Flag Football
• A coin toss determines first possession.
• The offensive team takes possession of the ball at its 5-yard line and has four plays to cross midfield. Once a team crosses midfield, it has four plays to score a touchdown. If the offense fails to score, the ball changes possession and the new offensive team takes over on its 5-yard line.
• If the offensive team fails to cross midfield, possession of the ball changes and the opposition starts its drive from its 5-yard line.
• All possession changes, except interceptions, start on the offense’s 5-yard line. Interceptions may be run back.
• Teams change sides after the first 20 minutes. Possession changes to loser of coin toss.
Players/Game Schedules
Teams must field a minimum of four players at all times. Teams with less than four players at game time may borrow players from their opponent in order to play but the game will still be scored as a forfeit.
Teams consist of 8 to 10 players – four / five players on the field, ten players max per team.
Timing/Overtime
• Games are played in two 20 minute halves with a running clock. Clock will stop in last one minute of each half.
In the last minute of each half, the clock will stop for incomplete passes, injury, timeout, plays out of bounds, offensive penalties and scoring plays.
• Each time the ball is spotted, a team has 30 seconds to snap the ball.
Teams will receive one warning before a delay-of-game penalty is enforced.
• Each team has one 60-second and one 30-second time-out per half.
• Officials can stop the clock at their discretion.
• There is no over time.
Scoring
• Touchdown: 6 points
• Extra point: 1 point (played from 5-yard line) or 2 points (played from 12-yard line)
• Extra Point Attempt Return Score of equal value of the attempt
• Forfeits: Any forfeit will be scored as 7-0 for the non-forfeiting team
Please remember that scoring is part of the game but not the main focus;
always place the kids before the win!
Running
• The quarterback cannot run with the ball past the line of scrimmage.
• Offense may use multiple handoffs
• “No-running zones” located five yards from each end zone and five yards on either side of midfield are designed to avoid short-yardage, power-running situations.
• The player who takes the handoff can throw the ball from behind the line of scrimmage.
• Once the ball has been handed off, all defensive players are eligible to rush.
• Spinning is allowed, but players cannot leave their feet to avoid a defensive player (no diving).
• The ball is spotted where the ball carrier’s feet are when the flag is pulled, not where the ball is.
• Laterals and pitches are only allowed behind the line of scrimmage.
• If the ball carriers flag falls off at any time, the play is dead no matter what.
Receiving
• All players are eligible to receive passes (including the quarterback if the ball has been handed off behind the line of scrimmage).
• Only one player is allowed in motion at a time.
• A player must have at least one foot inbounds when making a reception.
• If the player’s flag falls off while the player is running a route and then catches the ball, the ball is down at the spot of the catch.
• If the player’s flag is pulled early intentionally, the catch stands, the ball is down and a penalty is assessed from the spot of the catch.
Passing
• Passes must cross the line of scrimmage while in the no-running zones
• Shovel passes are allowed.
• Laterals are ok behind the line of scrimmage only.
• The quarterback has a seven-second “pass clock.” If a pass is not thrown within the seven seconds, play is dead, loss of down. Once the ball is handed off, the seven-second rule no longer is in effect.
• Interceptions change the possession of the ball at the end of the run back. Interceptions are the only changes of possession that do not start on the 5-yard line.
Dead Balls
Substitutions may be made on any dead ball.
Play is ruled “dead” when:
• Ball carrier’s flag is pulled
• Ball carrier steps out of bounds
• Touchdown or safety is scored
• Ball carrier’s knee hits the ground
• The ball is fumbled and hits the ground
• Ball carrier’s flag falls off
**Note: There are no fumbles. The ball is spotted where the ball hits the ground.
**Note: There are no kickoffs, and no blocking is allowed.
Rushing the Quarterback
All players who rush the passer must be a minimum of seven yards from the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped. Any number of players can rush the quarterback. Players not rushing the quarterback may defend on the line of scrimmage. Once the ball is handed off or thrown, the seven-yard rule no longer is in effect and all defenders may go behind the line of scrimmage. A special marker, or the referee, will designate seven yards from the line of scrimmage. Remember, no blocking or tackling is allowed.
