ABSOLUTE ATHLETICS. CO-ED FLAG FOOTBALL RULEBOOK (updated Summer 2018)

ABSOLUTE ATHLETICS CO-ED FLAG FOOTBALL RULEBOOK (updated Summer 2018) 1

Table of Contents: Section 1: ABSOLUTE ATHLETIC RULES Part 1: Fees Part 2: Rosters Part 3: Captains Part 4: Officials Part 5: Forfeits Part 6: Protests Section 2: EQUIPMENT Part 1: Uniforms Part 2: Flags Part 3: Cleats Part 4: Game Ball Section 3: PERIODS AND TIME Part 1: Game Clock Part 2: Play Clock Part 3: Running Clock Part 4: Timeouts Part 5: Overtime Section 4: SCORING Part 1: TDs Part 2: Extra Points Part 3: Safeties Part 4: Mercy Rule Part 5: Flag Inspection 2

Section 5: GAME RULES Part 1: Format Part 2: Team Area Part 3: Start of the Game Part 4: Coin Toss Part 5: In/Out of Bounds Part 6: Dead Ball/Play Stops Part 7: Turnovers Part 8: Inadvertent Whistle Section 6: OFFENSE Part 1: Start of Drive Part 2: QB Part 3: Snap Part 4: Legal Forward Pass Part 5: Legal Backward Pass (lateral) Part 6: 1 st Downs Part 7: Line of Scrimmage Part 8: Marking the Ball Part 9: Catch/Possession Part 10: Simultaneous Catch Part 11: Stripping Part 12: Screen Blocking Part 13: No Run Zone Section 7: DEFENSE Part 1: Rush QB 3

Part 2: Interception Part 3: Blitz Section 8: GENDER DEFINITIONS Part 1: Female Play Part 2: Handoff Part 3: Sack on QBs Part 4: Deflections Part 5: Batted Down Ball Section 9: PUNTING Part 1: Notification Part 2: Guidelines Section 10: PENALTIES Part 1: 5 Yard Penalties Part 2: 10 Yard Penalties Part 3: Personal Fouls (15 yd Penalty) Part 4: Automatic First Down Section 11: PLAYER CONDUCT Part 1: Fines Part 2: Suspensions Part 3: Suspension Appeals Section 12: PLAYOFF SEEDING Part 1: Tie Breaker for Playoff Seeding Part 2: Tie Breaker for Division Winner Section 13: Rule Changes Part 1: New Rules for Season 4

This rule book constitutes the rules and bylaws of Absolute Athletics Co-Ed Flag Football League (A Squared). If a rule isn t clearly stated, the rules will default to NCAA rules. Section 1: Absolute Athletics Rules Part 1 Fees: Part 2 Rosters: All fees will be paid online prior to the first game Part 3 Captains A. Roster Limits: Each team will be limited to a maximum of 25 players. B. Age: Each participant must be 21 years old prior to the end of the current calendar year. C. Waivers: Each participant must accept the waiver prior to the season, in order to be eligible to play during the season. D. Playoff Eligibility: Each participant must play in at least 1 regular season game and must have checked-in on an official check in day in order to be playoff eligible E. Roster Changes: Rosters may be altered up until the rosters are locked, which will be stated in the initial captain s email and posted on the website. Once the roster locks, no changes will be allowed (no exceptions). Each participant only be allowed on one team s roster per season. Absolute Athletics reserves the right to verify any team members eligibility at any time A. Official Captains: Each team will designate no more than 3 captains to be the official captains. If the team has a coach, the coach must be one of the three captains. These three captains will represent the team at the coin toss and for the remainder of the game. Of the three captains one will be designated as the team s spokesperson, at the coin toss. The officials will address all question and concerns to the spokesperson. If a disagreement within the game happens the official will only speak with the team s spokesperson. The official captain s will also handle all matters dealing with Absolute Athletics events and activities. B. Captain Responsibilities: Each captain is responsible for their team s conduct, before, during and after their game. Teams are responsible for coaches and/or fans of a team as well. 5

