EAST YONKERS BOYS & GIRLS CLUB NFL FLAG FOOTBALL 2020 LEAGUE RULES (Updated 9/17/20) 15 General Rules: - Teams must field a minimum of five players at all times. If a team has only 4 players, then it is up to the opposing coach to decide on the following: a) Play 4 on 4 b) Play 5 on 4 c) Accept the win via forfeit - In the event that a player gets injured and is unable to play, a team can play with as few as four players, anything less will result in the game being stopped and the team that has fewer than four players will be given a loss. - A maximum of five players are allowed on the field (offense/defense) at the time the ball is snapped, regardless of how many players were in the huddle. - In 2020 due to Covid-19, teams consist of 8 players – five on the field, with the balance of the players acting as substitutes. - Each player must play at least 12 plays per game (combination of offense/defense). If this rule is not enforced by the coaching staff, the league office will speak with the head coach. If the issue is not addressed, the head coach will be at risk of a one game suspension. The only exception to this rule is if a player consistently misses practice or consistently fools around during the game at which point the head coach must address the situation to both the parent and league office. - Players must play in at least 50% of the team’s regular season games in order for them to be eligible to participate in any playoff games as well as in the League’s Annual Turkey Bowl Games. The only exception to this rule is if the player was unable to play in regular season games due to an injury or medical illness ( a medical note must be provided). - The home team must provide the officials with the game ball. In the event that the home team does not provide a game ball, they will forfeit a time-out in both the 1st and 2nd half. - The offensive team takes possession of the ball on its 5-yard line and has three plays to cross midfield. If the offensive team fails to cross midfield, possession of the ball changes and the opposition starts its drive from its own 5-yard line. - In the event that the offensive team crosses midfield, it has three additional plays to score a touchdown. If the offense fails to score, the ball changes possession and the new offensive team takes over on their own 5-yard line. 15 - Interceptions are allowed and can be returned. In the event that the interception does not result in a touchdown, the ball will be spotted where the defenders flag was pulled and there will be a change of possession. Ball Sizes - Teams in the 7-9 age group will use the blue junior size football provided. - Teams in the 10-11, 12-13 and 13-15 age groups will use the youth size football provided. - Teams in the 16-18 age group will use the larger size football provided. Timing of Game: - Games are played for 40 minutes of running time with the exception of the final 2 minutes of the game, when the clock stops as it would in the NFL (i.e. incomplete pass, out of bounds, change of possession, extra point conversion, and timeout). - Please note that if the offensive team scores a touchdown and time expires at the end of the 1st or 2nd half, you must go for the extra point. - The end of 1st half or 2nd half of the game cannot end on a defensive penalty unless the offensive team declines the penalty. - Each game will consist of (2) twenty minutes halves with a 2-minute half time. - The winner of the coin toss will determine one of the following: a) whether they would like to have the ball to start the 1st or 2nd half of the game or b) which goal they would like to defend in the first half. The second half will begin with the ball going to the team that started the game on defense, as well as each team defending the opposite end zone. - Possession changes at the start of the 2nd half. The team that was on defense to start the game will start the 2nd half on offense going in the opposite direction. - Forfeit time is generally 15 minutes after the scheduled start time of the game, with the league office making the final decision. If a team has a coach and at least 4 players at the field visible, the game must begin at the scheduled start time. - During a regular season game, if the score is tied at the end of regulation time, teams will play one overtime period for an additional 5 minutes. The first team to score wins. If no one scores, the game ends in a tie. Playoff games will consist of 5 minute overtime periods until 15 a team scores. During each overtime period the first five minutes will be running time, with the clock stopping in the final minute as it does in the NFL. Each team will be granted one timeout in each overtime period. - Each time the ball is spotted, a team has 30 seconds to snap the ball. There will be no delay of game warning granted. - A 10 second warning may be announced by the official keeping time, but it is not mandatory. - The official time is held by the referee. The field clock is for reference only. If necessary, the referee will update the field clock as frequently as possible. - Each team will have three 30-second timeouts per half – unused timeouts cannot be carried over to the next half. Each team will be granted one timeout in the overtime period. Consecutive timeouts by the same team will not be granted and will result in a 5-yard penalty (no loss of down). - If a coach disputes an interpretation of the rules made by the official and as a result it involves stopping the clock, the team challenging the call will be charged with a timeout if the call made on the field stands (if a team has no timeouts left they will be given a five yard penalty). - The official keeping time will announce a two-minute warning at the end of the 1st half and both a four and two-minute warning at the end of the 2nd half. - The clock will be stopped for on the field injuries, and for any rule interpretation between an official and coach. - Officials can stop the game clock at any time they deem necessary. - An official timeout can only be called by a coach; it will be in effect once it is recognized by an official. After the timeout has been completed, the 30-second play clock will begin once the official blows his whistle. The official game clock will begin once the ball has been snapped. - When a team is ahead by 25 or more points with less than four minutes left to the game or ahead by 18 or more points with less than two minutes left to the game, the following rules will be in effect: 15 - The team that is ahead can only run the ball on offense, except if that team is in a no-run zone. - The official clock will continue to run with no stoppage of time regardless of who is in possession of the ball. - Both teams are prohibited from calling time outs. - If the team that is ahead intercepts the ball on defense, the whistle will be blown and play is dead – interceptions will not be able to be returned. Scoring: - A touchdown is worth 6 points. - Extra point from the 5-yard line is worth 1 point (must be a pass). Interceptions can be returned by the defensive team on an extra point conversion. If the interception results in a touchdown, the defense will be rewarded one point. Any penalty invoked by the offensive team (post interception) will also result in one point awarded to the defensive team. - Extra point from the 12-yard line is worth 2 points (offensive team can run or pass). Interceptions can be returned by the defensive team on an extra point conversion. If the interception results in a touchdown, the defense will be rewarded two points. Any penalty invoked by the offensive team (post interception) will also result in two points awarded to the defensive team. - Once a coach declares whether they are going for a 1-point or 2-point conversion, that decision will be considered final and can only be changed if the team calls a timeout. - A safety is worth 2 points. - Once a team is leading by 20 or more points, that team will not be allowed to rush the quarterback until their lead falls below 20 points. - We will start off the season with the no slaughter rule, but there will be certain exceptions to the league rules when a team is ahead by certain amount of points in the final minutes of a game (see ruling under the ‘timing of the game’ section of the attached rules). 15 Running: - The quarterback cannot run with the ball. - Direct handoffs, tosses, and pitches behind the line of scrimmage are permitted. Overhand lateral passes behind the line of scrimmage are not permitted. All pitches and tosses behind the line of scrimmage must be made behind the quarterback and must come directly from the quarterback.