Intramural 5 vs.5 Flag Football
The Intramural Program staff will work hard to ensure that all participants have the safest
experience, but guaranteeing absolute safety is not possible. Be aware that participation in
intramural sports activities, including use of intramural facilities and equipment, is completely
voluntary. There are risks and hazards, minor and serious, associated with participation in
intramural sports activities. Participants voluntarily assume all responsibility and risk of loss,
damage, illness, and/or injury to person or property associated with participation in intramural
sport activities.
University at Albany, the State University of New York and the State of New York are not liable
for any injuries, damages or other losses which individuals may incur while using recreational
sports facilities or participating in the Intramural Program provided by the Office of Campus
Recreation. The University at Albany does not provide medical, health, or other insurance for
participants. Medical expenses incurred such as ambulance, doctor bills and x-rays will be the
responsibility of the participant. Purchasing adequate health/medical insurance prior to
participation is strongly recommended.
I. Player Eligibility
a. All undergraduate & graduate students who have paid the recreation fee and are
currently enrolled in any department or college of the University and current faculty and
staff members shall be eligible to enjoy all intramural privileges and shall retain that
status until they withdraw, graduate, take a leave of absence, or fail to comply with the
eligibility rules or other guidelines.
b. Only players who are able to present their current UAlbany photo ID card to the
Intramural Site Supervisor will be eligible to participate in intramural activities. There
will be no exceptions to this rule.
c. For a full list of all eligibility requirements please refer to the Intramural Sports
Handbook.
II. Team Composition
a. The game will be played between two teams of 5 players each.
b. All players on a team must be registered to the team’s roster through IMLeagues.com
prior to the first regular season game. Team members may not be added after the first
game.
c. All team members are required to present their UAlbany photo ID card and sign in with
the Intramural Site Supervisor at the beginning of each game. If a team member does
not have his/her ID card or does not sign in with the Intramural Site Supervisor they will
not be eligible to play.
Updated: 12/10/2013
III. Playing Field and Equipment
a. All intramural 5 vs. 5 flag football games will be played on the Dutch Turf Field.
b. Intramural participants will be expected to keep all used fields in pristine condition.
Before leaving intramural facilities participants will be required to throw away all
garbage and collect all items such as clothing, personal equipment, etc. If any garbage or
other items are left behind, both team’s sportsmanship ratings will be reduced by one
half point.
c. All game balls and equipment will be provided by the Office of Campus Recreation.
d. All players are required to have a number on the back of their shirt. If they do not,
colored pinnies will be provided by the Office of Campus Recreation.
e. NO JEWLERY MAY BE WORN DURING GAMES. Captains are responsible for ensuring that
all team members remove jewelry before play. This includes, but is not limited to,
earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings, watches, facial rings, etc. Medical and religious
jewelry may be worn but must be completely covered and taped to the body.
f. All shirts must be tucked in to pants to make sure they do not cover up the flags. Gym or
athletic clothing must be worn. Players may not wear jeans, or any other pants that
have belt loops.
g. Any type of gym or running sneaker will be permitted. Cleats of any kind will not be
permitted and players will not be allowed to participate until the cleats are removed.
h. Head gear, shoulder pads, body pads, or any unyielding or dangerous equipment is
prohibited.
i. Under no circumstances will a player wearing a cast or a splint be permitted to play.
Braces with exposed metal or hard plastic will not be allowed; must be cloth.
j. Players may wear a knit hat or stocking cap. No baseball style hats or hats with rigid
edges will be allowed. Rubber or cloth hair elastics may be worn to tie back hair. Hard or
metal hair clasps may not be worn.
k. The Intramural Site Supervisor will have the final say on the legality of all equipment.
IV. Game Times
a. It is recommended that teams arrive 15-20 minutes prior to the start of the game in
order to allow time to sign in and warm up. If a team is not able to field a team at the
time the game is scheduled to begin the game will be recorded as a forfeit. Teams will
be allowed a grace period of 5 minutes after the scheduled game time for all players to
arrive. If there are less than 4 players at the end of the grace period, the game will be
forfeited by the incomplete team. The Site Supervisor will call the time of the forfeit
according to his/her watch.
b. The game shall consist of two 12-minute halves.
c. The clock will start on the snap to begin each half. It will run continuously for the first
half. It will run continuously for the first 11 minutes of the each half unless stopped by a
team’s or referee’s time-out.
