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1.   Intro

Flag football is a five on five game filled with fun and action.  In this game, the offensive team plays for a first down at midfield and a touchdown in the end zone.  Running and passing plays are allowed, although there are “no-running zones” at midfield and near each goal line.  The defensive team covers receivers, rushes the passer, and grabs flags to make “tackles.”

2.   Game Rules & Procedures

a.     Basics

i.      At the start of each game, captains and coaches from both teams meet at midfield for the coin toss to determine first possession.

ii.      The offensive team takes possession of the ball at its 5-yard line and has three plays to cross midfield.  Once a team crosses midfield it has three plays to score a touchdown.

iii.      If the offense fails to cross midfield or score, the ball changes possession and the new offensive team takes over on its 5-yard line.

iv.      All possession changes, except interceptions & kickoffs (MS division only), start on the offense’s 5-yard line.

v.      Teams change sides after the first half and possession changes to the loser of the coin toss.

vi.      Teams must field a minimum of four players at all times.

b.     Equipment

i.      All players must wear a protective mouthpiece; there are no exceptions.

ii.      Jerseys are to be tucked under flag belt if they hang below the waist.

iii.      Flag belt needs to be repositioned with buckle at player’s front before each play.

iv.      Cleats are allowed, except for metal spikes.

v.      Shorts color may vary but needs to be different then your team flag color.

vi.      Players must remove all watches, earrings and any other jewelry.

vii.      Inspections of all players are made by referees prior to the start of each game.

c.      Field

i.      Field measures 30x70 yards including two 10-yard end zones.

ii.      Five yard wide No-Run Zones precede each end zone and surround the midfield line.

iii.      No-Run Zones are in place to prevent teams from conducting power run plays.  Teams may not run the ball while in the no-run zones. All plays, including those that begin with handoffs, must be pass plays.

iv.      Stepping on sideline is considered out of bounds.

 field disgram

  d.     Timing/Scoring

i.      Games are played to 40 minutes running time.

ii.      Halftime is taken after 20 minutes and is three minutes long.

iii.      Clock only stops for timeouts and on each change of possession in the last two minutes of each half.

iv.      Each time the ball is spotted, a team has 30 seconds to snap the ball. Teams will receive one warning before a delay-of-game penalty is enforced.

v.      Each team has one 60-second and one 30-second timeout per half.

vi.      Officials may stop the clock at their discretion for injuries, etc.

vii.      If the score is tied at the end of 40 minutes a tie is recorded.

viii.      Touchdown are worth 6 points

ix.      Point after Touchdown, 1 point from 5-yard line (pass only) or 2 points from 12-yard line (pass or run).

x.      Safety is worth 2 points

1.       A safety occurs when the ball carrier is declared down in his/her own end zone. They can be called down when their flags are pulled by a defensive player, their flag falls off, they step out of bounds, or they hit the ground with their knee or arm.

2.       A safety also occurs when there is an offensive penalty in the end zone.

3.       If the player is declared down while attempting to leave his/her own end zone on a kickoff a safety is awarded to the kicking team.

e.     Live Ball/Dead Ball

i.      The ball is live at the snap of the ball and remains live until the official whistles the ball dead.

ii.      Officials establish the line of scrimmage and 7-yard rushing point before each play.

iii.      A player who gains possession in the air is considered in bounds as long as one foot comes down in the field of play.

iv.      Substitutions may be made on any dead ball.

v.      The ball must be snapped cleanly from the ground between the legs to start play.

vi.      Play is ruled “dead” when:

1.       Ball hits the ground (there are no fumbles, ball is spotted where it hit the ground)

2.       Ball carrier’s flag is pulled

3.       Ball carrier steps out of bounds

4.       A touchdown, extra point, or safety is scored

5.       At the point of interception (interception returns are not allowed)

6.       Ball carrier’s knee or arm hits the ground

7.       Ball carrier’s flag falls off

8.       A receiver with no flags on catches the ball

9.       The 7 second pass clock expires

10.   An inadvertent whistle is performed (at the spot where the ball was whistled dead)

vii.      In the case of an inadvertent whistle, the offense has two options:

1.       Take the ball where the whistle blew.

2.       Replay the down from the original line of scrimmage.

f.       Running

i.      The quarterback cannot run with the ball

ii.      Only direct handoffs behind the line of scrimmage are permitted. Offense may use multiple handoffs.

iii.      The player who takes the handoff can throw the ball from behind the line of scrimmage.

iv.      Once the ball has been handed off, all defensive players are eligible to rush.

v.      Runners may not leave their feet to advance the ball. Diving, leaping, or jumping is considered flag guarding. Spinning is allowed.

vi.      The ball is spotted where the ball carrier’s feet are when the flag is pulled, not where the ball is.  If one foot precedes the other, the forward foot marks the spot.

