OFFICIAL RULES - FALL 2018

OFFICIAL RULES - FALL 2018 FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS ( FNL ) Flag Football is designed to be a 6v6 game filled with fun and action. The offensive team plays for a first down at midfield and a touchdown in the end zone. Running and passing plays are allowed, although there are No Running Zones that are 5 yards before midfield and 5 yards before the goal line. The defensive team covers receivers, rushes the passer and pulls flags to make tackles. It is intended to be a Non-Contact sport. AS A COACH OR A PARENT IF YOU ARE FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE FOLLOWING RULES, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS MAY NOT BE THE LEAGUE FOR YOUR AND YOUR FAMILY. WE ARE COMMITTED TO MAKING THIS LEAGUE A FUN LEAGUE WHERE YOUR CHILD HAS A CHANCE TO LEARN THE TEAM SPORT OF FOOTBALL. THE BASICS Coin Toss Rules: Visiting team calls heads or tails while coin/puck is in air. THERE ARE NO DEFERRALS The winner of the toss "Team A" chooses either Ball or Direction they want to go. Team B gets the alternative. Start of Second Half: The possession and directions from the original coin toss flip

The offensive team takes possession of the ball at its own 5 yard line and has 3 plays to cross midfield for a 1 st down. Once a team crosses midfield, they have 3 plays to score a touchdown. If the offense fails to score, the ball changes possession and the new offensive team takes over on its own 5 yard line. If the offensive team fails to cross midfield, possession of the ball changes and the opposition starts its drive from its own 5 yard line. All possession changes, except interceptions, start on the offenses own 5 yard line. Interceptions start at the point of a flag pull after the interception. Interceptions may be returned except during extra points. All Teams.1 Coach is allowed on field per team. Kindergarten can have 2. PLAYERS/GAMES Teams must field a minimum of 5 players at all times. ALL PLAYERS MUST PLAY A MINIMUM 3 OUT OF THE 4 QUARTERS. SUBSTITUTIONS ARE ONLY ALLOWED AT THE QUARTER BREAKS UNLESS THERE IS AN INJURY. 7 PLAYER RULE: ONLY If team A has 7 players at the game and team B has 8+ players, the coach of team B will have the option of identifying one player from team A that must sit one quarter. Team A coach will then determine which quarter this player will sit. This must be determined prior to the start of the game. 9 PLAYER RULE : Some teams may have 9 players. 1 st Qtr: 3 play offense only, 3 different play defense only and the other 3 play the whole Qtr. (This way...all 9 players play in the 1 st Qtr.) Qtrs 2-4: 3 different players sit each qtr. ***YOU MUST NOTIFY THE OFFICIALS AND OPPOSING COACH AT THE COIN FLIP THE AMOUNT OF PLAYERS YOU HAVE THAT NIGHT TIMING/OVERTIME Games are played with 10 minute running quarters (40 minutes), 1 minute water break between quarters and a 5 minute halftime. If the score is tied at the end of 40 minutes, teams move directly into overtime (FRESHMAN DIVISION DOES NOT HAVE OVERTIME, EXCEPT DURING PLAYOFFS). The following tie-breaker system will be used for all overtime games. Coin flip determines possession Ball is placed at Midfield After 3 plays, the referee will mark where the ball ended up (cone, flag, etc) Opposing team will now take over at Midfield run their 3 plays going in the same direction. Whichever team gains the most yards on 3 plays wins the game If both teams are tied after 3 plays, we do it again until there is a winner. Negative net yards on offense will count against you. Other team must still run their 3 plays.