Part 4: Officials Absolute Athletics will provide 3 officials for each game. In extreme cases a game may need to start with just 2 officials. Part 5: Forfeits A. Official s Authority: Their authority begins at the coin toss and lasts throughout the entirety of the game. They have the authority to make any call they deem necessary and the calls will not be challenged or overruled. They have the authority to eject any member of the team, if they feel it is for a just cause. B. Official s Rulings: All ruling related to the game are final and can t be contested. The officials will not make the final call on suspensions, but will give their opinion on what should/should not happen. Forfeits will be awarded once 10 minutes after the initial start of the game and the team doesn t have the minimum number of players required to start the game. The officials will start the 10 minute clock once they call the captains to the coin toss. Each forfeit carries a team fee of $100 and is due prior to the team s next scheduled game. If there is a second forfeited game, the team fee will be $200. The third forfeited game is an expulsion from the league. If neither team has the minimum amount of players, each team will be assessed with a loss. Part 6: Protests Section 2: Equipment Absolute Athletics will honor roster/eligibility protests only. Protests should be made, within 24 hours, in writing and sent to info@absoluteathletics.com. If there are multiple games in one day, the protest must be made prior to the start of the protested team s next game, or within 24 hours, whichever occurs first. Part 1: Uniforms Teams will wear jerseys/shirts of the same colors. Each player must have a number on his/her jersey or shirt. If no number is worn the participant s stats will not be attributed to the individual s stats. 6

A. Jersey Color 1. The home team will get to set the jersey color. If both teams have on the same color (ex. Black vs Black or Black vs Navy Blue), the visiting team must wear league issued pennies. Stats may be affected for the team wearing the pennies. Part 2: Flags Part 3: Cleats Each team will receive a set of triple threat flags at the beginning of the game. It is the responsibility of the team captain to pick up and return all flags to the Absolute Athletics designated area. Once a game has concluded, it is the responsibility of the team to return all flags (including broken flags) to the Absolute Athletics tent. Missing flags will result in a fine of $10/per flag. If a flag(s) is damaged during the game, a team must return the damaged flag to avoid the fine. All fines must be paid prior to the team s next game. A. Wearing of Flags 1. Flag belts must be worn on the waist 2. Flags may not be wrapped, tied or secured to any portion of the uniform preventing the flag from being removed 3. Flags must be worn on top of the shorts and/or on top of jerseys. Jerseys needs to be tucked in at all times 4. Flags that fall off during the play, after the ball is snapped, will be deemed legal. If the offensive player receives possession of the ball, or has possession of the ball when the flag falls off, the player will be deemed down at the first contact (hand tag) with the opposing player It is recommended that cleats be worn at all times on the field. No metal cleats will be allowed. If cleats are not worn, some form of athletic shoe must be worn in order to participate. Part 4: Game Ball Each team will provide a football. The ball must be of reasonable size (no kids balls allowed). 7

Section 3: PERIODS AND TIME Part 1: Game Clock The game will consist of 2 20 minute halves and a 2 minute halftime in between the two halves. Part 2: Play Clock The play clock will be 25 seconds. It will start once the official spots the ball and at the sound of the official s whistle. The official will start to countdown, once the play clock reaches 5 seconds. Part 3: Running Clock The clock will run continuously for the first 18 minutes of the both halves. The clock will stop for the 2 minute warning and inside of 2 minutes for all normal football stoppages listed below: A. Clock Stoppage 1. Change of Possession 2. Incomplete Pass 3. Injury 4. Out of Bounds 5. Penalties 6. Scores 7. Timeouts Part 4: Timeouts Each team will be awarded 2 total timeouts that can be used in either the first half, second half or a combination of both. A timeout will last 1 minute. Part 5: Overtime Overtime will occur if time expires and the score is tied. The officials will conduct a coin toss prior to the start of the overtime period. The team listed as the visiting team will call the toss. 8

A. Coin Toss: The winner of the toss will have the following options, and the loser will get the chose the remaining option: Section 4: SCORING Part 1: TDs 1. Offense or Defense first 2. Which end of the field will be used for the overtime period B. Overtime Rules 1. Each team will have 4 downs from the 20 yard line 2. Teams have the option of going for 1 or 2 points after a score. 3. If the score is tied after both teams having possession, the game goes into a 2 nd Overtime. The same rules apply in the subsequent overtimes. 4. Starting in the 3 rd Overtime, both teams are required to go for 2 points after each score. 5. An interception ends the series of downs for the offense and the defense cannot return the score for points. 6. Each team will be awarded 1 timeout for overtime, regardless of how many overtimes are played. Each TD is worth 6 points, whether scored by the offense or the defense Part 2: Extra Points 9

