League Rules

FLAG FOOTBALL RULES

Team Rosters:

Teams may carry up to (8-9) players on their roster.

Coin Toss:

At the coin toss in the center of the field, the visiting Team Captain will be given the

privilege of calling the coin toss while the coin is in the air. The winner of the toss will be

given his choice of defense, offense, designating the end of the field (side they will

defend) at which the ball will be put in play, or may defer his choice to the second half.

The loser will have his choice of the remaining options.

Officials:

There will be 1 official used during each game.

Classifications of Teams:

4/6u, 7/8u,09/10u

Field Dimensions:

The game shall be played on a 40 yard outdoor field.

Ball Size:

TDJ for 8U Division

TDY for 10U Division

Uniforms:

 Jerseys/shirts must be tucked in. No article of clothing may cover any portion of a

player's flag or belt (Flag Guarding). Officials should warn violators of this

between plays.

 The lower uniform may be shorts, warm-ups, pants or any other type of athletic

wear. Pants/Shorts with belt loops, or pants/shorts with front, side or back

pockets will not be allowed.

 Players may not wear jewelry of any kind.

 No headgear with an extended bill may be worn.

 Flag Belts

All players on the field of play must wear approved "Triple Threat Flags" at the waist.

The flags must be securely sewn to the belt and the entire belt must be able to be freely

pulled off. The league will provide flag belts.

FLAG FOOTBALL RULES

The Clock

Game Time: The length of the game is 35 minutes, divided into two halves of 15 minutes each.

The game length will consist of (2) 15-minute halves with a continuous clock, Except for

timeouts.

Clock Regulation:

 Clock will start when the referee whistles the ball ready for play at the start of the game.

 After a team time-out, the clock will start at the snap of the ball.

 The clock will stop for team time-outs and/or official time-outs.

 The clock will NOT stop for minor injuries, it will stop for major ones but will resume as

soon as the player is removed from the field.

Half Time:

 At the end of the first half, there shall be an intermission of three (3) minutes.

 For the second half, the captain who lost the pre-game toss is to have first choice, receive

or goal to defend unless the winner of the toss deferred.

Time Outs:

 Each team shall have 1 time-out per half. Time-outs will be 30 seconds in length.

Scoring:

Touchdowns:

 6 Points

Extra Points:

 1 Point from 3yrd line

 2 Points from 10yrd line

Safety:

 2 Points will be awarded on first-forth downs except on first down when the spot of

the ball is a result of a score, punt, or beginning of a half.

Mercy Rule:

 Should a team be trailing by 35 or more points in the second half, the no points will

be actively recorded for the official score. There will be no exception to this Mercy

rule.

Game Penalties:

5 - YARD PENALTIES

 Flag Guarding

 Holding

 Hurdling or illegal jumping

 Illegal participation (no flags from the start of the play)

 Delay of game encroachment

 False start or illegal snap Impeding the rusher(illegal block)

 Less than 4 players on scrimmage to set line before snap

 Intentional grounding (and loss of down)

 Illegal motion or shift

 Illegal procedure at snap

 Illegal forward pass (loss of down)

 Illegally assisting the runner

 Bull Rush

 Illegal chuck/contact

10 - YARD PENALTIES

 Stiff Arming

 Pass interference

 Illegal use of hands

 Illegal De-flagging

 Sideline violation

 Obstructing ball carrier

 Impeding the Runner

 Illegal block

 2nd intentional delay of game in one game (plus clock stoppage)

 Stripping the ball

 Touching / hitting the center before they have a chance to get their head up

15 - YARD PENALTIES

 Illegal contact above the shoulders (Hands to the face)

 Hitting/jumping on an opponent that is on the ground

 Charging intentionally into an opponent

 Unnecessary Roughness (May also include ejection)

 Un-sportsmanlike Conduct (May also include ejection)

 Throwing a blow (Automatic ejection)

 Taunting or instigating foul play (May also include ejection)

 Trash Talk

 Tackling.

 Tying or knotting flag belts.

 Tripping

Starting the game:

1. A central time keeper will be designated. All games will begin and end on this persons

instructions. He will also announce the time remaining at the 10, 5, and 2 minute mark.

2. The offensive team must have any 4 players on the line of scrimmage at the time of the snap.

3. Visitors will have first possession. The home team will have first possession the 2nd half.

4. Visitors will always align their team on the Away Side Line facing the press box. Home

will always align their team on the Home Sideline facing the street.

Change of possession:

1. Possession always begins at the 40 yard line at the right hash mark. Hash mark placement

of the ball must be enforced by officials.

2. No penalty will be assessed in excess of the 40 yd line. On an unsuccessful or successful

offensive play from the 40 yard line resulting in an offensive penalty: The ball will be

returned to the 40 yard line and 1st down will become 2nd down; 2nd down will become

3rd down; and 4th down will result in a turnover.

3. Offenses always move in the same direction

Offense Rules:

Huddle

 After the official marks the ball "ready-for-play", the offense will have 25 seconds to put

the ball in play or else be penalized 5 yards for a Delay Of Game.

Shift

 Two or more offensive players may be shifting their position at the same time prior to the

snap. Their movement may be in any direction but they must become set for one full

count (1 second) before the ball is snapped or before another player may go in motion

prior to the snap.

