Flag Football Rules
TABLE OF CONTENTS RULES L. Game 2 II. Eligibility 2 III. Equipment 2 IV. Field 3 V. Rosters 3 VI. Timing and Overtime 3 VII. Scoring 3-4 VIII. Coaches 4 IX. Formations 4 X. Live Ball/Dead Ball 4-5 XI. Running 5 XII. Passing 6 XIII. Receiving 6 XIV. Rushing and Passer 6 XV. Flag Pulling 6-7 XVI. Unsportsmanlike Conduct 7 XVII. Penalties 8
RULES I. GAME 1. At the start of each game, both teams shall meet at midfield for the coin toss to determine who shall start with the ball. The visiting team shall call the toss. The winner of the coin toss has the choice of offense or defense. Whatever the team chooses, they will be the opposite to start the second half. The loser of the coin toss has the choice of direction. Teams change sides after the first half. Possession is awarded to the team that started the game on defense. Teams may not choose to defer to the second half. 2. For grades 1-4, The offensive team takes possession of the ball at its 9-yard line and has four downs to cross the first line to gain at the 15-yard line. For grades 5-7, The offensive team takes possession of the ball at its 14-yard line and has four downs to cross the first line to gain at the 20-yard line. If successful they will have four more downs to cross the next line to gain or to score (if in the final zone). If a team fails to get past midfield the opposing team will take possession at mid field. If the offensive team passes midfield but fails to score the opposing team will take possession on their 9-yard line for grades 1-4 and 14-yard line for grades 5-7. II. III. Eligibility 1. All players must be officially registered with the City of Des Moines Parks and Recreation and have completed the online waiver in direct connection to their participation in the program. Equipment 1. The league provides each player with a flag belt and jersey. Teams will use the football provided by their league. 2. Players must wear shoes. Rubber football cleats are encouraged. Cleats with exposed metal are not allowed and must be removed. 3. Players must remove all watches, earrings and any other jewelry that the officials deem hazardous. Safety taping is allowed. 4. Player s jerseys must be tucked into the pants if they hang below the belt line. 5. Pants or shorts with belt loops or pockets are not permitted. -1-
IV. Field 1. The field dimensions for grades 1-4 are 30 yards by 80 yards, three 15-yard first downs, with two 10-yard end zones and a midfield line. The field dimensions for grades 5-7 are 40 yards by 100 yards, three 20-yard first downs, with two 10- yard end zones and midfield line. Field size may vary based on field availability for each league. V. Rosters 1. Youth flag is played 7-on-7. Teams must consist of at least 6 players, and will be a maximum of 12 players. 2. Teams must start a game with a minimum of 6 players. VI. VII. Timing and Overtime 1. Games are played on a 40-minute continuous clock with two 20-minute halves. The clock stops only for timeouts. 2. Halftime will be 3 minutes in length. 3. Each time the ball is set, a team has 30 seconds to snap the ball. 4. Each team has two 60-second timeouts per half. Timeouts do not carry over. 5. In the event of an injury the clock will stop and then restart when the injured player is removed from the field of play. 6. If the score is tied at the end of 40 minutes in a regular season game, the game will end in a tie. Scoring 1. Touchdown: 6 points a. PAT; 1 point (3-yard line) or 2 points (9-yard line) for all age groups b. A team that scores a touchdown must declare whether it wishes to attempt a 1-pt conversion (from the 3-yard line) or a 2-pt conversion (from the 9-yard line). Any change, once a decision is made to try for the extra point, requires a charged time out. Decision cannot be changed after a penalty. Interceptions on conversions cannot be returned and are ruled dead immediately. 2. Safety: 2 points a. A Safety occurs when the ball carrier is declared down in his/her own end zone. They can be called down when their flags are pulled by a defensive player, their flags fall out and they are touched with one hand, they step out of bounds, or they hit the ground with their knee or elbow. A safety also occurs when there is an offensive penalty in the end zone. -2-
VIII. Coaches 1. Coaches are volunteer parents or family members helping the players learn and enjoy the game. Parents are encouraged to support the coach at all time. 2. Coaches are allowed on the field to direct players for offense and defense in the 1-2 grade divisions and offense only in the 3-4 divisions. Coaches are not allowed on the field for grades 5-7. 3. Coaches are expected to adhere to all City of Des Moines youth sports guidelines and codes of conduct. IX. Formations 1. Offense must have a minimum of one player on the line of scrimmage (the center). The quarterback must be at least two yards behind the center and must receive a shotgun snap. The center must snap the ball with a rapid and continuous motion either between his/her legs or while standing off to the side of the ball directly to the quarterback and the ball must completely leave his/her hands. 2. Only one player at a time may go in motion and be at least 1 yard behind the line of scrimmage. X. Live Ball/Dead Ball 1. The ball is live at the snap of the ball and remains live until the official whistles the ball dead. 2. The official will indicate the neutral zone and line of scrimmage. It is an automatic dead ball foul if any player on defense or offense enters the neutral zone before the snap. The official may give both teams a courtesy neutral zone notification to allow their players to move back behind the line of scrimmage. 3. A player must have possession of the ball and come down with at least one foot in bounds. 4. The defense may not mimic the offensive team signals, by trying to confuse the offensive players, while the quarterback is calling out signals to start the play. This will result in an unsportsmanlike penalty. 5. Substitutions may be made on any dead ball 6. An official can whistle the play dead. -3-
