QUAD COUNTY RECREATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE FLAG FOOTBALL The fllwing Flag Ftball rules are intended as a supplement t the Quad Cunty Recreatinal Ftball League Handbk, and are nt exclusive f the rules fund therein. PLAYERS All players must be ages 5 r 6 as f August 1 st f the current year. There are n height r weight restrictins fr participatin. All players must play a minimum f 8 plays in accrdance with QCRFL requirements. PLAYING FIELD EQUIPMENT Game ball Wilsn K-2 Flags Game Unifrm The field shall be 26.67 yards (80 feet) wide and 50 yards (150 feet) lng. Layut (Upn a regulatin field) Length: 25-yard line t 25-yard line Width: Regulatin sideline t center f regulatin field Each player must wear a belt with flags that (1) are designated as yuth (2) are 14-20 inches lng and a minimum f 2 inches wide. (3) are a different clr than the shrts r pants (4) extend r hang frm each side f the player s bdy; when using three flags, the third flag will hang frm the rear f the player s bdy. The number f flags designated as standard by the league will be either tw r three flags. Flag must be, and must be attached t a belt and the belt must be tight t prevent being turned arund during a de-flagging. If a player s flag is inadvertently lst, he is ineligible t handle the ball. Hme/Hst teams must have 2 different flag clrs in case a cnflict arises. All rganizatins must use yuth flags, nt adult. Officials must check all players flags prir t each game. All team members must wear the same clr jersey, numbered fr prper identificatin by the fficials and statisticians. Any type f pant may be wrn. Jerseys will be tucked in at all times - jerseys cannt be wrn ver flags Sneakers are the preferred she; hwever, nn-detachable, rubber-cleated shes (sccer style) are allwed. N ther ftwear is acceptable. N hats. It is recmmended that muthpieces be wrn thugh that is up t each rganizatin. Eye Glasses, when wrn, shall be f athletically apprved cnstructin with nnshattering glass (safety glass).
GAME OFFICIALS Each game shall be fficiated by nt less than tw (2) referees; mre than tw referees per game are permitted. Each game fficial will carry yellw handkerchief and drp it when an infractin ccurs. OFFICIALS will have cmplete authrity t use judgment in assessing any penalty n an ffensive r defensive player by remving that player frm the playing field accrding t the infractin. GENERAL RULES Players Timing Pssessins A game is played between tw teams cnsisting f eight [8] players each. Each team shall designate ne player as Captain and nly he shall represent the team and address an fficial n matters f interpretatin f rules r t btain essential infrmatin. The free substitutin rule is in effect players may enter the game anytime the ball is dead. Injured Players: Once remved frm a game because f injury, a player must sit ut at least ne series f dwns. Tw 20-minute running halves with a 5-minute half-time. - Clck will stp the last tw minutes f each half n incmplete passes, all penalties, time uts, ut f bunds and after all tuchdwns (In accrdance with NC High Schl AA rules). A team will have 30 secnds t put the ball in play after the ready signal. Tw- 2-minute time uts permitted per half. Ten minute grace perid frm starting time. Each half and each series f dwns will begin at the 5 yard line (30 yard line f regulatin). Extra pints will ccur at the 3 yard line. The team in pssessin f the ball will have fur dwns t advance the ball 10 yards fr the first dwn r a tuchdwn. The team trailing at the half will get pssessin f the ball t begin the secnd half. Interceptin f a pass can be returned by the defensive team. New series will begin at spt f flag being pulled. At the cnclusin f each dwn, the referee will place the ball in the center f the field (equal distance frm the sidelines-nt n a hash mark). Scring Values & Mercy Rule Tuchdwn PAT (Run) PAT (Pass) PAT (Kick) Safety Field Gal Frfeit Scre 6 1 2* N/A N/A N/A 1-0 * Must be caught in the endzne. Catch & run is cnsidered a run. MERCY RULE: If a team is trailing by 24 pints they will retain pssessin f the ball until the 24 pints deficit is reduced. Ball will be placed at 10-yard line. Tie Game- Use the NCHSA 10-Yard Line Overtime Prcedure.
