Flag Football Rule Book

HomeFlag Football Rule Book

5v5 Flag Rules

At the start of each game, captains from both teams meet at midfield for
a match of paper, rock scissors to determine who starts with the ball.
2. The winner of P.R.S. has the choice of offense or defense. Possession
changes to start the second half to the team that started the game on
defense.
3. The offensive team takes possession of the ball at the 40-yard line and
has four downs (4) to get to the 20. Once a team crosses midfield, it has
three (3) downs to get to the 10. Once a team crosses the 10-yard line, it
has three (3) downs to score.
4. If the offense fails to get a first down or score, the ball changes possession
and the new offensive team starts its drive on the 40-yard line.
5. Direct handoffs are permitted – there are laterals and pitches allowed
anywhere on the field.
6. The quarterback has a 5 second pass clock to get rid of the ball.
7. The quarterback can’t run with the ball unless it was handed off first.
8. If the ball is handed off, any defender may rush.
9. Interceptions are returnable (Except on extra point attempts). If an
interception is returned for a TD, then the scoring team will attempt an
extra point.
10. The ball is dead when it hits the ground. No fumbles.The offensive
player’s flag is pulled from their belt, the ball carrier steps out of bounds
or the ball-carrier’s body-outside of their hands or feet-touches the
ground.
11. All offensive flag football penalties result in a loss of downs, with the
exception of offsides will be called dead and ruled a restart of the down.
12. All defensive penalties result in an automatic first down plus yardage.
13. This is a non-contact, League. There’s NO TACKLING! NO DIVING! NO
BLOCKING! NO SCREENING! NO PRESS COVERAGE! As in any sport, there
may be incidental contact throughout the course of the game. These are a
judgement call by the referee. Any player who deliberately tries to tackle
another player, pushes another player, or makes any unnecessary contact
with another player as though to harm him or her, can and will be subject
to possible ejection from game, suspension and possible removal from
the league.
14. Each player, coach and team will exercise sportsmanship! No trash
talking or Foul language is not permitted. These are all subject to a
penalty and/or possible ejection from game. This is up to the discretion of
the referee.
15. The game is played 5 versus 5, but a team may participate with only 4
players and play 4 versus 4.
16. 5 players must be designated to play offense and 5 players must be
designated to play defense for the first half and then switch sides of the
ball for the second half. If a team has less than 10 players for any given
game, the rotation of players is up to the discretion of the coach.
However, All players must play equal to or as close to equal as possible.
17. If a team is ever winning by 35, their score will stay at 35. Play will
continue as normal but the score will stay at 35 for that team.
18. One (1) offensive coach Is allowed on the field during play at all age
divisions. One (1) Defensive coach can be on the field before the snap of
the ball, but must be off when the ball is in play. On-field coaches should
not interfere with the course of play in any way once the play begins.
19. In the event that a game must be canceled for any reason, including poor
weather, the game will count as an official game if at least the 1st half was
completed. The current score at the moment that the game is called will
be the final score of the game. Games that are called prior to reaching
halftime will not count in the standings and no score will be official. We
will make every attempt to reschedule, which could be a game in place of
practice followed by another game. The game will start again from the
beginning with a score of 0-0.
20. All possession changes, start on the forty (40) yard line.
21. Teams will play two (2) 25-minute halves with a five (5) minute halftime.
22. All games will have a running clock.
23. If the team that has possession is inside the ten (10) yard line, they will
have the opportunity to finish the drive regardless of the game clock. This
is for the first half as well as at the end of the game.
24. There are no time outs.
25. The offensive team will have 30 seconds to snap the ball. Ready for play
will be at the referee’s discretion.
26. The ball is spotted where the ball is when the flag is pulled or falls out, or
the play is whistled dead. If a player is missing a flag and gains possession
of the ball. Then that player will be ruled down and the ball will be
spotted at the spot of possession.
27. Only one player is allowed to be “in motion” when the ball is snapped
and the player in motion cannot be moving towards the line of scrimmage
when the ball is snapped.
28. A player must have at least 1 foot inbounds with full possession when
making a catch.
29. No Flag guarding. Player cannot slap at defenders’ hands to prevent them
from grabbing their flag.
30. Each player must have three flags on their flag belt. One flag on the left
of the belt and one on the right of the belt and one on the back of the
belt. Any player not in accordance with this, will be marked down where
he/she gains possession of the ball. Flags may shift during play and will be
at the discretion of the referee to make a call or no call.
Scoring
1. All Touchdowns (offense or defense): 6 points
2. Extra points: 1 point when played from the 5-yard line or 2 points when
played from the 10-yard line.
Overtime
1. At the start of overtime, captains from both teams will meet at the 5-yard
line for a match of paper, rock scissors. The team that wins at paper, rock
scissors, will have the choice to be on Offense or Defense.
2. Sudden death. There will be 1 play from the 5-yard line.
3. If the team on Offense scores they win the game. If the team on defense
stops the Offense from scoring, then they win the game.
Attire
1. Rubber cleats are allowed, but no medal cleats/tips/spikes are permitted
2. No belt loops or pockets on shorts or pants
3. Jerseys must be tucked in at all times
4. Shorts or pants worn should not be the same color as the flags. If they are
the player will still be allowed to play but the opposing team will be able
to one hand touch the player to be downed. In this instance the violating
player will not wear a flag belt during play.

7v7 Flag League Rules

  1. Games played on full width of high school field
  2. 6 players on Offense, 7 players on Defense
  3. No Blitzing Allowed – to promote learning of High School pass coverages
  4. Only 2 running plays are allowed per drive with the following limitations:
  5. A team can only run the ball once per zone (40 to 20, or 20 to Goal line).
  6. A team cannot hand the ball to the same player twice in one drive

III. No run zones: 25-20-yard Line and 5 Yard Line to 0. (To eliminate calling        non-football type run plays, and to minimize the chance of collisions).

