FLAG FOOTBALL RULES
Illegal Equipment:
A. Headwear containing any hard, unyielding, stiff material, including billed hats, or items with exposed knots.
B. Jewelry.
C. Pads or braces worn above the waist.
D. Shoes with metal, sharp edges, or spikes. Football/Soccer cleats are recommended, sneakers are fine too.
E. Shirts or jerseys that do not remain tucked in.
F. Pants or shorts with any belt(s), belt loop(s), or exposed drawstring(s), preferably without large pockets.
G. Leg and knee braces made of hard, unyielding material, unless covered on both sides and all edges overlapped.
H. Exposed metal on clothes or person.
I. Towels attached at the player's waist.
B. Jewelry.
C. Pads or braces worn above the waist.
D. Shoes with metal, sharp edges, or spikes. Football/Soccer cleats are recommended, sneakers are fine too.
E. Shirts or jerseys that do not remain tucked in.
F. Pants or shorts with any belt(s), belt loop(s), or exposed drawstring(s), preferably without large pockets.
G. Leg and knee braces made of hard, unyielding material, unless covered on both sides and all edges overlapped.
H. Exposed metal on clothes or person.
I. Towels attached at the player's waist.
NUMBER OF PLAYERS: Each team should start the game with 8 players (7 boys maximum); a minimum of 7 is needed to avoid a forfeit.
LENGTH OF GAME: Playing time shall be 80 minutes, separated into two halves of 40 minutes. The clock will be running the entire time. Half time will be 30 minutes. A coin toss determines who starts with possession and picks which side. In the case of overtime, there will be coin toss for possession and the first point wins.
KICK-OFFS/PUNTING: Kick offs can be thrown, punted or actually kicked off from behind the 1 yard line. If the ball goes out of bound the receiving team starts at their own 20. Touchbacks start at the 10.
LINE OF SCRIMMAGE: The offensive team must have a minimum of 5 players set the line of scrimmage at the snap. Players in motion do not count as players on the line of scrimmage. Once the center has placed his hands on the ball no offensive player may enter the neutral zone. Following the ready for play whistle and until a legal snap, no defensive player may encroach, touch the ball, stand in, or in any other way interfere with the offensive team.
SCORING: Upon scoring a touchdown a team gets 6 points, and is given 3 choices for scoring an extra 1,2 or 3 points. If a girl scores the touchdown then 9 points are awarded with no extra point opportunities.
Touchdowns = 6 points, 9 if scored by a girl with no extra point opportunities
Extra Points = 1 point if successful from the 3 yard line
Extra Points = 2 points if successful from the 10 yard line
Extra Points = 3 points if successful from the 20 yard line
Extra Points = 1 point if successful from the 3 yard line
Extra Points = 2 points if successful from the 10 yard line
Extra Points = 3 points if successful from the 20 yard line
SUBSTITUTIONS: Substations can be made between plays but not during
PLAY CLOCK: 30 seconds, you can substitute between downs, but anything after 30 seconds is Delay of game.
FLAG BELTS:
All shirts must be tucked in, and are not permitted to hang over the flag belt. If a player's belt falls off while running, he will be downed by 2 hand touch. Flags must be positioned around the waist with a flag on each side and one on the back.
No flag guarding, offenders will be downed at the occurrence. This includes but is not limited to:
· Swinging the hand or arm over the flag belt to prevent an opponent from deflagging.
· Placing the ball in possession over the flag belt to prevent an opponent from deflagging.
· Lowering the shoulders in such a manner that flag guards.
· Swinging the hand or arm over the flag belt to prevent an opponent from deflagging.
· Placing the ball in possession over the flag belt to prevent an opponent from deflagging.
· Lowering the shoulders in such a manner that flag guards.
OFFICIAL'S AUTHORITY: The referees have final say on all calls throughout the game. They can discuss with each other what happened but players have no say. Don't argue with the officials or other players about a call. No challenges.
PENALTIES:
Charging – 5 yard penalty from start of play, loss of down
Encroachment – 5 yard penalty
False Start - 5 yard penalty
Offsides – 5 yard penalty
Holding – 5 yard penalty, automatic first down
(Offensive – 10 yard penalty)
Pass Interference – 5 yard penalty, automatic First down
(Offensive – 5 yard penalty, loss of down)
Roughing the Passer – 5 yard penalty, automatic first down
Intentional Grounding – Spot of foul, loss of down
Delay of Game – 5 yard penalty
PERSONAL FOULS: Any act listed below or any other act of unnecessary roughness is a personal foul. Players shall not :· Punch, strike, 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 an opponent that is deemed unnecessary.
· Deliberately drive or run into a defensive player.
· Clip an opponent.
· Position themselves on the shoulders of a teammate or opponent to gain an advantage.
· Tackle the runner. (Warrants ejection)
· Stiff-Arming
· Stripping the ball IS legal, but any personal contact or roughing will be a foul
