Flag Football

1. THE GAME

1. Number of Players: A team will consist of 8 players on the field. Teams must have at least 6 players to start a game. 
2. Starting a Game: Captains will face off in RPS. Winner of the RPS will choose the ball or side first.
   1. The game will start on the offense’s 10 yard line. 
   2. Team that started on defense in the 1st half will start the 2nd half on offense. 
3. Scoring: Touchdowns are six points.
   1. After a touchdown is scored, teams may elect to go for either one, two or three extra points.
      1. 1 point – attempted from the 5 yard line.
      2. 2 points – attempted from the 10 yard line.
      3. 3 points – attempted from the 20 yard line.
   2. An intercepted extra- point try may be returned for 2 points. 
   3. Safeties are 2 points. 
   4. After the scoring drive is complete, the new offense will start on their 10 yard line. 
4. Ball Size: Game ball must meet NFHS specification guidelines. 
5. The following items are not permitted:
   1. Shorts or pants with pockets.
   2. Shoes with metal cleats.
   3. Hats.
   4. Sunglasses.
   5. Jewelry (except wedding bands or stud earrings).
6. Management and Officiating: All games will be officiated by 2 referees.

2. GENDER RULES

1. Gender Requirements: The intended format is 5 males and 3 females on the field, with no more than 5 males on the field at a time.
   1. Female Minimum: A full team (8 players) will consist of a minimum of 3 females on the field during play.
      1. Teams may start a game with 6 players with a minimum of 2 females.
   2. Female Maximum: There is no cap on the number of females on the field during play.

3. LEAGUE FORMAT

1. One Game Per Night: All teams will play one game per league night.
2. Game Length: Each game consists of two halves of 20 minutes each. The clock is a running clock.
   1. Clock will stop in the last 2 minutes of the second half unless one team is ahead by 19 points or more.
   2. If the game is within 18 points during the final two minutes of the second half, the clock is stopped on the following:
      1. Incomplete pass.
      2. If a player goes out of bounds prior to the flag being pulled. 
      3. If either team scores (clock starts when opposing team snaps the ball after PAT attempt).
      4. Change in possession.
      5. If a penalty must be marked off.
      6. If the team calls a time out. 
3. In the case of a tie at the expiration in the regular season, the game will end in a tie. 
4. Playoff matches that are tied at the end of regulation time will proceed into overtime. Teams will compete in RPS deciding the ball or side first.
   1. Each team will have four downs to score from the 20 yard line. If a team scores, they will have the opportunity to go for one, two or three extra points. 
   2. If there is a tie after 1st overtime, then the team that defended first will now be on offensive first in 2nd overtime. 
   3. If there is a tie after 2nd overtime, then teams must go for 2 or 3 extra points.

4. OFFENSE GAME PLAY

1. There are no kick-offs; play starts 10 yards from the opposing goal line. 
2. Each team has 4 downs to score or earn a first down by crossing first down markers. 
3. First Downs:
   1. First downs are obtained by crossing 20 yard line markers and midfield. 
   2. If a team fails to earn a 1st down in four plays, possession will go to the opposing team. 
   3. If a team has to reach the midfield line to obtain first down, but a penalty puts them back to the 15 yard line, the team still has to reach midfield for 1st down. 
4. On 4th down, the offensive team may elect to not go for 1st down. Change in possession will occur at the opponents 10 yard line. 
5. There are no punts. If a team fails to score or cross first down markers the ball is turned over and placed at the teams own 10 yard line. 
6. Line of Scrimmage:
   1. Only one offensive player can be in motion, as the ball is snapped. 
   2. The player in motion can move laterally or backward at the snap but not forward. All other players must be set before the ball is snapped. 
   3. Only the center position is required to line up on the line of scrimmage. 
   4. After a play, the new line of scrimmage is determined by the location of the hips when the flags are pulled.
      1. If the flag belt falls off without being pulled, then one hand touch between shoulders and knees satisfies flag pull. 
7. All snaps are shotgun snaps. The snap must be at least 2 yards from the center.
   1. Only the player who signals verbally or nonverbally for the snap may receive the snap. 
8. Only one forward pass is allowed per play
   1. Unlimited backwards or lateral passes are allowed
   2. Intentional grounding will be called when a passer facing imminent loss of yardage throws a forward pass without realistic chance of completion. 
   3. In the last two minutes of the second half the QB may spike the ball to stop the clock. 
9. The Quarterback may only run past the line of scrimmage if rushed by the defense (i.e. a defensive player breaking the line of scrimmage). 
10. An offensive player may advance the ball across the line of scrimmage if the player did not receive the snap. (i.e. handoff to running back or lateral pass)
11. All players are eligible to receive a pass. 
12. The ball is marked where the waist is when the flag is pulled.
    1. A first down or touchdown will occur when a player’s waist breaks the plane of the first down line while in possession of the football. The football must cross the line as well.
    2. Tying flags to prevent a pull is considered unsportsmanlike. 
    3. If the ball carrier touches the ground with anything except their feet or the hand that is not in possession of the ball, the player is down at that spot. 
    4. Diving is not allowed to gain yardage or score a touchdown. 
13. Fumbles or muffed balls are considered dead. 
14. A catch must be completed with one foot in bounds. 
15. A player may jump to avoid having a flag pulled. 
16. Spinning is allowed, however if the spinning player crashes into another stationary player this will result in a charging penalty. 
17. Contact blocking is not allowed.
    1. Blockers must be stationary from the time the rusher gets within 1 yard of them until the rush passes with hand behind the back, close to the hips or down in front clasped. 
    2. Any player that does not runa  route a the snap will be considered a blocker.
18. Shadow blocking is not allowed.
    1. When a player mirrors the movement of the runner downfield to prevent defense from accessing the rusher is not permitted.