There is an option to go for 1 point or two points for the extra point after scoring a TD. A. 1 point will be rewarded for attempts 5 yds from the goaline B. 2 points will be rewarded for attempts 10 yds from the goalline Part 3: Safeties **Once a team elects to go for either an extra point, they can only change it after calling a timeout. Defense can return an interception for a TD for the amount of points the offense was going for Safeties are rewarded when the following events occur Part 4: Mercy Rule A. An offensive players flag is pulled in their own end zone B. A defensive players flag is pulled in their own end zone, after established possession across their own goalline C. An offensive player fumbles in their own end zone D. A defensive player fumbles in their own endzone, after establishing possession across their own goalline E. An offensive/defensive player snaps the ball out of their endzone F. An offensive player is called for intentional grounding while in the end zone The game will be declared complete at the point when a team is winning by 25 or more points in the last 2 minutes of the second half of a game Part 5: Flag Inspection After a score the opposing team captain may request for an official to inspect the flag belt of the player to confirm it was not illegaly secured Section 5: GAME RULES 10

Part 1: Format The game will be played in 7 vs 7 format (non-contact format). Non-contact refers to players not being allowed to tackle, push or perform any physical activity towards the opposing team without being penalized for it. There must be a minimum of 3 females on the field at one time and no more than 4 males on the field at one time. Part 2: Team Area The team area will be from the 20 yd line to the 20 yd line on the field, as well as 1 yd off of the sideline. Any team member in other areas of the field may be penalized for being outside of the team area Part 3: Start of the Game Each team must have the minimum players to start the game, which is 6 players and no more than 4 males. All players must have a jersey/shirt with their number. Part 4: Coin Toss The officials will call the two captains to the middle of the field prior to the start of the game to do the coin toss. The teams listed as the visiting team will get to make the call of either heads or tails. The winner of the coin toss will get the option to decide which one you would like to do first: A. Offense or Defense B. Goal to Defend (loses the option of choosing to be on offense or defense first) **In the second half both teams will go the opposite direction from what they going in the first half. The team that started on offense in the first half will start on defense in the second half. Part 5: In/Out of Bounds 11

You will be considered out of bounds when either a piece of your body either touches the line or crosses the boundary line and touches the ground outside of the boundary. If a player steps out of bounds during a play, he/she is not allowed to be the next person to touch the ball. If the player is forced out by the opposing team, the player must return to the field immediately to be an eligible to touch the ball Part 6: Dead Ball/Play Stops Once the ball hits the ground, it is considered a dead ball, whether the ball was dropped or fumbled it is considered dead where it lands. Part 7: Turnovers Turnovers occur when the offensive team doesn t get a first down in the 4 given downs or an interception occurs A. A fumble recovered while it is airborne will be considered an interception B. An interception by the defensive player, where the momentum of the player is carried into their own end zone, will result in a touchback and the ball coming out to the 20 yd line for the intercepting team Part 8: Inadvertent Whistle If an official blows an inadvertent whistle in the middle of the play, the following options occur: A. If the offensive player has possession of the ball, they may elect to take the ball where it was at when the play was blown dead and the down counts, or they can elect to replay the down from the original line of scrimmage. B. When the ball is in the air, by either a pass/kick, the ball will be returned to the previous spot and the down will be repeated Section 6: OFFENSE 12

Part 1: Start of Drive The offensive team starts with the ball on their own 20 yd line, in the following scenarios, unless penalized A. Beginning of game, overtime or half B. After a TD by the opposing team C. After a touchback Part 2: QB The quarterback is considered the person who receives touches the ball first from the initial snap Part 3: Snap The snap may be underhand toss, overhand toss or a handoff. The snapper must be behind the cone set up by the ref and cannot move their feet prior to the snap. There must be an exchange of the ball from one offensive player to another offensive player, the QB may not snap the ball to themselves. Part 4: Legal Forward Pass It will be considered a legal forward pass when the offensive player, from behind the line of scrimmage, throws the ball forward. This is only allowed once per down. Part 5: Legal Backward Pass (lateral) A player on offense/defense can lateral the ball backwards at any time. A lateral attempt that hits the ground will be considered dead and marked dead at the spot the ball hit the ground Part 6: 1 st Downs The offensive team will have four downs to obtain a first down. A 1 st down or new set of downs is rewarded after crossing either the 20, 40, 40 or 20 yd lines or if a penalty is assessed and it is an automatic 1 st down. Regardless of how close the next above listed yard lines are. Part 7: Line of Scrimmage The line of scrimmage extends from where the ball is spotted by the refs to each team s sideline The offense must have 3 players on the line of scrimmage at the snap of the ball Part 8: Marking the Ball The ball will be marked where the ball is at when the players flag is pulled or falls off Part 9: Catch/Possession 13

