EDH CSD High School Flag Football
Spring 2017
All players must be in high school and must have a parent or legal guardian sign a release of liability
before they can play. A draft will be used to determine teams. The maximum number of players per
team will be determined and no players may be added to the roster after that time. Fees will be
collected by the team captain and submitted to the registration office by a given date. Only players
who have signed the official roster will be considered legal and eligible to play.
All players must check in with the CSD staff prior to playing. Any participant playing under an assumed
name will be expelled form play and the captain may be suspended for future games. Teams may play
with as few as five players.
The team captain is responsible for the enforcement of and adherence to all rules.
Each team must wear a different color. All players on a team must have identical jerseys/shirts.
Jerseys/shirts must be tucked in. No pants or shorts with pockets. Players must wear shoes and no
metal cleats are allowed. Mouth pieces are mandatory. Players with a cast are not allowed to play. The
CSD will provide flags each week. Home team will provide game ball (adult size).
The playing field is approximately 40 yards wide and 70 yards long and will be divided into zones. NoRun zones are five yards before midfield and five yards before the end zone. Teams cannot run the ball
while in the No-Run zone, all plays must be a pass even with a handoff to advance the ball beyond the
line of scrimmage.
To start the game, captains meet for a coin toss to determine which team starts with the ball. Visitors
call the toss with the winner of the toss choosing possession or direction. This is reversed at the
beginning of the second half.
The game will consist of two 22 minute running halves. Half-time will be a max of three minutes. Each
team will have two 30 second timeouts per half. The clock will stop with two minutes remaining in the
game if the score is within 16 points or less under any of the following conditions:
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An incomplete pass
When the ball carrier steps out of bounds
On a penalty
During point after touchdown attempt
Change of possession
Tie games end in a tie except during the playoffs. Playoff overtime format is as follows:
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Each team is allowed a minimum of one possession beginning on the 5 yard line.
o First possession choice goes to the winner of coin toss to begin O.T.
There are no timeouts
Each team will be scored based on points scored or yardage gained.
o Points - If first team scores, second team must score equal amount or first team wins
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Yardage – First team will be given one complete series to drive the field as far as they
can (assuming they do not score). Yardage will be marked by official. Second team now
starts on the same 5 yard line and drives as far as they can. Team with most yardage
wins.
If both teams score an equal amount of points or yardage, this process is repeated.
OFFENSE
The offensive team takes possession of the ball at its own 5 yard line and has four plays to cross midfield
for a first down. Once across midfield offense has four plays to score a touchdown. If a ball is turned
over on downs the opponent is awarded possession of the ball on their own 5 yard line.
Each time the ball is spotted, a team has 30 seconds to snap the ball. Teams will received one warning
each before a delay-of- game penalty is enforced.
The ball is spotted by the forward motion of the ball when the flag is pulled.
The ball does not need to be snapped between the legs to start each play. The snap may go to any
player in the backfield. Four players must be on the line of scrimmage (3 if only 5 playing at one time).
A fifth player may start on the line or in the backfield . Only one player is allowed in motion at a time.
No motion is allowed towards the line of scrimmage. A maximum of two players including the QB may
be in the backfield upon the snap.
The player receiving the snap cannot run the ball.
The center cannot lift the ball, touch it to the QB’s hands and then regain possession of the ball and run
with it.
Direct handoffs or pitches behind the line of scrimmage are permitted. The offense may use multiple
handoffs. The player receiving the handoff can throw the ball from behind the line of scrimmage.
No exchange of the ball may occur in between the ball handler and the line of scrimmage except for a
direct handoff. All passes must be forward and beyond the line of scrimmage, this includes overhand,
shovel or underhand.
A lateral is an exchange of the ball and must be parallel or backward in motion and can only occur
behind the line of scrimmage.
Offensive players must stop their motion once the ball crosses the line of scrimmage. They cannot run
along-side the ball carrier allowed (shadow blocking).
No blocking, shadow blocking or screening is allowed.
Spinning is allowed, but players cannot dive, leap or jump to avoid their flag being pulled or to advance
the ball.
Ball carriers MUST make an effort to avoid defenders with an established position.
All players are eligible to receive a pass.
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For a pass to be complete the receiver must have both feet inbounds.
A player whose flag falls off on its own and who is free and clear from the defense with no defender
between him/her and the goal may be awarded a score (TD or extra point) if in the judgement of the
official, he/she would have scored without the defense being able to catch the runner.
Offense has six seconds to move the ball across the line of scrimmage. Failure to do so results in a sack
and the ball is spotted where it was when time expired. If the quarterback is in the end zone when the
time elapses a safety is awarded.
