Flag Football League Bylaws
ARTICLE I – GENERAL LEAGUE INFORMATION
PLAYING FIELD – All games will be played at Wilson Ranch Park (Men’s)and Lakewood
Meadows Park (Women’s). Games will be played on two fields (Men’s); field A, closest to
Cameron Dr., and field B closest to the railroad tracks. Wilson Ranch Park is located at 7955
Cameron Dr., Lakewood Meadow Park is located at 9150 Brooks Rd. South.
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES – Alcoholic beverages are PROHIBITED at all Town of Windsor
Parks, bleachers, general complex “area” and parking lots. Officials have the authority to remove
any player or fan who is consuming or under the influence of alcohol. Suspension and/or
forfeiture of game may result from violation.
NO ALCOHOL!
ARTICLE II – MANAGERS MEETING
Each team must have a representative attend the preseason managers meeting. If the manger
him/herself cannot attend, they must designate another representative to attend the meeting. If a
team fails to send a representative to the managers meeting that team will be dropped from the
league.
ARTICLE III – PLAYER ELIGIBILITY
A. AGE: All players must be at least 18 years of age.
a. An illegal player in a game or games will cause his/her team to forfeit that game
and all previous games in which that player participated. Players must be
prepared to show ID when requested to do so by the umpire.
b. If a similar incident by the same team occurs again during the season, that team
will be removed immediately from the league, and barred from further
competition.
B. Only players who have signed their team’s roster, kept on file, will be considered eligible
to play. If a non-signed player participates that team that player is on will forfeit the
game automatically.
a. It is the responsibility of the player and manager to know who has signed the
roster.
C. Players must participate in at least 50% of the guaranteed league minimum games to be
eligible for the playoffs. If the final guaranteed league game falls in the first round of the
playoffs, it may be counted towards the 50% minimum.
a. Ex. 8 game season, player must play in at least 4 games.
D. Players currently playing college football and/or semi-professional football are not
eligible to participate in any league.
E. Players dropped from one roster cannot join the roster of another team without the written
approval of both managers.
ARTICLE IV – TEAM ROSTERS
A. Team rosters will be handed out at Managers Meeting. Team rosters must be filled out
and handed in to a Town of Windsor Parks and Recreation staff member on the 1st day of
games. Team rosters must be filled out completely with player’s full name, address,
city/state/zip code, driver’s license number, and signatures. Failure to have completed
rosters will result in ineligible players.
B. Players may be added and/or deleted through the 4th game of the season. Team rosters
will be kept at Hiram Lewis Park with a Town of Windsor Parks and Recreation staff
member.
a. Ex. No players may be added after the date of the 4th game played. After the 4th
game of the season, rosters will be frozen for the remainder of the season.
b. NOTE: only additions, not deletions, are considered roster changes. Teams
whose roster drops below the minimum number of players may add back to the
minimum at any time during the season with the league coordinator’s approval
and opposing managers’ consent.
C. Roster Limits: Men min. 8 Players – Max. 16 Players
Women min. 8 Players – Max. 16 Players
ARTICLE VI – SCHEDULES
A. Each manager will receive league schedules for his/her team. League schedules are
posted and able to be printed out on the Town of Windsor Adult Sports webpage.
Schedules and standings can be found at:
a. http://www.townofwindsor.com/adultsports.
B. RAIN-OUT PROCEDURE: The Town of Windsor operates on a 24 hour rain rule,
meaning all fields will be closed and remain closed for no less than 24 hours after the last
rain fall giving Town Staff the ability to assess field conditions and determine the
playability. Field hotline is updated by 3:00pm weekdays and 7:30am on weekends. Field
Hotline number: (707) 838-5944
a. Rained out games will be attempted to be made up the first week after the regular
season, but no guarantees.
ARTICLE V – FORFEITURES
A. If a team fails to field the minimum of 4 players when the official calls ‘game time’ at the
designated scheduled time.
B. If, in the opinion of the official, a manager does not have control over his/her team.
C. If there is continued delay of the game after the official has called ‘game time.’
D. If there is any harassment of officials, scorekeepers, players, coaches, or spectators.
E. If there are team and/or spectator violations of park rules and regulations.
F. If players are not properly in uniform.
G. If illegal players are used.
H. Teams dropping below the minimum amount of players during gameplay.
a. A forfeit counts as a 1.5 game loss, unless a team is forced to forfeit due to injury
after fielding the minimum number of players to begin the game. In that case, a
1.0 loss will be applied.