A player must have 1 foot down inbounds and attempt to make a football move for it to be considered a catch/possession Part 10: Simultaneous Catch If multiple members from opposing teams mae a catch simultaneously, the ball we be declared a catch by the offense Part 11: Stripping Once a player has possession, the opposing player cannot knock the ball out of the controlling players hand or a penalty will be assessed (see striping in penalty area). A player running with the ball cannot be stripped of the ball Part 12: Screen Blocking Blocking shall only take place without moving. The player blocking should their hands down or crossed across their chest, to protect themselves. Any use of their body to initiate contact is deemed illegal. Part 13: No Run Zone No player on offense can run the ball across the line of scrimmage, inside the 5 yard line, unless there is a forward pass behind the line of scrimmage. The rusher will be allowed to rush at the end of the rush count (1-One Thousand, 2-One Thousand, 3-One Thousand, Go). The penalty for rushing is a 5 yd penalty and a loss of down Section 7: DEFENSE Part 1: Rush QB A defender cannot rush the QB (cross the line of scrimmage) until: A. The official says Go, after a 1-One Thousand, 2-One Thousand, 3-One Thousand count B. The quarterback no longer has any possession of the ball (handoff/lateral/forward pass) Part 2: Interception 14

Part 3: Blitz A ball will be considered an interception in the following scenarios: A. Pass caught by defense in the air, deflected or a clean catch B. A offensive player fumbles the ball and the defensive player catches it before it hits the ground C. Each team will be allowed to do ONE immediate blitz per half at any time (regular play or extra point). A. The team must declare to the head official (the one that does the count, he will not tell the opposing team) that they will be blitzing on that play. B. Once you declare you are blitzing you can t change and that is your one time use for the half. C. The person that is blitzing does not have to be the one that tells the official he/she is blitzing. D. The rusher does not have to be the person blitzing E. They do not rollover to the next half and the immediate blitz will not be available during overtime. Section 8: GENDER DEFINITIONS Part 1: Female Play Every third play has to involve a female player, doing one of the following things: A. Quarterback B. Ball carrier C. Receiver After one of these things occur the female play is restarted Part 2: Handoff If a female receives a handoff, she must make an ATTEMPT to advance the ball across the line of scrimmage. Whether male or female, the person that crosses the line of scrimmage with the ball will determine whether it is considered a male or female play, regardless if that person laterals the ball further down the field Part 3: Sack on QBs 15

If a male QB is sacked on a female play, the down will count and the next play will be a female play. Defense has the option to take the sack or they can take the offense back 5 yards from the line of scrimmage. If a female QB is sacked on a female play, it will be considered a female play. Part 4: Deflections If a female, on the offensive team, deflects a pass, and a male receiver catches the deflection, it will be considered a female play. If a male, on the offensive team, deflects a pass, and a female receiver catches the deflection, it will be considered a male play Part 5: Batted Down Ball Section 9: PUNTING Deflecting a ball from the line of scrimmage will be considered a male play, unless all females were on the field of play for the offense or the officials can clearly determine the ball was designated to a female. Part 1: Notification The offensive team must notify the officials of their decision to either punt or go for it on 4 th down. Once the decision is made it cannot be changed unless a timeout is called by either team Part 2: Guidelines 16