Game Management 

  1. Starting and Playing a Game
  2. The Captains will meet and will engage in Rock Paper Scissors. The player that wins will get the first possession of the ball. (No 2 out of 3)
  3. Teams will be constructed with 14 Maximum players.

iii. A team must have at least 6 players to participate in a game. If a team has 5 or less players, a scrimmage can be played, but the team with 5 or less players will forfeit the game. If players are “borrowed” from other teams or lower divisions the game will still be counted as a forfeit.

  1. All players must have their jerseys tucked in to their game shorts PRIOR to the game. Players must look ready to play AND jerseys cannot hang over flags and prevent defenders from pulling flags. Failure to comply with this rule will result in a “Flag Guarding” call.

 

Games will be played on a regulation high school field.

vii. The ball will start out on the 40 Yard Line going towards the End Zone on all possessions. Each team will advance in the same direction

viii. Game will be played with six offensive players vs. seven defensive players (as taught in the High School/College/NFL levels)

  1. Offensive Team will have 3 downs to get the first 20 yards to get a first down. If they fail to get to the 20-yard line or turn the ball over on an interception then a change of possession will occur
  2. If Offense reaches the 20 without a change of possession, they will have four downs to score a touchdown. If they fail to score, a change of possession has occurred, and the ball will be placed at the 40 for the change of possession
  3. If Offense scores then they will have the opportunity to go for 1 point from the 3-yard line or go for 2 points from the 8-yard line. You may only pass the ball on all conversion attempts

xii. 6 points will be awarded to a team if they score on an interception a. A conversion attempt will not be attempted after an interception for a touchdown and the offensive team who threw the interception will remain on offense,

  1. If a player commits a tackling penalty (not a base flag pull) after making an interception the ball will be immediately placed on the 20-yard line
  2. If the interceptor has a clear path for a touchdown and commits a tackling penalty (not a base flag pull) on the return, the team will be awarded the 6 points – this is a 100% Safety based rule.
  3. NOTE: We have seen players (especially the QB) get more physical and make physical tackles out of frustration after throwing an interception instead of pulling flags – This will not be allowed and could lead to 6 points.

xiii. If the defense intercepts a conversion attempt the play is dead

  1. Scoreboard/Scoring
  2. Each Field will have Down Marker and Scoreboard
  3. The Down Marker will be held by a parent volunteer and will keep the downs and scoring for the game

iii. Since we do not use score differentials to break ties, at the end of each game, the scoreboard will be erased and set to 3-0 if there is a win/loss. If there is a tie the score will remain a Tie.

  1. SCORE CAP RULE: IF a team winning by 28 or more points or reaches a 35-point margin with 10 minutes left in the 2nd half the score/winner will be recorded and finalized at that point in the game.
  2. The game will continue as normally played at this point
  3. Timing of Games
  4. All games will be 50 minutes in length. The game will be broken into two 25- minute halves, with no stoppage of the clock, with a 3-minute halftime in between halves.
  5. All games will start with the horn or whistle and will be played off the Scoreboard Clock or controlled by Site Director
  6. Last Drive Rules End of the 2nd Half ONLY 
  7. A team will be allowed to continue its scoring drive, regardless of the time remaining on the clock if: A team is behind and within 8 or more points AND The team is at or inside the 4 down 20-yard line zone AND the clock is at 1:00 left in the game
  8. The team must enter the 4 down 20-yard line zone PRIOR to the clock reaching: 00:59 Seconds

iii. The offensive team cannot incorporate Last Drive Rules if they enter the 4 down 20-yard line zone if the clock reads: 59 seconds or less. At this point the team will be operating off the clock. When the clock hits 0:00 the game is over

  1. DEFENSIVE INJURY WITHIN 1:00 END OF THE 2nd HALF
  2. If there is Defensive injury that occurs within 1:00 at the end of the 2nd Half and the Offensive team has not achieved LAST DRIVE RULES (Clock is running) the game will immediately be stopped to attend to the injured player and the game will revert to Last Drive Rules and go to Downs.
  3. NOTE: This is to avoid overzealous coaches/adult ambition for feigning an injury to induce the clock to run out before offense can score.
  4. Substitution Rules and Playing Time Rules 
  5. As mentioned in the Objectives portion of Next Level Flag Football; it is very important that all 12-15 kids on each team get equal playing time throughout a contest.

iii. All players will start each half assigned to the Offensive or Defensive Side of the ball. Once a player is assigned to the defensive or offensive side of the ball for that half, the player will continue to play on that side of the ball until the half is complete.

  1. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS RULE 
  2. YOU MAY NOT SPLIT OFFENSE/DEFENSE WITHIN THE SAME HALF
  3. If a team has 13 or more Players at the start of the game 6 must be assigned to offense and 7 must be assigned to defense for the first half. The players will then rotate to the other side of the ball at halftime as stated above.
  4. If a team has 12 Players at the start of the game 6 must be assigned to offense and 6 must be assigned to defense for the first half. Then the players will rotate to the other side of the ball at halftime as stated above.
  5. If a team has 11 players at the start of the game 5 must be assigned to offense and 5 must be assigned to defense for the first half. Then rotate at halftime as stated above.

vii. If a team has less than 11 players for the game then the coaches may rotate the extra position as they see fit. Example if a team has 9 players, five playing on offense, four on defense, at the change of possession the four defensive players will take the field. To fill out the seven players on defense the coach may place any player from the Offense onto the defensive team to make seven.

viii. We encourage the rotation of the “fill-in” player in this scenario to be a different player each drive. We do not want to see the teams “best” player on the field the whole game. It’s not a rule because it’s too hard to enforce but please keep perspective on why this league exists.