Women’s Flag Football Rules Winter 2015
1. Minimum 10 players per team and maximum 25 (not-including coaches).
2. No screw in cleats will be permitted, sharks, molded soccer cleats and turf
shoes are allowed.
3. All skilled positions and eligible receivers will wear flags.
4. The flags will be worn UNWRAPPED and UNCOVERED by any shirt or
sweater.
5. Flags must be worn on hips at the side of the body.
a. 1st infraction – warning will be issued to player
b. 2nd and any recurring infraction, 5 yard penalty
6. The ball carrier may not use their hands to protect their flags from a
defensive player. This will be assessed as a 5 yard flag guarding penalty from
the spot of the foul.
7. The ball carrier may not leave the ground or spin in an attempt to make the
defensive player miss their flag. This will be assessed as a 5 yard flag
guarding penalty from the spot of the foul.
8. A standard junior football will be used in games
9. Each game will begin with best 2/3 rock paper scissors. Winning team can
select to play offense, defence, or which end they would like to defend.
Regardless of the outcome of the RPS, each team will start one half on offense
and teams will switch ends at half. There will be no choices to make at
halftime.
10. Two 20-minute halves (until 5 plays), with a five-minute half-time.
11. Teams will begin each half on the ten-yard line; also after each touchdown,
point after attempt, safety or field goal ball is marched 10 paces from the
respective end zone.
12. Four downs to gain Ten yards for a first down.
13. Six players (no more, no less) must be on the offensive line of scrimmage at
the snap of the ball. A regulation offensive set consists of: 5 OL, and 1 WR on
the line of scrimmage.
a. Only eligible receivers will be allowed to catch the ball. The reception
of a ball by a lineman will result in a 5-yard penalty applied to the
original line of scrimmage.
b. Defenses may have any formation they like, as long as they are 1 yard
off the line.
14. Fumbles are dead balls and a loss of down. If a fumble occurs down field and
after the line of scrimmage, the ball will be marked at the dead point of the
fumble.
a. Yards cannot be lost from a fumble behind the line of scrimmage. The
ball will be returned to the previous line of scrimmage. (Intentional
grounding of the ball by an offensive player that is trying to avoid a
loss will result in a loss of yards and the down).
15. The ball must be visible at all times, never “hidden” in any manor whether
inside a jersey or in the hood of a jersey.
16. All punts are twenty-five yards from the line of scrimmage. If after net yards
the ball will be placed in the end zone (i.e. –touchback), the ball is marched
out to the 10-yard line.
a. Ex. – if a team is stopped on 3rd down and wants to punt and they have
20 yards to go until the end zone. Since punts are 25 yards, the ball
would be placed in the end zone, thus it is marched out to the 10-yard
mark or touchback line.
17. Absolutely no intentional tackling of the ball carrier. There must be obvious
intention to grab the flags.
a. If a player is deemed to tackle a ball carrying opponent to the ground,
a ten yard penalty will be assessed.
b. If a defender grabs and holds a ball carrying opponents clothes but
does not use it to bring her to ground, a five yard holding penalty will
be assessed.
18. All blocking is done with the hands within the “shoulder blades”, ie: in the
framework of the body.
19. Only 10 players allowed on the field at one time for each team.
20. A touchdown is worth 6 points. Extra points will be an additional down
played for one point from the 2 yard line and for two points on the 5 yard
line.
a. There will be only one attempt unless a flag is thrown. If the play
results in a flag, the team which receives the penalty will chooses to
accept or decline the penalty which will either result in a good extra
point attempt or a repeat of down.
21. A field goal is marked the distance to the end zone plus 10 yards and is worth
3 points.
22. A safety will be awarded to a defending team if an offensive players flag is
grabbed within offensive team’s end zone. A safety is worth 2 points. The
resulting play after a safety will give the team the ball that scored the safety
on their own 10 yard line.
23. A bump on receivers is allowed within three yard of the line of scrimmage.
a. A bump down field will result in a 5-yard penalty for pass
interference.
24. The ball must be snapped within 30 seconds once the play is blown in.
25. All players must wear mouth guards at all times while playing on the field.
26. An unintentional blowing of the whistle will result in a dead ball; therefore,
the down will be repeated from the line of scrimmage.
27. The defensive player who is carrying the ball following an interception is
downed by a “one hand touch”.
