NFL Flag Caches Packet (updated Winter 2018-19) TABLE OF CONTENTS: Page 1: Facility Rules Page 2: Cach Agreement Pages 3-6: League Rules Page 7: Caching Tips
United Sprts Facility Rules Individuals utilizing United Sprts d s at their wn risk. The prperty wner(s), league peratrs, fficers, and staff f United Sprts assume n liability fr any injuries r accidents, which may ccur. - Cnduct within the facility shuld be in the spirit f gd sprtsmanship at all times. - At n time shall spectatrs enter the field t speak with fficials, caches, r players. Any spectatr that enters the field t cnfrnt an fficial r anther player may be subject t suspensin frm the facility. - Rude, inapprpriate, and disrespectful language is nt tlerated, and will result in facility suspensin. - All players must be paid in full and registered n a rster t play n a team. There are n sub players allwed. - N refunds will be given. United Sprts credit may be issued if warranted. - United Sprts reserves the right t change league and games schedules and days as it deems apprpriate based n field and curt availability. - Shuld yu find r lse any items please reprt the incident immediately t a United Sprts emplyee. The United Sprts wner(s) and staff d nt assume respnsibility fr any items lst r stlen. - N chewing tbacc, chewing gum, sunflwer seeds, r similar type prducts permitted in facility. - N glass cntainers n the field, vlleyball curts, r in the player bxes. - NO pets inside the facility r n the utdr fields. - Children must be supervised at all times. - Vilatin f any f the abve regulatins may result in suspensin frm the facility. Weather Plicy - As an indr sprts facility, we try t stay pen in all weather cnditins. Our facility des nt fllw any f the schl, city, r cunty cancellatin plicies. Cancellatins will be psted n ur website and phne system. If we remain pen fr league games and yu feel that it is unsafe t travel, please stay at hme. Rescheduling criteria fr inclement weather cancellatin: Playff games will be rescheduled 1 game missed due t weather- NO RESCHEDULE GUARANTEED, WILL IF POSSIBLE 2 games missed due t weather- we will try t reschedule ne f the games, but cannt make guarantees due t ther prgramming NO refunds will be given fr missed games due t inclement weather. Befre traveling, please call ur weather htline at 610-466-9744. We will update this line with the current status f all leagues and prgrams in the event f inclement weather. We will als update the website with any pertinent infrmatin. We encurage all caches t set up sme srt f cmmunicatin methd (phne tree, email chain, etc) that way everyne n the team can help make everyne else aware. All caches received email lists and encurage them t cmmunicate via email with their teams.
As a Cach, I prmise t: IMPORTANT UPDATE AS OF FALL 2016: ALL COACHES MUST PROVIDE PA CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK, HAND IN TO MATT ATTACHED TO THIS FORM OR SEND DIGITAL COPIES TO EMAIL (FREE FOR VOLUNTEERS AT THIS LINK HERE) 1. 1 Be respnsible fr my behavir and that f my team members, their parents, and fans. 2. Never physically, verbally, r mentally harm a child in my care. 3. Be cnsistent, set parameters, and dn't let the players g utside them. 4. BE POSITIVE! Smile, and enthusiastically encurage my players. TONE is imprtant! 5. Lead by example, and encurage my team members t play by the league rules and respect the rights f ther players, caches, fans and fficials. 6. Be knwledgeable f and abide by the LEAGUE RULES AND REGULATIONS, and teach these rules t all players n my team. 7. Understand winning is NOT the pririty f this league. 