Please call Cindy at (707) 838-5980 or email [email protected] ahead of time if you
know your team will have to forfeit.
ARTICLE VI – UNIFORMS/EQUIPMENT
A. Teams are required to have matching shirts with numbers on the back. Players without a
matching shirt may not be allowed to play. The decisions on what is “matching” will be
made by the umpires and/or scorekeeper.
a. This will be considered a judgment call and cannot be protested.
B. Metal cleats are not allowed in any flag football league.
a. Football cleats = good.
C. PADDING & EQUIPMENT - NO pads on any part of the upper torso including arms
and hands, hats with brims (Baseball cap etc.), casts of any kind may be worn. Team
must provide footballs. OKAY = kneepads, Ace bandages for muscle pulls, knee
brace and lower limb prosthesis hinges must be covered (neo-prene wrap),
mouthpieces and eye protection (encouraged).
a. Teams must provide footballs. Footballs must be official Collegiate or NFL
size and weight.
ARTICLE IX – PLAY REGULATIONS
A. GAME TIME – Game time is forfeit time! If teams are unable to field the minimum
players required at the time scheduled for the game to start, it will be a forfeit and
recorded as a 1.5 loss.
a. *If a preceding game runs past the scheduled start time of the next game, a five
(5) minute warm up period will be given following the final play of the preceding
game. This will be the new game time and forfeit.
B. TIME OF PLAY – Game consists of two (2) 24 minute halves with a 5-10 minute halftime. Clock stops only on a called time-out or injury. Offense has 25 seconds to put the
ball in play after the official declares it ready.
a. However, in the last two (2) minutes of each half, time is kept according to
regular ‘Stop Clock” rules. The clock stops on the following:
i. Incomplete Pass, time out, out of bounds, penalty.
b. Teams have three time-outs per half. They may not be carried if unused.
i. Any player on the field or sidelines may call time out.
c. In the last 2 minutes, if the score differential is 17 points or more, the clock will
run continuously except for time outs, penalties and scores.
C. OVERTIME
a. Officials will have both managers present for a coin toss. Visiting team manager
will “call it” in the air. Winning manager decides whether his/her team will be on
offense, defense, or side they would like to defend.
i. Each team will get one (1) possession during an overtime period. No
clock will be used.
ii. Ball will be placed at the 20 yard line. No first downs. Teams will have 4
downs to try and score a touchdown. Once a touchdown is scored, teams
have the option of 1 point or 2 point conversion.
iii. Beginning of 3rd overtime, after a touchdown is scored, that team will
then have to go for a 2 point conversion.
b. Ex. Visiting team wins the coin toss; they decide to be on offense first. If visiting
team scores a touchdown (no extra point was scored) and the home team fails to
score on their opportunity, the game is declared “completed,” and a win for the
visiting team
D. PLAYING FIELD - The playing field(s) will be 35 x 100 yards at Wilson Ranch
Park and Lakewood Meadows. There is a FIRST DOWN marker each team will
have to hold during the game. (Or as close to those dimensions as the designated
facility will accommodate).
E. PENALTIES – 5, 10 and 15 yard penalties will be assessed depending on the penalty.
F. FIRST DOWN - There are two (2) first down “ZONES TO GAIN” of 20 yards each.
Once a first down is gained, it may not be re-crossed during the same series.
G. SCORING - Teams will be given a total of six (6) points for touchdowns. Teams
may attempt extra points by either running or passing the ball into the end zone
after a score. Point total is as follows:
a. One (1) point conversion - attempted from the 5-yard line.
b. Two (2) -point conversions - attempted from the 10-yard line.
i. On Extra point attempts, Defense may score if situation allows
(I.E. Intercepted pass) Score = 2pts.
ii. Safety - Teams scoring a safety is awarded two (2) points. Scoring
team regains possession of ball on own 20-yard line Or mid-field
in overtime play.