RULES OF THE GAME De-flagging Blcking Ball Carrier Frmatin There shall be n tackling f the ball carrier, passer r kicker; defensive player cannt hld r push the ball carrier t remve his flag. An accidental tuch f the bdy r shulder while reaching fr the flag shall nt be cnsidered a vilatin: hwever, tuching f the head r face shall be cnsidered a vilatin. The player carrying r having pssessin f the ball is dwn when the flag is remved frm his waist (de-flagging). The defensive player shall hld the flag abve his head and stand still. A defensive player must g fr the passer s flag. He cannt tuch the passer s arm. De-flagging in the end zne results in the ball ging back t the 25 yard line. A blcker must be n his feet at all times while blcking. 3 r 4 pint stances are nt permitted fr any players ther than the center. A blcker cannt use his hands - blcking shall be dne with the arms and bdy in the frm f shulder and brush blcking nly. Blcking a player frm behind is NOT permitted [CLIPPING]. Crss bdy and rll blcking are nt permitted. There will be n tw-n-ne blcking fr the ball carrier beynd the line f scrimmage. Butting, elbwing r knee blcking is nt allwed. A defensive player may nt run ver, push r pull a blcker away frm him. He may push him sideways if he gets past him, but cannt push the blcker dwn. A defensive player cannt blck r push a ball carrier ut f bunds. A defensive player will be restricted in the use f his hands t the blcker s bdy and shulders. The ball carrier cannt use his hands r arms t prtect his flags. The defensive player must have the pprtunity t remve the ball carrier s flags. The ball carrier CANNOT lwer his head t drive r run int a defensive player. Stiff arming & hurdling t prevent a defensive player frm remving flags is illegal. The ball carrier may run in any directin until the ball is declared dead. The ffensive team must have five [5] players n the line and [3] in the backfield. The defensive team may chse any frmatin. Center Must snap the ball between the legs. Bth feet must be n the scrimmage line; n part f the bdy frward f the pint f the ball; the ball may be adjusted at right angles t the scrimmage line nly nce. Caches One (1) cach fr each team will be permitted n the field during play. Up t Fur (4) assistants are permitted n the sidelines.
Passing Receiving Dead Ball All backfield players may pass; passes must be thrwn behind the line f scrimmage. A frward pass is a pass thrwn acrss the line f scrimmage. A lateral pass is thrwn parallel t the line f scrimmage r backwards a lateral pass is nt cnsidered a frward pass. Intercepted passes will be played. All players are eligible t receive a pass. Tw r mre receivers may tuch a ball in successin resulting in a cmpleted pass. If an ffensive and defensive player bth catch a ball simultaneusly, the ball is declared dead at the spt f the catch and the passing team is awarded pssessin. An ffensive player cannt be ut f bunds and return in-bunds t catch a pass. All balls tuching the grund are immediately dead at the spt. THERE ARE NO FUMBLE RECOVERIES! Drpped balls (fumbles) in the end zne shall be brught back ut t the gal line (25-yard line). When the ball carrier tuches the grund with his bdy, ther than hands r feet. When the ball carrier s flag has been pulled. If a pass receiver r ball carrier has a missing flag (ball is dead at that spt) Fllwing a tuchdwn - Clck shuld stp. When the ball ges ut f bunds fr any reasn If a lateral pass ges ut f bunds, the ball is ruled dead at the pint it crsses the bundary line. If a frward pass is caught at the same time by an ppsing player(s). Penalties Offensive penalties = 5 yards and lss f dwn Defensive penalties =5 yards and replay dwn Passing Illegal Frward Passes After team pssessin has changed during the dwn. A pass frm beynd the neutral zne. A pass intentinally thrwn int an area nt ccupied by an eligible ffensive player. A pass intentinally thrwn t save lss f yardage r t cnserve time. *EXCEPTION: It is legal t cnserve time by intentinally thrwing the ball frward t the grund immediately after receiving a direct hand-t-hand snap. Delay f game Cntinuing t play after the ball is dead Recvering a fumble r falling n the ball. Advancing a fair catch. Unnecessary delay f game fr any reasn Offsides Offense lss f dwn and ffending player sits ut ne dwn. Defense dwn is played ver and ffending player ut ne dwn. Flag Wearing and De-Flagging Tackling, Hlding, Pushing r Hitting the ball carrier while de-flagging Wearing the flags illegally
Flag Wearing and De-Flagging (Cntinued) Ball carrier using his hands t prevent a defensive player frm de-flagging Leaving ne s feet while de-flagging Illegal Handff If the ball is handed frward beynd the scrimmage line. Handing r snapping a ball t a lineman. Illegal Substitutins Mre than eight (8) men n the field. Substitutin (s) while the ball is in play r befre it is declared dead. Disqualified player entering game. Blcking Leaving feet t blck Crss bdy blcking r rll blcking Illegal use f hands by blcker Hlding a defensive player Defensive player blcking r pushing the ball carrier ut f bunds. Butting, elbwing r knee blcking. Defensive player using hands illegally. Clipping Ball Carrier Stiff arming; use f hand r arms t prtect flags Lwering head t drive r run int defensive player; use f head. Hurdling Un-Sprtsmanlike Cnduct Un-sprtsmanlike cnduct penalties = 10 yards. Unnecessary Rughness Disqualificatin f guilty player r players if repeated.. Fighting Offenders ejected frm game; additinal sanctins may apply Flagrant Fuls Butting, Elbwing, Knee Blcking, Blcking frm Behind, and Kncking a player frm his feet. FIRST OFFENSE: Player remved frm the game fr 4 dwns SECOND OFFENSE: Player disqualified fr the remainder f the game. Illegal De-flagging Defensive player pulling ffensive player s flag t make him ineligible fr play. Spectatr Interference Parents & fans are nt allwed n the field unless directed by game fficials. Game will stp until field is cleared; game may be ended if warranted, in the judgment f the fficials. Dctring Flags (gluing, tying ff, etc.) If a team suspects anther teams flags are illegal then an appeal shuld be made t the head fficial t check the flags. Disqualificatin f guilty parties (may include player, players, caches r entire team) if repeated.