FLAG FOOTBALL FIELD RULES GENERAL TIMING Field Dimensions: 60yards x 40yards x 10 yards (end zones) Games are 40 minutes running time with (2) 20 minute halves Ball Sizes Teams will have (2) 30 second timeout per half U6/U8: Pee Wee Halftime is 2 minutes long. (Teams change sides of the field.) U10/U12: Junior Each time the ball is spotted, a team has 30 seconds to snap the U15/U18: Collegiate ball. Equal playing time is the rule: Each player should play at Officials can stop the clock at their discretion. In the event of an least half of the game and appear in each half (exception: injury, the clock will stop and then restart when the injured injury) player is removed from the field of play. In the event of sudden inclement weather, any game that The clock will continuously run, except the last 2 minutes of the has reached half-time or more will be considered complete 2nd half Tennis shoes or plastic/rubber cleats may be worn. Metal cleats are prohibited. The offense’s play clock will start when the official spots the ball and the offense must snap the ball as follows: Team shirts must be worn and tucked in to avoid covering U6/U8 – No time limit but be mindful of the continuously running clock the flags. and absolutely no intentional time delays. No watches or jewelry may be worn during a game U10 – No time limit but be mindful of the continuously running clock and absolutely no intentional time delays. GAME PLAY U12 & up – Within 40 seconds. Games will begin with a opening prayer and official’s The offense must advance the ball past the line of scrimmage, expectations. either by run or by pass, as follows: At the start of each game, captains from both teams meet at U6/U8 – No time limit but be mindful of the continuously midfield for the coin toss to determine who starts with the running clock and absolutely no intentional time delays. ball. The visiting team calls the toss. U10 – Within 10 seconds of the ball being snapped. U12 – Within 7 seconds of the ball being snapped. The winner of the coin toss has the choice to take offense or If the ball is not advanced past the line of scrimmage within defense. The loser of the coin toss chooses which direction it will be defend. There is no option to defer to the second half. the specified time limit, the play will be whistled dead by the The offensive team takes possession of the ball at its 5-yard official, the down will count and the ball will be spotted at the line and has four(4) plays to cross midfield. Once a team previous line of scrimmage. crosses midfield, it has four (4) plays to score a touchdown. SCORING If the offense fails to cross midfield or fails to score, the ball changes possession, and the new offensive team takes over Touchdown: 6 points on its own 5-yard line. Safety: 2 points All possession changes, except interceptions, start on the Extra point: 1 point (from 5-yard line, the offense can only pass offense’s 5-yard line. the ball & defense cannot pass rush/blitz) OR 2 points (from 10- Teams change sides after the first half. Possession changes to yard line, offense may run or pass the ball & defense can push the team that started the game on defense. rush/blitz within normal defensive protocol – see defensive All leagues will play a 5 v 5 format section) In the event that a team does not have enough players Overtime winner: Add 1 or 2 points to winning team’s score to take the field, the coach of the team has three which is determined on their FINAL position and if they scored options: from 5 or 10-yard line. 1. Play a person down If the defense returns an interception on the extra point to the 2. Ask the opposing coach to borrow players opposite end zone, the defense will be awarded 2 points. 3. Ask the opposing coach to play a 4 v 4 format. A safety will be awarded to the defense if the ball carrier’s flag is COACHES pulled while their feet are in the end zone only. A safety is worth Coaches may be on the field ONLY in the huddle with the 2 points and possession. players A fumbled ball in the end zone will not result in a safety. The Only U6 League coaches are permitted to be on the field of down will count and the ball will be spotted on the 1-yard line. play at all times – limit to one coach, and should move as far from the play as possible. Once the ball is snapped, coaches should refrain from talking during the play. Any coach that does get in the way of the play will be asked to step completely off the field after the huddle breaks PENALTIES LIVE BALL/DEAD BALL CONTINUED The referee will call all penalties. In the case of an inadvertent whistle, the offense has the Referees determine incidental contact that may result from option to: normal run of play. This is considered a judgement call. 1) count the down and take the ball where it was when Players cannot question judgement calls. Only the team the whistle blew; captain or the head coach may ask the referee questions about 2) replay the down from the previous line of scrimmage. ruleRUSHING clarification THE and PASSERrule interpretations. All penalties will be assessed from the line of scrimmage, The team that fumbles a ball retains possession unless the except for SPOT FOULS. play results in a turnover on downs. Games cannot end on a defensive penalty unless the offense OVERTIME RULES declines. If the distance to the goal is shorter than the penalty yardage, Overtime (Only for U12 and up Tournament) then the penalty will be assessed half the distance to the goal. A coin flip will determine the team that chooses to be on Loss of down means that down is consumed. offense or defense first. Any loss of down on the third down results in a turnover on Each team will take turns getting one (1) play from the downs and the other team taking possession. defense’s 5-yard line for one point SPOT FOULS or the defense’s 10-yard line for two points. SPOTTIMING FOULS Whether to go for one or two points is up to the offensive DEFENSIVE PENALTIES team. Offside: +5 yards from LOS Whether or not the team that begins on offense converts Illegal Rush: +5 yards from LOS the team that started on defense gets a chance on offense Illegal Flag Pull: +5 yards from LOS to win or tie by converting a one- or two-point play of their Defensive Pass Interference: +5 yards from LOS own. Roughing the Passer: +5 yards from LOS Both teams must “go for two” from the 10-yard line starting Taunting: +5 yards from LOS with the third round of overtime. Unsportsmanlike Conduct: +10 Yards from LOS All regulation period rules and penalties are in effect. OFFENSIVE PENALTIES There are no timeouts. False Start: -5 Yards from LOS Illegal Forward Pass: -5 Yards from LOS OFFENSE Offensive Pass Interference: -5 Yards from LOS Illegal Motion: -5 Yards from LOS Any formation is allowed. However, the quarterback must Delay of Game: -5 Yards from LOS be lined up behind the center. Illegal Blocking: -5 from LOS The offense must be set and behind the line of scrimmage Taunting: -5 from LOS when the ball is snapped except as described below. Unsportsmanlike Conduct | -10 Yards from LOS The offense may have one player in motion provided that LIVE BALL/DEAD BALL the motion is parallel to or away from the line of scrimmage. Live Ball There must be a clear exchange between the center and the A play is live at the snap of the ball and remains live until the quarterback with the ball completely leaving the center’s official whistles it “dead”. hands. The center may snap the ball between the legs or Play will be ruled dead when: from a side snap position. The ball carriers flag is pulled OR the ball is touched by a The quarterback may not run the ball unless a defensive defender after having his/her flag inadvertently fall. player crosses the line of scrimmage. Incomplete passes and fumbled snaps will be spotted at the Offensive players cannot block or otherwise shield a previous line of scrimmage. defensive player from the quarterback or a ball carrier. Other fumbles will be spotted where the ball hits the ground. If the ball is spotted on or within the defense’s 5-yard line, The ball will be spotted where the ball carrier’s feet are when the offense is limited to pass only and may not run the ball. the flag is pulled, not where the ball is located. If one foot Running the Ball: precedes the other, the forward foot marks the spot. Hand offs and pitches, of any kind, are allowed behind the Dead Balls Include: line of scrimmage. The ball carrier steps out of bounds Laterals are allowed anywhere on the field. A touchdown or extra point is served A ball carrier may spin but MAY NOT hurdle, jump, or dive. The ball carrier’s body, excluding hands or feet, touches the A ball carrier may not stiff arm OR otherwise physically ground impede the pulling of their flag from a defender.