40 minutes, separated into four ten minute quarters with a running clock. There will be a 1 minute break in between quarters. Half time shall be five minutes in length. If weather threatens the game quarters could be shortened (determined by the referee).
SCORING
Touchdown: 6 points
Safety: 2 points
No field goals or extra points
BACKWARD PASSES AND INTERCEPTIONS
Any ball that is fumbled during a down will be a dead ball by rule once it touches the ground. A backward pass or fumble may be caught or intercepted by any player inbounds. A player may not intentionally throw a backward pass out of bounds to conserve time or to avoid being downed!
FORWARD PASSES AND INTERCEPTIONS
If a player is in the air attempting to catch a ball, the player must contact the ground with at least one foot in-bounds with the ball in their possession prior to going out of bounds, unless contact by an opponent causes the player to first touch out-of-bounds. If the possession of the ball is lost simultaneously when they hit the ground, it is not a catch. If a forward pass is caught simultaneously by members of opposing team, the ball is dead and belongs to the team that snapped the ball!
PASS INTERFERENCE
Any contact that, in the view of the official, interferes with the attempt to catch a pass (offensive or defensive player) is pass interference unless, in the view of the official, it occurs when two or more eligible receivers make a simultaneous and bona fide attempt to reach, catch, or bat pass. It is also pass interference is an eligible receiver is deflagged or touched prior to touching the football on a pass thrown beyond the offensive line of scrimmage. If the pass interference by the defense is intentional and/or unsportsmanlike, the defense may be penalized an additional 10 yards.
RUNNING
The quarterback is allowed to run the ball. Offense may use multiple hand-offs. No stiff arming is allowed. The player who takes the hand off can throw the ball from behind the line of scrimmage. Spinning is allowed, but player cannot leave their feet to avoid a defensive player (no diving). The ball is spotted where the ball carrier’s feet are when the flag is pulled, not where the ball is.
BLOCKING
A legal block shall be a player who defends off an opponent by clasping both hands behind his/her back at waist level or by grabbing the front of their jersey, near the numbers with elbows extending out.
DEAD BALLS
The ball must be snapped between the legs, not off to one side, to start play. Substitutions may be made on any dead ball.
Play is ruled dead when:
A: Ball carrier’s flag is pulled
B: Ball carrier steps out of bounds
C: Touchdown or safety is scored
D: At the point of an interception (interception returns are not allowed)
E: Ball carrier’s knee hits the ground
F: Ball carrier’s flag falls off
NOTE:
There are no fumbles. The ball is spotted where the ball hits the ground.
RUSHING THE QUARTERBACK
Any defensive lineman must be one yard off the line of scrimmage. As the ball is snapped, any defensive player may rush across the line of scrimmage toward the ball.
SAFETY
If the defending team pulls a flag from the offensive team behind the 40 yard line, the defensive team will receive 2 points. If a team commits a foul in the end zone where the spot of enforcement is designated as the spot of the foul, it will be declared a safety. A team recording a safety will receive two points, and the ball for a new series of downs at the 40 yard line, unless moved by penalty.
PENALTIES
All penalties will be called by the referee!
Defense:
A: Off sides - 5 yards
B: Interference - 5 yards
C: Illegal contact - (holding, blocking, etc.) 5 yards
D: Illegal flag pull - (before receiver has the ball) 5 yards
E: Illegal rushing - 5 yards
Flag must be clearly taken from the ball carrier. The defensive player may not hold the ball carrier while attempting to take the flag.
Offense:
A: Illegal motion - (more than one person moving, false start, etc.) 5 yards and loss of
down.
B: Illegal forward pass - (pass thrown beyond line of scrimmage) 5 yards and loss of
down.
C: Offensive pass interference - (illegal pick play, pushing off/away defender) 5 yards
and loss of down.
D: Any attempt by the ball carrier to knock the hands of a defensive player away from
the flag is not allowed - 5 yards and loss of a down.
E: Flag guarding - 5 yards (from line of scrimmage) and loss of down!
