NTFA 8-8 FLAG FOOTBALL RULES SPRING AND FALL The NTFA will be the general guideline for the operation of the Spring Flag Football League with the following modifications to accommodate the flag football format. The NTFA Board will govern all circumstance(s) not specifically addressed below. ** Please note: Anything not covered by NTYG NTFA Rules will revert to NCAA rules. Team Formation & Roster 1. Players will be divided into age groups (Pre K, Kinder, and 1 st Grade) &(2ND grade) teams are required to have proof of age for all players (including birth certificate & report card). 2. Each team will have a minimum of 8 and a maximum of 16 players and must have at least one adult coach registered as such with a league that is approved by NFTA for the current playing year. You can start the game with 7 players. 3. Each team will have a maximum of six (6) staff members on their roster. This is any combination of coaches and/or team parents. 4. All players on a team are required to have matching jerseys or t-shirts and shorts. 5. No pants, cold weather gear may be worn UNDER the jersey and shorts. 6. All teams will have a fixed roster certified by the NTYG NTFA board prior to the 1 st game and will complete the season with the league approved roster. Player Certification 1. The coach must submit a roster sheet to the NTYG NTFA board with the complete team roster before the first game is played. 2. Each roster sheet shall have a picture of the player, player s name, jersey number, date of birth, and grade. 3. The team will approach the certification table together with a copy of their birth certificate and report card in hand to verify they are an eligible player. 4. After the team members have all been verified by the NTFA board members the sheet will be signed off and available for presentation before each game. The NTFA Board will keep a signed laminated copy of each team s roster for verification use at all Spring NTFA football events Coaches Responsibilities 1. Coaches are responsible for the actions of their parents. 2. All coaching infractions constitute unsportsmanlike conduct (15 yard penalty).
3. Two unsportsmanlike conduct penalty infractions will result in ejection of player/coach for the remainder of the game. 4. Player participation see NTYG NTFA RULES. 5. Every Player must wear a mouth piece (15 yard penalty) Field Dimensions 1. Length-45 yards long 2. Width-160 feet 3. End Zone-10 yards deep Football Size Requirements 1. K-2 or equivalent Starting the Game 1. Visitors have first possession. Home team has first possession in second half. 2. No team will be allowed to participate without team uniforms. (Approval accepted by host) 3. Ball will be placed at right hash of the 45-yard line beginning each possession. Game Rules Scoring 1. Two 20 minute halves with a running clock 2. 5 minute half time, 5 minutes between games 3. No time-outs unless called by a game official due to injury 4. 45 second play clock once the play is blown dead. 5. Teams must be ready at scheduled time. 6. Forfeit will occur after 10 minutes into first half if the team is not ready. 7. No kicking game. Ball is always placed on the 45-yard line to start the game, after a score, and after an interception. (Interceptions may be returned for a touchdown) 8. Referee will announce remaining time at 10, 5, and 2 minutes in each half. 9. Ties: Each team will receive one opportunity (4 downs) to score from the 10-yard line. If the score is still tied each team will receive one opportunity (4 downs) from the 5 yard line, but the extra point must be a 2 point from the 10 yard line. If the score is still tied the game will end in a tie. 10. Playoff/Tournament games cannot end in a tie. Rule #9 will be repeated until there is a winner. 1. 6 points for TD
2. 1 point for PAT at the 3 yard line; 2 points for PAT at the 10 yard line. 3. 2 points if the defense returns a PAT back across the 45. (Interception) 4. Official score kept by referee Moving the ball 1. Offensive Plays can be a pass or run. 2. Field is marked with 1 st down markers/cones at 15-yard intervals: 45-yard line, 30-yard line, 15-yard line, Goal line. 3. Each team must move the ball past a 1st down marker/cone to get a 1st down. 4. Each team will have 3 downs to get a 1 st down from the 45-30 and from the 30-15. Once a team reaches or passes the 15-yard line marker/cone they will have 4 downs to score. 5. No chains or down marker. 6. Possession always begins at the 45-yard line at the right hash mark. Placement of the ball must be enforced by officials, in accordance with NCAA rules, once the ball has been advanced. (left or right hash mark) 7. No penalty will be assessed in excess of the 45-yard line. On an unsuccessful or successful offensive play from the 45-yard line resulting in an offensive penalty: The ball will be returned to the 45-yard line and a loss of down will occur. 