Rules and Bylaws for FLAG Flag Football 
FLAG Flag Football is governed by a set of league Bylaws that are
developed and approved by the Board of the League.
Games are governed based on Rules of Play, which are reviewed and
updated by a sub-committee of the Board. The Rules of Play are outlined
below.
You can read a copy of our Bylaws by clicking on the link at the
bottom of this page.
Rules for FLAG Flag Football
Following are the Rules of Play for 2008. New rules or clarifications
are in bold.
CAPTAINS: Each team shall designate a field captain who
only speaks to the referees.
FIELD: 60 yards x 30 yards with (4) 15 yard zones marking
the first downs and (2) 7 yard end zones.
PLAYERS: 7 players vs. 7 players. A team may field a group
of 6 players, however if the team has less than 6 players at the
start of a game, the game is declared a forfeit. If a team plays
with only 6 players, the opposing team may field 7 players.
REFEREES: The referees have final say on the field. They
have the authority to interpret the rules as they deem appropriate
in the interest of promoting safety and in the spirit of moving
the game along (e.g., a player is not officially 'down' if he falls
and his flags have not been pulled yet, but a ref has the discretion
to whistle the play over if he feels that there is a safety risk).
Referees are free to consult with each other, with the captain(s)
of the teams playing and/or with league commissioners if they desire,
but are not under obligation to do so. This is a recreational flag
football league, calls are blown in the NFL, mistakes will be made,
regardless, the referee's final decisions are the final word.
TIME: 60 minute game clock will be kept. Clock does not stop.
Each half is 25 minutes. 10 minute half. Team time outs DO NOT stop
the clock. Each team gets one team time out per half. Team time
outs delay the start of the huddle clock by 30 seconds. A half cannot
end on a team time out. At the end of the first half timed session,
there will be one additional play to complete the half. At the end
of the second half timed session there will be five additional plays
to complete the game (conversions do not count as one of the additional
plays). The 30 second play clock remains in effect for each additional
play. A half cannot end on a team time out – there
must be one final play in regulation at the end of the time out.
For example, if there are 10 seconds remaining in the half, and
either team calls a time out, the offense is given one final play
in regulation after the time out is over, since the game clock will
have expired during the time out. Once that play is run, regulation
time is officially over, and there is then one extra play in the
first half, or five extra plays in the second half.
OVERTIME: Sudden death with one chance at equalizing the
score on possession only. Play starts at the 15 yard line and each
team will have one possession to attempt to score. Conversions are
attempted after any touchdowns scored. If after one possession per
team the score remains tied, the game ends in a tie.
EQUIPMENT: All players MUST wear flags at all times. A player's
flags must be worn outside or on top of shirts, sweatshirts or team
jerseys and be clearly visible to opposing players and referees.
Failure to do so may result in a penalty. Team jerseys must be worn
by all players on the field. Players cannot wear outer garments
that have unzipped pockets or belt loops of any kind.
CONTACT: All efforts must be made to reduce heavy contact.
Tackling a player involves a motion to de-flag ONLY. Any other motion
to obstruct a player's motion is ILLEGAL. ANY CONTACT other than
de-flagging against a passer in passing motion is a penalty. Charging
on offense or defense is illegal. Charging is running through an
opposing player who has position on the field. NOTE: Although diving
by an offensive player to advance the ball is permitted, diving
into a defensive player who has position on the field constitutes
charging and will result in a penalty.
PUNTS: No kicks. The opposing team takes possession on
its own 5.
FLAG FALLS OFF INADVERTANTLY OR Player is DEFLAGGED BEFORE
POSSESSING THE BALL: Play is still live until the player with
the ball whose flag fell off inadvertently (or was deflagged prior
to possession) is “tackled” by one hand touch from an
opposing player.
SNAPPER: Every play must start with a center snapping to
another player. The snapper is eligible for receptions.
RUSH: A defensive rush is allowed but must occur with a
player that is 5 yards off the line of scrimmage. Once a defensive
player located 5 yards off the line of scrimmage crosses the line
of scrimmage, any defensive player can rush.
FUMBLE: All fumbles are dead at the spot. If a ball is fumbled
in mid-air, the defender may recover the ball before it touches
the ground. Center snap missed by the QB is a dead ball at the spot
of the first touch of the ground.
ILLEGAL MOTION OR OFFSIDES BY THE OFFENSE: Illegal
motion or offsides by the offense results in a dead ball. The play
will be immediately blown dead by the referee and the appropriate
penalty assessed.
INADVERTANT WHISTLE: In the event of an inadvertent whistle,
the possessing team can select to take the ball at the spot of the
ball at the time of the whistle, or simply replay the down.
BALL SPOTTING: The position of the ball marks the line
of scrimmage. (A players body is NOT where the ball is spotted,
nor is the spot where the opposing player is standing when the de-flagging
is made). The referee calls the ball spot and cannot be challenged.
