ENC Flag Football Rules 2006-2007
General Rules
1. Only the nine players on the official team roster may play. If a team plays with someone not on their roster, they are officially forfeiting the game. Rosters will be provided to the refs before each game. Once the season starts, the rosters are set and cannot be changed unless the Rec. Life Director approves a change, which would only happen in rare circumstances.
2. Each half is 20 minutes with a running clock until the 2 minute warning. For the last 2 minutes of each half the clock stops for change of possession, out-of-bounds and incomplete passes.
3. Halftime is 5 minutes, or it can be shorter if both teams agree.
4. In the case of a tie, a sudden death overtime will be played. If the tie still remains after 10 minutes of overtime, the game will result in a tie.
5. Each team gets two 1-minute time-outs per half and one in overtime.
6. The first team to the field picks the color flags they want. Each set of flags comes on a belt; make sure they are returned that way.
7. If one team has less than four players on the field five minutes after game time, they forfeit. If both teams have less than four players, report it to the Rec. Life Director to handle the situation.
8. Both teams will gather for prayer before each game.
9. Each game and overtime period will begin with a game of paper, rock, scissors – best of 3. The team that wins paper, rock, scissors can either choose to start with the ball or give the other team the ball or choose which side of the field to defend. If the winning team chooses to either kick or receive, the losing team gets to choose which side of the field to defend. If the winning team chooses a side of the field, the losing team gets to decide whether to kick or receive. Teams will switch sides and possession at halftime.
10. There are two refs per game, a line ref and a downfield ref. Their areas of coverage should be obvious, but both refs can make calls anywhere on the field.
11. Besides calling penalties, the line ref will also be responsible for keeping track of downs, and recording scores, stats, and timeouts. Stats kept will be passing, receiving, rushing, and defensive TDs, interceptions, sacks, and safeties.
12. Besides calling penalties, the downfield ref will also be responsible for running the clock, spotting the ball, and keeping track of downs. (If both refs do it, maybe we won’t mess up.)
13. A team must be present for at least 2/3 of their regular season games to qualify for playoffs.
Game Rules
1. No more than five and no less than four players must be on the field for each team at one time.
2. There must be at least one offensive lineman and one defensive lineman on every play.
3. Players can substitute only when the ball is dead. Players must enter and leave from the same side of the field.
4. All shirts must be tucked in at all times to allow for fair flag pulling.
5. There are no actual kick-offs or punts; the ball is always placed on the opposing 5 yard line.
6. The spot of the ball will be the ball’s location when the flag is pulled or the carrier is ruled down or out of bounds.
7. There are no forced fumbles; if a player drops the ball without contact, it is live.
8. No tackling, chop blocking, clipping, hands to the face, tripping, stiff-arms, or blocks in the back.
9. A player must have one foot in bounds for a catch to be legal.
10. Each touchdown is worth 6 points. An extra point will be given automatically (no kick) unless the team chooses to go for a two-point conversion, which takes place from the 5 yard line.
11. Safeties are worth 2 points and occur when the ball is in the end zone when the carrier’s flag is pulled or if a player runs out of bounds or is ruled down in their own end zone.
12. Each team receives four attempts to get a first down; the only first down marker is midfield, regardless of where the team starts.
13. Whoever takes the snap is the quarterback and may not cross the line of scrimmage with the ball.
14. The offensive lineman is ineligible unless the pass is tipped.
15. The only blocking allowed will be by the offensive lineman and only between the shoulders and the waist. There is no blocking downfield by any player.
16. The ball carrier must make every effort to move around the defender and cannot run through anyone. You cannot jump into a defender or lead with your legs.
17. No flag guarding.
18. One offensive player may be in lateral motion before the snap (no forward motion).
19. No running plays allowed from within five yards of the end zone.
20. No offensive player may screen a defender; this is considered downfield contact.
21. One defensive blitz is allowed per each four downs assuming it is called before any defensive players cross the line of scrimmage and the blitz call is heard by the referee. On a non-blitzing down, there must a five-Mississippi count that is entirely audible to the referee.
22. Any and all defensive players may blitz, when it is called.
23. The defense loses its blitz if there is a defensive penalty on the play in which the blitz is called. The defense retains their blitz if an offensive penalty is called.
24. There is no contact allowed downfield unless it is an obvious attempt to pull a flag. This means no pushing out of bounds, undercutting of players in the air or bumping at the line of scrimmage.
25. Absolutely no tackling. Tackling will be a penalty regardless of whether it was intentional or not. Pulling flags is the only way the defense can legally stop the ball carrier.
26. You cannot pull the flag before the receiver has caught the ball. If the flag accidentally falls off, the receiver is down where he catches the ball. If it deemed that the defender purposely pulled the flag before the catch, a defensive penalty will be called.
**For questions or clarifications concerning rules please contact Matt Kauffman**
Infractions and Penalties
1. Personnel Infractions – This is having too many men on the field, no defensive lineman, or an ineligible receiver downfield and will result in a 5 yard penalty.
2. Excessive Force – This is chop-blocking, clipping, hands to the face, tripping, blocks in the back, stiff-arms, running over a defender or any other action deemed excessive by the officials and will result in a 10 yard penalty from the spot of the foul.
3. Illegal Procedure – This is for offensive penalties before the ball is snapped (too many men in motion, false start, etc) and cannot be declined. These will result in a 5 yard penalty and the play will be whistled dead.
4. If the quarterback crosses the line of scrimmage with the ball, the play is whistled dead and there is a loss of down, but no yardage penalty.
5. Offsides will result in a five yard penalty from the line of scrimmage. If the offense is offsides, the play will be whistled dead. If the defense is offsides when the ball is snapped, the play will be allowed to finish and then the offense can decide whether they want to accept or decline the penalty.
6. Holding will result in a 5 yard penalty from the spot of the foul.
7. Flag guarding will result in a 10 yard penalty from the spot of the foul.
8. Pass Interference – Defensive pass interference will result in an automatic first down at the spot of the foul. If it occurs in the end zone, the ball will be placed 1 yard from the goal line. Offensive pass interference will result in a 5 yard penalty from the line of scrimmage.
9. Un-tucked Shirts – If a receiver begins a play with their shirt un-tucked, they are ineligible. If a quarterback begins a play with their shirt un-tucked, the play is whistled dead and a 5 yard penalty is assessed. If a defensive player intercepts a pass with their shirt un-tucked, the interception counts, but there is no runback allowed. If a shirt comes un-tucked during the course of a play, the player is ruled down at the spot of the catch and no further running is allowed.
10. Profanity, intentional tackling and undercutting of a player in the air will result in ejection from the game and a 15 yard penalty. If either of these actions is deemed unintentional by the referee, they player will remain in the game, but the penalty will be assessed.
*11. Defenders will no longer be allowed to “bump” the receiver for the first few feet off the line. Any pushing or contact between receivers and defenders is a 5 yard penalty from the spot of the foul unless it is deemed accidental contact while both players are trying to make a play on the ball.
12. In all cases the decision of the referee is final. Any arguing with the referee or excessive arguing with the opposing team can result in ejection at the discretion of the referee. Two ejections over the course of the season will result in suspension for the remainder of the season.