PERSONAL FOULS
Any act listed below or any other act of unnecessary roughness is a personal foul and will carry a 10 yard penalty. (If same penalty keeps occurring by same player the referee will sit the player out for the rest of the game.)
-Punch, strike, steal, or attempt to steal the ball from a player in possession
-Trip an opponent
-Contact an opponent who is on the ground
-Throw the runner to the ground
-Hurdle another player
-Contact an opponent either before or after the ball is declared dead
-Make any contact with any opponent that is deemed unnecessary
-Deliberately drive or run into defensive player
-Clip an opponent
-Tackle an opponent (warrants ejection!!)
-Position themselves on the shoulder of a teammate or opponent to gain an advantage.
FLAG PLACEMENT
All Flags must be placed at each player’s hip
PERSONAL SAFETY
The most important thing is for us all to be safe and these rules are put in place for that reason!
All players should have shirts tucked in, shoes tied, mouth pieces in and flags on there sides.
TEAM SELECTION
Teams must be selected by a formal draft managed by league manager. It is up to the league manager/league board to administer the draft and the drafting procedures. The drafting procedures should ensure that all teams are split evenly and provides each team a fair opportunity for competition. Meaning, don not stack a team please!
BORROWED PLAYER
In the case a team is short players, meaning less than 9 that team may borrow a player or player(s) so that there are 9 total players. No player may be borrowed more than once throughout the same season. The Head Coach must inform the league director/administrator when a borrowed player(s) rule is in effect. The league rep/administrator shall keep track of borrowed players. No borrowed player shall play more minutes than a regular team member.
THE BASICS
Field 40 yards long plus end zones.
Home Team will have first possession.
The offensive team takes possession of the ball at the 40 yard line. Every ten yards is a first down, if the offense fails to get a first down (or score) after the fourth down it is a turn over and the opposing team takes possession on the 40 yard line.
PLAYERS
Players on one side of the field and spectators on the opposite side. Teams must have seven players on the field (five min. to start). A minimum of three players on the line. Defense line starts one yard back from line of scrimmage. Lineman are not eligible to catch passes.
EQUIPMENT NOT ALLOWED ON THE FIELD
Headgear containing any hard, unyielding, stiff material, including billed hats, or items containing exposed knots. Any jewelry, gum, or any candy. Pads or braces above the waist. Shoes with metal, ceramic, screw-in, or detachable cleats. Shirts or jerseys that do not remain tucked in. Pants or shorts with belts or exposed draw string. Exposed metal on clothes or person.
LENGTH OF GAME
Playing time shall be 40 minutes, separated into four ten minute quarters with a running clock. There will be a 1 minute break in between quarters. Half time shall be five minutes in length. If weather threatens the game quarters could be shortened (determined by the referee).
SCORING
Touchdown: 6 points
Safety: 2 points
No field goals or extra points
BACKWARD PASSES AND INTERCEPTIONS
Any ball that is fumbled during a down will be a dead ball by rule once it touches the ground. A backward pass or fumble may be caught or intercepted by any player inbounds. A player may not intentionally throw a backward pass out of bounds to conserve time or to avoid being downed!
FORWARD PASSES AND INTERCEPTIONS
If a player is in the air attempting to catch a ball, the player must contact the ground with at least one foot in-bounds with the ball in their possession prior to going out of bounds, unless contact by an opponent causes the player to first touch out-of-bounds. If the possession of the ball is lost simultaneously when they hit the ground, it is not a catch. If a forward pass is caught simultaneously by members of opposing team, the ball is dead and belongs to the team that snapped the ball!
PASS INTERFERENCE
Any contact that, in the view of the official, interferes with the attempt to catch a pass (offensive or defensive player) is pass interference unless, in the view of the official, it occurs when two or more eligible receivers make a simultaneous and bona fide attempt to reach, catch, or bat pass. It is also pass interference is an eligible receiver is deflagged or touched prior to touching the football on a pass thrown beyond the offensive line of scrimmage. If the pass interference by the defense is intentional and/or unsportsmanlike, the defense may be penalized an additional 10 yards.