Section 10: PENALTIES Both teams must have at least four players on the line of scrimmage and they must not be in motion until the ball is kicked The kicking team has 3 second count (1-One Thousand, 2-One Thousand, 3-One Thousand, Go) to punt the ball or the ball will be considered dead at the spot the kicker is standing and it will be a turnover on downs at that spot. Snaps that are fumbled by the kicker or snapper will be considered a turnover on downs and will be marked at the spot where the ball touches the ground The punt can be either caught in the air or on subsequent bounces. If the ball is fumbled or touched by the receiving team, the ball will be considered dead where the ball hits the ground. If the kicking team catches a fumbled kick in the air, the kicking team will retain possession at the spot that they caught the ball. The kicking team will not be able to advance the ball past that spot Once the ball is no longer bouncing or comes to a complete stop, the ball will be considered dead and will be spotted there Once the ball enters the end zone, the ball is considered dead and will be advanced to the 20 yd line Part 1: 5 Yard Penalties (from line of scrimmage, unless specified) A. Illegal Procedure Penalty Any defensive player attempting to block the kick or distract the kicker B. False Start Any offensive player moving up the field, prior to the snap of ball. If multiple player are moving to reset, all players must move at once and be set for at least one second prior to the snap of the ball C. Illegal Motion 17

More than one offensive player moving parallel to the line of scrimmage at one time or any offensive player moving, non-parallel to the line of scrimmage, prior to the snap D. Delay of Game The offensive team doesn t snap the ball in the designated 25 seconds given for the play clock E. Offsides Any member of the defensive team crossing the line of scrimmage prior to the snap of the ball F. Encroachment Any member of the defensive team crossing the line of scrimmage, prior to the ref saying Go G. Illegal Participation More than 7 players on the field or more than 4 males on the field when the ball is snapped More than 7 players breaks the huddle All players must be within 3 yards from the line of scrimmage when the official blows the play in (start of 25 second play clock) H. Illegally Equipped Any player without their flag properly secured prior to the snap of the ball. Play will be a free play for either the offense of defense. The opposing team gets choice of result of down or 5 yd penalty from line of scrimmage and replay of down I. Illegal Contact (automatic first down) Any defensive player making contact with an offensive player, while they are running a route and the ball is NOT in the air J. Illegal Touching of the Ball (loss of down) 18

Any player going out of bounds and is the first player to touch the ball in the field of play. If another player, their own team or opposing team, the player whom went out of bounds is now eligible to touch it again K. Illegal Forward Pass (loss of down) Any player throwing the ball forward, after any part of the body touches the ground across the line of scrimmage L. Intentional Grounding (loss of down) If penalty occurs on a female play, the penalty will be enforced, there will be a loss of down and the next play will be a female play A quarterback spike can be used to stop the clock, but will always be considered a male play, regardless of whom the quarterback is M. Female Play Infraction (loss of down, remains female play) The offensive team does not involve a female in 3 consecutive plays, as a quarterback, ball carrier or receiver. If a male QB is sacked on a female play, defense has the option of taking the sack or a 5 yard penalty from the line of scrimmage N. No Run Zone Infraction (loss of down) The offensive team runs the ball across the line of scrimmage inside of the designated no run zone (inside 5 yard line) O. Illegal Formation The Line of Scrimmage doesn t have 3 players on it. Part 2: 10 Yard Penalties (from line of scrimmage, unless specified) 19

A. Flag Guarding (spot foul, down counts and result of the penalty will determine the down and distance)) Any player with possession of the ball that attempts to prevent the opposing team from removing their flag by: 1. Swinging their hand 2. Placing the ball over the flag 3. Lowering their shoulder 4. Stiff-arming 5. Jumping in the air 6. Any other movement deemed to prevent the opposing team from removing their flag B. Illegal Blocking (spot foul, down counts and result of the penalty will determine the down and distance) Any blocker that is moving while blocking the opposing team C. Diving (spot foul) Diving is only permitted to catch the ball. A dive is defined as both feet leaving the ground and launching themselves at the opposing team D. Offensive Holding (replay of down) Impeding the opposing team progress by grabbing or holding the player E. Defensive Holding (replay of down) Impeding the opposing team s progress by grabbing or holding the player while the ball is not in the air F. Offensive Picking (replay of down) Impeding the progress of a downfield defender in order to allow a teammate to get open for a pass G. Offensive Pass Interference (replay of down) Impeding the defensive team s ability to play defense on the ball by grabbing, pushing, or holding the player while the ball is in the air H. Illegally Removal of Flag Belt Players must have possession of the ball before their flag can be removed. It is illegal for any player to intentionally pull a flag from any other player not in possession of the ball and will be a penalty if it occurs more than 1 full second before the player gains possession Part 3: Personal Fouls (15 yd penalty) 20