8. Place the emtinal and physical well-being f my players ahead f a persnal desire r external pressure t win. 9. Allw each athlete the pprtunity t play each psitin as they desire. 10. Ensure that my players are supervised by myself r anther designated adult and never allw my players t be left unattended r unsupervised at a game r practice. 11. Never knwingly permit an injured player t play/return t a game. 12. Respect the game and league fficials and cmmunicate with them in an apprpriate manner. 13. Ensure all players have an EQUAL pprtunity t play in the games. ALL players shuld be subbing n a rtatin. Team: Divisin: Cach: (Print) Cach: (Print) Cach: (Print) (Sign) (Sign) (Sign)
United Sprts Yuth Flag Ftball League Updated 11/6/17 Winter Seasn CLOCK AND GAME: K-1 will play 7v7 - ALL ther divisins will play 6v6 indrs n the turf fields If a team nly has nly 5 players present, the ppsing team must play 5v5. Teams that are shrt may play 4v5, but a team will nt be frced t drp belw 5 players at any time. The game may be frfeited with a 21-0 scre reprted and be played fr fun with sharing players if teams chse. Tw (2) Twenty (20) minute halves with running clck (quick half-time) Cin tss determines wh begins with ball at beginning f game, ther team starts secnd half Each team has 2 time uts per game f 30 secnds (time ut resets play clck) 40 secnd play clck (kept by the referee) 30 secnd P.A.T. play clck Team shuld take separate sidelines. The hme team, shuld be n the sideline f the HOME side f the screbard when facing it, the visiting team shuld be n the ppsite side lined up with GUESTS n the screbard. K-1 st and 2 nd -3 rd Grade caches are encuraged t be n the field t help n either Offense r Defense, but must be sure t stay ut f the play and let players play. If a cach gets in the way, they will be warned ONCE, any subsequent interference with play will require the defensive cach t be remved frm the field fr the rest f the game. Caches are nt t call ut ppnents plays r assist players in that capacity. Will be warned nce, then assessed unsprtsmanlike penalty fr this behavir. 4 th -5 th Grade and 6 th -8 th Grade defensive caches will remain n sidelines nce a pssessin begins in rder t be ut f the way and prvide mre pprtunity fr the players t take leadership rles. One (1) ffensive cach may stay n the field t huddle team and call plays. Clck will stp at 1 minute left in the game if the game is within ne scre (9 r pint differential, the clck will run if a stp clck scenari, the clck will stp n incmplete pass, ut f bunds, penalties, TDs and change f pssessin. PATs are untimed dwns. There is n Overtime in the regular seasn. Games may end in a TIE. BALL MOVEMENT: Offense begins n 5-yard line as marked by fficial. Center starts ffense by snapping the ball t QB (DOES NOT need t be thrugh legs, but ball must be n the grund when starting) The ffensive team must have a minimum f TWO players n the line f scrimmage at the snap. The players d nt have t be lineman ie. Guard,center they just must be simply n the LOS anywhere alng the line. Only ne player may be in mtin, but they d nt cunt as a player n the line. Team has 3 plays t crss mid-field fr first dwn and then 3 plays t scre (* K-1 Divisin has 4 dwns*) After 3 rd dwn, if the ffensive team has nt reached midfield, nr scred a tuchdwn, the ppsing team gets the ball n their 5 yard line. There are n punts. If the ball is intercepted, ffense is sptted at end f return and ffense is started. NO FUMBLE RECOVERIES Ball is dead n cntact with turf. (**If a snap is fumbled, it may be picked up ONLY by the player wh it is snapped t (QB) and resume play**) Play is dead when ball carrier s flag is pulled r knees/elbw/shulder/etc. make cntact with the grund.
