GYSF FLAG FOOTBALL RULES

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1 GYSF FLAG FOOTBALL RULES Updated September 2016

2 NUMBER OF PLAYERS: A game is played between two teams consisting of 7 players each; unless mutual consent is reached between the two opposing coaches for a lower number in the case that one team has fewer than 7 players. Each team will consist of no more than 11 players. All games will use a PeeWee size football for 1 st - 4 th grades. SPORTSMANSHIP: GYSF has and always will promote good sportsmanship on and off the field. If a player has been expelled from school, then they will not be allowed to practice or play in a game until reinstated back into school. Parent communication will be required at this point to determine the child's eligibility. After each game, players along with the coaches should meet in the middle for a hand shake. COACHING REQUIREMENTS: All coaches must be approved by the GYSF Officers. If you are interested in coaching, you will need t o fill out the Coaching Interest Each form will be reviewed & you will be contacted if further information is needed to proceed with a possible coaching position. All Head & Asst. Coaches will need to complete a background check that is good for 2 years, sign & return the coaches conduct form & complete the Concussion Training on the GYSF website prior to practice or games. GYSF has a zero tolerance policy. Refer to the GYSF Youth Football Flag Coaches Code of Conduct Agreement & Acceptance for rule violations. PRACTICE/GAMES: Three Four weeks (date TBD each season) prior to the first game on the Sunday after Labor Day, you may have 2 practices. Practice sites must be approved by the GYSF Officers. All games will be played on Sundays after 12noon. Times may vary depending on fields available. UNIFORMS: Reversible jerseys will be provided by the league to distinguish between teams. All shirts must be tucked in to allow the flag to hang freely. Black shorts are to be worn for game days. Flags colors are yellow & green, so these colors cannot be used for the player s shorts. Mouthpieces are mandatory & the first one will be provided by the league, $1 for another. A player without a mouthpiece will not be allowed to participate. OFFENSE/DEFENSE/LINE OF SCRIMMAGE: In order for a play to start, there must be an exchange of the ball from the center to one of the players in the backfield, which must be between the legs. The offensive team must have a minimum of four (4) players on the line of scrimmage. The defensive team must have 2 players on their line, and must line up at least one yard off of the ball. They must be lined up 1-yard outside of the ball and no further outside than off the outside foot of the offensive tackle or outside the normal pocket width, whichever is smaller. Start series at the 15 yd line, defense takes over at spot of the ball after 4th down if no first down or score. If the offense chooses to punt on 4th down the defense takes over on their own 15 yd line. POSITION REQUIREMENTS: No player may play quarterback/running back more than half of the snaps of each game. This does not mean that the player is limited to the first or second half, but that they can only play quarterback/running back half of the snaps of the entire game. The player(s) may play any other offensive position or on defense or remain out the other half of the game. PLAYING FIELDS: The playing area shall be approximately 60 yards long & 25 yards wide. All games will be played on the southside practice fields of Gretna Middle School. The field will be striped every 10 yards, but yard markers will also be present for first downs and the goal lines. NO PETS ALLOWED. This is for safety reasons. TIME: There will be two 20-minute halves. The clock will run continuously with the following exceptions. The clock shall stop: at the end of a scoring play when there is a change of possession from one team to the other when there is a charged time-out to either team. in the last 2-minutes of each half, the clock will be stopped on out-of-bounds and an incomplete pass. When the above plays occur, the clock shall be stopped and re-started when the ball is ne xt snapped. In any other instance (such as an injury) that requires the clock to be stopped, the clock shall be re-started when the ball is pronounced ready for play. 1 sixty-second time-out per team per half.

3 The officials shall announce when there are two minutes remaining in either half. 5 minutes between halves. There is one official required to begin the game, but in most instances 2 officials will be assigned to each game. COIN TOSS: Before the game begins, each team shall have up to 4 captains to meet at mid-field for a coin toss. The HOME team shall call the toss. The winner of the toss shall have four options: o be on offense first o be on defense first o defending a goal o deferring their option until the 2 nd half The team that did not have the option to begin the game, shall have the following three (3) options for the second half: 1-- be on offense first 2-- be on defense first 3-- defending a goal RUSHING/BLITZING: o All players that rush the passer must be a minimum of 5 yds from the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped. Any number of players can rush the QB, i.e. The Rush Cone o Players not rushing the QB may defend on the line of scrimmage. They are not permitted to be beyond line of scrimmage before football is snapped or changed possession from QB to runner, etc. o Once the ball is handed off, the 5yd rule is no longer in effect and all defenders may go behind the line of scrimmage. o Defensive players that are not 5 yrds back to rush QB cannot cross the line of scrimmage until possession of ball leaves the QB's hand. TEAM COACHES: Opposing coaches must meet prior to each game and at half time to discuss any issues that may arise. Only 1 coach for each team will be permitted on the field during play. Parents must remain off the field. Coaches on the field must be at least 5 yards back from the team once a play has begun. Coaches on or off the field will be allowed to receive 1 warning from the referees. The second warning will result in an ejection from the game. In the event of a call or ruling, the coaches can ask for a one on one with the head referee away from the players. DOWNS: There are no kickoffs in this league. A half will begin on a team s own 15 yard line. Each team will have 4 consecutive downs to advance the ball into the next zone or to score a touchdown. Once a team enters the next zone, it is a first down and a new series of downs begins. A team failing to move the ball into the next zone will lose possession. The opposing team takes over at the point where the ball becomes dead and begins the series of first down and zone to go, unless the offense chooses to punt the ball away. At the conclusion of each down, the ball will be placed in the center of the field. A team may use the punt option on any down. If the offensive team elects to use this option, then the defensive team will be awarded the ball on its own 15-yard line. There is no actual punting of the ball. DE-FLAGGING: There shall be no tackling of the ball carrier, passer, or kicker. The player carrying or having possession of the ball is down when the flag belt is removed from his waist (de-flagging). The defensive player shall hold the flag above his head and stand still. The defensive player cannot hold or push the ball carrier to remove his flag. An accidental touch of the body or shoulder while reaching for the belt shall not be considered a violation; however, touching of the head or face shall be considered a violation. A defensive player may not run over, push, or pull a blocker away from him. He may not push him sideways if he gets past him. He cannot push the blocker down. A defensive player must go for the passer s flag. He cannot touch the passer s arm. A defensive player may not leave his feet in attempting to remove an opponent s flag belt. BLOCKING: A blocker must be on his feet at all times while blocking. All offensive linemen, except the center, must assume the 3-point stance. Defense must be in a 2-point stance. Cross body and roll blocking are not permitted. A blocker can only have initial contact with hands (lockout). Elbows may not be extended more than 45-degree angle. No

