Flag Football Rules

Arena Flag Football Rules

LEAGUE FEATURES + TEAM

  • Suggested 10 on each Roster
    • 7 on Offense, 7 on Defense
    • Must have 3 of each gender in play at all times
    • Must be 21 years of age or older
  • Players may be substituted at any point during game play in between plays on offense or defense
    • Gender Rule still in affect at all times

Player Conduct!

  • Step 1: Verbal Warning
  • Step 2: Immediate Ejection of Current Game +1 Future Game
  • Step 3: Season Suspension / NO refund
  • *These “Player Conduct Cards” carry throughout the entire season (Stack)
  • **The Officials have full discretion on the field to eliminate any of these steps if needed

PRE-GAME

  • Rock, Paper, Scissors to determine who would like to choose to have first possession or defer
    • The other team gets to pick which end zone to defend

OFFENSIVE PLAY

  • Offense will have one set of downs to advance the ball to the next WHITE LINE
  • There will be 4 downs in a set of downs
    • Every 3rd play must include a gender play defined below
  • The Quarterback has a maximum of 5 seconds to release the ball by executing a forward pass, handoff or pitch
    • The referee will oversee counting the 5 seconds out loud
    • After the 5 seconds the QB may be rushed
  • Under no circumstance can the QB advance past the Line of Scrimmage without another Offensive player having Possession first or a Defensive player crossing after the 5 seconds
  • The Center who snaps the ball may not cross the line of scrimmage prior to 5 seconds
  • Line of scrimmage
    • The Offensive Team must have 5 players set at the line of scrimmage to snap
    • The referee shall signal out loud when the Line is Set
  • Running
    • The QB may not cross the line of scrimmage unless they are rushed after the 5 second count
    • IF QB hands off or tosses the ball behind them to another player, that player who received the ball, can choose to take it and run immediately or throw again to any eligible offensive player
      • In this circumstance the 5-second waiting period automatically cancels
    • Passing
      • Completion is considered when a thrown ball is secured and does not hit the ground (or wall/net) while at least one foot is in bound
        • Cannot use the assistance of the wall or net to help you jump, catch, etc.
      • Punting
        • Teams are only allowed to Punt (in this case THROW) on Fourth Down if they are in their own territory and have not passed mid-field on the current possession
        • The team that is punting must announce their intentions to the Referee before setting for the 4th down
        • Offense and Defense must have at least 6 people on the line and may not move until the ball is thrown
        • The punt is thrown in the air
          • NO Fake Punts are allowed
          • NO Punts can be blocked
          • The Receiving team may call for a Fair Catch
          • If the punt hits the net, wall, or goal then it will be considered a touchback and the offense will gain possession on the Center Dot
          • If the ball hits the ground it is dead and spotted where it lands
        • Interception
          • Taken to opposing team’s End Zone by Male = 6 Points
          • Taken to opposing team’s End Zone and scored, greater than 1 yard, by Female = 9 Points
        • Safety
          • Will result in 2 points + possession for the Defense if they pull an Offensive Players flag in their own End Zone while Offensive Player has possession of the ball
          • If the ball is dropped or touches the End Zone it’s a dead-ball and loss of down

GENDER RULING

  • Female players must participate in a play at least once every 3 downs
    • They can participate as carrying the ball over the line of scrimmage for positive yards
    • Throwing as the QB (Attempted Pass)
    • Catching as a receiver for positive yards
    • Attempted catch in vicinity of Female (as ruled by Line Judge)
  • After the announced Gender Play the Gender Count will go back to 0
  • A play must be attempted to a Female as judged by Official
  • If the Gender Play is not executed by the Offensive Team it will result as an automatic Loss of Down and the offensive tea will have to repeat the Gender Play
  • If a player of the required gender is not utilized as described in these rules during an announced gender play, any passes shall be considered incomplete, and the offensive team will lose a down (and repeat Gender Play)
    • WEIRD SCENARIOS:
      • A ball is thrown to a Female, it touches their hands, but tips out, and a Male on the same team catches the ball – this DOES COUNT as a Gender Play
        • Case and Point: Attempted to a Female
      • If a Male Taps/Bobbles the ball (NO Secured/Possession) first and THEN falls into a Females hand = DOES COUNT as a Gender Play
      • If a Male catches the ball, and then laterals to a female, this DOES NOT COUNT toward the Gender Count