7. Play is ruled dead when: a. The ball hits the ground. b. The ball carrier s flag is pulled. c. The ball carrier steps out of bounds. d. A touchdown, PAT or safety is scored. e. The ball carrier s knee or elbow hits the ground. f. The ball carrier s flag falls off and they are touched with one hand, between the shoulders and the knees. Note: There are no fumbles. The ball is spotted where the ball was when it was let go at the time of the fumble. A ball that is fumbled backwards is dead where the ball hits the ground. XI. XII. Running 1. The ball is spotted where it is at the time when the flag is pulled. 2. Once the ball has been handed off or the quarterback passes the line of scrimmage, all defensive players are eligible to rush. 3. Diving/jumping/hurdling into or over another player is not allowed and will be an illegal contact penalty. 4. No blocking is allowed. Players, including the center, may position themselves as a screen between the ball carrier and a defender anywhere on the field (this includes downfield), but must keep hands and elbows in by their body or at their side. 5. Flag Obstruction All jerseys MUST be tucked in before play begins. The flags must be on the player s hips and free from obstruction. Deliberately obstructed flags will be considered flag guarding. A player without flags or whose flags are not easily accessed can be ruled down when touched by a defender with one hand. Passing 1. All passes must be from behind the line of scrimmage. XIII. Receiving 1. All players are eligible to receive passes (including the quarterback if the ball has been handed off behind the line of scrimmage). 2. Only one player is allowed in motion at a time. All motion must be parallel to or away from the line of scrimmage. No motion is permitted towards the line of scrimmage. 3. A player must have at least 1 foot in bounds when making a reception. 4. In the case of simultaneous possession by both an offensive and defensive player, possession is awarded to the offense. 5. Interceptions are returnable but not on PAT s. -4-
XIV. Rushing the Passer 1. The designated player that may rush the passer must be a minimum of 10 yards from the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped. Players not rushing the quarterback may defend the line of scrimmage. Only one player can rush the quarterback. 2. The referee, will designate a Rush Line 10 yards from the line of scrimmage. Defensive players should verify they are in the correct position with the official on every play. a. A legal rush is: i. Any rush from a point 10 yards from the defensive line of scrimmage. ii. A rush from anywhere on the field AFTER the ball has been handed off by the quarterback. 3. Players rushing the quarterback may attempt to block a pass; however, NO contact can be made with the quarterback in any way. Blocking the pass or attempting to block the pass and then making contact with the passer will result in a roughing the passer penalty. XV. Flag Pulling 1. A legal flag pull takes place when the ball carrier is in full possession of the ball. 2. It is illegal to attempt to strip or pull the ball from the ball carrier s possession at any time and will result in an illegal contact penalty. 3. If the player s flag inadvertently falls off during the play, the player is down when touched with 1 hand between the shoulders and knees. 4. A defensive player may not intentionally pull the flags off a player who is not in possession of the ball. 5. Flag guarding is in attempt by the ball carrier to obstruct the defender s access to the flags by stiff arming, dropping the head, hand, arm, shoulder or intentionally covering the flags with the football jersey. -5-
XVI. Unsportsmanlike Conduct 1. If the field supervisor or referee witnesses any acts of intentional tackling, elbowing, blocking or any unsportsmanlike act, the game will be stopped and the player will be ejected from the game. The decision is made at the referee s discretion. No appeals will be considered. FOUL PLAY WILL NOT BE TOLERATED! 2. Offensive or confrontational language is unacceptable. Officials have the right to determine offensive language. If offensive or confrontational language occurs, the referee may give one warning. If it continues, the player or players will be ejected from the game. 3. Players may not physically or verbally abuse any opponent, coach or official. 4. Ball carriers MUST make an effort to avoid defenders with an established position. 5. Defenders are not allowed to run through the ball carrier when pulling flags. 6. Fans must also adhere to good sportsmanship, as well: a. Cheer for your players, do not engage with officials or other team s players. b. Keep comments clean and free from profanity. c. Compliment ALL participants. 7. Fans are required to keep fields safe and kid friendly. a. Keep younger kids and equipment such as coolers, chairs and tents a minimum of 10 yards off the field of play -6-
XVII. Penalties a. Spot Fouls 1. Defensive Pass Interference +10 yards & Auto First Down 2. Holding +5 yards 3. Stripping +10 yards 4. Defensive Unnecessary Roughness +10 yards & Auto First Down 5. Blocking/Running into blocker -10 yards 6. Flag Guarding -10 yards 7. Offensive Unnecessary Roughness -10 yards & Loss of Down 8. Illegal Contact +/-10 yards b. Offensive Penalties 1. Offside/False Start/Delay of Game -5 yards from LOS 2. Illegal Forward Pass (passing beyond LOS) -5 yards from LOS & Loss of Down 3. Illegal Motion -5 yards from LOS 4. Offensive Pass Interference -10 yards from LOS & Loss of Down c. Defensive Penalties 1. Offside +5 yards 2. Illegal Rush (starting rush <10yds from LOS) +5 yds & Auto First Down 3. Illegal flag pull (before receiver has the ball) +5 yds from LOS 4. Roughing the Passer +10 yds from LOS & Auto First Down -7-