Spt f the ball is the players entire bdy/hips, NOT FOOTBALL reaching ball ver the gal line desn t get yu a tuchdwn, player must crss gal line/first dwn with hips/whle bdy Quarterback has 7 secnds t thrw the ball unless blitzed. After 7 secnds, the play is blwn dead and the dwn is lst. Referee will cunt the secnds ut lud. -Quarterback (Player wh initially takes snap) may nly run the ball when he is blitzed and nly after blitzer crsses the LOS. RUNNING/RECEIVING: Set screens (picks) are allwed. There is n BLOCKING. An ffensive player must NOT mve their feet r extend arms/legs t impede the defense. Offense may run dwn field, but if cntact is made with defense, they may be called with a mving pick and illegal blck. Best fr ffensive players t get dwn field and hld psitin t avid penalty. Setting intentinally rugh, blind-screens may be grunds fr an unsprtsmanlike penalty at the referee s sle discretin. A cmpleted pass is when a player cmes dwn with the ball in bunds with ne ft tuching in bunds. (Cllege Rules). Laterals and pitches are allwed (must nt be frward). Everyne is an eligible receiver. Ball carriers may nt jump thrugh a flag pull while carrying with the ball will be immediately blwn dead if ref rules a jumping actin t avid a flag pull tk place NO DIVING, NO JUMPING, NO HURDLING while carrying the ftball. Play will be blwn dead at spt f a jump. Lateral cuts kay, but jumping thrugh a flag is prhibited **NO FLAG GAURDING- any actin t impede the defense t pull a flag is prhibited. i.e. Running with arms in way f flags/blcking/swiping/ at defenders hands and stiff arming. NO RUN ZONE Offense may nt run the ball within 5 yards f midfield and 5 yards f end zne unless quarterback is blitzed. (Ref will infrm bth caches when the play is in the n-run zne. Team MAY NOT use a running back/wide receiver pass in the n run zne. QB must keep the ball and pass in this situatin. If a ball is handed ff r pitched, play shuld immediately be blwn dead and play is ver. The quarterback must pass the ball acrss the line f scrimmage when in the n-run zne. N screens/shvels behind the LOS t satisfy a pass in n-run zne, must be frward. DEFENSE: Defense may send ne (1) blitzer n any dwn, except K-1 st wh may nly blitz nce per ever 4 dwn series. The blitz must start 7 yards AWAY OFF OF the line f scrimmage. (Referee will mark the blitzing line with bean bag and it extends acrss the field) Rush can cme frm anywhere n the field behind the line, as lng as the player checks in with ref prir t the play if rushing frm a crner r defensive backfield psitin. Blitzer may rush nce the ball is snapped. Defense may crss the line f scrimmage n a hand ff/pitch, but must wait until the ball changes pssessin (unless blitzing). Fr K-1 st ONLY - Defenses will start ff the line with a 3-yard buffer ff f the line f scrimmage until the ball is snapped, the referee will d his best t enfrce this, but caches please help with this as well. It will help t keep the cluster ff f the line f scrimmage and players stepping int the backfield befre the ball is snapped r handed ff.
FLAG PULLING: Player is dwn when ne flag is pulled r a knee, elbw, ther bdy part is dwn. Spt f the ball is player s entire bdy/flags/hips, NOT BALL like tackle since a flag may still be pulled in the field f play with a ball being stretched ut After pulling a flag, defender shuld raise the flag abve his head t help referee see the spt. Defender shuld drp flag n the spt r hand flag back t ball carrier after pull. If flag falls ut at any time, r player starts play withut a flag, player is still eligible f pssessin f ball, but will be dwn with ne hand tuch. A defensive player shall nt hld, grasp r bstruct the frward prgress f the runner when attempting t remve the flag. Bth the ball carrier and flag puller must make effrts t avid direct bdy cntact r impeding frward prgress. Intentinal grabbing the ball carrier s clthing r bdy will result in a penalty added nt the end f the play. Defensive players must always make an effrt t pull the flag. Players MAY NOT blatantly/purpsefully frce a player ut-f-bunds. Clear Path Rule If a player is pushed ut-f-bunds, held, tackled, etc. by the last line f defense t prevent a tuchdwn, the play will be ruled as a tuchdwn. This will be ruled in the referees discretin based n intent f the play and with ttal understanding that the player was last line f defense. Any player pursuing a running r thrwing quarterback may nly pull flags. N cntact, incidental r therwise is allwed. KICKING: There is n kicking in the game SCORING: 6 pints fr a Tuchdwn 2 pints fr safety 1 pint fr cnversin after tuchdwn, ball is sptted n 4 yard line Interceptins may be returned fr 1-pt, defense MAY blitz nt a wise idea as it allws the QB t run if yu blitz. The ball must be passed- inside the n run zne unless blitzed. 