4 flaring elbows will be permitted. Blocking a player from behind is not permitted (clipping). There shall be no blocking below the waist. BALL CARRIER: The ball carrier cannot use his hands or arm to protect his flags. The defensive player must have the opportunity to remove the ball carrier s flags. The ball carrier cannot lower his head to drive or run into a defensive player. Stiff-arming by the ball carrier is illegal. The ball carrier may run in any direction until the ball is declared dead. The ball carrier must have his shirt tail tucked in when carrying the ball, unless it was pulled out by an opponent during play Flag guarding will result in a 10-yard penalty PASSING: All offensive players are eligible passers. Forward passing will be attempted from behind the line of scrimmage only. MERCY RULE: Not in effect as Score will not be taken. When one team is 4-touchdowns or more ahead, then the trailing team will retain possession of the ball until the spread becomes less than 4-touchdowns. The trailing team will be given the ball, first down, on their 20-yard line after each series. RECEIVING: All players are eligible to receive forward passes. A receiver may catch a ball even if he steps out of bounds or out of the end zone as long as he comes down with one foot in-bounds. If an offensive and defensive player catches a pass simultaneously, the ball is declared dead at the spot of the catch and the passing team is awarded possession. DEAD BALL: All balls touching the ground are immediately dead (except the center snap to the quarterback) For example, the ball is declared dead at the following times: When the ball carrier touches the ground with his body, other than hands or feet. The ball carrier s flag belt has been pulled. The ball carrier s flag belt falls off. Following a scoring play. When the ball goes out of bounds for any reason. When the ball hits the ground as a result of a fumble or muffed ball (except the center snap to the quarterback). If an airborne fumble or pass is caught by an opponent, the ball is dead, but awarded to the opponent at that spot. If caught in mid-air by the team in possession, the ball remains alive. If an opponent catches the ball, the ball is dead, but awarded to the opponent at that spot. SCORING VALUES: Still TBD in the 2013 Season. Touchdown 6 points Safety 2 points PAT from 3-yard line 1 point PAT from 5-yard line 2 points PENALTIES (YARDS OF PENALTIES IN PARENTHESES): Line of Scrimmage-Centering o Offside, defensive or offensive (5) o Illegal Snap (5) o Illegal Motion (5) o Illegal Formation (5) o Delay of game (30 seconds) (5) A warning will be given at 25 seconds. o Illegal blitz (5) o False start (5) Illegal passing from beyond line of scrimmage (5) and loss of down. Pass Interference o Offensive (10) and loss of down

5 o Defensive-first down from spot of infraction for offensive team Flag wearing and de-flagging o Wearing the flags illegally (5) o Ball carrier using his hands to prevent a defensive player from de-flagging (10) o Leaving one s feet while de-flagging (10) o Ball carrier s shirt-tail out (5) Illegal hand-off o If the ball is handed forward beyond the scrimmage line (5) and loss of down. o Intentional grounding (5) and loss of down. Blocking o Leaving feet to block (10) o Illegal use of hands by blocker (10) o Holding a defensive player (10) Ball Carrier o Use of hands or arms to protect flags (10 from the spot of the foul) o Hurdling (5) Unnecessary Roughness o Offensive and Defensive (10) Disqualification of guilty player or players if repeated Unsportsmanlike Conduct o Defensive player pulling offensive player s flag belt to make him ineligible for play (10) o Stripping the ball from a ball carrier (10) Personal Fouls (15 each) o Tackling the runner (automatic ejection) o Fighting (automatic ejection) o Insulting and abusive language (1 warning) o Stiff-arming o Celebrating and Taunting (1 warning) o Holding, pushing, or hitting the ball carrier while de-flagging o Defensive player blocking or pushing the ball carrier out of bounds o Defensive player using hands illegally ZERO TOLERANCE WILL BE ENFORCED: All parents are required to remain on the opposite side of the players and coaches sideline with the exception only to attend an injury if directed by the coach. At no point before, during or after are any parents allowed on the playing field or players and coaches sideline. If violated, the team and all players will be jeopardy of being removed from the league. This must be addressed at your parent meeting the first week of practice because there will be no warnings. Updated 9/8/2016