POSSESSION

  • A Catch or Interception is ruled complete as soon as a Player has control of the ball
  • If any part of the Receiver’s body touches the ground, wall, or net the ball is immediately dead, and the play is over
    • Example: Hand, Knee, Elbow. No sliding
  • If the Player drops the ball, with or without the influence of an opposing team, the ball is dead and spotted at the drop. e. NO FUMBLES
  • The Offense can have 1 player in motion at any time
    • Must be moving horizontally across the Line of Scrimmage
  • The QB Cannot catch a forward pass unless it is completed beyond the Line of Scrimmage
  • The play is stopped immediately if the Player’s flags fall off intentionally, unintentionally, or on “no contact”
    • Too difficult to call if it was contact from a previous move, too much grey area, and too hard to tell if someone “touched them” to be down. It’s the offensive player’s responsibility to have flags on securely

Scoring

  • Any part of the players body/ball crosses the goal line = TD
    • DOES NOT:
      • Need to have entire body in end zone
      • Both feet in End zone
    • NO diving to avoid injury
  • Male TD = 6 Points
  • Female TD = 9 Points
    • A ball that is thrown by a Female is caught in the End Zone by a Male
      • Male must already be in End Zone – cannot run in
    • A ball is thrown by a Male and is caught in the End Zone by a Female
    • A ball is carried over the Goal Line by a Female
      • Must be greater than 1 FULL YARD
    • May not used the assistance of any wall or net, as judged by official, to secure a TD/Pass.
      • A pass caught before touching the wall will result in a dead ball and stop of play where received caught

Conversion Points

  • 5 Yards out = 1 Point
  • 15 Yards out = 2 Points
  • No extra points are awarded if Female is involved
  • Gender Count does not Apply
  • Ball is LIVE on Interception and if returned = 2 Points
  • Under 1 Minute of play = Clock is Stopped

Penalties - ALL PENALTIES WILL COME WITH OPPORTUNITY TO ACCEPT OR DECLINE

  • These Penalties will Result in 5-YARD PENALTY AND REPLAY DOWN
    • Blocking
      • Defined as Offensive Player forcing a Defensive Player to change his position on the field through physical contact
    • Holding
      • Offense or Defensive player grabbing/holding onto another player to impede motion
    • False Start
      • Offensive Player leaves before ball is snapped
      • Offensive Player/Ball is Snapped prior to Line Official saying “Line Set”
    • Illegal Forward Pass
      • Any forward pass thrown beyond Line of Scrimmage
    • Additional Penalties
      • Flag Guarding – 5 Yard Penalty from the Spot of the Foul
        • Player in possession of the ball uses their hands, arms, elbows, or ball to prevent a defensive player from pulling their flag
        • When a player in possession of the ball physically slaps/pushed away opposing player
      • Defensive Pass Interference – 10 Yard Penalty from LoS + Automatic First Down
        • Occurs when bodily contact initiated by a defensive player prevents an offensive player from attempting to catch a likely catchable pass
      • Offensive Pass Interference – 10 Yard Penalty from Line of Scrimmage + Replay Down
      • Illegal Contact – 10 Yard Penalty from the Spot of the Foul
        • Any physical contact as judged by Official
      • Penalty on the Goal Line = Automatic LOSS OF DOWN
        • Repeat Gender Rule if applicable
      • These Penalties will result in AN AUTOMATIC EJECTION
        • Tackling
        • Unsportsmanlike Conduct
        • **Both Deemed by Official**

Time

  • Each game shall consist of 2 20-minute halves
  • The Game Clock will only stop for Team and Referee Time Outs
    • Game clock will stop on under 1-minute of Entire Game:
      • Incomplete Passes
      • Players going Out of Bounds
      • Extra Point
    • Each Team will be allotted 1 60-second Time Out per half
    • The Conversion Point Attempt shall be permitted after a TD regardless of the time on the clock

 

Over Time (Playoffs-Only)

  • If score of the game is tied after 2 halves
  • No time outs will be awarded and no time outs can be carried over
  • The game clock will be turned OFF
  • Each Team will have one possession to score from mid-field
    • Including a Conversion Point
  • The team that won the initial RPS contest will get to choose the order of possession
    • The choice will alternate after each Overtime Period

Officials

  • There will be at least 2 League-Trained Officials per game
    • Field Judge:
      • Keep Time
      • Keep Gender Count
      • Place ball for snap
      • 5 Second Count
    • Line Judge:
      • Keep Score
      • Line Set