Updated: 12/10/2013
d. The referee shall stop the clock at the last minute of each half and inform both captains
of the playing time remaining. The clock starts on the snap.
e. Time-outs are 30 seconds. Each team is entitled to two time-outs per game, including
overtime.
f. In the case of a tie-breaker, each team will attempt to score by passing from the threeyard line for one point or from the 10 yard line for two points or from the 20 yard line
for three points. If the defense intercepts a pass or fumble, the attempt is over. Regular
season games will end in a tie.
V. Game Rules
i. The Field
a. The field measures 80 yards in length, goal line to goal line. There shall be one
inbounds line (hash mark) dividing the field into halves.
ii. Putting the ball into play
a. The ball shall be placed at the Team A 10-yard line to begin each half of a game
and following a try, touchback or safety, unless moved by penalty.
Note: There are no kicks in 5 vs. 5 Flag Football
b. Each player must wear a flag.
c. All players are eligible receivers.
d. The play clock shall be 25 seconds in length.
e. A team shall have four consecutive downs to advance the ball to the next zone
by scrimmage.
f. A new series of downs is awarded when a team moves the ball legally into the
next zone or the opponent obtains possession of the ball by penalty, pass
interception, or failure to advance to the next zone.
g. The offensive team must have at least one player on their scrimmage line (first
ball spotter-orange) at the snap.
h. Team A runner cannot advance the ball through Team A’s scrimmage line (first
ball spotter-orange).
i. All 10-yard penalties are five yards and all five-yard penalties are three yards.
iii. Passing and Handling the ball
a. There are no restrictions after a change of possession or once a legal forward
pass has been touched beyond Team A’s scrimmage line.
b. Forward passes may be made from any place behind the line of scrimmage. Only
one forward pass is allowed per down. The receiver must touch the ball beyond
Team A’s scrimmage line. Team A has 7 seconds to release the ball on a forward
pass. If not, it is a loss of down and the ball is next snapped at the previous spot.
The referee will sound his/her whistle at seven seconds if the passer has
possession of the football.
c. Lateral or backward passes may be made anywhere on the field and there is no
limit to the number that may be attempted in each scrimmage down.
Updated: 12/10/2013
d. The quarterback may catch the snap from center and IMMEDIATELY throw the
ball to the ground to stop the clock, but may not do so to avoid loss of yardage
e. The ball will become dead immediately upon contact with any netting or post
(ceiling or side)
iv. Ball Carrier and Running:
a. A run-advancement from behind the line of scrimmage to beyond the line of
scrimmage is not allowed.
b. There are no advancement restrictions once possession of the ball has been
obtained beyond the line of scrimmage.
c. Runners shall not flag guard by using their hands, arms, or the ball to deny the
opportunity for opponents to pull or remove the flag belt.
d. Flag Guarding includes: swinging the hand or arm over the flag belt to prevent
an opponent from de-flagging. Placing the ball in possession over the flag belt to
prevent an opponent from de-flagging. Lowering the shoulders in such a manner
which places the arm over the flag belt to prevent an opponent from de-flagging.
e. The runner shall be prohibited from contacting an opponent with extended hand
or arm. This includes the use of a "stiff arm" extended to ward off an opponent
attempting to de-flag/tag.
f. If a flag falls off a player, a two-hand will declare that player down.
g. The runner shall not grasp a teammate or be grasped, pulled or pushed by a
teammate.
h. Spinning while running is considered part of running and is allowed provided the
runner maintains contact with the ground and does not initiate contact with an
opponent. Illegal contact will be determined by the official.
i. Hurdling in an attempt to gain yardage by a ball carrier is illegal and will
constitute a personal foul.
j. Obstruction of Runner- The defensive player shall not hold, grasp, or obstruct
the forward progress of a runner when in the act of removing the flag belt or
making a legal tag.
k. A runner shall not charge into an opponent in his/her path nor attempt to run
between two opponents, unless the space is such as to provide a reasonable
chance for him/her to go through without contact. Illegal contact will be
determined by the official.
l. Diving is only allowed in the attempt to catch the ball (offense or defense) or in
an attempt to grab a flag. A ball carrier diving to advance the spot of the ball is
not allowed and the ball will be ruled dead at the spot on which the dive began.
