SJC REC SPORTS 4 ON 4 FLAG FOOTBALL WWW.CAMPUSREC.NEU.EDU Flag Football Rules Clinic
Field Layout The field is split into four zones: End zone to 20 YL, 20 YL to 40 YL,40 YL to 20 YL, 20 YL to End zone
Game Length and Time The game consists 30 minutes or until 28 points are scored with running clock The Mercy Rule is applied when a team leads by 17 points. END OF THE GAME SIGNAL
Scoring A Touchdown is scored when the nose of the ball crosses the Goal Line in the possession of the offense or a receiver catches the ball in the End Zone. Six points will be awarded followed by the try-for-points. TOUCHDOWN SIGNAL Touchdown = 6 pts
Extra Points Extra Point Attempts: 1 point (5 yard line) 2 points (10 yard line) SAFETY SIGNAL
Rules of the Game Each team may field 4 players at a time (8 max) There is NO CONTACT ALLOWED! Incidental contact may occur because of the nature of the game, but our goal is to limit contact to an absolute minimum
Rules of the Game Teams have 4 downs to advance the ball to the next zone line-togain or to score FIRST DOWN SIGNAL
Pre-Game Duties: Equipment Jewelry is not allowed to be worn by any participant during an Intramural event Jewelry cannot be taped or covered with a bandaid Medical Alert bracelets or necklaces must be taped down There are NO EXCEPTIONS! NO POCKETS, belts, belt loops, or exposed drawstrings
Captains Meeting This is to be done every game at least 5 minutes prior to the start of the game DO FOR ALL PLAYERS THE FIRST WEEK Set The Tone For The Entire Game This is the first opportunity to let the teams know what kind of game to expect
Pre-Snap: Line is Set The offensive team must have 4 players on the line of scrimmage Live Ball Penalty (Simult. w/ Snap) All players must be within 15 yards of the ball before the snap (unless a defensive player is engaged against offensive player outside of hash marks) Live ball penalty (Simultaneous w/ Snap) Once the ball is set, no player may enter the neutral zone If all those necessary rules are met than the Line Judge will determine that the line is good and the ball may be snapped legally
Pre-Snap: Motion One offensive player may be in motion at the time of the snap, but not in motion toward the opponent's goal line. If multiple players are in motion, all must set before the ball is snapped. A single player may then go back into motion for the snap. ILLEGAL SHIFT (BOTH HANDS) or ILLEGAL MOTION (ONE HAND) SIGNAL
The Snap The ball must be snapped off of the ground behind the line of scrimmage The ball may be side-snapped; it does not have to go through the snapper s legs Feet must be behind the ball when snapped The player who receives the snap must be at least 2 yards behind the Line of Scrimmage DELAY OF GAME SIGNAL
Rushing the QB Rushing the QB All players that rush the passer must be a minimum of 7 yards from the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped. Any number of players can rush the QB. Players not rushing the QB may defend on the line of scrimmage A special marker, or the referee, will designate 7yards from the line of scrimmage The QB cannot run the ball If QB s arm was in forward motion when his flag was pulled, the pass is allowed.
Passing Only one legal forward pass is allowed per down. Only 2 pass plays per down. An Illegal Pass occurs when: The passers foot is over the line of scrimmage There is more than one forward pass per down Every player is an eligible receiver
More passing There can only be ONE forward pass per play. There can only be TWO exchanges of the football in the air (forward pass or lateral) which are initiated from the L.O.S. After the second exchange of the football in the air, if completed behind the L.O.S., the football must be run across the L.O.S. If a player is beyond the L.O.S when the football is released, or if a 3 rd exchange of the football in the air is initiated from behind the L.O.S. an illegal forward pass has occurred and will result in a 5 yard penalty and loss of down. Once the ball has crossed the L.O.S., in the air or in possession of a player, it cannot be passed forward, even if the ball is first returned back across the L.O.S.
Interceptions All interceptions are 3 points. The ball is dead- it cannot run it back. Team gets possession at the 40 yard line. If interception is made in the endzone during the extra point, team DOES NOT score 3 point but does get possession at the 40 yard line.
Balls Away If the passer is de-flagged before releasing the ball, he has been sacked by the Defense, and the Referee marks the spot until the line judge can cover the spot. If the passer releases the ball before the defender de-flags them the Referee should yell, Ball s Away! This denotes that the pass attempt has gone forward and may be legally caught.