vii.      Absolutely NO laterals or pitches of any kind are allowed, the ball must pass the line of scrimmage when thrown.

viii.      No blocking or “screening” is allowed at any time.

ix.      Offensive players must stop their motion once the ball has crossed the line of scrimmage. No running with the ball carrier.

x.      Flag obstruction- All jerseys must be tucked in before play begins. The flags must be on the player’s hips and free from obstruction. Deliberately obstructed flags will be considered flag guarding.

g.     Passing/Receiving

i.      All passes must be thrown from behind and received beyond the line of scrimmage.

ii.      Underhand or shovel passes are allowed, the ball must still pass the line of scrimmage.

iii.      The quarterback has a 7 second “pass clock.” If a pass is not thrown within the seven seconds, play is dead, the down is consumed and the ball is returned to the line of scrimmage.  Once the ball is handed off, the 7-second rule no longer is in effect.

iv.      Interceptions change the possession of the ball at the point of interception.

v.      All players are eligible to receive passes (including the quarterback if the ball has been handed off behind the line of scrimmage)

vi.      Only one player is allowed in motion at a time, parallel to the line of scrimmage.

vii.      A player must have at least one foot in bounds when making a reception.

viii.      In the case of simultaneous possession by both an offensive and defensive player, possession is awarded to the offense.

h.     Rushing the Passer

i.      All players who rush the passer must be a minimum of seven yards from the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped.  Any number of players can rush the quarterback. Players not rushing the quarterback may defend on the line of scrimmage.

ii.      Once the ball is handed off, the 7-yard rule no longer is in effect and all defenders may go behind the line of scrimmage.

iii.      A special marker placed by the official will designate a rush line seven yards from the line of scrimmage.

iv.      Players rushing the quarterback may use their hands/arms to attempt blocking a pass. However, NO contact can be made with the quarterback in any way.

v.      Offense cannot impede the rusher in any way, interference will be considered screening.

vi.      A sack occurs if the quarterback’s flag is pulled behind the line of scrimmage. The ball is placed where the quarterback’s feet are when the flag is pulled.

i.       Flag Pulling

i.      A legal flag pull takes place when the ball carrier is in full possession of the ball.

ii.      Defenders can dive to pull flags, but cannot tackle, hold or run through ball carrier.

iii.      It is illegal to attempt to strip or pull the ball from the ball carrier’s possession at any time.

iv.      Defense may not intentionally pull the flag off of a player who doesn’t have the ball.

v.      Flag guarding is an attempt by the ball carrier to obstruct the defender’s access to the flags by stiff arming, dropping of head, hand, arm or shoulder, or intentionally covering flags with the football or jersey.

j.       Kickoffs

i.      Kickoffs are only taken in the Middle School age group.

ii.      Kickoffs are taken at the start of the game, after each score, and at start of second half.

iii.      Kicks are taken from midfield no run zone line nearest to kicking team’s end zone.

iv.      Receiving team must possess the ball after the kick.

v.      If ball is kicked out of bounds it is spotted where it went out of play.

vi.      A touchback at the 5-yard line results if the receiving team possesses and kneels with ball in the end zone.

vii.      If the player is declared down while attempting to leave his/her own end zone on a kickoff a safety is awarded to the kicking team.

viii.      The kick must travel at least 10 yards forward, once the ball goes 10 yards it is a live ball.

ix.      If the ball does not travel 10 yards then the receiving team chooses whether to take the ball where it stops or have the kick retaken 10 yards back.

3.   League Rules & Procedures

a.     Playing Time/Positions

i.      Our league is instructional, it is important that all players play a similar amount of time at a variety of positions. Amount of playing time should not be based on playing ability, size, or age.

ii.      Each player must play at least ½ of the game.

iii.      Players should practice and play at different positions in order to learn and improve in the different facets of the game.

iv.      The quarterback position should be shared equally between at least two players during each game.

b.     Age Divisions

i.      There are three age divisions: Kindergarten-2nd grade, 3rd-5th grade, and Middle School

ii.      Age division placement is determined by the player’s grade on the starting date of the season.

iii.      All age divisions are co-ed.

c.      Cancellations/Make-ups

i.      All game and practice cancellations and make-ups will be determined by the league.

ii.      The primary method of communication in situations of inclement weather will be the league website calendar and if possible an email sent by the league to players and coaches.

iii.      The 703-444-8805x112 office phone line will also be updated with field closings.

iv.      If practice is cancelled during the week, weather permitting it will be made up on that Friday, if two practice days are cancelled during the week Friday make-ups will be reduced to 1 hr.

v.      If games are cancelled, weather permitting they will be made up with the same time schedule on that Sunday.

d.     Practices

i.      Each team has one 1 ½ hour practice each week throughout the season.

ii.      If players do not consistently make practices it is up to the coach’s discretion as to how much the player will play. Coaches should have a discussion with the league and the player’s family before reducing playing time.