2 pint cnversin after tuchdwn, ball is sptted n the 7 yard line. Team may run r pass, interceptins MAY be returned fr 2 pints, and Defense may send a blitz. SPORTSMANSHIP RULES: If a team takes a 21-pint lead the fllwing rules g int place: Team that is leading may n lnger blitz. All scring will be recrded n the referee s card, but wins will nly be recrded with a margin f 21 pints in rder t discurage teams frm intentinally running up the scre. PENALTIES: Offside - 5 yards r half the distance replay dwn Defensive Hlding/Obstructin f Frward prgress n a ball carrier: 5 yards frm spt f the ful r half the distance, first dwn Referee s judgment call - Incidental cntact will nt be called, nly intentinal grabbing r lack f care when attempting t pull flag Delay f game - 5 yards r half the distance
Illegal Blcks extending arms t blck r setting a mving screen spt f the ball at the spt f the ful, lss f dwn Offset penalties - replay dwn Illegal rush (starting rush early r inside 7-yard marker)- 5 yards and replay the dwn Illegal frward pass 5 yards and lss f dwn Illegal mtin (mre than ne persn mving r false start) 5 yards and replay the dwn (will be lenient with K-1 st ) Flag guarding any actin the player takes t guard his/her flag, arm in the way, stiff arm, swiping hand, etc. Offense: 5 yards frm spt f the ful and the play will be whistled dead. Defense after interceptin: 5 yards frm spt f ful begin ffense Offensive pass interference- 10 yards frm riginal spt, lss f dwn Defensive Pass interference 10 yards frm riginal spt, autmatic first dwn Illegal cntact with Passer 10 yards frm riginal spt, autmatic first dwn Unnecessary rughness/unsprtsmanlike Cnduct/Persnal Ful Defense: 15 yards autmatic first dwn Offense: 15 yards lss f dwn Acts f deliberate tackling, cheap shts, r an unsprtsmanlike act will nt be tlerated. Player may be ejected frm the game and will result in unsprtsmanlike penalty at the sle discretin f the referee. Depending n severity, player may be subject t suspensin r expulsin frm the league withut refund. Any player instigating r encuraging a fight, taunting r thrwing a punch/kick will be immediately remved frm the game and be subject t further disciplinary actin at the sle discretin f the league directr. Trash talking is illegal and may result in unsprtsmanlike penalty. Any player, cach r spectatr verbally abusing a player, spectatr, referee r emplyee f United Sprts will be immediately remved frm the game and escrted frm the facility. Persnal fuls/unsprtsmanlike penalties will result in an autmatic first dwn and 15 yards frm the end f the play. Player assessed the ful may be subject t remval frm the game fr the remainder f the half, r lnger at the referees sle discretin based n severity f incident.
Caching Tips Practices: Thank yu fr caching. Please use the practice time t put in a basic ffense and defensive sets. Spend plenty f time practicing different drills t pull flags as it des nt matter if everyne is in the right spt, if they dn t pull flags, yu simply cannt stp the ther team. Have fun, create fun games fr flag pulling, if yu need help with sme drills r anything, let me knw. Build n what yu wrked n and review fr the secnd practice. Offense: Be sure t put in a cuple f plays and explain basic passing rutes s the team can react in a huddle fr the first game with a play clck ticking dwn. Depending n the age grup, it is usually best t keep things mre r less basic and build upn that. Sme lder grups can catch nt mre cmplex packages early, but basic handffs, tsses, and passes are a gd place t start. Be sure t have a play r a set handy t beat a blitz. If a team has a gd blitzer, it can make fr a nightmare if yu are unprepared fr it. Make sure QBs knw that they can run when blitzed and have shrt dumps prepared if he needs help. Shrt dump patterns will take immense pressure ff the QB knwing he has that safety valve. Defense: As caches, yu will have t decide yu will want t play. Will yu blitz? Hw ften? Will yu play with a safety ver the tp? Man? Zne? A hybrid? There are many chices. Again, dependent n the age grup and the team s ability t catch n will allw yu t be very basic r d mre. It is imprtant t teach cmmunicatin when caching man-t-man defense. The team will learn they have t be vcal and call ut which player they have t be set. Yu will have the flexibility t put a safety ver the tp r t blitz when in man cverage r znes.