Sportsmanship
If the field monitor or referee witnesses any acts of tackling, elbowing, cheap shots, blocking or any unsportsmanlike act, the game will be stopped and the player will be ejected from the game.
FOUL PLAY WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. Trash talking is illegal. Officials have the right to determine offensive language. (Trash talk is talk that may be offensive to officials, opposing players, teams or spectators.) If trash talking occurs, the referee will give one warning. If it continues, the player or players will be ejected from the game.
Defensive Penalties
• Offside -- 5 yards and repeat the down, from line of scrimmage
• Pass Interference -- 10 yards and automatic first down, from line of scrimmage
• Illegal contact (holding, blocking, etc.) -- 5 yards and repeat the down, from line of scrimmage
• Illegal flag pull (before receiver has ball, dropped pass) -- 5 yards and repeat the down, from line of scrimmage
• Illegal flag pull (before receiver has ball, catch made) -- 5 yards and repeat the down, from spot of catch
• Illegal rushing (starting rush from inside 7-yard marker) -- 5 yards and repeat the down, from line of scrimmage
• Substitution fouls (player enters field after ball is blown ready for play, i.e. to deceive opponents, or 6 players on the field) -- 5 yards and repeat the down, from line of scrimmage
Offensive Penalties
• Delay of game -- 5 yards and repeat down, from line of scrimmage
• Substitution fouls -- 5 yards and loss of down, from line of scrimmage
• Illegal motion (more than one person moving, etc.) -- 5 yards and repeat down from line of scrimmage
• False Start -- 5 yards and repeat down, from line of scrimmage
• Illegal Snap -- 5 yards and repeat down, from line of scrimmage
• Offensive holding -- 5 yards and repeat down, from line of scrimmage
• Player out of bounds (if player goes out of bounds, player cannot return to the field and catch ball) -- 5 yards and loss of down, from line of scrimmage
• Offensive pass interference (illegal pick play, pushing off/away defender) -- 5 yards and loss of down
• Flag guarding (carrying ball close to flag in an effort to guard or stiff-arms) -- 5 yards from the point of foul and loss of down
• Unsportsmanlike Penalty: +10 yards if on defense, -10 yards if on offence
If a coach, official or Team Up Sports staff member suspects that an athlete may have sustained a concussion or injury, the player should be removed from play immediately. The player should not be left alone and the parent/guardian should be notified so they can follow up accordingly.
Attire
• Cleats are allowed, except for metal spikes. Inspections will be made.
• All players must wear a protective mouthpiece; there are no exceptions.
• No pockets or hoops on shorts.
• No hats with brims or bills.
• The official NFL jerseys must be worn during play.
Player Safety
General rules and why we have them:
We have a lot of rules set, but they are set to keep this fun for the kids, which it always should be. If you cannot allow your child to play for fun, experience the game and develop into a player then this is not the league for you. Our kids come first and no parent, coach or player will be allowed to disrupt that. Teams win and lose, that is the nature of every game. Even at the end of games, if the score does not show that your team won, there is a win.
Look at the overall picture! Did your child run the ball well, catch the ball well, score more than they usually do? Did a child that does not usually catch, catch a ball during the game? Little things such as those are big triumphs for players and should not be tossed away by parents or coaches, because the game was not won. Help your children see the positivity of the game and not the negativity of a game.
The officials are there to take care of each game and they are the responsible party of each game. No Team UP Sports staff member or parent coach will alter or change the outcome of a game; this is the officials’ responsibility. Any coach, team, parent or spectator stopping their game or any other game will automatically be cause for forfeit of that game and possible ejection from our league and season. Officials will also not tolerate yelling, badgering or begging of any call(s), officials may stop a game or eject a player or individual(s) and have a team forfeit if they cannot conduct themselves in a good sportsmanlike manner, this goes for coach's, parents, spectators and players.
At no time are parents allowed to step onto the field of play or disrupt a game by stepping onto the field of play. Any parent caught doing so will be automatically ejected from the game(s). It is up to the parents to set a good example for their team, as well as for the other teams. At no time will we allow any child in our league to be subject to intentional injury from another team or player. We will also not tolerate verbal abuse of any child in our league.
