Flag Football
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CITY OF VACAVILLE COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT YOUTH SPORTS FLAG FOOTBALL REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS *Updated 9/21/17* GAME DAY WEATHER QUESTIONS WILL BE UPDATED AS NEEDED CALL 469-4035 Youth Sports- Flag Football Recreation League Rule Book The main goal of our league is to have fun, and learn about the game. Standings will not be kept and there are no playoffs. Vacaville Community Services reserves the right to amend, add, or delete and rule for the safety of the participants and the betterment of the league. It is the responsibility of all coaches, assistant coaches, officials and scorekeepers to know and adhere to these rules. 1. PLAYERS AND SUBSTITUTES a. Each team fields seven (7) players for play. Should a team find itself short of players, they should borrow from the other team. WE DO NOT FORFEIT GAMES. b. Games will be played with even teams – example, if one team can only field six players, the opposing team must play with six. No exceptions c. Offensive player: a player on the team with possession of the ball Offensive players may include center, guard/tackle, wide receivers, running backs, tight ends and quarter back. d. Defensive player: a player on the team without possession of the ball Defensive players may include defensive guards, tackles, ends, linebackers, and defensive backs. e. There are no limits to free substitution, except that subs may enter the game only when the ball is dead. ALL PLAYERS MUST PLAY AT LEAST HALF OF EACH GAME (two complete quarters) regardless of ability. The only exceptions are injury or discipline, and this must be reported to the officials and the other coach. 2. THE GAME a. Each game will begin with a coin flip. The captains of each team and the officials will meet at midfield for the flip. The visiting team will call heads or tails. The winner of the toss will elect to a) receive the kick, b) kick and defend a goal, or c) defer his/her choice until the start of the second half. If the winner of the coin flip chooses either (a) or (b) prior to the start of the first half, the opposing team will have the same choice prior to the start of the second half. b. Each game consists of 4 quarters. For the 1-2 grade division- each quarter will consist of 15 offensive plays or 15 minutes, whichever occurs first. For the 3-4 and 5-6 grade divisions- each quarter will consist of 15 offensive plays or 20 minutes, whichever occurs first. Kick-offs, extra point attempts, and punts are not counted as offensive plays. Live ball penalties (penalties that occur while the play is being run) count as a play but dead ball penalties do not count as plays. c. There will be a one (1) minute break between quarters and a five (5) minute break at half time. The half or game cannot end on a defensive penalty. d. Each team is allowed three (3) - 1 minute time outs per game. Two time outs cannot be taken consecutively. A play must be executed after each time out before an additional time out can be taken. e. A five (5) minute grace period will be allowed for each game. A team must have at least 5 players on the field at the end of the grace period to start the game. If a team does not have five players at the end of the grace period. Players from the opposing team will be borrowed to start the game. f. Play ends when the official(s) blow their whistle(s) g. The use of a 3-point stance is prohibited for all players h. There are no fumbles! The ball is dead at the spot it is dropped, except on kickoffs inside the 15 yard line and exchanges between the center and punter. i. One coach per team is allowed on the field in the 1/2nd grade and 3/4th grade divisions. This is to help move the game along. j. In the result of a tie game, there is no overtime or sudden death playoff. The game is over. k. If a team with a nine (9) point or more lead obtains possession of the ball with four (4) or fewer plays remaining in the game, the game is over. 3. SCORING 1/2 Grade Division Touchdown – seven (7) points – when a member of a team has possession of the ball on or beyond the opponent’s goal line. There will be no extra point conversions. 3/4, 5/6 & 7/8 Grade Divisions Touchdown – six (6) points – when a member of a team has possession of the ball on or beyond the opponent’s goal line. Extra points – a conversion from the three yard line – one (1) point A conversion from the six yard line – two (2) points Interceptions on extra points will be a dead ball and considered a failed attempt for the offensive team. There will be no points awarded to defensive teams on extra points. All Divisions Safety – two (2) points - for the defensive team when an offensive player is flag tackled behind their own goal line, runs or ball goes out of the back of the end zone. Offensive team will have the option to punt or kick-off from their 15 yard line. Safety- two (2) points will be awarded to the kicking team if the receiving team touches the ball between the goal line and the 15 yard line in the field of play and the ball rolls into the endzone and is either downed or the player’s flag is pulled. 4. OFFENSE At least four (4) players must be on the line of scrimmage for each play. Only three players may be in the backfield. All players are eligible to receive a pass. The center may only snap the ball to any backfield player. Each team will have 25 seconds to snap the ball after the official marks the ball ready to play. Run and pass plays are allowed. Forward passes or handoffs in front of the body are only permitted behind the line of scrimmage and one (1) time per down. Laterals and backward passes are permitted anywhere on the field and can happen an unlimited amount of times. The quarterback or passer is downed if their flag is pulled while he/she still has possession of the ball, even if they are in a throwing motion. Direct runs within an 8 foot lane up the middle (4 feet on either side of the center) are not allowed. A direct run is any run by a ball carrier on a handoff, pass, or direct snap. It does not include a run or broken play that extends out beyond the 8 foot lane and then cuts back toward the center of the field. This is a judgment call on the official’s part. The offensive team has 4 downs to advance the ball to or beyond the next down line. If successful, they are awarded a first down and have four more downs to reach the next down line or the goal line. If they fail to do advance the ball to the next down line on third down they have the choice of going for it on fourth down or punting the ball to the defensive team. 5. DEFENSE: Defensive players are not allowed to jump or dive (Superman) for a flag. A lunge (a sudden forward thrust of the body, typically with an arm outstretched to seize the flag) that may bring the pursuing player to the ground is not considered a jump or dive. Players may not line up over center and rush the quarterback. All rushers must come from over or outside the offensive “tackle” Defensive players must pull the ball carriers flag. There is no tackling or stripping the ball. This includes going after the quarterback or passer’s arm. Once a flag has been pulled, the defensive player must return the flag to the offensive player. 6. BALL CARRIERS Hurdling, jumping, spinning (180 or 360 degrees), stiff arming, and flag guarding to avoid having their flag pulled are prohibited. It is the responsibility of the ball carrier to avoid contact with the defensive players. 7. DOWNING THE BALL CARRIER A ball carrier is considered down when any of the following happen: Their flag belt is pulled off by another player Their flag belt falls off (down at the spot of the flag falling off) Any part of the body other than the hands or feet touch the ground When the ball hits the ground. Except on kickoffs inside the 15 yard line and exchanges between the center and punter. When they go out of bounds If a receiver or intercepting players flag falls off before he catches the ball, the play will be blown dead at the point where the catch is made. The officials will spot the ball at the “down” location, which becomes the new line of scrimmage. Players intentionally dropping or pulling flags of non-ball carriers during game action will be accessed a five yard penalty. 8. KICK OFFS There are no on-side kicks Kick-offs are made from the 15 yard line in the 1-4 grade divisions and the mid- field line in the 5-6 grade division. No kicking team player may cross line prior to the kick. The receiving team must line up behind the 15 yard line and may not cross the 15 yard line prior to the kick.