RUNNING
The quarterback is allowed to run the ball. Offense may use multiple hand-offs. No stiff arming is allowed. The player who takes the hand off can throw the ball from behind the line of scrimmage. Spinning is allowed, but player cannot leave their feet to avoid a defensive player (no diving). The ball is spotted where the ball carrier’s feet are when the flag is pulled, not where the ball is.
BLOCKING
A legal block shall be a player who defends off an opponent by clasping both hands behind his/her back at waist level or by grabbing the front of their jersey, near the numbers with elbows extending out.
DEAD BALLS
The ball must be snapped between the legs, not off to one side, to start play. Substitutions may be made on any dead ball.
Play is ruled dead when:
A: Ball carrier’s flag is pulled
B: Ball carrier steps out of bounds
C: Touchdown or safety is scored
D: At the point of an interception (interception returns are not allowed)
E: Ball carrier’s knee hits the ground
F: Ball carrier’s flag falls off
NOTE:
There are no fumbles. The ball is spotted where the ball hits the ground.
RUSHING THE QUARTERBACK
Any defensive lineman must be one yard off the line of scrimmage. As the ball is snapped, any defensive player may rush across the line of scrimmage toward the ball.
SAFETY
If the defending team pulls a flag from the offensive team behind the 40 yard line, the defensive team will receive 2 points. If a team commits a foul in the end zone where the spot of enforcement is designated as the spot of the foul, it will be declared a safety. A team recording a safety will receive two points, and the ball for a new series of downs at the 40 yard line, unless moved by penalty.
PENALTIES
All penalties will be called by the referee!
Defense:
A: Off sides - 5 yards
B: Interference - 5 yards
C: Illegal contact - (holding, blocking, etc.) 5 yards
D: Illegal flag pull - (before receiver has the ball) 5 yards
E: Illegal rushing - 5 yards
Flag must be clearly taken from the ball carrier. The defensive player may not hold the ball carrier while attempting to take the flag.
Offense:
A: Illegal motion - (more than one person moving, false start, etc.) 5 yards and loss of
down.
B: Illegal forward pass - (pass thrown beyond line of scrimmage) 5 yards and loss of
down.
C: Offensive pass interference - (illegal pick play, pushing off/away defender) 5 yards
and loss of down.
D: Any attempt by the ball carrier to knock the hands of a defensive player away from
the flag is not allowed - 5 yards and loss of a down.
E: Flag guarding - 5 yards (from line of scrimmage) and loss of down!
PERSONAL FOULS
Any act listed below or any other act of unnecessary roughness is a personal foul and will carry a 10 yard penalty. (If same penalty keeps occurring by same player the referee will sit the player out for the rest of the game.)
-Punch, strike, steal, or attempt to steal the ball from a player in possession
-Trip an opponent
-Contact an opponent who is on the ground
-Throw the runner to the ground
-Hurdle another player
-Contact an opponent either before or after the ball is declared dead
-Make any contact with any opponent that is deemed unnecessary
-Deliberately drive or run into defensive player
-Clip an opponent
-Tackle an opponent (warrants ejection!!)
-Position themselves on the shoulder of a teammate or opponent to gain an advantage.
FLAG PLACEMENT
All Flags must be placed at each player’s hip
PERSONAL SAFETY
The most important thing is for us all to be safe and these rules are put in place for that reason!
All players should have shirts tucked in, shoes tied, mouth pieces in and flags on there sides.
TEAM SELECTION
Teams must be selected by a formal draft managed by league manager. It is up to the league manager/league board to administer the draft and the drafting procedures. The drafting procedures should ensure that all teams are split evenly and provides each team a fair opportunity for competition. Meaning, don not stack a team please!
BORROWED PLAYER
In the case a team is short players, meaning less than 9 that team may borrow a player or player(s) so that there are 9 total players. No player may be borrowed more than once throughout the same season. The Head Coach must inform the league director/administrator when a borrowed player(s) rule is in effect. The league rep/administrator shall keep track of borrowed players. No borrowed player shall play more minutes than a regular team member.