If ball is intercepted and returned for a touchdown, game is over. Freshman Division - 45 second play clock to snap the ball Sophomore and Junior Divisions - 30 seconds play clock to snap the ball Teams may receive one warning before a delay of game penalty is enforced. TIMEOUTS are 30 seconds. 2 timeouts per half and they do not carry over to 2 nd half if unused. No timeouts in overtime Touchdown = 6 points SCORING Extra Point: 1 point (played from 5 yd line. Cannot Run No Run Zone ) or 2 points (played from 12 yd line. Can Run) Safety: 2 points and the ball at their own 5 yard line (includes offensive fumble in their own end zone) Note: No interception returns during extra point attempts RUNNING The quarterback cannot run with the ball. Handoffs, laterals and pitches are allowed as per NFL rules. NO CENTER SNEAKS!! QB can hand to center after clear possession is obtained by QB. Hand off to the center must be around the side of the center and not through the legs. No-Running zones are located 5 yards prior to each end zone (as marked) and 5 yards prior to midfield (as marked). Designed to avoid short yardage, power-running situations. The player who takes the handoff, lateral or pitch can throw the ball from behind the Line of Scrimmage (LOS). HANDOFFS, LATERALS OR BACKWARDS PASSES ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE NO-RUN ZONE. Once the ball has been handed off, lateraled or pitched, all defensive players are eligible to rush. Spinning and jumping is allowed. If flag is pulled while player is in the air the ball is marked where he left his feet before the jump. The ball is spotted where the ball carrier s feet are when the flag is pulled, not where the ball is. Player running with the ball must make an effort to avoid INTENTIONALLY running over or initiating aggressive contact on the defensive player. Penalty, if called, is unsportsmanlike conduct.

A backwards pass or lateral in the no-run zone is a RUN and therefore not allowed and is a penalty. The ball has to go forward. This only applies in the no-run Anywhere else on the field a backwards pass or a lateral is a normal play and can be ran or passed. IN THE NO RUN ZONE ONLY - You can NOT complete a shuffle pass behind the LOS and attempt to count it as a pass. The forward shuffle pass must cross the LOS in order to count. The football under center can be re-positioned but not be lifted up off the ground before it is snapped. Referee will announce that the ball is live and play clock has started. Example: when the referee places the ball and announces it is live the offense can run a play even if the defense is not ready. The intent is to give the defense a chance to be ready. However, the defence can t loaf down the field. Referee may need to advise the defensive coach to get his defense in position. RECEIVING All players are eligible to receive passes (including the QB, if the ball has been handed off, lateraled or pitched behind the Line of Scrimmage (LOS) as per NFL Rules A player must have at least one foot inbounds when making a reception.. As in the NFL, only one player is allowed in motion at a time. PASSING and INTERCEPTIONS The QB has a seven (7) second pass clock. If the QB does not get rid of the ball within the (7) seven seconds, play is dead, loss of down. Ball remains at the original LOS. Once the ball is handed off, the seven second rule no longer is in effect. Shovel passes are allowed. Interceptions may be returned. While the defense is returning the interception, if the player s flag is pulled, the offense will take over where the flag was pulled. DEAD BALLS The ball must be snapped between the legs, not off to one side, to start play. Play is ruled dead when: Ball hits the ground

Ball carrier s flag is pulled Ball carrier steps out of bounds Touchdown or safety is scored Ball carrier s knee hits the ground Ball carrier s flag falls out Ball carrier s flags are not positioned on the side of the hips (slide to back side by tailbone). This is very subjective and up to the ref to determine the severity of the issue. Warnings MAY be given instead of dead ball. It is Coach & Players responsibility to check their own players throughout the game. Inadvertent whistle : if the ball is in player possession at the time of inadvertent whistle, the offensive team may take ball at spot where blown dead or replay the down from original LOS if during a backward pass or lateral the down is replayed from original LOS. if during a forward pass, the down is replayed down from original LOS. If a defensive penalty occurs during the play, the penalty shall be administered from spot taken (which becomes the new LOS) or from original LOS if offence want the down over. Dropped snap or a bad snap that hits the ground is a dead ball and loss of down but the ball is placed on the line of scrimmage. This is only for a bad snap. if the QB catches the snap or takes the snap under center and then fumbles it s a dead ball where it hits the ground. **NOTE: THERE ARE NO FUMBLES ( therefore NO STRIPPING OF THE BALL ) RUSHING THE QUARTERBACK All players who rush the QB must be a minimum of (7) seven yards from the LOS (as marked by ref) when the ball is snapped. Any number of players can rush the QB from the 7 yard mark.. Players not rushing the QB may defend on the LOS only until the ball leaves QB hands weather hand off or pass.. Once the ball is handed off, the seven yard rule no longer is in effect, and all defenders may go behind the LOS. A special marker, or the referee, will designate seven yards from the LOS. Remember, NO BLOCKING, TACKLING, OR STRIPPING OF THE BALL IS ALLOWED.

