fLAG fOOTBALL RULES 2020

FLAG FOOTBALL RULES

 

League Features + Team

 

  • 7 on Offense, 7 on Defense 
  • Must have 3 of each gender in play at all times
  • Minimum of 5 to start – At least 3 of one gender, 2 of the other 
  • Must be 21 Years of age or older
  • Substitutions may be made between plays on offense or defense
  • Must notify Sideline Official 

 

Player Conduct!

 

  • Step 1: Verbal Warning
  • Step 2: Immediate Ejection of Current Game
  • Step 3: Future 1-Game Suspension
  • Step 4: 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

  • Team Designated Captains will engage in Rock, Paper, Scissors to determine who would like to choose:
    • First Possession
    • Defer to the Second Half 
    • *The other team will get to pick which End Zone to Defend 

Offensive Play

    • Offense will have one set of downs to advance the ball to the next First Down marker
    • There will be 4 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 before the Defense may blitz
      • The Field Official 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
      • They are free to move horizontally along the line
        • May NOT get a running start to the Line of Scrimmage – must stay parallel 
    • Line of Scrimmage
      • Offensive Team must have 5 players set at snap
      • The Line Official shall signal out loud when the line is set
        • Offensive Snap/Movement prior to Line Official saying “Line Set” will result in a flag 
    • Running
      • The QB may not cross Line of Scrimmage unless they are rushed after the 5 second count by the Defense
      • 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 forward to any eligible offensive player
        • In this circumstance the 5-second waiting period automatically cancels 
    • Passing
      • A Completion is considered when a thrown ball is secured and does not hit the ground while at least one foot is in bound
    • Punting
      • Team are allowed to “Punt” (or in this case THROW) on 4th Down if they are in their own territory and have not passed mid-field on their current possession
      • The team that is punting must announce their intentions to the Official before setting the line
      • Offense must have 6 people on the line and may not move before the ball is thrown
      • Defense must have 5 people on the line (2 to receive) and may not move until the ball is thrown
      • The Punt is thrown in the air:
        • NO Fake Punts allowed
        • NO Punts can be blocked
        • Receiving team may call for a Fair Catch
        • If the punt hits the ground then it will be dead and spotted (as ruled by Line Official) 
    • 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
  • Only need 1 foot in bounds for a catch
  • If any part of the receiver’s body touches the ground the ball is immediately dead and play is over
    • Example: Hand, Kneed, Elbow – No sliding 
  • If a player drops the ball, with or without the influence of an opposing team, the ball is dead and spotted at the drop
    • i.e. NO FUMBLES 
  • Offense can have 1 player in motion at any time 
  • QB cannot catch a forward pass unless it is completed beyond Line of Scrimmage 
  • Play is stopped immediately if the players flags fall off intentionally, unintentionally, or on no contact
    • This eliminates argument on what actually caused the flags to fall and any grey areas

Scoring

    • Any part of the players body crosses the goal line = TD
      • DOES NOT:
        • Need to have entire body in end zone
        • Both feed 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

 

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

  • 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