H. FUMBLES - All fumbles and muffs (When possession has or has not been made
and ball touches ground) are “DEAD” and belong to the team last in possession.
a. Ball placed at spot of last possession
b. Exceptions:
i. Punt, if receiving team muffs a kick. Receiving team will receive
the ball at spot of touch.
ii. Declared punt, a muffed ball by the punter is not dead. Punter may
pick up the ball and punt.
I.
KICK -OFFS & PUNTS
a. No kick-offs. Ball is placed on teams own 20 yard line at the beginning of
game, start of the second half and after all scores.
b. All declared punts must be announced to the referee before the ball is
ready for play.
i. Kicking team must re-declare punts on any replay of down,
including time-outs.
ii. Punter must immediately attempt to kick the ball in a continuous
and forward motion after snap.
iii. Punting team must punt with ball used by the offense.
iv. The offensive teams must have 4 players on the line of scrimmage until
the punt is made. No one can move until the ball is kicked. Penalty:
Illegal Procedure, 5 yards.
v. The ball may hit the ground before being returned, provided it has not
been touched by a player. Once the ball touches a receiving player, it
cannot hit the ground or it will be ruled dead. Balls touched by the
kicking team will be ruled dead.
vi. Punts that are downed in the end zone or kicked through the back of the
end zone are touchbacks. Play will begin at the 14-yard line. For punts
that go out of bounds on the sidelines, play will begin at the yard line
where it went out.
c. A punt, which fails to cross the scrimmage line, continues in play and all
players are eligible to catch the ball and advance it.
d. No “direct snap” (Wildcat offense) is allowed.
ARTICLE X – OFFENSE & DEFENSE
FORMATIONS & PROCEDURES
A. Everyone is eligible to receive passes, laterals and hand-offs.
a. Offense must have three (3) players on the line of scrimmage at the snap
of the ball.
b. Shifts are allowed. Only 1 receiver in motion at a time. Receiver in
motion, must retreat a minimum of 5 yards before going in motion.
c. 3 & 4-point stances are allowed. Players on Line of scrimmage must keep
shoulders square to the line of scrimmage.
d. Direct runs are allowed - A hand-off or pass is not required.
B. PASSING
a. Only 1 forward pass may be thrown during the down.
i. A backwards pass may still be thrown
1. Ex. OB receives the snap, WR runs behind the QB, QB
throws ball behind where he/she is standing to WR.
a. Passer may immediately spike the ball forward to the ground to stop the
clock.
b. One foot must be in on catch
C. RUNNING
c. NO runner at any time may SPIN, JUMP, DIVE (Unless diving to catch a
ball), GUARD FLAGS (Heisman), or RUN INTO (charge) a defender.
i. The runner must attempt to avoid the defender.
d. Players must start the play with flags.
i. NOTE: A runner who has possession of the ball and loses their
flags during a play without them being de-flagged by an opponent
may simply be touched (one-hand) by a defender between the
shoulders and the knees.
D. BLOCKING
e. Players must block with hands open and palms facing opponent and arms
f.
g.
h.
i.
extended.
Player must stay on their feet when blocking an opponent.
NO chop blocks, leaving feet, contact above shoulders/below waist,
tripping, use of forearms or elbows, while trying to block a defender.
“Two on One” blocking is permitted only from the line of scrimmage and
behind.
There is NO downfield blocking, or blocking on returns - only “screen
blocking”. Teammates of a runner or passer may interfere for him/her by
screen blocking, but shall not use interlocked interference by grasping or
encircling one another in any manner. Penalty: Illegal Block, 10 yards
E. DEFENSE
j. Any formation is allowed.
k. Rushers (linemen/linewoman); must be 2 yards behind line of scrimmage.
l. May use hands, but no holding opponent(s).
i. May not hold, tackle or push a runner out of bounds.
m. Defensive interference does not apply until the pass crosses the line of
scrimmage.
n. Defense may strip the ball from the runner or quarterback if, in the
judgment of the official, the defender did not commit any foul (holding,
roughing or tackling the ball carrier).
ARTICLE XI – TIE BREAKING PROCEDURES
A. In case of identical records the following tie breaking procedures will be used in order to
determine which team will qualify. Criteria will be applied in the following order until
the tie has been broken.
a. Best record head-to-head among tied teams.
b. Run differential head-to-head among tied teams.
c. Coin toss.
d. *3 way tie between teams:
i. Decided by random drawing out of a hat.