Ball carriers are not allowed to dive into the end zone to score a touchdown.
v. Screen Blocking
a. The offensive screen block shall take place without contact. The screen blocker
shall have his/her hands and arms at his/her side or behind his/her back. Any use
of the arms, elbows, torso, or legs to initiate contact during an offensive player's
Updated: 12/10/2013
b.
c.
d.
e.
screen block is illegal, this applies to the offensive as well as defensive players. A
blocker may use his/her hand or arm to break a fall or to retain his/her balance.
A player must be on his/her feet before, during, and after screen blocking
(Penalty - Personal Foul).
A player who screens shall not take a position closer than a normal step behind a
stationary opponent.
A player who screens shall not make contact with a stationary opponent when
he/she assumes a position at the side or in front with him/her.
A player who screens shall not take a position so close to a moving opponent
that his/her opponent cannot avoid contact by stopping or changing direction.
The speed of the player to be screened will determine where the screener may
take his/her stationary position. This position will vary and may be 1 to 2 normal
steps or strides from the opponent.
A player who screens shall not move to maintain his/her established legal
screening position unless he/she moves in the same direction and path as
his/her opponent.
vi. Time
a. The clock will start on the snap to begin each half. It will run continuously for the
first 11 minutes of the second half unless stopped by a team’s or referee’s timeout.
b. During the final 1 minute of each half the clock will stop for the following and
resume on the snap of the next play unless otherwise noted:
 Incomplete Pass
 Out-of-Bounds
 Score (touchdown or safety)
 Team time-out
 Fair Catch
 Penalty and administration
 Referee's Time-out - starts at his/her discretion
 Touchback
 Change of Possession
 Team attempting to conserve time illegally
vii. Scoring
a. Breaking the vertical plane of the goal line with the football will score a
touchdown.
b. Each touchdown will be worth six points.
Updated: 12/10/2013
c. A team may go for one point from the three-yard line, two points from the tenyard line, or three points from the twenty-yard line.
viii. Mercy Rule
a. If after five minutes in the second half one team is ahead by 25 points, the
official can declare the game to be over.
Blood Borne Pathogen Policies
Any player, who sustains an injury where bleeding or oozing occurs, or where blood has
saturated the uniform, must leave or be removed from the contest. The bleeding must be
stopped and the area completely covered before the individual is allowed to reenter the game.
An Intramural staff member must clear the individual before the participant can resume play. If
the uniform has become contaminated with blood, it must be changed before the player
reenters the game.
Updated: 12/10/2013
Playoffs and SuperBowl Rules
The Playoffs are a single elimination bracket of games between teams with the most games won during
the season, as well as sportsmanship ratings above three. In the event that an odd number of teams are
playing in the bracket, teams with the lowest standing may play multiple games in a round of the playoff
bracket. These standings will be determined by games won, sportsmanship rating, and overall points
scored. The halves will be extended from 10 minutes to 15 minutes and the rules for overtime will be
different than the regular season overtime rules.
Intramural Flag Football Playoff Tie-breakers
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No Time outs in Overtime
Coin Toss. Call heads/tails in the air
The captains will choose: offense, defense
Overtime played toward the same goal line.
Unless moved by penalty, each team will start first attempt from the 20-yard line.
Each team has four downs (unless there is an automatic first down) to score.
Try options: one point – 3 yard-line; two points – 10 yard-line; three points – 20yard line.
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Each team is given a chance to make an offensive try. If the score is still tied after one attempt
from each team, play will proceed to a second attempt. If the score is still tied on the 3rd
attempt, you have to go for 2 points. The 5th attempt has to be for 3 points. Overtime will
continue until one team has scored more points than the other team.
Updated: 12/10/2013