28. Blocking:
a. Only types of blocking allowed are straight run/pass blocks, and reach
blocks and must happen between the shoulders
b. No trapping allowed
c. No pulling inside or outside of the box
d. No blocking is allowed down field on a forward passing play until the
pass has been completed. Blocking downfield is allowed on a running
play.
e. No comeback blocks are allowed by receivers
f. No crack blocks
g. No cut blocks
h. No Cross Blocks
29. If an offensive player loses the flag with out being touched they are downed
by one hand touch.
30. On fourth down an offensive team who is seemingly going offside on purpose
within the 25 yard mark, more than once, with the intent of moving back
yards so that they can pin their opponent on the 1 yard line with a punt, the
defensive team has the choice to decline the penalty. No loss of down will
occur, a play will be run or the ball will be punted to result in a touch back.
31. Coach conduct – if a coach is bullying or verbally abusing other players,
referees, volunteers or spectators; the first act will be a 10-yard penalty
and the second infraction will result in the ejection of that specific
coach from the game. If the problem continues to occur, there will be an
ejection from the tournament.
32. Rub routes are not permitted, and will be called at the referee’s discretion.
33. Field goals may be taken from anywhere on the field at any time. A field goal
is marked from the spot of the ball plus distance to the goal line plus an
additional 10 yards.
a. A made field goal is worth 3 points and results in the ball being placed
on the opponent’s 10-yard line.
b. A missed field goal results in the ball being placed at the original spot
of the ball before the field goal attempt.
c. The field goal must be kicked in a “punt style” kick
d. At no point during the field goal attempt can the opposing team yell,
taunt, or scream at the kicker. Any of these actions will result in a reattempt of the kick and a 5-yard penalty will be added to the place of
the ball.
e. A whistle will mark the time for the kick and the kicker must kick
within 10 seconds.
f. Players and coaches must also stand clear of the uprights.
34. No QB Sneaks. The Quarterback may not make an attempt to break the line of
scrimmage, from under centre, between the tackles. If starting under centre,
QB must make a noticeable effort to move laterally before gaining yards.
35. A ball carrier who intentionally makes contact with a defender in a “truck
stick” manor or also a stiff arm will be assessed a non-avoidance penalty and
be assessed a 10 yard penalty from the spot of the foul.
PENATLIES – All result in a FIVE-yard penalty:
1. Delay of game
2. Offside/ Procedure
3. Holding (offensive or defensive holding of the ball carrier)
4. Tripping
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Flag guarding
Too many players on the field
Not wearing a mouth guard
Ineligible receiver downfield
Illegal formation (+/- 6 players on the Line of Scrimmage at snap of the ball)
PENATLIES – All result in a TEN-yard penalty:
1. Tackling
2. Pass interference
3. Low blocks
4. Unnecessary roughness
5. Objectionable conduct
6. Flagrant misconduct (i.e. Punching)
7. Non-avoidance penalty (stiff arm included)
8. Clipping
9. Crack/comeback blocks
COURSES OF ACTION:
 During the “last 5 plays” (until half time or end of game):
o Penalties issued that result in loss of down also result in a loss of a
play from the play count
o Penalties resulting in repeating of the down will not count towards
the final play count
o Field goals and punts count towards the final play count
 It is the responsibility of the defender to make an honest effort to grab the
flag and avoid contact. Tackling penalty will be charged if incidental or
intentional contact occurs
 Holding after yards gained will result in the loss of a down applied from the
spot of the foul. Holding after no yards gained results in the loss of yards if
applicable and the repeat of the down.
 **NON-AVOIDANCE penalty
o Will be assessed if the ball carrier does not make an attempt to avoid
contact with the defenders
 Flagrant misconduct foul will result in a TEN-yard penalty plus an EJECTION
FROM THE GAME. ** Both referees plus the head referee will be involved in
these discussions.
 Objectionable conduct penalties will be given to any player or coach that
delays the game by unnecessary action (ie. Leaving the bench to argue a call
without permission from the referee.
o **Two objectionable conduct penalties will result in ejection from the
game.
 Referees have the final say in decisions in a game, any further questions
should be discussed, but rule clarifications are allowed to be requested.

Intentional wrapping, safety pinning or other ways of improperly securing
the flag will result in a loss of a down and a warning to the team. A second
infraction will result in an ejection from the game and possibly a suspension.