8. Offenses always move in the same direction. (Half field, both teams start at 45-yard line.) 9. Laterals are allowed. 10. If an offensive player s flag is pulled behind the 45 yard line the offensive will maintain possession of the ball and the following down will start at the 45- yard line unless it is 3 rd down. (No Safeties) Special Rules 1. Fumbles/Bad snaps are dead balls at the spot with the offense retaining possession. (Loss of down on bad snaps) 2. If a defensive player strips the ball instead of pulling a flag it is a dead ball and the offense maintains possession of the ball at the spot where the ball was stripped. 3. Offensive team is responsible for retrieving and returning the ball to the previous spot or the new line of scrimmage in a timely fashion. Failure to do so will result in a delay of game. 4. Two delay of game penalties in the same possession results in a turnover. A delay of game penalty on the extra point try results in a turnover. 5. Defensive Pass Interference will be a spot foul (1 st down at the spot of the foul) 6. Offensive Pass Interference is 15 yards from the L.O.S or loss of down. 7. Interceptions may be returned. If an interception is returned beyond the 45-
yard line (Offensive starting point) it is a touchdown. The extra point will take place as normal. 8. No taunting or trash talking. (5 yard penalty & expulsion if flagrant) 9. Fighting: the player(s) involved will be ejected from the current game and the next scheduled game. If a team fight occurs, the teams involved will be ejected from the tournament. 10. Any dead ball foul on a play that results in the defense getting the ball and it is unable to be penalized because of the ball being placed on the 45 yard line will result in a loss of down. The defense, now the offense, would be starting play with 2nd down. 8-8 Offense 1. All players must wear league supplied/authorized flags. 2. Gap on the offensive line shall not be more than the arm span from the Center s arm to the Guard s shoulder ( A- Gap ) or this will negate the gap rule. 3. All players are eligible receivers and runners with the exception of the center. 4. No 3-point stances (1st time = warning; 2 nd time = 5 yard penalty). 5. QB can glance at coach for an audible before the offense is set. Once set, no more instruction is permitted. Violation = unsportsmanlike conduct (15 yard penalty from LOS). 6. QB cannot run between Guards A- Gaps. (A player receiving a direct snap from the center is regarded as the QB on that play.) (5-yard penalty from LOS). 7. Minimum 4 players on the line of scrimmage (5 yard penalty from the LOS). 8. No flag guarding (10 yard spot penalty). 9. No stiff arm (10 yard spot penalty). 10. No lowering shoulder (10 yard spot penalty). 11. Runner cannot jump in the air (10 yard spot penalty). 12. 45 second play clock violation. Time count begins once ball is spotted. (5- yard penalty). 13. Offensive holding (5 yard penalty from LOS). 14. Offensive pass interference (15 yard penalty from LOS and loss of down). 15. A player not wearing flags cannot advance, carry or receive the ball. 8-8 Defense 1. Defensive lineman can lineup over offensive guards, but cannot shoot A- Gap (5 yard penalty). 2. Defensive player may not dive (leave his feet) for the flag (5 yard penalty). 3. A tackle results in a 10-yard spot penalty. (Diving may be seen as a tackle.) 4. An open field tackle results in a touchdown. (Discretionary call). 5. Defensive holding (5 yard penalty and automatic first down.) 6. All players must be (2) yards off the ball. Defense can stand their ground on the goal line regardless of where the line of scrimmage is located.
8-8 Coaches on the field option 1. (PK, K-1 st Grade) each team may have two (2) offensive coaches and one (1) defensive coach on the field during offense. 2. Both (2) offensive coach on the field must be ten (10) yards behind the deepest player and remain still during the entire play. (Unsportsmanlike conduct 15 yrd). 3. 2nd grade weeks 1-4 and the tournament each team may have 1 coach on the field. 4. At the snap the offensive coach must be a minimum of ten yards behind the deepest player and remain still until play is dead. 5. The coach cannot touch a player once set. Use of hands on a player constitutes unsportsmanlike conduct. (15 yard penalty) 6. Confrontation with the officials by the coach on the field constitutes unsportsmanlike conduct. (15 yard penalty) 7. One defensive coach can be on the field at the start of offensive play. He must be 10 yards away from line of scrimmage. Terminology PAT- Point after Touchdown TD Touch Down LOS Line of Scrimmage