HUDDLE CLOCK: 30 seconds.
KNEE/FALL DOWN: If a player's knee touches the ground or
falls down while his flags are still on, he may get up and advance
the ball until he is deflagged. A player who is touched by an opposing
player while still on the ground shall be considered deflagged and
the play will be blown dead.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER STEPS OUT OF BOUNDS: If an offensive player
steps out of bounds, and it is NOT as a result of being pushed out
by a defender, the player becomes an ineligible receiver unless
and until the ball is first touched by another player on either
team. For example, if Player A steps out of bounds (including out
of the end zone) and then runs back in, they have made themselves
an ineligible receiver. If they then catch a pass that is not first
touched by another player on either team, it is ruled an incomplete
pass. (There is no further penalty assessed.)
PADDING: No pads allowed. EXCEPTION: To protect an injury.
ONE RUN PER 4 DOWN SERIES: Only 1 run is permitted per
four downs. A run qualifies as any play where the ball is carried
over the line of scrimmage. A screen pass completed behind the line
of scrimmage and run across counts as a run.
RECEPTION: One foot in bounds for legal reception.
 BLOCKING:
No contact above shoulders or below waist. You may not leave your
feet to block. No high/low blocks allowed. 5 yard chuck on pass
coverage is allowed.
SCORING:
- Touchdowns = 6 points
- Extra Points = Ball placed on 5 yard line, if run or passed
in, 1 point. Ball placed on 10 yard line, if run or passed in,
2 pts (in either case, a return by the defense to the opposing
teams end zone equals 2 points for the defense).
- Safety = 2 points (ball taken mid-field by opponent)
PENALTIES:
- LOSS OF 5 YARDS:
- Illegal defensive rush (rushed ahead of 5 yard marker)
- Illegal forward pass (over the line) (and loss of down)
- Delay of game
- Offensive player illegally in motion at the snap or false start
(only one player in motion allowed at time of snap, motion cannot
be toward the line of scrimmage)
- Intentionally grounding pass (and loss of down)
- Too many players on field
- Offensive pass interference (and loss of down)
- Off sides (encroachment)
- Equipment violation (failure to wear flags or team jersey properly)
- LOSS OF 10 YARDS:
- Defensive holding
- Unsportsmanlike conduct (includes taunting and excessive end
zone celebrations)
- Unnecessary roughness (including but not limited to):
- tripping
- clipping
- charging
- ball stripping
- pushing out of bounds
- illegal blocking
- LOSS OF 25 YARDS AND PLAYER SITS OUT FOR TWO SUCCESSIVE
OFFENSIVE SERIES:
- Excessive and repeated unsportsmanlike conduct (in the judgment
of the referee)
- Excessive and obvious roughing of a passer
- SPOT OF FOUL:
- Defensive pass interference
- Flag guarding (less 5 yards)
- PENALTIES ASSESSED NEAR GOAL LINE: If
penalty length is sufficient to cause a TD, the penalty is assessed
at half the distance to the goal line.
-FIRST DOWNS AFTER A PENALTY: There are no “automatic
first downs” associated with any penalty – the only
way to earn a first down is to cross a first down marker.
 -DEFINITIONS:
-Roughing the Passer: A defensive player rushing the QB
may not contact any part of the QB’s body, including the ball
while still in the QB’s hand, unless the contact is incidental
in an attempt to deflag theQ B. While a defensive player may put
his hands up in an attempt to block the line of sight of the QB,
any subsequent contact of the QB is roughing the passer, even if
the defensive player also get a piece of the ball.
-Intentional Grounding: When a QB grounds the ball, i.e.
throws the ball to an area behind the line of scrimmage where there
is no other offensive player present, to avoid being sacked. It
is not intentional grounding if the QB throws the ball beyond the
line of scrimmage.
- EJECTION: Referees and league officers can eject
players from individual games and suspend or otherwise eject players
from the league for conduct deemed in gross violation of the mission
of the league. This conduct includes, but is not limited to: excessive
rough conduct on the field and abusive treatment of fellow players
and referees. Any player ejected from a game is automatically suspended
from that player’s next game, and may be subject to further
action as addressed elsewhere in these rules.
- SPORTSMANSHIP: The determination of sportsmanship
violations is to be reserved for the judgment of the referees. Behavior
not in keeping with the traditional notions of sportsmanship constitutes
a violation of this rule. These include, but are not limited to,
taunting, offensive language or conduct, physical violence or interfering
with the referee’s ability to officiate. The referee or league
officers may, depending on the severity of the infraction, select
from the following penalty options, or, where needed, institute
another equitable remedy. Penalties may include, but are not limited
to: verbal warning to both the player and his captain/team, loss
of 5, 10 or 25 yards, ejection from the game and referral of player
conduct to the Director of Rules and Competition for more serious
or chronic violations that may merit suspension.
Click on the following to open a copy of the FLAG
Flag Footbal League Bylaws
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