Motion:

 Only 1 player is allowed to be in motion and his movement must be parallel to, towards,

or away from the Line of Scrimmage (L.O.S.) in a continuous motion at the snap or the

whole offense must re-set.

Passing:

 There can be only one forward pass per play. A forward pass is defined as a live ball

thrown toward the opponent's goal line.

 Once the ball has crossed the L.O.S., in the air or in possession of a player, it cannot be

passed forward, even if the ball is brought back behind the L.O.S. (Illegal Forward Pass).

Rushing:

The QB will only be able to run on 1st and 2nd down only !!

Offensive Formation:

 LINE OF SCRIMMAGE: Offensive team must have at least 4 players on the line of

scrimmage

 ELIGIBLE RECEIVERS: All players are eligible receivers.

Blocking:

 Screen blocking shall take place without contact.

 The blocker shall have their hands and arms at their sides or behind their back.

 A screen blocker cannot use their hands, arms, elbows, legs or body to initiate contact.

 If they do use contact it will be called a Personal Foul.

 Blockers may move when they are blocking behind the line of scrimmage, but must take

a stationary position when blocking up field.

 STIFF ARMING: Stiff arming is not allowed; a personal foul will be called, and if

warranted an unsportsmanlike conduct, ejection will result.

Center Snap:

The ball must be snapped to the Quarterback between the centers legs or “side-saddle” and

without touching the ground. Should the ball touch the ground it shall be declared dead at the

spot.

Direct Snaps are Legal; No center sneaks

Ball Carrier:

 The responsibility of avoiding contact rests with the ball carrier.

 The only time it is legal for the runner to jump is to avoid contact with a player who has

fallen on the field. (Otherwise it’s a penalty.)

 The ball carrier shall not protect his flags by blocking with his hand, arm, head or ball.

Flag guarding will be marked 10-yardsfrom the POI and loss of the current down.

 Ball carriers may not dive or jump forward in an effort to gain extra yardage.

Receiving:

 One foot must be "in-bounds" to constitute a legal pass reception (when controlled by the

receiver).

 The lines marking the sidelines and the extreme back of the end zone shall be considered

out of bounds if stepped on any degree.

 A double reception always goes to the offense.

Punting:

 Teams will be allowed to Punt on 4th Down – ONLY IF THEY HAVE NOT CROSS

MID FIELD.

 All punts will be automatic and placed 15 yards from original line of scrimmage. Coach

must notify Referee immediately after 3rd down

Defense Rules:

Buffer Zone  - 3 yards from line of scrimmage at the start of play.

4-6u

 3rd – 4th down only the Defense may only rush 1 player.

7-8u

3rd and 4th down the Defense may only rush 1 player.

9-10u

On 1st – 2nd down the Defense may only rush 1 player.

3rd and 4th down the Defense may only rush 2 player.

Bump and Run:

No Bump and run coverage is allowed.

The Quarterback is 100% protected on every play. There may be no contact whatsoever whether

the ball has been tipped or not. ROUGHING THE PASSER-10-yard penalty

Fumble:

 Forward offensive fumbles will result in ball being marked dead at the point of fumble.

Backward fumbles (including missed snaps or laterals)will be marked at point where ball

hits the ground or goes out of bounds.

Pass Interference:

 Pass Interference Rules shall apply to any pass made from behind the L.O.S., whether it

is a forward pass or a lateral pass, and applies to both offensive and defensive players.

After the pass is in the air, neither pass receiver nor defender may touch the other until

one of them touches the ball, or else offensive or defensive pass interference may be

called

 Must play the ball, or the flags, not the other player. No intentional contact will be

allowed. The same rules continue to apply even if the ball has been tipped.

 All offensive pass interference calls that are accepted by the defensive captain shall be

marked off 10 yards from L.O.S. with loss of down.

 All defensive pass interference calls that are accepted by the offensive captain shall be

marked 10 yards from the LOS

Deflagging:

 The ball carrier is down and the ball is dead when a flag is detached from the ball carrier's

belt,the belt is broken, or when the ball touches the ground.

 When a defensive player pulls the ball carrier's flag/belt, he should stop and hold it above

his head for officials to see.

 The ball should be spotted at the point where the ball was, when the belt broke or flag

was removed

 A ball carrier that falls to the ground inadvertently or touches a knee to the ground is

considered down.

 Tackling is prohibited

 If the ball is in the hand of the Quarterback and flag is pulled, the passer shall be down at

the spot.

 A defender may not push or knock a ball carrier out of bounds, Penalty: 10 yards from

spot of the foul.

 The ball cannot change possession unless the runner drops or laterals the ball and it is

caught in the air.

House Rules:

Last Man Rule-If a player is intentionally tripped or tackled within 5 yards of the end zone with

no other defensive player between them and the end zone shall result in a touchdown

Code of Conduct:Whenever, in the judgment of an official, the following acts are deliberate or

flagrant, the players involved shall be ejected from the game and possibly suspended from the

league:

1. Using fists, kicking or kneeing.

2. Tackling the ball carrier as in regulation football.

3. Fighting

4. Flagrant Fouls

5. Taunting

6. Excessive roughing the passer.

7. MOUTHPIECES ARE MANDATORY FOR ALL PLAYERS