5. DEFENSIVE GAME PLAY

1. A five-count is used for rushing. The referee will count “One-one thousand, two-one thousand, three-one thousand, four-one thousand, five one-thousand”. Players may rush only when the referee finishes the final “five one-thousand”. The QB may only run past the line of scrimmage if rushed by the defense. 
2. If a player’s flag falls off during play and is not due to the opposing team pulling it, play will continue.
   1. If the player is the ball carrier, they may be downed by one-hand touch between the shoulders and knees. 
3. A player may dive to pull a flag. 
4. Defensive checking is not allowed. 
   1. A defensive player may not initiate contact with any offensive player.

6. COED RULES

1. To ensure coed participation, there are a number of rules governing the extent to which females must be involved in plays during the course of the game. 
2. A penalty (5 yards from LOS) will be assessed if the offensive team fails to use a female as an “Operative Player” at least once on three consecutive plays.
   1. Note: This rule does not reset after a first down; the rule applies to any three consecutive plays.
3. An “Operative Player” is defined as:
   1. A player throwing a forward pass.
   2. The primary/intended target of a pass.
   3. The runner on a handoff. 
   4. Receives the snap and immediately spikes the ball in order to stop the clock (in the last 2 minutes of the game only). 
4. An “Operative Player” is NOT a player who:
   1. Hands off the football.
   2. Snaps the ball into play. 
   3. Received a hand-off to give the ball back to a male before crossing the line of scrimmage. 
5. Examples of what is “female play”
   1. A pass deflected by a male and caught by a female
   2. A pass intended for a female (in the eyes of the referee) that is deflected by a female and caught by a male.
6. Examples of what is NOT considered a “female play”.
   1. A pass thrown by a male, caught by a male and then pitched, thrown, or otherwise transferred to a female. 
   2. If a female pitches the ball to a male behind the line of scrimmage who then crosses the line of scrimmage. 
   3. If a female pitches the ball to a male behind the line of scrimmage and then he passes it to a female.

7. BREAKS IN PLAY

1. Substitutions:  Are free and unlimited during game play.
2. Time Outs: Each team is allowed three 60 second timeouts per game. 
3. Injuries: In the case of an injury that causes the game to stop, the game time will be paused at the discretion of the Referee or WPS supervisor.

8. PENALTY CHARTS

OFFENSIVE PENALTIES

Delay of Game Illegal Procedure & Offsides Illegal Formation	Play is Dead	5 yards from LOS
Illegal Participation	Play Continues	5 yards from LOS
Illegal Pass Intentional Grounding & Illegal player across LOS	Play Continues	5 yards from SOP + LOD
Illegal Block	Play Continues	10 yards from LOS or 10 yards down if down field
Charging or Diving	Play Continues	10 yards from SOF + LOD
Flag Guarding	Play Continues	10 yards from SOF + LOD
Pass Interference	Play Continues	10 yards from for LOS + LOD
Illegal Contact	Play Continues	10 yards from for SOF
Unsportsmanlike Foul	Play Continues	15 yards from LOS + LOD
Personal Foul	Play Continues	15 yards from SOF + LOD + possible ejection from the game

DEFENSIVE PENALTIES

Offsides	Play Continues	5 yards from LOS
Illegal Participation	Play Continues	5 yards from LOS
Charging Illegal Screen	Play Continues	10 yards from LOS or SOF if downfield
Pass Interference	Play Continues	Auto 1st Down at SOF
Pass Interference – Endzone	Play Continues	Auto 1st from 1 yard line / Ref may award TD
Roughing the Passer	Play Continues	10 yards from LOS + Auto 1st Down
Unsportsmanlike Foul	Play Continues	15 yards from LOS + Auto 1st Down
Personal Foul (Contact)	Play Continues	15 yards from SOF + possible ejection from the game
Tackling	Play Continues	15 yards from SOF + Auto 1st Down / Ref may award TD
Holding	Play Continues	10 yards from LOS if behind LOS, 10 yards from SOF if downfield / Ref may award TD