The ball is considered fumbled when it touches the ground after it has been in possession and controlled
by a player. Fumbles are ruled a dead ball with the team in possession keeping possession. If the ball is
fumbled in the end zone a safety is awarded.
Substitutions may be made on any dead ball.
Play is ruled dead when:
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Ball carrier’s flag is pulled
Ball carrier’s flag falls out
Ball carrier steps out of bounds
Ball carrier’s knee hits the ground
Ball hits the ground
Receiver catches the ball while in the possession of one or no flags
The seven second pass clock expires
Inadvertent whistle
SCORING
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Touchdown
Extra points
6 points
1 point from the 7 yard line
2 points from the 12 yard line
If an extra point is intercepted and run back the intercepting team is awarded whatever
their opponent was attempting.
DEFENSE
All players who rush the quarterback must be a minimum of 10 yards from the line of scrimmage when
the ball is snapped. Any number of players can rush the quarterback.
Once the ball is handed off, the 10 yard rule is no longer in effect, any defender may rush the new ball
carrier. A special marker will be used to indicate 10 yards from the line of scrimmage.
Players rushing the QB may attempt to block a pass; however, NO contact can be made with the QB in
any way.
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The offense cannot impede the rusher in any way. The rusher has the right to a clear path to the QB. If
the path is occupied by a moving offensive player, then it is the offense’s responsibility to avoid the
rusher.
Interceptions can be run back and possession begins where the player’s flag is pulled. When a ball is
intercepted, players on the intercepting team must stop and not run with the ball carrier.
A legal flag pull takes place when the ball carrier is in full possession of the ball. Defense cannot
intentionally pull a flag off a player who is not in possession of the ball.
Defenders can dive to pull flags, but cannot tackle, hold or run through the ball carrier when pulling
flags.
It is illegal to attempt to strip or pull the ball from the ball carrier’s possession at any time.
PENALTIES
The referees will call all penalties. Games cannot end on a defensive penalty.
Offensive:
Offside
-5 yards from line of scrimmage, repeat down
Illegal Forward Pass
-5 yards from line of scrimmage, loss of down
Offensive PI
-10 yards from line of scrimmage, repeat down
Illegal Motion
-5 yards from the line of scrimmage, repeat down
Delay of Game
-5 yards from the line of scrimmage, loss of down
Impeding the Rusher
-5 yards from line of scrimmage, repeat down
Screening, Blocking, Running with ball carrier - Spot Foul, - 5 yards & loss of down
Charging
Spot Foul, -10 yards & loss of down
Flag Guarding
Spot Foul, -5 yards & loss of down
Unnecessary Roughness (running into Defensive player) - Spot Foul, -10 yards & loss of down
Taunting/Offensive Language -10 yards from line of scrimmage or spot of infraction
Defensive
Offside
+5 yards from line of scrimmage, repeat down
Illegal Rush
+5 yards from line of scrimmage, repeat down
Illegal Flag Pull
+5 yards from line of scrimmage & automatic 1st down
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Roughing the Passer
+10 yards from line of scrimmage & automatic 1st down
Taunting/Offensive Language
+10 yards from line of scrimmage or spot of infraction
Defensive PI
Spot Foul automatic 1st down
Holding
Spot Foul +5 & automatic 1st down
Stripping
Spot Foul +10 yards & automatic 1st down
Unnecessary Roughness (running into Offensive player) - Spot Foul +10 yards & automatic 1st down
SPORTSMANSHIP
Officials have the right to determine offensive language. If trash talking or profanity occurs the referee
will assess a penalty.
Any player ejected from a game must leave the premises immediately and will be suspended from the
next scheduled game, possibly longer if deemed warranted. The ejected player cannot attend the
suspended game(s) even as a spectator. Failure to comply with these rules will result in a forfeit for
his/her team.
BLEEDING AND EXPOSED BLOOD
Any player with a bleeding wound and/or blood stained clothing must leave the game until all bleeding
is stopped, all wounds are properly covered, and all exposed blood and blood stained clothing is
removed.
FIELD RULES
Players and spectators are asked to cooperate totally in eliminating any littering caused by the teams or
spectators on the field and/or parking lot.
Food, colored beverages, sunflower seeds or animals are NOT allowed on the synthetic field. If seen by
a referee or EDH CSD staff member, it will be conveyed to the referee who will inform the coach or
offender of the violation for immediate correction. Failure to comply could result in forfeiture of that
game by the offending team.
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