iii.      The ½ game rules will be void if players do not make several practices throughout the season.

e.     Coaching Equipment/Ball Sizes

i.      Coaches are provided with 2 footballs, cones, flag belts, pump, play calling armband (MS only), tee (MS only), and bag at the beginning of the season. Equipment needs to be returned to the league at the end of the season.

ii.      The K- 2nd, 3rd-5th grade divisions use the Pee Wee sized ball.

iii.      The Middle School division uses the Junior sized ball for practices and games

f.       Game Procedures

i.      All parents, coaches & players must settle behind the marked line 3 feet behind the field’s sideline.

ii.      In K- 2nd grade division parents should be seated on one side of the field while teams are gathered on the opposite sideline.

iii.      In 3rd-5th grade and Middle School division each team and their parents should take a side of the field.

g.     Coach Positioning During Games

i.      K-2nd grade division: Two coaches per team on both offense and defense.

ii.      3rd-5th grade division: One coach per team on both offense and defense.

iii.      Middle School division: No coaches on the field for either offense or defense.

iv.      Offensive coaches must be at least 7 yards behind the play when the ball is snapped.

v.      Defensive coaches must make their way toward the sideline before the ball is snapped.

h.     Playoff Seeding Tie-Breaker

i.      In the case of equal records at the end of the season, the playoff seeds will be determined by the teams’ total point differential for the season. However, the maximum point differential that a team can accumulate for one game is 10 points.  Meaning that if a team beats its opponent by 20, then the winning team will only get a positive 10 point differential.

ii.      Forfeited games result in a win and +1 point differential for the winning team.

i.       Sportsmanship/Conduct

i.      If a referee witnesses any acts of tackling, elbowing, cheap shots, blocking or any unsportsmanlike act, the game will be stopped and the player, parent, or coach will be ejected from the game.  FOUL PLAY WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.

ii.      Trash talking is illegal. Officials have the right to determine offensive language. (Trash talk is talk that may be offensive to officials, opposing players, teams or spectators.)

iii.      If trash talking occurs, the referee will give one warning.  If it continues, the referee may penalize the offending team’s coach and the player or players will be ejected from the game.

iv.      Ball carriers MUST make an effort to avoid defenders with an established position.

4.   Penalties

a.     General

i.      The referee will call all penalties and determine incidental contact.

ii.      All penalties will be assessed from line of scrimmage, except as noted (spot fouls)

iii.      Only the team captain or head coach may ask the referee questions about rule clarification and interpretation. Players cannot question judgment calls.

iv.      Games cannot end on a defensive penalty, unless the offense declines it.

v.      Penalties are assessed Live Ball then Dead Ball. Live Ball penalties must be assessed before play is considered completed.

vi.      Penalties will be assessed half the distance to the goal yardage when the penalty yardage is more than half the distance to the goal.

vii.      If either coach has a question or concern about a call both coaches and referees will meet in the center of the field to discuss the situation in a calm, productive manner.

viii.      Referees may penalize coaches if their conduct is not appropriate.

b.     5 yd penalties

i.      Illegal equipment

ii.      Offside

iii.      Illegal motion (more than one person moving, false start, etc)

iv.      Illegal forward pass (pass received behind LOS or thrown from beyond LOS)

v.      Offensive pass interference (illegal pick play, pushing off/away from defender)

vi.      Screening, blocking or running with ball carrier

vii.      Delay of game

viii.      Defense illegal contact (holding, blocking, etc)

ix.      Defense illegal flag pull (before receiver has the ball)

x.      Defense illegal rushing (starting rush from inside 7-yard marker)

c.      10 yd penalties

i.      Roughing the passer

ii.      Taunting

iii.      Unsportsmanlike conduct

d.     Spot fouls

i.      Flag guarding…………10 yards

ii.      Charging………………10 yards

iii.      Defensive pass interference………………first down

iv.      Stripping………………………10 yards & first down

v.      Screening, blocking, or running with ball carrier……………5 yards

vi.      Unnecessary roughness……………………10 yards

e.     Defense

i.      Offside………………………………………………………………5 yards & first down

ii.      Illegal contact (holding, blocking, etc)……………5 yards & first down

iii.      Illegal flag pull (before receiver has ball)………5 yards & first down

iv.      Illegal rushing (from inside 7 yard marker)……5 yards & first down

v.      Roughing the passer…………………10 yards & first down

vi.      Taunting………………………………….10 yards & first down

f.       Offense

i.      Illegal motion (more than one person moving, false start).5 yards & loss of down

ii.      Illegal forward pass (received behind LOS or thrown from beyond LOS)..5 yards & loss of down

iii.      Offensive pass interference (illegal pick play, pushing off the defender).5 yards & loss of down

iv.      Delay of game………………5 yards & clock stops

v.      Offside………………5 yards & loss of down