B. A forfeit counts as a 1.5 game loss. All decisions are final.
ARTICLE XII – PLAYOFF/CHAMPIONSHIP
A. Playoff format will be determined by league coordinator and reflected on schedule.
ARTICLE XIII – PROTESTS
A. The Town of Windsor does not recognize protests regarding judgment calls by the
officials. Only roster irregularities and rule interpretations are subject to protest. All
protests must be submitted to the Town of Windsor no later than 4:30 p.m. the following
day. Protest forms must be filled out clearly and completely (the scorekeeper will have
this form available). A 25.00 CASH fee must be paid at the time the protest is filled. If
the protest is upheld the fee shall be returned.
ARTICLE XIV – FINES
A. Teams forfeiting games will be required to pay $30.00 for each forfeit before they will be
allowed to participate in the next league game.
B. All fines must be paid before the next scheduled league game.
C. Any team forfeiting two games will become subject to being dropped from the league and
may forfeit all rights to participate in the playoffs.
D. Any games missed because of a fine-non-payment will be counted as a loss.
ARTICLE XV – PLAYER CONDUCT
The team manager shall communicate all grievances. Any unusual tactic, profanity, or derogatory
remarks made by a player or manager shall result in ejection from the game and the park. Ejected
players must leave the park within one minute. Failure to do so will result in forfeiture of the
game and the player being suspended for the remainder of the season. A player who is ejected
from the games will receive an automatic suspension for the following league game. If a player is
ejected from a game twice in one season, the second ejection will result in removing the player’s
name from the team roster and from further competition for the remainder of the season. If, in the
opinion of the league coordinator, stronger action is warranted after the first ejection, such action
shall be taken. Any team guilty of badgering umpires or staff will be removed from the league
and banned from further play in the Windsor softball leagues.
No player shall at any time lay a hand upon, shove, strike or threaten an official or staff.
Minimum Penalty:
Suspension for two league games and probation for the
remainder of the season.
Maximum Penalty:
Suspension for the remainder of the season and any portion of
the following year.
No player shall refuse to abide by the official’s decision.
Minimum Penalty:
Probation for the remainder of the season.
Maximum Penalty:
the following year.
Suspension for the remainder of the season and any portion of
No player shall appear upon the field of play at any time in an intoxicated condition. No player
shall use any alcoholic beverages on the playing field, dugout or bleachers during the game.
Minimum Penalty: Suspension for two league games and probation for the remainder of the
season.
Maximum Penalty:
Suspension for the remainder of the season.
Officials are required to immediately suspend a player for play if this player violates any of the
above rules. Officials are required to report this player to the league supervisor. The player shall
remain suspended until the league coordinator and The Town of Windsor Programs Supervisor
has considered his/her case.
1.
2.
3.
4.
An Unsportsmanlike Foul will be called when a player displays unsportsmanlike
behavior towards officials, scorekeeper, facility attendant and players, before, during
or after the game. (Ex.: When a player verbally attacks an official or other player
and/or uses profane language.)
A team that receives two or more Unsportsmanlike fouls for unsportsmanlike conduct
in one game will forfeit the game immediately.
Any team that forfeits two games during a season for unsportsmanlike conduct will
be dropped from the program.
If a team or player is dropped or suspended from the league there will be no refund of
fees. Furthermore, if a team receives one or more wins by forfeit and subsequently
are not able to participate in a “full schedule” of games due to the unsportsmanlike
conduct of the other teams in the league-- it will not constitute a refund of any league
fees.
ARTICLE XVI – SPECIAL NOTE
A. Any player being placed on probation for the remainder of the season and reported again
for violation of the Code of Conduct will be suspended for the remainder of the season
and any portion of the following year.
ARTICLE XVII – REFUNDS
A. All payments for league participation are final. No refunds will be given to individuals or
teams after registering for league play.
ARTICLE XVIII – LIABILITY
A. The Town of Windsor does not assume any legal or moral obligation to care for a player
who is injured while participating in the Town of Windsor softball programs. All players
are required to sign their team roster, which includes a liability waiver for the Town of
Windsor and its employees.
ARTICLE XIX – ACCIDENT REPORTS
A. In case of an injury, immediately notify the scorekeeper or umpire. They will fill out an
accident report. The report will be given to the league coordinator.