If a 7 yard rusher encroaches and does not get back before the ball is ACTUALLY snapped they are no longer eligible to rush. They have to wait until the ball is actually snapped and not on the word hike. If they rush it s an illegal rushing defensive penalty. No blocking/shielding a rusher or blocking/shielding for a runner at any time. This is a judgement call and must be respected. Absolutely no contact with the QB other than pulling the flag. If a defensive player jumps to block pass from the QB and comes down on the QB with ANY contact its a penalty. SPORTSMANSHIP/ROUGHING If the field Official/Referee or Commissioner witnesses any acts of tackling, elbowing, cheap shots, blocking or ANY unsportsmanlike act, the game will be stopped and the player/coach or fan may be ejected from the game. If penalty is on the defense, it is a dead ball at point of infraction and automatic 1 st down. If penalty is against the offense, then 5 yds + loss of down, from original LOS. It will ALWAYS benefit the other team. **FOUL PLAY WILL NOT BE TOLERATED** Trash Talking is language that may be offensive to officials, opposing players, teams or spectators. If trash talking occurs, the referee may give one warning and if it continues, the player(s), coaches and fans will be subject to ejection from the field and premises. The game will not continue until the ejected party has left the premises. If they do not leave, the ref will forfeit the game immediately and award the Win to the opposing team. Anyone ejected from a game (player, coach, fans), for any reason, will not be allowed on the premises for the next game. If they are ejected a 2 nd time during the season, they will not be allowed on the premises for the next TWO games and are subject to dismissal from the league with NO REFUND. UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT BY ANYONE WILL NOT BE TOLERATED!! ***COACHES ARE EXPECTED TO MONITOR FAN CONDUCT PENALTIES ***** ALL PENALTIES CAN BE DECLINED ***** All penalties will be called by the referee. All penalties will be assessed from the Line of Scrimmage (LOS) UNLESS DECLINED. DEFENSIVE PENALTIES:

All defensive penalties except offsides are 10 Yards and all carry an automatic first down. Offsides: 5 yards and automatic 1st down from LOS Pass Interference: 10 yards from LOS and automatic 1 st down. Illegal Contact : (Tackling, Holding, etc) 10 yards from LOS and automatic 1 st down. Illegal Flag pull (Before receiver has ball) 10 yards from LOS and automatic 1 st down Illegal rushing (including encroachment) (Starting rush from inside 7-yard marker or starting too soon from 7 yard marker) 10 yards from LOS and automatic 1 st down. Last Man Standing ( Last defender tackles, pushes down or holds the ball carrier instead of pulling flag or intentionally pulls flag early to prevent a TD) Automatic Touchdown + potential unsportsmanlike penalty and ejection from game. OFFENSIVE PENALTIES: All offensive penalties are 5 yards from the LOS and carry a loss of the down they were on. Illegal motion (More than one person moving, false start, etc.) 5 Yards from LOS and loss of the down they were on. Run play in the No-Run Zone 5 Yards from LOS and loss of the down they were on. Illegal forward pass (Pass thrown beyond LOS) Offensive pass interference

(Illegal pick play, pushing off/away defender) Blocking Intentional blocking or shielding a defender from the runner Flag guarding Intentionally keeping a defender from grabbing the flag Charging (Intentionally running over defender) Delay of Game 5 yards and loss of the down they were on. **If players run into each other from simply giving a strong efford... Referees can determine INCIDENTAL CONTACT from normal run of play. If so, this results in a NO call. Players cannot question judgment calls. Games cannot end on a defensive penalty, unless the offense declines it. Offense plays untimed down. STANDINGS Official league standings and playoff seedings* are determined based on the following: 1) Win/Loss Winning PCT (All games are included) 2) Head to Head 3) Average Pts. Allowed per game (NOT SCORED) 4) Coin Flip ATTIRE Cleats are allowed, except for metal spikes. Inspections will be made. All players must wear a protective mouthpiece; there are no exceptions!! Official FNL Team jerseys and FNL Flags must be worn during play. Flags must be of a different color than the shorts. Shorts must be of a solid color. No stripes or pockets are allowed on the shorts. FNL commissioners and/or referees will determine if there are any uniform violations. Any violation of the attire rule should be rectified ASAP. If violation continues the Head Coach is subject to a 1 game suspension and game is subject to forfeit as determined by the FNL Commissioners.

NOTE: THERE ARE NO KICKOFFS, AND NO BLOCKING/SHIELDING IS ALLOWED COACHES COACH PLAYERS PLAY REFEREES REF FANS CHEER