A. Unsportsmanlike Conduct (spot foul & automatic first down) Includes but not limited to tackling, fighting, spitting, threatening, excessive contact and can result in ejection, official s discretion B. Bump & Run (spot foul & automatic first down) Any jamming or excessive contact on the line of scrimmage C. Stripping (spot foul & automatic first down) A player knocking the ball out of an opposing team s player hands, after they have established possession of the ball D. Illegally Secured Flag Belt (loss of down) Any player with an illegally secured belt will be ejected from the game. The team will be assessed the 15 yd penalty from the previous line of scrimmage E. Challenge Flag Any team that challenges an enforcement call from the official and is incorrect in their challenge and the official was correct Part 4: Automatic First Downs Automatic First Down: The following will result in an automatic first down A. Defensive Pass interference (spot foul) B. Roughing the passer C. Illegal Contact D. Defensive holding in the end zone E. Unsportsmanlike Conduct F. Bump & Run G. Stripping Section 11: PLAYER CONDUCT Part 1: Fines All fines will need to be paid prior to the next game. If a player does not pay their fine prior to the game, they are ineligible to play in that contest and the fine will double. If a team fails to pay a team fine they will have to forfeit and the forfeit fee will be enforced. Examples of some fines are listed below: Part 2: Suspensions A. Missing Flag: $10 B. Forfeit (1 st offense): $100 C. Forfeit (2 nd offense): $200 D. Trashing the Team s Area (1 st offense): $100 21

Any player ejected from a game is subject to a one game suspension. Each suspension will be reviewed by Absolute Athletics staff and Absolute Athletics Assembly. Each suspension will be reviewed and sent to the team captain as well as the suspended player by the following Tuesday at 11:59pm. A minimum of a one game suspension can result from any of the following: A. Physical contact with another person B. Verbal abuse of another person C. Violation of Code of Conduct by a member of the league while Absolute Athletics permit is active Part 3: Suspension Appeals Suspension appeals must be emailed to info@absoluteathleticschicago.com, within 48 hours of receiving the suspension email. Suspension emails will be accepted from the team captain or suspended player only. All decisions will be rendered prior to Sunday s game via email. Part 4: Penalties/Suspensions/Fines may result in removal from the facility and/or league for an extended period of time and possible expulsion. No refund will be given for any suspension/expulsion from the league Section 12: Playoff Seeding Part 1: Tie Breaker for Playoff Seeding If 2 teams have the same record at the end of the regular season, the following tie breaker is applied: A. Head to Head Records B. Points Allowed (average points per game played-forfeit games will not count as a game played) C. Strength of Schedule based on Total Points Allowed of Opponents (average points per game played-forfeit games will not count as a game played) If 3 or more team have the same record at the end of the regular season, the following tie breaker is applied 22

A. Points Allowed (average points per game played-forfeit games will not count as a game played) B. Points Differential C. Strength of Schedule based on Total Points Allowed of Opponents (average points per game played-forfeit games will not count as a game played) Part 2: Tie Breaker for Division Winner The division winner is determined by the best overall division record If 2 teams have the same division record at the end of the regular season, the following tie breaker is applied A. Head to Head records B. Overall Record C. Points Allowed (average points per game played-forfeit games will not count as a game played) If 3 or more teams have the same division record at the end of the regular season, the following tie breaker is applied A. Head to Head records (if one team beat both teams they win) B. Overall Record C. Points Allowed (average points per game played-forfeit games will not count as a game played) D. Points Differential E. Strength of Schedule based on Total Points Allowed of Opponents (average points per game played-forfeit games will not count as a game played) *If a team forfeits during the regular season, when playoffs are seeded, teams with forfeits will be seeded the lowest amongst teams with the same amount of losses Section 13: Rule Changes Part 1: New Rules for Season 23

A. Jersey Color The home team will get to set the jersey color. If both teams have on the same color (ex. Black vs Black or Black vs Navy Blue), the visiting team must wear league issued pennies. Stats may be affected for the team wearing the pennies. B. Illegal Formation The offense must have 3 players on the Line of Scrimmage at the snap of the ball (5 yard live ball penalty) C. Points Allowed - (average points per game played-forfeit games will not count as a game played) 24