2020 Flag Football st th 1 through 12 Grade Pleasant Grove Recreation 547 S. Locust Ave. Pleasant Grove, UT 84062 785-6172 / rec.plgrove.org Pleasant Grove Recreation Flag Football Rules THE FIELD DIMENSIONS – The length of the fields are approximately 45 yards for 1st - 6th grades and 80 yards for 7th - 12th grades. The width of the field is approximately 25 yards for 1st – 6th grades and 35 for 7th – 9th. Each field is divided laterally into equal halves or thirds within which the offensive team has 4 downs to cross into the next zone. SIDELINE – All participants (players, coaches, and spectators) not in the game need to be on the sidelines of the field at least a yard away from the out-of-bounds line. Participants not in the game should not be behind the end zones of the field. Referees may access a penalty to necessary teams if needed. Referees generally will access a warning before giving a penalty. PENALTY – SIDELINE INFRACTION: 5 STEPS / LOS or POI (Offense may elect to replay the play or take the yards if the penalty was against the defense) THE GAME COIN TOSS – Each game will begin with a coin toss. Captains from each team will meet at midfield. The team that arrives at midfield first will have the option of calling the toss in the air. The team that wins the toss will have the option to pick between receiving the ball in the first half, receiving in the second half, or defending a side of the field. The other team will then select the remaining choice. In the second half, the team that didn’t receive first will receive the ball and both teams will flip directions. DOWNS – During the game, each team will have 4 downs in which to enter the next half or third, upon which another 4 downs shall be awarded. The offense cannot gain the same first down line more than once in a possession. If penalties or poor play causes the offense to lose ground into a prior half or third, the original line or goal line remains the amount to gain. The offense must then pass through the zone in which the penalty occurred and cross into the next half or third to achieve a first down or touchdown. However, on a change of possession, when a penalty sends the ball into a rear half or third, the offense has 4 downs to make the line to gain in the zone they start from. A down is declared when the person having the ball is tackled (knee/elbow touches ground, flag is pulled, or merely loses flag) and no penalty is called. If a penalty is called and accepted, the down remains the same (some exceptions) and yardage walked off. 1 DEAD BALL – A dead ball is declared any time the ball touches the ground after touching an offensive player. The offense can’t loss possession of the ball by way of a dead ball. Exceptions to the dead ball rule are listed below: 1. When the ball touches the ground during the snap, before the designated rusher gets to the quarterback in which case only the quarterback may pick the ball up and continue play, barring that the defensive team is not to close to the play (causing a potential dangerous play/situation), at which point the play will be blown dead by judgement of the referee. 2. On a scrimmage kick, if the ball touches the ground before a punt attempt, the ball may be picked up and punted. No rush can occur on a scrimmage kick. 3. When receiving a kickoff or punt, the receiving team may pick the ball up barring the kicking team is not near the ball causing a potentially dangerous play/situation. The play will be blown dead if the kicking team becomes too close at the judgement of the referee. SCORING – Scoring will be kept for the 5th – 12th grade leagues. Touchdowns will count as 6 points; teams will have the option to go for 1 or 2 points after touchdowns, the try for 1 point will be from 3 yards out, the try for 2 points will be from 10 yards out; a safety results in 2 points and receiving the ball. The 1st – 4th grade leagues will always attempt a try after the touchdown from the 3-yard line. SAFETY – If a safety occurs, the scoring team will receive 2 points and the ball. The previous offensive team will have the option to punt or place kick the ball from the designated kicking spots for each league (listed on pg. 4). Note: A player scoring the touchdown must raise his arms so the nearest official can deflag the player. If the player is not deflagged with one pull and the official determines the flag belt has been secured illegally, the touchdown is disallowed. PENALTY – FLAG INFRACTION: LOSS OF DOWN (Ball returned to previous LOS) (On a change of possession, the ball will be placed where the change of possession occurred) TIMING – The game shall consist of approximately two 25-minute halves. Halftime will be approximately 3 minutes long. The game clock will begin for the first half at game time or at the coin toss. Four plays will be called at the end of each half with approximately 3 minutes remaining. The half will then end after four more plays have been played. Kickoffs, punts, and extra points do not count towards the four plays. OUT OF BOUNDS – A player is considered out of bounds as soon as he steps on the perimeter lines or hits a sideline/end zone cone. A player may not intentionally or voluntarily leave the field during a play and return to catch a pass. 2 PENALTY – ILLEGAL TOUCHING: 5 STEPS / LOS (Loss of Down) THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE (LOS) – The scrimmage line is an imaginary line that runs the width of the field at the front tip of the football. POINT OF INFRACTION (POI) – The point at which a violation of the rules occurred and often the point from which the penalty is enforced. Flag guarding, pass interference, illegal runs/tackles/blocks are examples. THE EQUIPMENT SHOES – All players must wear shoes. Most turf shoes and soft rubber cleat shoes (no metal), that are approved for soccer and/or little league baseball are legal. Players wearing illegal shoes are ineligible to play until problem is resolved. BALLS – A pee wee size football will be used for 1st-4th grade. A junior size football will be used for 5th-9th grade. An official high school size football will be used for 10th-12th grade. FLAGS – Flags will be provided at each game. All players shall wear a flag belt with 3 flags; a flag shall be positioned just to the rear of each hip, and one down the back. The belt must be worn outside the uniform shirt, and may not be hidden, or the flags be secured in any way that would prohibit access, or from being pulled. See pg. 8. PENALTY – FLAG GUARDING: Blown dead at POI or first tackle attempt UNIFORM SHIRTS – All players are supplied with a uniform shirt from the Recreation Department. Uniform shirts must be worn on the outside of any jacket or sweatshirt. It is required that all upper body clothing be tucked in. Uniforms that are not tucked in or that prohibit the defense from pulling the flag will be blown dead at first tackle attempt. However, if a player’s jersey or shirt is pulled out because of a defender, the uniform fraction will be ignored for the rest of the play. WATCHES, JEWELRY, CASTS, ETC – All watches and jewelry must be removed prior to start of game. Players shall not wear anything dangerous to themselves or other players, such as watches, rings, hats, earrings, casts, etc. Wrapping of casts is not acceptable. The referee or supervisor will be the judge to determine other dangerous items. THE PLAYERS 3 NUMBER OF PLAYERS – 9 players shall constitute the maximum number of players a team may play on the field at any one time in 1st-6th grade, 7 players in 7th-9th, and 6 players in 10th-12th. However, teams will not forfeit in the 1st-4th grade leagues if a team has less than 9. In the 1st-4th grade leagues teams may divide players if one team doesn’t have enough players. FORFEIT TIME IS GAME TIME for the 5th- 12th grade leagues. In the 5th-6th grade league, a team will forfeit if they have less than 6 players. In the 7th-9th grade league, a team will forfeit if they have less than 6 players. In the 10th-12th grade league, a team will forfeit if they have less than 5 players. An opposing coach and team have the option to grant a leeway to give the other team enough time to field a team if they would like. Exceptions may also be made if teams call the program coordinator prior to the scheduled game date. Games may also potentially be rescheduled if both teams agree and the league supervisors approve. Having more players than the amount agreed upon on the field at one time is a violation. PENALTY – ILLEGAL SUBSTITUTION: 5 STEPS / LOS THE KICKING GAME THE KICKOFF WHO – Team captains shall meet with the referees at the first of the game to decide who will kick and who will receive for each half. See coin toss on pg. 1. HOW & WHERE – The kickoff shall be a place kick (on the ground or on the tee).