Running Once a player receives possession of the ball they become a runner: Runners may not cover or guard their flags in any way Runners cannot stiff arm Runners cannot charge into or bowl over an opponent Hurdling is not allowed Spinning is legal
Flag Belt Removal Players must have possession of the ball before they can legally be de-flagged by an opponent When a runner loses their flag belt accidentally play will continue The runner can be downed by a one (1) hand touch between the shoulders and knees
Marking the End of the Play The end of the run is spotted where the BALL is when the runner is de-flagged NOT where the players body is or where the flags are Since there is no contact and no forced fumbles, a player may reach out with the ball to gain extra yardage
Dead Ball The ball becomes dead when: The runner is de-flagged or tagged The ball goes out of bounds Points are scored The ball hits the ground as a result of an incomplete pass, fumble, muffed ball, bad snap, lateral, backward pass, etc. Any part of the runner other than their hands or feet touches the ground The ball is considered a part of the hand DEAD BALL SIGNAL An officials whistle will always signal that the ball is dead
Fumbles There are no fumbles in Flag Football The ball will be spotted where it contacts the ground Failed backward passes that touch the ground are considered fumbles A player may not intentionally fumble to gain yards THE BALL WILL BE DECLARED DEAD WHEN IT HITS THE GROUND ON A FUMBLE
10 Yard Penalties False Start or Encroachment (Dead Ball) Illegal Snap (Dead Ball) Delay of Game (Dead Ball) Offensive Illegal Motion or Illegal Shift Player Receiving the snap within 2 yards of the Scrimmage Line Helping the Runner Intentional Grounding (Loss of Down) Illegal Forward Pass (Loss of Down)
10 Yard Penalties Illegal Contact Flag Guarding Illegal Player Equipment Illegal Flag Belt Removal Personal Fouls Roughing the Passer ( Automatic 1 st ) Offensive Pass Interference (Loss of Down) Defensive Pass Interference (Automatic 1 st ) Unsportsmanlike Conduct Stiff arm is illegal Illegal rushing (start from inside 7 yard marker) Holding grabbing ball carrier s clothing which impedes him from advancing the ball
Flag Guarding Runners shall not flag guard by using their hands, arms, or the ball to deny the opportunity for an opponent to pull or remove the flag belt Examples include: Placing or swinging the hand or arm over the belt Placing the ball in possession over the flag belt Lowering the shoulders in such a manner which places the arm over the belt FLAG GUARDING SIGNAL Penalty: 10 yards from the spot of the foul
Screen Block & Illegal Contact This is a NON-CONTACT sport, and while there may be incidental contact due to the nature of the sport itself, it is to be avoided as much as possible Time and Space are both factors that are considered in determining who is responsible for the contact No player may use their hands or arms to gain an advantage on another player
Pass Interference There are two types of Pass Interference: Offensive 10 yards from previous spot + Loss of Down Defensive 10 yards from previous spot + Automatic First Down Interference Anything other than a bona fide attempt to reach, catch, or bat a pass This includes hindering an opponents vision or face blocking
Unsportsmanlike Conduct Examples include: Dissent Taunting Spiking or Kicking the ball Illegal Equipment Swearing Deception or Unfair Acts Certain Personal Fouls UNSPORTSMANLIKE SIGNAL Unsportsmanlike Conduct is penalized by a loss of 10 yards
Player Ejection Flagrant Unsportsmanlike Penalties, such as unnecessary roughness and fighting, will result in instant player disqualification EJECTION SIGNAL
Special Penalty Enforcements Automatic First downs Penalties: = DEFENSE Defensive Pass Interference, Roughing the Passer, Illegally Secured Flag Belt Loss of Down Penalties: = OFFENSE Illegal Forward Pass, Illegally Secured Flag Belt, Offensive Pass Interference, Intentional Grounding Roughing the Passer = Succeeding Spot Half the Distance - A penalty can never move the ball more than half the distance to any Goal Line, this usually occurs when within either 20YL
BALL RESPONSIBILITY The offensive team must retrieve the ball after each play from scrimmage. The more time it takes the offense to get the ball back to the LOS, the more time you waste!